ments; and to the non-commiffioned officers and private foldiers, for their extraordinary patience and fuffering, as well as their invincible fortitude in action.

23. To the various branches of the army, the general takes this last and folemn opportunity of profeffing his inviolable attachment and friendship. He wishes more than bare profeffions were in his power, that he was really able to be useful to them all in future life. He flatters himself, however, they will do him the justice to believe, that whatever could with propriety be attempted by him, has been done.

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24. And being now to conclude these his last public orders, to take his ultimate leave in a fhort time of the military character, and to bid a final adieu to the armies he has fo long had the honor to command, he can only again offer in their behalf, his recommendations to their grateful country, and his prayers to the God of armies.

25. May ample juftice be done them here, and may the choiceft of heaven's favors, both here and hereafter, attend those who, under the divine aufpices, have fecured innumerable bleffings for others. With these wishes, and this benediction, the commander in chief is about to retire from fervice. The curtain of separation will foon be drawn, and the military scene to him will be closed forever.

GENERAL WASHINGTON'S RESIGNATION OF THE COMMAND OF THE ARMY.

1.

MR. PRESIDent,

THE great events on which my refignation depend.. ed, having at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering my fincere congratulations to congrefs, and of prefenting myself before them to furrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the fervice of my country.

2. Happy in the conármation of our independence and fovereignty, and pleafed with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a refpectable nation, I refign

with fatisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence ; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish fo arduous a task, which, however, was fuperfeded by a confidence in the rectitude of our caufe, the fupport of the fupreme power of the union, and the patronage of Heaven.

3. The fuccefsful termination of the war has verified the most fanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the interpofition of Providence, and the affiftance I have received from my countrymen, increases with every review of the momentous conteft.

4. While I repeat my obligations to the army in general, I fhould do injuftice to my own feelings, not to acknowledge in this place, the peculiar fervices and distinguished merits of the perfons who have been attached to my perfon during the war.

5. It was impoffible the choice of confidential officers to compofe my family fhould have been more fortunate. Permit me, fir, to recommend in particular, those who have continued in the fervice to the prefent moment, as worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of congrefs.

6. I confider it as an indispensable duty to close this last folemn act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the fuperintendence of them to his holy keeping.

7. Having now finished the work affigned me, I retire from the great theatre of action; and, bidding an affectionate farewell to this auguft body, under whofe orders I have long acted, I here offer my commiffion, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.

GENERAL WASHINGTON'S CIRCULAR LETTER TO THE GOVERNORS OF THE SEVERAL STATES.

Head-Quarters, Newburgh, June 18, 1783.

1. SIR....The object for which I had the honor to hold an appointment in the service of my country, being accomplifhed, I am now preparing to refign it into the hands of

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congrefs, and return to that domestic retirement, which, it is well known, I left with the greatest reluctance;

2. A retirement for which I have never ceased to figh through a long and painful abfence, in which, (remote from the noife and trouble of the world,) I meditate to pass the remainder of life, in a state of undisturbed repose:

3. But, before I carry this resolution into effect, I think it a duty incumbent on me to make this my last official communication, to congratulate you on the glorious events which Heaven has been pleafed to produce in our favor; to offer my fentiments refpecting fome important fubjects, which appear to me to be intimately connected with the tranquillity of the United States; to take my leave of your excellency as a public character; and to give my final bleffing to that country, in whose service I have spent the prime of my life ;

4. For whofe fake I have confumed fo many anxious days and watchful nights, and whofe happiness, being extremely dear to me, will always conftitute no inconfiderable part of my own.

5. Impreffed with the livelieft fenfibility on this pleafing occafion, I will claim the indulgence of dilating the more copiously on the fubject of our mutual felicitation. When we confider the magnitude of the prize we contended for, the doubtful nature of the contest, and the favorable manner in which it has terminated; we shall find the greatest poffible reafon for gratitude and rejoicing.

