Excerpt from Personal Memories Social, Political, and Literary, Sketches of Many Noted People 1803-1843 I had no such vanity as would have induced the publication of this book. It was urged upon me by others. Several years ago a number of gentlemen in Cincinnati sent me a written request to publish my reminiscences. After that my children made the same request. Not liking personal publicity, I paid, at first, little attention to the subject. Subsequently I began writing my memories in a series of letters to my children. In this form they had more of person ality and of personal address than perhaps a printed book should have, but the reader will no doubt make allowance for that....