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3730. HISTORY, Private letters and.—

History may distort truth, and will distort it for
a time, by the superior efforts at justification
of those who are conscious of needing it most.
The opening scenes of our present government
will not be seen in their true aspect until the
letters of the day, now held in private hoards,
shall be broken up and laid open to public
view.—
To William Johnson. Washington ed. vii, 292. Ford ed., x, 228.
(M. 1823)