duties of the office. If by that attention I may still be so fortunate as to continue to possess the affectionate regard of my fellow-citizens, and particularly of that body of which you are the representatives, it will be no small addition to my happiness. The support, which they and you have promised, cannot fail, under the smiles of Providence, to contribute largely to the accomplishment of my wishes, by promoting the prosperity of our common country. In the mean time, I thank you, Gentlemen, for the interest you so kindly take in my personal comfort and honor, as well as in the prosperity and glory of the general government. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL GENTLEMEN, APRIL 20TH, 1789. I received with great satisfaction the affectionate congratulations of the President and supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, on my appointment to the Presidency of the United States. If, under favor of Divine Providence and with the assistance of my fellow-citizens, it was my fortune to have been in any degree instrumental in vindicating the liberty and confirming the independence of my country, I now find a full compensation for my services in a belief, that those blessings will be permanently secured by the establishment of a free and efficient government. And you will permit me to say on this occasion, that, as nothing could add to the evidence I have formerly received of the invariable attachment of your commonwealth to the interests and honor of the Union, so nothing could have been more agreeable to me at this time, than the assurances you have given me of the zealous coöperation of its executive authority in facilitating the accomplishment of the great objects, which are committed to my charge. While I feel my sensibility strongly excited by the expressions of affection and promises of support, which I everywhere meet with from my countrymen, I entertain a consolatory hope, that the purity of my intentions, and the perseverance of my endeavours to promote the happiness of my country, will atone for any of the slighter defects, which may be discovered in my administration. For, whatever may be the issue of our public measures, or however I may err in opinion, I trust it will be believed, that I could not have been actuated by any interests separate from those of my country. Suffer me, Gentlemen, to conclude by assuring you, that I am well pleased with the justice you have done to the motives from which I have acted, and by thanking you for the tender concern you have been pleased to manifest for my personal felicity. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE MAYOR, RECORDER, ALDERMEN, AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. APRIL 20TH, 1789. I consider myself particularly obliged to you, Gentlemen, for your congratulatory address on my appointment to the station of President of the United States. Accustomed as I have been to pay a respectful regard to the opinion of my countrymen, I did not think myself at liberty to decline the acceptance of the high office, to which I have been called by their united suffrage. When I contemplate the interposition of Providence, as it was manifested in guiding us through the revolution, in preparing us for the reception of a general government, and in conciliating the good will of the people of America towards one another after its adoption, I feel myself oppressed and almost overwhelmed with a sense of the divine munificence. I feel, that nothing is due to my personal agency in all these complicated and wonderful events, except what can simply be attributed to the exertions of an honest zeal for the good of my country. If I have distressing apprehensions, that I shall not be able to justify the too exalted expectations of my countrymen, I am supported under the pressure of such uneasy reflections by a confidence, that the most gracious Being, who has hitherto watched over the interests and averted the perils of the United States, will never suffer so fair an inheritance to become a prey to anarchy, despotism, or any other species of oppression. I thank you sincerely for your kind wishes, that my administration may be honorable and happy to myself and my country. I pray you, Gentlemen, to accept on your own behalf, as well as on that of the citizens you represent, my heartfelt acknowledgments for the polite welcome I have received upon my arrival in your city. In tendering those acknowledgments, I must also desire it may be fully understood, that I entertain the same reciprocal sensations of attachment for the good VOL. XII 19 M people of Philadelphia, which they have on all occasions evinced in my favor. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE PRESIDENT AND FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. GENTLEMEN, APRIL 20TH, 1789. I accept, with peculiar pleasure, the address of the University of the State of Pennsylvania, upon my appointment to the first office in the Union. Notwithstanding I had most seriously determined never more to take any part in transactions of a public nature, yet a conviction of duty would not suffer me, on the present occasion, to refuse a compliance with the unanimous call of my country; nor could I remain insensible to the honor, that was conferred upon me by this fresh and distinguished proof of its approbation. Probably my fellow-citizens anticipate too many and too great advantages from the appointment. It will, however, be an object, indeed, near to my heart, to verify as far as may be in my power those favorable presentiments, by endeavouring to secure the liberty and promote the happiness of the American people. I am not a little flattered by being considered by the patrons of literature as one in their number. Fully apprized of the influence, which sound learning has on religion and manners, on government, liberty, and laws, I shall only lament my want of abilities to make it still more extensive. I conceive hopes, however, that we are at the eve of a very enlightened era. The same unremitting ex 147 ertions, which, under all the blasting storms of war, caused the arts and sciences to flourish in America, will doubtless bring them nearer to maturity, when they shall have been sufficiently invigorated by the milder rays of peace. I return you my hearty thanks for your devout intercession at the throne of grace for my felicity both here and hereafter. May you also, Gentlemen, after having been the happy instruments of diffusing the blessings of literature and the comforts of religion, receive the just compensation for your virtuous deeds. GEORGE WASHINGTON. TO THE MINISTERS, CHURCH-WARDENS, AND VESTRY- GENTLEMEN, While I request you to accept my thanks for your kind address, I must profess myself highly gratified by the sentiments of esteem and consideration contained in it. The approbation my past conduct has received from so worthy a body of citizens as that, whose joy for my appointment you announce, is a proof of the indulgence with which my future transactions will be judged by them. I could not, however, avoid apprehending, that the partiality of my countrymen in favor of the measures now pursued, had led them to expect too much from the present government, did not the same Providence, which has been visible in every stage of our progress to this interesting crisis, from a combination of cir |