THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON; BEING HIS CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSES, MESSAGES, AND OTHER PAPERS, OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE, SELECTED AND PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS; WITH A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, NOTES, AND ILLUSTRATIONS. BY JARED SPARKS. VOLUME IX. BOSTON: RUSSELL, ODIORNE, AND METCALF, AND HILLIARD, GRAY, AND CO. 1835. Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, by JARED SPARKS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. CAMBRIDGE: CHARLES FOLSOM, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY. PART THIRD; CONTAINING CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE TIME OF RESIGNING HIS COMMISSION AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY, TO THAT OF HIS INAUGURATION AS PRESIDENT. 136991 PRIVATE LETTERS AFTER THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. TO GOVERNOR CLINTON. MY DEAR SIR, Mount Vernon, 28 December, 1783. After as prosperous a journey as could be expected at this late season of the year, I arrived at my seat the day before Christmas, having previously divested myself of my official character. I am now a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, where I should be happy to see you, if your public business would ever permit, and where, in the mean time, I shall fondly cherish the remembrance of all your former friendship. Although I scarcely need tell you, how much I have been satisfied with every instance of your public conduct, yet I could not suffer Colonel Walker (whose merits are too well known to you to need a recommendation of him from me, if any thing should cast up favorable to his wishes,) to depart for New York, without giving your Excellency one more testimony of the obligations I consider myself under for the spirited and able assistance, which I have often derived from the State under your administration. The scene is at last closed. I feel myself eased of a load of public care. I hope to spend the remainder VOL. IX. 1 A |