52671To George Washington from United States Congress, 23 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
The United states in Congress assembled receive with emotions too affecting for utterance this solemn resignation of the authorities, under which you have led their troops with success through a perilous and a doubtful war. Called upon by your country to defend its invaded rights you accepted the sacred charge before it had found alliances and whilst it was without funds or a government to...
52672From George Washington to William Paca, 23 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
I shall ever cherish a pleasing remembrance, of the welcome reception I have experienced from your Excellency and the Council, on my return to this City, after the happy and honorable termination of the War. The flattering sentiments you entertain of my exertions in defence of our Country, and the favorable point of light in which you place my Character, too strongly demonstrate your...
52673From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 23 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I have taken frequent opportunities, both in public & private, of acknowledging your great zeal, attention & abilities in performing the duties of your Office; yet I wish to make use of this last moment of my public life, to signifie in the strongest terms my entire approbation of your conduct, and to express my sense of the obligations the public is under to you, for your faithful &...
52674To George Washington from Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, 24 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Votre Excellence ne doit pas être surprise que ceux, qui ont eté assez heureux pour cooperer par leurs services au grand acte de la liberté de l’Amerique, vous temoignent le plus grand empressement d’entrer dans une association faite pour consacrer à jamais la memoire de ce grand evenement. J’avouë à Votre Excellence que je ne vois pas des françois admis dans l’illustre Societe de Cincinnatus,...
52675To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 24 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here ten days ago from london—I landed at plimouth traveled through england about three hundred miles—and stayd at london five days & i intended to stay some time longer but was prevented by different news I heard from here—your Excellency will not be surprised of that tour of mine—after the americain war it was Certainly Curious to see england & to observe the effect of their...
52676To George Washington from Charles-Hector Theodat, comte d’ Estaing, 25 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
I must beg leave to gratify a desire, I cannot resist of paying your Exellency in a private letter the most unfeigned homage of my unalterable attachement for you. I shall take particular delight in carrying the marks of an association which you are President-General of. it belonged to a Chief of your merit, who gives to the World in his Person the example of every thing that is great, to...
52677To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
On the Receipt of Your Excellency’s letter, I took Measures to fulfill the intentions of the Society in which I Have the Honour to be a Member. As our institution was differently interpreted, I wrote a letter to Count de Vergennes of which the inclosed is a Copy, and the Account I gave was printed in a Court Gazette which I Have also the Honour to send—at a King’s Council, this day was a week,...
52678To George Washington from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 25 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
A yant in-si-que le requeroit d’objet de ma mission fait toute la depeche possible pour me rende à paris, je me suis d’abor supressé de Remettre aux Comtes de Rochambeau, d’Estaing, de grasse au major general marquis de la fayette les depeches dont j’etois chargé pour Eux et ait payez les visites à ceux des officiersResident à paris, qui par leurs cervices et leurs grade dans L’arme francaise...
52679To George Washington from Robert Adam, 26 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Whilst all Denomination’s of People bless the happy occasion of your Excellency’s return to enjoy private and domestic felecity, Permit us Sir, (the Members of Lodge No. 39 lately establish’d in Alexandria) to assure Your Excellency that We as a Mystical Body rejoice in having a Brother so near us, Whose pre’eminent Benevolence has secured the Happiness of Millions, and that We shall esteem...
52680To George Washington from Marie-Adrienne-Françoise de Noailles, marquise de Lafayette, 26 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
I seize with eagerness, the first moment, in which you enjoy the charms, of a peaceful retirement, and the Satisfaction to find you r self restored, to those, to whom you are dear, after So many dangers, and So much glory; to offer you my hommage, and my felicitations, on the glorious peace, obtained by your Labours, and your success. I have, sir, many rights to partake your Sentimens, on this...