John W. Campbell to Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1811
From John W. Campbell
Petersburg Dec: 20th 1811
Dear Sir!
I have taken the liberty of enclosing you a proposal for a work which I expect to publish during the next Summer.
I have progressed in this work, as far as the year Seventy Six, but for the period, subsequent to that, I find it extremely difficult to procure materials.
I would be much gratified by your advice as to the best sources of information; [an]d if you have any thing, that would yield [any?] assistance, particularly in the period subsequent to the revolution, you would do me a singular favour by lending it for a few months.
Excuse my freedom, & accept for your health and happiness the best wishes of
John W. Campbell
RC (DLC); damaged at seal; endorsed by TJ as received 5 Jan. 1812 and so recorded in SJL.
The enclosed proposal, not found, was a prospectus for Campbell’s History of Virginia, from Its Discovery Till the Year 1781: with Biographical Sketches of all the most distinguished characters that occur in the colonial, revolutionary, or subsequent period of our history (Philadelphia, 1813).