1William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 8 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately received a letter from Judge Tucker , inclosing an extract from a gentleman in Salem (Mass.) who is collecting materials for a history of printing in America , from its first introduction.—The writer suggests, that at one period, the publication of News-papers, in Virginia , was either discouraged or totally prohibited; and the object of Judge Tucker ’s enquiry of me is, to know,...
2William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 23 April 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not sooner acknowledged the receipt of the MSS which you were so obliging as to send me, because I was unwilling to trespass for a moment on your time, which was incessantly occupied with the cares of government, and in an honest endeavour to avert those evils with which the injustice of the two great belligerent powers of Europe seemed to threaten us.—Permit me to congratulate you on...
3William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 21 November 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Being about to announce the publication of the first Volume of the Statutes at Large, I cannot suppress the anxiety which I feel to accompany it with the testimonials of some literary Characters whose recommendations would tend to introduce it. The Judges of the Supreme Courts, at this place, with the members of the bar, have offered their sanction to the utility of the work; but knowing the...
4William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received from M r George Jefferson your volume of sessions acts from 1734 to 1772, inclusive.—The acts of 1773, which are stated to have been lost from your collection, I have in my possession. The first volume of the statutes at large will be published in a few days. It comes down to the termination of the commonwealth of England ; and gives an entirely different view of our history,...
5William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 31 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 25 th Inst. has just come to hand; and, for your attention to my request, be pleased to accept my thanks. Of the MSS. received from you, those containing the laws from 1639 to 1660 inclusive, were deficient, except the acts of a few Sessions: contained in the MS. procured from the ex rs of M r Bland — I had no difficulty, however, in supplying the defect, having procured...
6William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 15 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Previously to the receipt of your letter of the 11 th Ins t I had carefully packed up all your M.S.S. with a view to return them to you by the first safe conveyance.— The V th Vol. containing the sessions acts was all that I meant to retain; and that only, till I could complete the publication of that part. I had finished the 5 th Vol. of the Statutes at Large; and had made considerable...
7William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 1 April 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment placed in the hands of the stage-driver from this to Charlottesville , your M.S. laws of Virginia, and paid him not only his price, for transportation, but that of the driver who succeeds him, at Tinsley’s , in Goochland :—They are made up in three parcels, each parcel securely packed, under three courses of strong wrapping paper, which, by being more elastic, the driver...
8William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 22 October 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the pleasure of presenting to you the first volume of the Statutes at Large, which was published on yesterday, only. In the execution of this work I have had to encounter many difficulties; but I have spared no pains to render it as perfect as possible. The typography is the best that could be procured in this place, where I was compelled to publish it, for the purpose of revising...
9William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 15 April 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I should have answered your letter of the 8 th by the return of the mail, had I not found it necessary to occupy much time in searching for the two MS. Vol s , which you say are still wanting.— I have such a strong impression that the thin M:S, marked A. was put up between the two thin boards, sent up, that I cannot help thinking it may yet be found there.—I have made very diligent search...
10William W. Hening to Thomas Jefferson, 23 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 15 th was delivered to me, after the arrival of the last mail only ; and I have not lost a moment in complying with its contents.— I send you by the Charlottesville stage-driver, the three first volumes of the Statutes at large.— Unfortunately the sheets of the 4 th Vol. which had been sent to Petersburg , to be bound, were all destroyed by the dreadful conflagration at that...