sketches of other persons connected with the families of the presidents, for the bibliographies accompanying their monographs, or for the selection of the many illustrations, which it is believed will enhance the interest and value of the work. These have been added by the editor. The portraits have been reproduced from the best originals obtainable, and the interesting series of facsimiles, with a few exceptions, were taken from the editor's complete collection of letters written by the presidents, concerning some of whom—such as Washington, the elder Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Grant—it may safely be said, “upon the adamant of their fame the stream of time beats without injury.” For those of John Adams, James Monroe, Andrew Johnson, and William McKinley the publishers are indebted to the courtesy of other collectors, as those four examples among the editor's manuscript letters of our chief magistrates were not well adapted for use in this work.
New York, October, 1913.
