1. Stone enclosed a printed broadside of resolutions passed on 13 Dec. by the Maryland House of Delegates in response to GW’s Farewell Address of 19 September. The broadside, signed by Maryland governor Stone, reads: “RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, That the President of the United States merits the everlasting gratitude of the people; that his profound wisdom in council, and eminent exertions in the field, aided by the virtue and valour of his fellow-citizens, triumphed over British invasion, and led his country through an arduous war to victory and to happiness; establishing its independence by a revolution unsullied with a crime, and distinguished for moderation, virtue and humanity. That his wise and steady administration of the general government, promptness in suppressing domestic insurrection, firmness in defeating improper exertions of foreign influence, and perseverance in the system of neutrality, have continued to us those advantages which result from a stable and free government, and have crowned us with the blessings of peace, liberty and prosperity, whilst Europe and the Indies have been convulsed with the horrors of a dreadful and desolating war.

“RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, That his late paternal [farewell] address, the result of much reflection and experience, is eminently calculated by its counsels to secure the continuance of the independence, peace, happiness and prosperity of our country, if steadily pursued by his successors, and firmly adhered to by the people; wisely founding the principles of our political conduct on the immoveable basis of morality and justice, aided by the influence of religion, learning and virtue in private life.

“RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, That to perpetuate this valuable present in the most striking view to posterity, it be printed and published with the laws of this session, as an evidence of our approbation of its political axioms, and a small testimony of the affection we bear to the precepts of Him, to whom, under Divine Providence, we are principally indebted for our greatest political blessings.

“RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY, That it is the earnest prayer of the legislature of Maryland, that the president, in his contemplated retirement, may find all the blessings of domestic happiness, and live to experience the salutary principles of his administration, operating through his successors to encrease the independence, prosperity and welfare of the American people” (DLC:GW). The bottom of the broadside contains a handwritten note, certified by clerk Archibald Van Horn: “By the Senate Decemr 14th 1796 Read and unanimously assented to.” The Maryland senate journal indicates that the senate agreed to these resolutions on 13 December. The house journal records on 14 Dec. that “the resolutions relative to the president of the United States, were sent to the senate by the clerk” (Md. Archives description begins Archives of Maryland. 72 vols. Baltimore, 1883–1972. description ends , 105:22–28, 67–68). The allusion in the broadside to the “domestic insurrection” probably refers to GW’s successful repression of the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794.

2. For a previous Maryland resolution praising GW, see John Eager Howard to GW, 26 Nov. 1795, and n.1 to that document.

Stone served as Maryland governor from November 1794 until the fall of 1797.

3. GW replied to Stone from Philadelphia on 23 Dec.: “Yesterday I received your letter of the 16th instant, covering the resolutions of the Senate and House of Delegates of the State of Maryland, passed on the 13th & 14th—The very obliging and friendly terms in which you have made this communication, merit my sincere thanks.

“The manner in which the two branches of the legislature of Maryland have expressed their sense of my services, is too honourable, and too affectionate ever to be forgotten. Without assigning to my exertions the extensive influence they are pleased to ascribe to them, I may with great truth say that, the exercise of every faculty I possessed was joined to the efforts of the virtue, talents and valour of my fellow-citizens to effect our Independence: and I concur with the Legislature in repeating, with pride and joy, what will be an everlasting honor to our country, that our revolution was so distinguished for moderation virtue & humanity, as to merit the eulogium they have pronounced of being unsullied with a crime.

“With the same entire devotion to my country, every act of my civil Administration has been aimed to secure to it the advantages which result from a stable & free government; and with gratitude to Heaven, I unite with the Legislature of Maryland in the pleasing reflections, that our country has continued to feel the blessings of peace, liberty & prosperity, whilst Europe and the Indies have been convulsed with the horrors of a dreadful & desolating wa⟨r⟩—My ardent prayers are offered that those afflicted regions may now speedily see their calamities terminated, and also feel the blessings of returning peace.

“I cannot omit my acknowledgments to the Senate and House of Delegates for the manner in which they have noticed my late Address to my fellow citizens. This notice, with similar acts in other Sta⟨tes,⟩ leads me to hope that, the advice which therein I took the liberty to offer as the result of much experience ⟨and⟩ ref⟨lec⟩tion, may produce some good.

“Their kind wishes for my domestic happiness, in my contemplated retirement, are entitled to my cordial thanks. If it shall please God to prolong a life already far advanced into the vale of years, ⟨no⟩ attending felicity can equal that which ⟨I⟩ shall feel in seeing ⟨the adm⟩inistration of ⟨our⟩ government operating ⟨towards⟩ the Independence, prosperity and ⟨happiness of⟩ the American People” (ALS [letterpress copy], DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW). Where the letterpress copy is illegible, the text in angle brackets has been taken from the letter-book copy. For the reception of GW’s Farewell Address by state legislatures, see Reactions to the Farewell Address, 30 Sept. 1796–27 Jan. 1797; see also Paltsits, Farewell Address description begins Victor Hugo Paltsits. Washington’s Farewell Address: In facsimile, with transliterations of all the drafts of Washington, Madison, & Hamilton, together with their correspondence and other supporting documents. New York, 1935. description ends , 60–61.