PRINTED LETTER OF INQUIRY.
"New York, March, 1851.
"I have been for some time engaged in collecting the necessary materials for a book, to be entitled 'The Communities of the United States,' in which I propose giving a brief account of all the social and co-operative experiments that have been made in this country—their origin, principles, and progress; and, particularly, the causes of their success or failure.
"I have reason to believe, from long experience among social reformers, that such a work is needed, and will be both useful and interesting. It will serve as a guide to all future experiments, showing what has already been done; like a light-house, pointing to the rocks on which so many have been wrecked, or to the haven in which the few have found rest. It will give facts and statistics to be depended upon, gathered from the most authentic sources, and forming a collection of interesting narratives. It will show the errors of enthusiasts, and the triumphs of the cool-thinking; the disappointments of the sanguine, and the dear-bought experience of many social adventurers. It will give mankind an idea of the labor of body and mind that has been expended to realize a better state of society; to substitute a social and co-operative state for a competitive one; a system of harmony, for one of discord.
"To insure the truthfulness of the work, I propose to gather most of my information from individuals who have actually been engaged in the experiments of which I treat. With this object in view, I take the liberty to address you, asking your aid in carrying out my plan. I request you to give me an account of the experiment in which you were engaged at ——. For instance, I require such information as the following questions would call forth, viz:
"1. Who originated it, or how was it originated?
"2. What were its principles and objects?
"3. What were its means in land and money?
"4. Was all the property put into common stock?
"5. What was the number of persons in the Association?
"6. What were their trades, occupations and amount of skill?
"7. Their education, natural intelligence and morality?
"8. What religious belief, and if any, how preached and practised?
"9. How were members admitted? was there any standard by which to judge them, or any property qualification necessary?
"10. Was there a written or printed constitution or laws? if so can you send me a copy?
"11. Were pledges, fines, oaths, or any coercive means used?
"12. When and where did the Association commence its experiment? Please describe the locality; what dwellings and other conveniences were upon it; how many persons it could accommodate; how many persons lived on the spot; how much land was cultivated; whether there were plenty of provisions; &c., &c.
"13. How was the land obtained? Was it free or mortgaged? Who owned it?
"14. Were the new circumstances of the associates superior or inferior to the circumstances they enjoyed previous to their associating?
"15. Did they obtain aid from without?
"16. What particular person or persons took the lead?
"17. Who managed the receipts and expenditures, and were they honestly managed?
"18. Did the associates agree or disagree, and in what?
"19. How long did they keep together?
"20. When and why did they break up? State the causes, direct and indirect.
"21. If successful, what were the causes of success?
"Any other information relating to the experiment, that you may consider useful and interesting, will be acceptable. By such information you will confer a great favor, and materially assist me in what I consider a good undertaking.
"The work I contemplate will form a neat 12mo. volume, of from 200 to 280 pages, such as Lyell's 'Tour in the United States,' or Gorrie's 'Churches and Sects of the United States.' It will be published in New York and London at the lowest possible price, say, within one dollar; and it is my intention, if possible, to illustrate the work with views of Communities now in progress, or of localities rendered interesting by having once been the battle grounds of the new system against the old.
"Please make known the above, and favor me with the names and addresses of persons who would be willing to assist me with such information as I require.
"Trusting that I shall receive the same kind aid from you that I have already received from so many of my friends,
"I remain, very respectfully, yours,
"A.J. Macdonald."
Among the manuscripts in Macdonald's collection are many that were evidently written in response to this circular. Many others were written by himself as journals or reports of his own visits to various Associations. We have reason to believe that he spent most of his time from his arrival in this country in 1842 till his death in 1854, in pilgrimages to every Community, and even to every grave of a Community, that he could hear of, far and near.
He had done his work when he died. His collection is nearly exhaustive in the extent of its survey. Very few Associations of any note are overlooked. And he evidently considered it ready for the press; for most of his memoirs are endorsed with the word "Complete," and with some methodical directions to the printer. He had even provided the illustrations promised in his circular. Among his manuscripts are the following pictures:
A pencil sketch and also a small wood engraving of the buildings of the North American Phalanx;
A wood engraving of the first mansion house of the Oneida Community;
A pencil sketch of the village of Modern Times;
A view in water-colors of the domain and cabin of the Clermont Phalanx;
A pencil sketch of the Zoar settlement;
Four wood engravings of Shaker scenes; two of them representing dances; one, a kneeling scene; and one, a "Mountain meeting;" also a pencil sketch of Shaker dwellings at Watervliet;
A portrait of Robert Owen in wood;
A very pretty view of New Harmony in India ink;
A wood-cut of one of Owen's imaginary palaces;
Two portraits of Frances Wright in wood; one representing her as she was in her prime of beauty, and the other, as she was in old age;
A fine steel engraving of Fourier.
In the following preface, which was found among Macdonald's manuscripts, and which is dated a few months before his death, we have a last and sure signal that he considered his collection finished: