Address from the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, 22 February 1797
Address from the Pennsylvania
Society of the Cincinnati
February 22nd 1797.
Sir,
Upon this auspicious day—and in contemplation of an approaching public event, the most affecting, which can ever occur to us, either as Men, as Citizens, or as your former fellow Soldiers, we desire to congratulate, and address you.
As Men we offer to you the homage of a pure and heartfelt affection—As Citizens we express to you the gratitude, which results from a just sense of the highest obligations—and as fellow-Soldiers we declare the respectful and inviolable attachment, which we feel to a beloved and venerated Chief.
The moment, in which America is to lose the public services of her most illustrious Citizen, would indeed be inconsolable, did not the review of his wise, firm, and virtuous administration, as Chief Magistrate, present a series of conduct, which it will be the pride and happiness of his Successors to emulate and attain.
With this consolatory reflection, we naturally associate the proud sentiment that, in the instance of your dignified retirement from office, our country will exhibit to the world the rare and interesting spectacle that official station and authority are not required to obtain and to continue the utmost distinction among Mankind, or to command the highest degree of their admiration and applause.
To that gracious Providence, whose goodness has heretofore preserved you a prime Agent of human happiness, we prefer our fervent supplications for your present and future felicity. Signed by order and on behalf of the Society—February 22nd 1797.
Tho. Mifflin
DS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW. The present document is headed: “The Address of the Members of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati—and of the Members from the other State Societies at present in Philadelphia.” This address was published in Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia) for 23 Feb. 1797.
On this date, the militia officers of Philadelphia city and county also wrote an address to GW. That address, written at Philadelphia and signed by Brig. Gen. William Macpherson “By order of the Officers of the Militia of the City and County of Philadelphia,” reads: “While offering to you our congratulations on the return of this auspicious day, we cannot refrain from mingling an expression of extreme regret at the approaching close of your Political Life.
“When we beheld you as Commander in Chief of the Armies of America, leading us to Victory and the establishment of National independence, and after having accomplished this grand object, retiring from your exalted Station, and embracing the undistinguished Character of a Private Citizen we beleived the measure of your fame was full.
“But when in obedience to the voice of your Country you again relinquished the sweets of domestic retirement; and we beheld the Storms which threaten’d our happiness dispell’d by the Justice, Wisdom, Vigilance and firmness of your Conduct, public Credit maintained, our inestimable Constitution protected, insurrection crushed, and the National Peace preserved.
“Language was wanting to express the fullness of our feelings—Under such impressions, great as our confidence is in your Successor, we cannot but lament the resolution you have taken to resign the Helm.
“And now, Sir, in our Capacity as Citizens and as Soldiers, ever ready to Obey and support the Laws of our Country—we bid you a tender, an Affectionate Farewell: and while we offer our earnest supplications, that every Hour of your remaining Years may be as peaceful and happy to yourself, as the most splendid period of your public Stations have been beneficial to your Country, we rest with perfect confidence, that the close of a life of Virtue and of Glory will be crowned with an Eternity of Bliss ineffable” (DS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW).
In a letter of this date, GW replied to the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati “& the Members of the other State societies of the Cincinnati at present in Philada.” His letter, dated “United States,” reads: “Your congratulations, & the expression of your attachment & approbation of my public services, are received with gratitude & reciprocated with sincerity.
“Endeared to me by every consideration of public & private worth, I shall carry into that retirement, which you are pleased to mention in terms so flattering, an invariable affection & esteem towards the faithful comrades of my military career; & my best prayers will be offered for their present and future happiness” (L [retained copy], in Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr.’s writing, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW).
GW’s undated reply to militia officers reads: “I receive, as I ought, with great sensibility, the congratulations on this day of so respectable a body as the officers of the Militia of the City & County of Philada.
“Your favorable sentiments of my exertions to promote the prosperity and happiness of our Country, cannot but be pleasing to me; for be assured the approving voice of my Countrymen is the most grateful reward which can be offered.
