I send you the prospectus of a Work I am about to publish—I wish to have your opinion on the subject & if not intruding too much on your leisure I would request some facts relative to the passage of the law & such other information as you Might think would be interesting to the people of the United States—But I fear it would be trespassing too much on your time & subjecting you to inconvenience which is far from my wish—

That a Work of the kind is much wanted I think will be your opinion—for many of these illustrious characters are entirely unknown to two thi[r]ds of the people—The avidity recently displayed for the possession of the print of the Declaration of Independence, & the anxiety to Know the history of the several signers is a proof that they have been very much neglected—A few hasty remarks, by way of an obituary notice is the only Memorial we have of many of their lives & if that is sufficient to commemorate the names of the founders of the only republic on earth, I must think it but poor encouragement for others to forfeit their lives their fortunes & their honor for their Country—Such however is my opinion of the subject—But, that I have a liberal people to deal with & that I shall have success in the undertaking is what prompted me to so laborious a business—

With wishes therefore for your happiness & ease / I remain very respectfully / your humble serva[n]t