and happy, as your former ones have been glorious and honourable. Having drank, he added, I cannot come to each of you to take my leave, but shall be obliged to you, if each of you will come and take me by the hand.' General Knox being nearest, turned to him; incapable of utterance, Washington grasped his hand, and embraced him. In the same affectionate manner, he took leave of each succeeding officer. In every eye stood the tears of dignified sensibility; and not a word was articulated to interrupt the majestic silence and the tenderness of the scene. Leaving the room, he passed through the corps of light infantry, and walked to Whitehall, where a barge awaited to carry him to Pawles Hook. The whole company followed in mute and solemn procession, with dejected countenances, testifying the feelings of delicious melancholy, which no language can describe. Having entered the barge, he turned to the company, and, waving his hat, bade them a silent adieu. They paid him the same affectionate compliment, and after the barge had left them, returned in the same solemn manner to the place where they had assembled."

Congress was then in session at Annapolis, and thither Washington repaired, to resign his commission into their hands. This eventful ceremony took place on the 23d of December, 1783. Having been introduced by the Secretary, he delivered the following address:

MR. PRESIDENT.-The great events on which my resignation depended, having at length taken place, I have now the honour of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress, and of presenting myself before them, to surrender into their hands, the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my country.

Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States, of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction, the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which, however, was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the SUPREME POWER OF THE UNION, and the patronage of Heaven.

"The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence, and the assistance I have received

from my countrymen, increases with every review of the

momentous contest.

"While I repeat my obligations to the army in general, I should do injustice to my own feelings, not to acknowledge in this place, the peculiar services and distinguished merits of the gentlemen who have been attached to my person during the war. It was impossible the choice of confidential officers to compose my family, should have been more fortunate. Permit me, Sir, to recommend in particular, those who have continued in the service to the present moment, as worthy of the favourable notice and patronage of Congress.

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

"Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate address to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life."

To this address, Congress returned an appropriate reply, couched in the spirit of gratulation, praise and affection.

Finding himself thus relieved from the cares of public life, he now retired to Mount Vernon, followed by the esteem, admiration, gratitude and love of the whole American people.

It would, perhaps, have been more consonant to the unobtrusive and simple principles of genuine republicanism, had this virtuous and laudable feeling of veneration for their late chief, been restrained within the limits of addresses, resolutions, and declarations of gratitude and attachment, instead of manifesting its extravagance in statues, monuments, and columns, whose pomp seemed to reflect the tinsel of royal governments, and might tend to corrupt the integrity of republican truth. Great by nature, and still greater by his virtues, no outward homage could increase his glory, no splendour of magnificence inflate him with pride.

Unmoved by the torrent of adulation which flowed upon him, he devoted his hours to domestic happiness, and the pursuits and improvements of agriculture, which had al

ways been his favourite occupation. His feelings in his new retirement will be best understood by his own expression of them. In a letter to Governor Clinton, three days after his reaching Mount Vernon, he says: The scene is at length closed. I feel myself eased of a load of public care, and hope to spend the remainder of my days in cultivating the affections of good men, and in the practice of the domestic virtues.' In another to Lafayette, he thus unfolds the sound philosophy of his mind and benevolent emotions of his heart: At length, my dear Marquis, I have become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, and, under the shadow of my own vine and my own fig tree, free from the bustle of a camp, and the busy scenes of public life, I am solacing myself with those tranquil enjoyments, of which the soldier, who is ever in pursuit of fame-the statesman whose watchful days and sleepless nights are spent in devising schemes to promote the welfare of his own, perhaps the ruin of other countries, as if this globe was insufficient for us all-and the courtier, who is always watching the countenance of his prince, in the hope of catching a gracious smile, can have very little conception. I have not only retired from all public employments, but am retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the solitary walk, and tread the paths of private life, with heartfelt satisfaction. Envious of none, I am determined to be pleased with all; and this, my dear friend, being the order of my march, I will move gently down the stream of life, until I sleep with my fathers."