“The patriotism, uprightness and abilities of him who is to succeed to the station I now have the honor to hold, will leave you no room to regret my retirement.
“For your affectionate farewell, & supplications for my future peace & happiness accept, gentlemen, my warmest thanks: and I sincerely pray that you may collectively & individually enjoy uninterrupted honor, prosperity & felicity” (L [retained copy], in Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr.’s writing, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW).
The addresses from the members of the Society of the Cincinnati and the militia officers were presented to GW on this date during the birthday festivities given in his honor. The Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser for 23 Feb. 1797 printed the following report: “Yesterday was the anniversary of the birth day of the President of the United States. … The day was observed with unusual demonstrations of festivity and rejoicing. The dawn was ushered in by the firing a federal salute of sixteen cannon and the ringing of bells. … The officers of the militia of the city and county met at eleven o’clock at the State house, and marched from thence to the house of the President, to whom they presented an address—they then returned to the State House and accompanied the society of the Cincinnati in their visit to the President, who also presented an address. The President received also the congratulations of foreign public characters, and of a numerous concourse of citizens, ladies and gentlemen. At 12 o’clock another federal salute was fired—in the evening there was a ball and supper, given on the occasion by the City Dancing Assembly, at Rickett’s Amphitheatre, which for splendor, taste and elegance, has not been equalled in the United States.” John Bill Ricketts’s circus amphitheater was located in Philadelphia at the corner of Chestnut and Sixth streets.
The Philadelphia Minerva for 25 Feb. 1797 reported: “The birth-day of the President of the United States, never was celebrated with more sincere joy than it was in this city on Wednesday last [22 Feb.], by all classes of citizens. … several officers of government, civil and military, private gentlemen and foreigners … all paid their respects to the President at his house.” The “managers of the Dancing Assembly regulated the Dances” at “Rickets’s Pantheon.”
Henrietta Liston, the wife of British minister Robert Liston, provided a detailed account of GW’s birthday celebrations in her letter of 24 Feb. 1797 to her uncle, James Jackson: “Rickets’s Amphitheatre was fitted up & in the Evening a Ball given to about a thousand Persons; the President appeared in the American Uniform, (blue & buff,) with the Cross of Cincinatus at his breast in diamonds, it is on this occasion only that the order is permitted to appear. … it was at last, agreed that on the Generals Birth day those who survived might show their cross, & to be remembered no more. … I went in [to the Ball] about Seven OClock to the Presidents Box, from which we had a very compleat view of the Company; the Country dances & Cottillions were danced verging from the Centre … so that three hundred Persons moved at the same time. … at eleven oClock Supper was announced, The President walked alone, his March playing; He was followed by Mrs Washington handed by the Vice President, I went next handed by the Portegueze Minister [Cipriano Ribeiro Freire], then his Lady handed by Mr Liston, the Wife of the first Senator handed by the Spanish Minister [Carlos Martinez de Yrujo y Tacon]. … the supper tables were very splendid, the President & his Party sat at the centre one, the others going in straight lined from that, … a trumpet sounded, & the Company huzza’d the President rose drank their health, & thanked them for the last honor done him” (StEdNL: Liston Papers; see also , 3d ser., 11 [October 1954]:608–9).
James Iredell, an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, also described the festivities in his letter of 9 Feb.–3 March 1797 to his wife, Hannah Johnston Iredell. Under 24 Feb., Iredell wrote: “The President’s birthday (the 22d) was celebrated here with every possible mark of attachment, affection and respect, rendered affecting beyond all expression, by its being in some degree a parting scene. Mrs. Washington was moved even to tears, with the mingled emotions of gratitude for such strong proofs of public regard, and the new prospect of uninterrupted enjoyment of domestic life. … I never saw the President look better, or in finer spirits, but his emotions were too powerful to be concealed. He could sometimes scarcely speak. Three rooms of his house were almost entirely full from 12 to 3. … At the Amphitheatre … The President staid till between 12 and 1” (, 2:493). Iredell, who often socialized with GW and Martha Washington, evidently dined with them on 9 Feb. (see , 2:491).