ADVERTISEMENT.

THE publication of a new and carefully prepared edition of The Federalist needs no apology, nor will one be offered. It is due to myself, however, as well as to the reader, that the plan which has been pursued in the preparation of this edition for the press should be made known, and that wherein I have differed in opinion, concerning any portion of my editorial labors, from some of my friends, I should assign the reasons which have controlled my action.

In the first volume of the work, preceded by a historical and bibliographical Introduction and an analytical Table of Contents, will be found the entire text of The Federalist, with such notes only as the authors themselves appended to their productions; in the second will appear the Notes which have been prepared by myself, embracing the more important of the alterations and corruptions of the text which have appeared from time to time, many of the manuscript notes which have been found on the margins and blank leaves of the copies which were formerly owned by Mr. MADISON, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. AMES, Chancellor KENT, and other friends of the respective authors, and such other illustrative matter as I have supposed will be useful to those who may examine the text of The Federalist, together

with a very complete and carefully prepared Index to the entire work.

The text which has been adopted in this edition is that which the distinguished authors themselves originally gave to the world, without addition, abridgment, or the least alteration, except where typographical errors were subsequently corrected by the authors themselves, or are apparent and unquestionable.

In thus rejecting, as unworthy of entire confidence, every collective edition of The Federalist which has hitherto appeared, I am sensible that I have carried out the decided preference of General HAMILTON and Mr. Jáy, while a single exception only occurs in which the same original text appears to have been mutilated with the approval of Mr. MADISON. At the same time, it is gratifying to know that the choice which I have made in the selection of a text has met the entire approval of many of the nearest friends of the writers; and it is confidently believed that The Federalist, as the authors originally left it, and, with the exception referred to, desired it to remain, is now for the first time presented in bookform to the world.

The portraits which have been selected for the illustration of these volumes also merit attention. That of General HAMILTON is from a faithful copy on Sêvres china of the celebrated Talleyrand miniature, which Hon. JAMES A. HAMILTON designates the best likeness of his father, and has kindly permitted to be used for the illustration of this work. That of Mr. MADISON is from the celebrated original painting by STUART which graces the fine collection of A. A. Low, Esq., of Brooklyn; and

to the kindness of that public-spirited gentleman I am indebted for the privilege of submitting it in an engraving to the discriminating judgment of his countrymen. TO JOHN JÁY, Esq., of Bedford, Westchester County, New York, I am indebted for permission to copy the fine original portrait of Mr. Jáy, as a private citizen, also by STUART, which has been carefully preserved at The Jáy Homestead, and which is considered the best of the many portraits of the distinguished statesman and jurist which have been preserved in different parts of the country.

It remains only for me to acknowledge, gratefully, the kind assistance, often accompanied with friendly suggestions, which I have received from time to time, for the purpose of adding to the interest and value of this edition of The Federalist, from Hon. JAMES A. HAMILTON of Dobbs' Ferry, in this county; from JOHN JÁY, Esq., of The Jáy Homestead, Bedford, also in this county; from JAMES KENT, Esq., of Fishkill Landing; from EGBERT BENSON, Esq., of the city of New York; from A. A. Low, Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y.; from FRANCIS HOWLAND, Esq., of Englewood, New Jersey; from GEORGE HENRY MOORE, Esq., the librarian of the New York Historical Society; from FRANK H. NORTON, Esq., the assistant superintendent of the Astor Library, New York; from S. HASTINGS GRANT, Esq., the librarian of the Mercantile Library Association, New York, and from Mr. G. HANNAH, his obliging assistant; from WENTWORTH S. BUTLER, Esq., the librarian of the Society Library, New York; from ALFRED B. STREET, Esq., the librarian of the State Library, Albany, New

York; from JOHN G. STEPHENSON, Esq., the librarian of the Congress of the United States; from SAMUEL F. HAVEN, Esq., the librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts; from CHARLES C. JEWETT, Esq., the superintendent of the Public Library of the city of Boston; from HORATIO GATES JONES, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, and from BRINTON COXE, Esq., both of the city of Philadelphia; from EDWARD F. and WILLIAM HEATHCOTE DE LANCY, Junior, Esqs., of the city of New York; from Professor HENRY W. TORREY, of Harvard University; and, to an extent which few have equalled, from George LIVERMORE, Esq., of Cambridge, Massachusetts; to each of them, and to all others who have lightened my burden, I can only return my heartfelt thanks.

Morrisania, Westchester Co., N. Y.

July 13th, 1863.

HENRY B. DAWSON.

INTRODUCTION.

AMONG the most effective of the instrumentalities which were employed in the overthrow of the royal authority within the Thirteen United Colonies of America was THE PUBLIC PRESS; and in the proceedings which led subsequently to the establishment of "The Constitution for the United States" between the several States which assented thereto, the same powerful agent was again brought into action, both by the supporters and by the opponents of that instrument.

In the latter memorable contest, quite as much as in the former, the Public Newspaper Press, in all parts of the Union, teemed with anonymous political papers of great merit, in the preparation of which some of the finest intellects in America had found employment; and at no other period, not even in the memorable days of "The Whig Club," had the judgment of the People been instructed with more profound ability, or its action directed with greater wisdom.

Among the manifold productions of the Press, on the occasion referred to, none were received with more general respect, and none have been preserved and referred to with more satisfaction, than those over the signature of "PUBLIUS," which found their way into the periodical Press of the city of New York in the fall of 1787 and during the following winter and spring.

At that time, and on the question of approving and assenting to the proposed " Constitution for the United States," the State of New York occupied a peculiar posi