during their delegation. These things, under the present mode and termination of elections, aided by annual instead of constant sessions, would, or I am exceedingly mistaken, make us one of the most wealthy, happy, respectable, and powerful nations, that ever inhabited the terrestrial globe. Without them, we shall, in my opinion, soon be every thing which is the direct

reverse.

I shall look for you, in the first part of next month, with such other friends as may incline to accompany you, with great pleasure, being, with best respects to Mrs. Harrison, in which Mrs. Washington joins me, Dear Sir, &c.

TO THE YANKEE CLUB OF STEWARTSTOWN, IN THE COUNTY OF TYRONE, IRELAND.

GENTLEMEN,

Mount Vernon, 20 January, 1784.

It is with unfeigned satisfaction, that I accept your congratulation on the late happy and glorious revolution.

The generous indignation against the foes to the rights of human nature, with which you seem to be animated, and the exalted sentiments of liberty, which you appear to entertain, are too consonant to the feelings and principles of the citizens of the United States of America, not to attract their veneration and esteem, did not the affectionate and anxious concern, with which you regarded their struggle for freedom and independence, entitle you to their more particular acknowledg

ments.

If, in the course of our successful contest, any good consequences have resulted to the oppressed kingdom

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of Ireland, it will afford a new source of felicitation to all who respect the interests of humanity.

I am now, Gentlemen, to offer you my best thanks for the indulgent sentiments you are pleased to express of my conduct, and for your benevolent wishes respecting my personal welfare, as well as with regard to a more interesting object, the prosperity of my country. I have the honor to be, with due consideration, &c.

TO THE CHEVALIER JEAN DE HEINTZ.

SIR,

Mount Vernon, 21 January, 1784.

As soon as I had the honor of receiving your letter, containing a proposal of the Order of the Knights of Divine Providence,* I referred the subject of it to the decision of Congress, in my letter to that august body, dated the 28th of August last, a copy of which is enclosed. Whereupon the United States in Congress assembled were pleased to pass their act of the 5th instant, which is properly authenticated by their secretary, and which I have the honor of transmitting herewith.

Notwithstanding it appears to be incompatible with the principles of our national constitution to admit the introduction of any kind of nobility, knighthood, or distinctions of a similar nature, amongst the citizens of our republic, yet I pray you will have the goodness to make known to the Illustrious Knights of the Order

* An order of knighthood, which had recently been instituted in Poland. A proposal had been made to Congress, through General Washington, that they should nominate a number of suitable persons in America to become knights of the order. Congress resolved, that they could not, "consistently with the principles of the confederation," accept the proposal.

of Divine Providence, that we received with the deepest gratitude and most perfect respect this flattering mark of their attention and approbation. For the polite manner in which you have communicated the pleasure of the Order, you will be pleased to accept my best acknowledgments. I have the honor to be. &c.

DEAR SIR,

TO PHILIP SCHUYLER.

Mount Vernon, 21 January, 1784.

Your favor of the 20th of December found me, as you conjectured, by that fireside, from which I had been too long absent for my own convenience; to which I returned with the greatest avidity the moment my public avocations would permit; and from which I hope never again to be withdrawn.

While I am here, solacing myself in my retreat from the busy scenes of life, I am not only made extremely happy by the gratitude of my countrymen in general, but particularly so by the repeated proofs of the kindness and approbation of those, who have been more intimately conversant with my public transactions; and I need scarcely add, that the favorable opinion of no one is more acceptable, than that of yourself.

In recollecting the vicissitudes of fortune we have experienced, and the difficulties we have surmounted, I shall always call to mind the great assistance I have frequently received from you, both in your public and private character. May the blessings of peace amply reward your exertions. May you and your family, to whom the compliments of Mrs. Washington and myself are affectionately presented, long continue to enjoy every species of happiness this world can afford,

I am, dear Sir, &c.

TO CHARLES THOMSON, SECRETARY OF CONGRESS.

DEAR SIR,

Mount Vernon, 22 January, 1784.

The original letter and other papers from the Chevalier de Heintz, respecting the Order of the Knights of Divine Providence, were transmitted to Congress, without a copy being taken. I am at a loss, therefore, in what manner to direct my letter to him; but, if I recollect right, a mode is pointed out for the address by the secretary himself. Let me pray you, therefore, my good Sir, to examine into this matter, and, after giving my letter another cover, put it into the proper channel for conveyance.

If my commission is not necessary for the files of Congress, I should be glad to have it deposited among my own papers. It may serve my grandchildren, some fifty or an hundred years hence, for a theme to ruminate upon, if they should be contemplatively disposed.

We have been so fast locked up in snow and ice since Christmas, that all kinds of intercourse have been suspended; and a duty which I owed my mother, and intended ere this to have performed, has been forced to yield to the intemperance of the weather; but, as this again must submit to the approaching sun, I shall soon be enabled to discharge that duty for which nature and inclination have a call, and shall be ready to welcome my friends to the shade of this vine and fig-tree, where, I hope it is unnecessary to add, I should be exceedingly happy to see you, and any of my late masters, the representatives in Congress. Mrs. Washington, if she knew I was writing to you in this style, would, I am certain, adduce arguments to prove, that I ought to include Mrs. Thomson; but before she could

have half spun the thread of her discourse, it is more than probable I should have nonplused her by yielding readily to the force of her reasoning. With sentiments of sincere regard and esteem,* I am, Sir, &c.

TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.

Mount Vernon, 1 February, 1784.

At length, my dear Marquis, I am 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 hopes of catching a gracious smile, can have very little conception. I have not only retired from all public employments, but I am re

* From Mr. Thomson's Reply.—"With respect to your commission, I have to inform you, that, previous to the receipt of your letter, it had been in agitation among the members to have an order passed for returning it to you in a gold box. A motion has accordingly been made to that effect, which was received with general approbation, and referred to a committee to be drawn up in proper terms. The committee have not yet reported. But I have not the least doubt of its being returned to you in a way, that will be satisfactory; and I heartily wish, that this sacred deposit may be preserved by your children and children's children to the latest posterity, and may prove an incentive to them to emulate the virtues of their worthy and great progenitor." — Annapolis, February 7th. This intention it seems was never fulfilled. The original commission was retained, and is deposited in the department of state of the United States.

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