To George Washington from John Lathrop, Jr., 16 July 1796
From John Lathrop, Jr.
Boston July 16 1796
Sir,
The enclosed oration solicits your acceptance.1 The manner in which it was received by an assembly of more than 2000 freemen, is a fresh instance of the warm federalism of the inhabitants of Boston, their unabated attachment to your person, their decided approbation of your administration and their firm confidence in your wisdom and integrity. At the close of that part, which contains a faint tribute to your services, your patriotism and virtues, every voice and every hand united in the loudest acclamations and testimonials of applause. The partizans of faction are silent—they hang their heads, overwhelmed with shame and confusion. The triumph of Merit is the severest punishment of Vice, and thus, it was reserved for you, Sir, to inflict the vengeance of heaven, upon the sons of lawless Anarchy. The very arrows, which they had aimed at you, have recoiled upon their own bosoms and become the instruments of their destruction. With sentiments of respect, gratitude and affection, as lasting and ardent, as they are inexpressible, I am, Your most humble, obliged and devoted Servant
John Lathrop, junr
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Lathrop enclosed his An Oration, Pronounced July 4, 1796, at the Request of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in Commemoration of the Anniversary of American Independence (Boston, 1796). A portion celebrated GW’s presidency: “Americans could not hesitate in their choice of a chief magistrate. From the calm shades of Mount Vernon, called by the voice of his country, he, who was our cloud and pillar, during our pilgrimage and warfare, arose to govern and guard us in peace. Every heart beat with transports—every tongue hailed him welcome, thrice welcome!—Under his wise and unequalled administration, all ranks and degrees of our fellow citizens have been happy and prosperous. The lofty pyramid of American glory has been compleated. … And though ingratitude has dared to impeach the most inflexible integrity;—though disappointed ambition has emitted all its venom to blacken the fair reputation of unsullied virtue; though the best intentions have been misrepresented and the noblest motives ascribed to viler purposes than ever were conceived by a Clodius or a Cataline, the confidence of the American People can never be removed, nor their affections diverted from their long tried, their long loved WASHINGTON” (pp. 15–16).
GW replied to Lathrop from Mount Vernon on 8 Aug.: “I have received, & pray you to accept my thanks, for your Oration delivered the 4th of July, which you so obliging as to send” (ALS, DLC:GW, ser. 9).
The Oration remained in GW’s library at his death (see 120).