It was evident, however, that this desire of private contentment, required a struggle; and that his mind, long accustomed to public command, could not immediately subside into the tranquil current of domestic ease. In a letter to General Knox, he thus depicts this difficulty of weaning his thoughts from the turmoil of public affairs: "I am just beginning to experience the ease and freedom from public cares, which, however desirable, takes some time to realise; for, strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that it was not until lately, I could get the better of my usual custom of ruminating, as soon as I awoke in the morning, on the business of the ensuing day, and of my surprise at finding, after revolving many things in my mind, that I was no longer a public man, or had any thing to do with public transactions. I feel now, however, as I conceive a wearied H

traveller must do, who, after treading many a painful step with a heavy burden on his shoulders, is eased of the latter, having reached the haven to which all the former were directed, and from his house-top is looking back, and tracing with an eager eye, the meanders by which he escaped the quicksands and mires which lay in his way, and into which none but the all powerful guide and dispenser of human events, could have prevented his falling."

He now devoted himself to agriculture, and plans of internal improvement, for which purpose he explored the western parts of Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and particularly directed his attention to improve the navigation of the Potomac and James Rivers. Extending his views to the western country, he gave a luminous exposition of the sound policy of connnecting that section of the union more closely with the eastern states, by means of internal improvements.

How deeply the love of fame was implanted in his heart, and how pure was his ambition which thirsted for glory, will appear from an extract of his letter, in which he declined to receive a donation of one hundred and fifty shares in the Potomac and James River Navigation Company, from the States of Virginia and Maryland, who seized that occasion to testify their gratitude and respect towards him,

in a substantial form.

"Not content," (he writes,) "with the bare consciousness of my having in all this navigation business, acted upon the clearest conviction of the political importance of the measure, I would wish that every individual who may hear that it was a favorite plan of mine, may know also, that I had no other motive for promoting it, than the advantage of which I conceived it would be productive to the union at large, and to this state in particular, by cementing the eastern and western territory together, at the same time that it will give vigour and increase to our commerce, and be a convenience to our citizens.

"How would this matter be viewed then, by the eye of the world, and what opinion would be formed, when it comes to be related, that G***** W********* exerted himself to effect this work, and that G***** W********* has received twenty thousand dollars, and five thousand pounds sterling of the public money as an interest therein? Would not this, (if I am entitled to any merit for the part I have

performed, and without it there is no foundation for the act) deprive me of the principal thing which is laudable in my conduct? Would it not, in some respects, be considered in the same light as a pension? and would not the apprehension of this induce me to offer my sentiments in future, with the more reluctance? In a word, under whatever pretence, and however customary these gratuities may be in other countries, should I not thenceforward, be considered as a dependant?-one moment's thought of which would give me more pain than I should receive pleasure from the product of all the tolls, was every farthing of them vested in me."

An invidious mind might detect a spark of pride in this sentiment, but a liberal one would perceive nothing but the most exalted patriotism! The stock thus declined for his private emolument, being appropriated by him to the establishment of two seminaries of learning.

The pride of station, and the ostentation of rank peculiar to royal governments, are not only necessary to the safety of the King, but indispensable to the pomp and glitter of a court: hence, they are as foreign to the simplicity of a republic, and the virtuous habits of a free and equal people, as pure republican principles would be inconsistent with, as well as destructive of, royal power and regal magnificence. Happily for the fame of Washington, the project for the establishment of the society of the Cincinnati, did not originate with him. This idea," (says Marshall)" was suggested by General Knox, and matured in a meeting composed of the generals, and of deputies from the regiments, at which Major General le BARON STEUBEN presided. An agreement was then entered into, by which the officers were to constitute themselves into one society of friends, to endure as long as they should endure, or any of THEIR ELDEST MALE POSTERITY; and in failure thereof, any collateral branches who might be judged worthy of becoming its supporters and members, were to be admitted into it. mark their veneration for that celebrated Roman, between whose situation and their own, they found some similitude, they were to be denominated the SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI. Individuals of the respective States, distinguished for their patriotism and abilities, might be admitted as honorary members for life, provided their numbers should at no time exceed a ratio of one to four.

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