6. This is a theme that will afford infinite delight to every benevolent and liberal mind, whether the event in con- . templation be confidered as a fource of prefent enjoyment, or the parent of future happiness; and we fhall have equal occafion to felicitate ourselves on the lot which Providence has affigned us, whether we view it in a natural, a political, or moral point of light.

7. The citizens of America, placed in the most enviable condition, as the fole lords and proprietors of a vast tract of continent, comprehending all the various foils and climates of the world, and abounding with all the neceffaries and conveniences of life, are now, by the late fatisfactory pacification, acknowledged to be poffeffed of abfolute freedom and independency: they are from this period to be confid

ered as the actors on a most confpicuous theatre, which feems to be peculiarly defigned by Providence for the dif play of human greatness and felicity.

8. Here they are not only furrounded with every thing that can contribute to the completion of private and domef tic enjoyment; but heaven has crowned all its other bleffings, by giving a furer opportunity for political happiness, than any other nation has ever been favored with.

9. Nothing can illuftrate these obfervations more forcibly than a recollection of the happy conjuncture of times. and circumstances, under which our republic affumed its rank among the nations.

10.

The foundation of our empire was not laid in a gloomy age of ignorance and fuperftition, but at an epocha when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period.

11. Researches of the human mind after social happinefs have been carried to a great extent; the treasures of knowledge acquired by the labors of philofophers, fages, and legiflators, through a long fucceffion of years, are laid open for us, and their collected wisdom may be happily applied in the establishment of our forms of government.

12. The free cultivation of letters, the unbounded extenfion of commerce, the progreffive refinement of manners, the growing liberality of fentiment; and, above all, the pure and benign light of revelation, have had a meliorating influence on mankind, and increafed the bleflings of fociety. At this aufpicious period, the United States came into existence as a nation; and if their citizens fhould not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own.

13. Such is our fituation, and such are our profpects. But notwithstanding the cup of bleffing is thus reached out to us; notwithstanding happiness is ours, if we have a difpofition to feize the occafion, and make it our own; yet it appears to me there is an option ftill left to the United States of America, whether they will be refpectable and profperous, or contemptible and miferable as a nation.

14. This is the time of their political probation: this is the moment when the eyes of the whole world are turned upon them: this is the time to establish or ruin their national character for ever: this is the favorable moment to give

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fuch a tone to the federal government, as will enable it to anfwer the ends of its inftitution;

15. Or, this may be the ill-fated moment for relaxing the powers of the union, annihilating the cement of the confederation, and expofing us to become the fport of European politics, which may play one state against another, to prevent their growing importance, and to ferve their own interested purposes.

16. For, according to the fyftem of policy the states fhall adopt at this moment, they will ftand or fall; and, by their confirmation or lapfe, it is yet to be decided, whether the revolution must ultimately be confidered as a bleffing or a curfe;-a bleffing or a curfe, not to the present age alone, for with our fate will the deftiny of unborn millions be involved.

17. With this conviction of the importance of the pref ent crisis, filence in me would be a crime; I will therefore fpeak to your excellency the language of freedom and fincerity, without difguife. I am aware, however, those who differ from me in political fentiments may, perhaps, remark, I am stepping out of the proper line of my duty; and they may poffibly afcribe to arrogance or oftentation, what I know is alone the refult of the purest intention.

18. But the rectitude of my own heart, which disfdains fuch unworthy motives; the part I have hitherto acted in life; the determination I have formed of not taking any fhare in public business hereafter; the ardent defire I feel, and fhall continue to manifeft, of quietly enjoying in private life, after all the toils of war, the benefits of a wife and liberal government, will, I flatter myself, fooner or later, convince my countrymen, that I could have no finister views in delivering with fo little referve the opinions contained in this addrefs.

19. There are four things which I humbly conceive are effential to the well being, I may even venture to say to the existence, of the United States as an independent power. 1ft. An indiffoluble union of the ftates under one federal head. 2dly. A facred regard to public juftice. 3dly. The adoption of a proper peace establishment.

20. And, 4thly. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly difpofition among the people of the United States, which will induce them to forget their local prejudices and