My Brother Washington, I heartily rejoice with thee, that a door is fully opened for retiring from a station, which nothing caused thee to hold, but the free voice of fellow citizens and the desire of doing them all the good which the abilities God had bestowed on thee would permit. Envy never once rose in my breast at thee in they public station, but pity and prayer: knowing thy pillow was often set with sharpest thorn, and thy bed as comfortless as the keen pointed thistle. Thine eye hath gone sleepless through the long dark night. Thy breast hath heaved with sorrow at the festive board. Thy soul hath felt the envenomed point of the detractor’s two edged tongue, and that too for deeds the best calculated for the safety and happiness of the detractor himself, had he shewn that he was a worthy man. Thy task hath been great; thy work trying. The welfare of millions alive; and of multiplied millions yet to live, hath hung upon thy heart and wrung the tear of pity from thy manly eye. In the face of all thy exertions, thou hast seen anarchy and slavery on the point of entering this young and rising Empire: the anguish bitter, the prospect awful. Yet in the goodness of our great Father, he hath held thee up; made thee firm: carried thee through the scenery; and now bids thee retire; and stand ready for the great world of eternity. My Brother, my heart is glad for thee: I bid thee welcom to thy house, and all those delights and earthly agreeables which encircle thy domestic retreat. To sweeten all thy sweets may the presence of God go with thee. May he pour the balm of love into thy heart. Make thee live: and give thee leave to die. Give thy heart a cast like his own: sweetly bow thy will into his: charm thy soul with his own boundless benevolence: pour in upon thee every grace to meeten thee to retire from this disappointing world; and enter upon the inheritance of the Saints in light; “Where storms of malice never blow, temp[t]ations never come.” Heaven lies forward, the sweetest rest, the most incomprehensable good, the joy of pious souls: where are unfolded the beauties of the universe, and the immediate manifestation of God forever enjoyed. The harmony sweet; the air love; the breath praise; the whole family agreed; one spirit moves the whole. A compleat state of retirement! O my Brother, shall we after a few days meet there! Shall we soon retire from this noisy, busy, wicked world? And shall we go home to our heavenly Father’s house? Shall we mingle songs with the great family of God? and know sorrow, pain and disappointment no more? Angels, Sister spirits will early unite with him who sets on the throne of worlds, to bid us welcom to that peaceful retirement, of which thy present retirement from public life is a speaking emblem. But it is me, a poor, empty unworthy worm, who often feel not worthy to speak to the poorest creature on the footstool of the great God, who now bids thee welcom to thy domestic retreat. Brother you will forgive a brother writing, when it is pure friendship to a man, who has been and still is a friend of mankind, that hath thus led my pen. My heart was full, and benevolence bid me write. I have no particular end to answer in writing only to congratulate a brother in his retirement, who has had a great share of toils, trials, and has been instrumental in the hand of God to do eminent good to mankind, unless it might be that I may receive a few lines from thee, and open a door for correspondance, that I might be the happy gainer. That we may both stand well prepared to obey the sommons of the Parent of the universe to retire from this world, is the ardent and constant prayer of your sincere friend and affectionate Brother;