and to all persons whomsoever within the United States, to set apart and observe Thursday the 19th day of February next, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, and on that day to meet together and render their sincere and hearty thanks to the Great Ruler of nations for the manifold and signal mercies, which distinguish our lot as a nation; particularly for the possession of constitutions of government, which unite, and by their union establish, liberty with order; for the preservation of our peace, foreign and domestic; for the seasonable control, which has been given to a spirit of disorder in the suppression of the late insurrection; and, generally, for the prosperous course of our affairs public and private; and at the same time humbly and fervently to beseech the kind Author of those blessings graciously to prolong them to us; to imprint on our hearts a deep and solemn sense of our obligations to him for them; to teach us rightly to estimate their immense value; to preserve us from the arrogance of prosperity, and from hazarding the advantages we enjoy by delusive pursuits; to dispose us to merit the continuance of his favors by not abusing them, by our gratitude for them, and by a correspondent conduct as citizens and as men; to render this country more and more a safe and propitious asylum for the unfortunate of other countries; to extend among us true and useful knowledge; to diffuse and establish habits of sobriety, order, morality, and piety; and finally to impart all the blessings we possess, or ask for ourselves, to the whole family of mankind.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia, this first day of January, one

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thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, and of the independence of the United States of America the nineteenth.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

PROCLAMATION

GRANTING PARDON TO THE WESTERN INSURGENTS.

Whereas the commissioners appointed by the President of the United States, to confer with the citizens in the western counties of Pennsylvania, during the late insurrection which prevailed therein, by their act and agreement bearing date the 2d day of September last, in pursuance of the powers in them vested, did promise and engage, that, if assurances of submission to the laws of the United States should be bonâ fide given by the citizens resident in the fourth survey of Pennsylvania, in the manner and within the time in the said act and agreement specified, a general pardon should be granted, on the 10th day of July then next ensuing, of all treasons and other indictable offences against the United States, committed within the said survey before the 22d day of August last; excluding therefrom, nevertheless, every person, who should refuse or neglect to subscribe such assurance and engagement in manner aforesaid, or who should after such subscription violate the same, or wilfully obstruct, or attempt to obstruct, the execution of the acts for raising a revenue on distilled spirits and stills, or be aiding or abetting therein;

And whereas, I have since thought proper to extend the said pardon to all persons guilty of the said treasons, misprisions of treason, or otherwise concerned

in the late insurrection within the survey aforesaid, who have not since been indicted or convicted thereof, or of any other offence against the United States;

Therefore be it known, that I, George Washington, President of the said United States, have granted, and by these presents do grant, a full, free, and entire pardon to all persons (excepting as is herein after excepted) of all treasons, misprisions of treason, and other indictable offences against the United States, committed within the fourth survey of Pennsylvania before the said 22d day of August last past, excepting and excluding therefrom, nevertheless, every person who refused or neglected to give and subscribe the said assurances in the manner aforesaid (or having subscribed, hath violated the same), and now standeth indicted or convicted of any treason, misprision of treason, or other offence against the said United States; hereby remitting and releasing unto all persons, except as before excepted, all penalties incurred, or supposed to be incurred, for, or on account of, the premises.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed, this tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, and the twentieth year of the independence of the said United States.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Although I ought not to conceal, yet I cannot describe, the painful emotions which I felt in being called upon to determine whether I would accept or refuse the Presidency of the United States.

The unanimity of the choice, the opinion of my friends, communicated from different parts of Europe as well as of America, the apparent wish of those, who were not altogether satisfied with the constitution in its present form, and an ardent desire on my own part to be instrumental in conciliating the good will of my countrymen towards each other, have induced an acceptance.

Those, who have known me best, (and you, my fellow-citizens, are from your situation in that number,) know better than any others, that my love of retirement is so great, that no earthly consideration, short of a conviction of duty, could have prevailed upon me to depart from my resolution, never more to take any share in transactions of a public nature; for, at

* It will be observed, that all the following Addresses, except the FAREWELL ADDRESS, are Answers to such as were presented to him by various public bodies.

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