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their error, are unwilling to be thought inconsistent, and, therefore, never acknowledge the falsity of the course of reasoning they have once adopted." We are not, therefore, unaware of our exposure to censure, in the publication of this work, from those who may not subscribe to the character delineated of its subject. But the task has been begun and completed with purity of motive and honesty of purpose, and whatever animadversion may fall to our share, we trust will be met in a becoming spirit of forbearance. We have not the vanity to believe that any thing it contains will influence a solitary individual in his opinion of the merits or demerits of Andrew Jackson for the station he now occupies; yet we have the satisfaction of reflecting, that the suspicion of being influenced by such a motive, can with no degree of justice be imputed to us, for its circulation, whatever it may be, will have only commenced before his political destiny will have been decided.

For the imperfections of this work, our readers will undoubtedly exercise a proper degree of indulgence -It is before them, and will have its day-it will receive its meed of approbation and censure, and be forgotten; but the fame of the illustrious man, who is the subject of it-his exalted patriotism-his Roman virtue-his unyielding firmness when surrounded by the most disheartening and inveterate difficulties -his skill and energy in planning and completing the defence of his country, in the seasons of her greatest peril-his daring courage in the day of battlehis upright and fearless discharge of the highly responsible duties appertaining to the presidency of this mighty communion of states, will live, as noble ex

amples, inspiring the love of glory and virtue, long after the present generation of men, their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, are mingled with the dust of buried ages.

For the materials which compose this work, we have availed ourselves of every thing within our reach, whether furnished by friends or enemies. For the defence of several of General Jackson's public acts, we are indebted to an able writer of Virginia. A small portion of the detail is in the language of others who have heretofore written on the same subject, and which has been used without the usual mark of credit; other characteristics, however, will readily distinguish it. An appendix had been contemplated, for an amplification of some of the parts which constitute the body of the work: the extension of the volume, however, beyond its original design, has rendered its omission necessary.

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

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