1To George Washington from Mathew Carey, 21 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
In the prosecution of the American Museum—a work which your excellency has honoured with the most flattering approbation —I have begun & mean to continue a series of documents & public papers, respecting the most interesting circumstances, skirmishes, and battles of the revolution. For want of better resources, I am obliged at present frequently to recur to that corrupted publication, the...
2To George Washington from Mathew Carey, 18 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
About twelve months ago, I took the liberty to request of your excellency a little temporary assistance in the prosecution of a work which I am induced to believe of no small public benefit. Circumstances at that time precluded a compliance with my request. I have since carried on the publication with considerable success, improved the plan, and, at a great expense, by sending an agent through...
3To George Washington from Mathew Carey, 27 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
In imitation of the example you set me, I decline burning your letter. I enclose it. I am sorry that severe necessity impelled me to extort a secret from you, which I was no more desirous to pry into, than you could be to communicate. It shall not escape me. Whether I shall be able to steer the A.M. thro’ the surrounding difficulties, remains yet a matter of doubt with me. If it be at all...
4To George Washington from Mathew Carey, 4 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
In the bitterness and anguish of my soul, I sit down to exculpate myself from the charge contained in your excellency’s letter of the 31st ult. Though I have read it several times over, I cannot, owing to some ambiguity in the expression, tell whether you were offended with my returning your letter—with the contents of mine—or whether the latter was not broken open, and handed to your...
5To George Washington from Mathew Carey, 15 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
The letter which your excellency condescended to favour me with, the 10th inst. has removed every doubt from my mind, respecting my unfortunate letter; yours and it were enclosed under a cover, which was sealed with my cypher. Whether the boy who takes care of the mail, and to whose care the letter was delivered, wilfully tore off the cover, or by carrying it in his pocket, let it be worn off,...