George Washington Papers
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From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 March 1797

To Henry Knox

Philadelphia 2d March 1797.

My dear Sir,

Amongst the last acts of my political life, and before I go hence into retirement, profound, will be the acknowledgment of your kind and affectionate letter from Boston—dated the 15th of January.

From the friendship I have always borne you—and from the interest I have ever taken in whatever relates to your prosperity & happiness, I participated in the sorrows which I knew you must have felt for your late heavy losses.1 But it is not for man to scan the wisdom of Providence. The best he can do, is to submit to its decrees. Reason, religion & Philosophy, teaches us to do this,2 but ’tis time alone that can ameliorate the pangs of humanity, & soften its woes.

To the wearied traveller who sees a resting place, and is bending his body to lean thereon, I now compare myself; but to be suffered to do this in peace, is I perceive too much, to be endured by some. To misrepresent my motives; to reprobate my politics; and to weaken the confidence which has been reposed in my administration—are objects which cannot be relinquished by those who, will be satisfied with nothing short of a change in our political System.3 The consolation however, which results from conscious rectitude, and the approving voice of my Country—unequivocally expressed by its Representatives—deprives their sting of its poison, and places in the same point of view both the weakness, and malignity of their efforts.4

Although the prospect of retirement is most grateful to my soul, and I have not a wish to mix again in the great world, or to partake in its politics, yet, I am not without my regrets at parting with (perhaps never more to meet) the few intimates whom I love, among these, be assured you are one.

The account given by Mr Bingham and others, of your agreeable situation, and prospects at St George’s gave me infinite pleasure;5 and no one wishes more sincerely than I do, that they may increase with your years. The remainder of my life (which in the course of nature cannot be long) will be occupied in rural amusements, and though I shall seclude myself as much as possible from the noisy and bustling crowd, none more than myself, would be regaled by the company of those I esteem, at Mount Vernon: more than 20 miles from which, after I arrive there, it is not likely I ever shall be.

As early in next week as I can make arrangements for it, I shall commence my journey for Mount Vernon.6 Tomorrow, at dinner, I shall, as a servant of the public, take my leave of the President Elect, of the foreign characters, heads of Departments, &ca—And the day following, with pleasure, I shall witness the inauguration of my Successor to the Chair of government.7

On the subject of Politics I shall say nothing; you will have an opportunity of seeing & conversing with many of the Legislators; from whom, so far as it relates to the proceedings of their own body, they can give you the details. The Gazettes will furnish the rest. Mrs Washington unites with me in every good wish for you, Mrs Knox & family, and with unfeigned truth, I am Yours always, & affectionately

Go: Washington

ALS, NNGL; ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW; copy, MeTK.

1GW refers to the recent deaths of several of Knox’s children (see Knox to GW, 15 Jan., and notes 2 and 3 to that document).

2GW had expressed similar sentiments after the death of Frances Bassett Washington Lear, the wife of Tobias Lear (see GW to Elizabeth Parke Custis Law, 30 March 1796). GW again articulated a comparable conception of Providence on 27 Feb. 1798, when he wrote his nephew, William Augustine Washington, about the recent deaths of two of William’s children: “But these are the decrees of an Allwise Providence, against whose dictates the skill, or foresight of Man can be of no avail; it is incumbent upon him therefore, to submit with as little repining as the sensibility of his nature will admit. This will have its course, but may be greatly ameliorated by philosophical reflection & resignation” (Papers, Retirement Series description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series. 4 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99. description ends 2:109–11).

3Character attacks had been launched against GW in newspapers and other publications in the past year. These included Thomas Paine’s letter to GW accusing him of duplicity and other misconduct, and the republication of spurious letters attributed to GW (see Paine to GW, 30 July 1796, source note; see also John Carey to GW, 1 Oct. 1796, and n.1 to that document; Edward Newenham to GW, 15 Feb. 1797; and GW to Timothy Pickering, 3 March 1797). GW’s administration also received intense criticism for its foreign relations policies toward France and the ratification of the Jay Treaty (see GW to Alexander Hamilton, 2 Nov. 1796; and Hamilton to GW, 19 Nov. 1796).

4The addresses to GW of 12 Dec. 1796 from the U.S. Senate and of 16 Dec. 1796 from the U.S. House of Representatives expressed regret at GW’s retirement and praised his virtues and administration. For other laudatory addresses that GW received from citizens across the nation, see Reactions to the Farewell Address, 30 Sept. 1796–27 Jan. 1797; and Reactions to GW’s Retirement, 23 Jan.–3 March 1797.

5U.S. senator William Bingham’s account of Knox’s situation at his Maine estate on the Saint George River may have been verbal; no letter from Bingham on that subject has been found. Bingham had visited Knox in the summer of 1796 (see Knox to GW, 15 Jan. 1797).

6GW left Philadelphia for Mount Vernon on 9 March.

Before leaving the nation’s capital, GW inventoried the dinnerware, artwork, and other items in his Philadelphia residence at 190 High Street, which he had rented in his early presidency from Robert Morris. This undated inventory, headed “Household furniture,” is in GW’s writing and is at DLC:GW. The inventory catalogs the household objects according to the following broad categories: “Plate,” “Plated-Ware,” “Japan-Ware,” “Looking-Glasses,” knives and forks, “Andirons,” “Fenders,” shovels and tongs, clocks, upholstery, “Counterpains,” rugs and blankets, “Lustres,” girandoles, sconces, lamps, “Cabinet-Work,” and stoves. Under each of these categories, GW made two separate columns to distinguish the objects that were government property from those that GW had purchased with his private funds. The first column was headed “Furnished by the U. States” or “Public,” while the other fell under the headings “Purchased by GW” and “Private.” The inventory also lists the value of each article in pounds. Many articles were available for sale and auctioned off in March (see Freeman, Washington description begins Douglas Southall Freeman. George Washington: A Biography. 7 vols. New York, 1948–57. description ends , 7:443). Tobias Lear informed GW on 15 March that “The Lustres—Stoves & other fixtures in the House will be taken by the President [John Adams] at cost or a fair valuation” (Papers, Retirement Series description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series. 4 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99. description ends 1:36–37). Under “Plate,” the articles furnished by the government include 2 bread baskets, 3 pairs of butter ladles, 4 dozen table spoons, a teapot, and 2 “Flower pots.” Counted among the items purchased by GW in the same category are 8 “Skewers,” one tea tray, and a teapot. The “Plated-Ware” in the presidential household comprised of a silver frame, an “oval Waiter,” 8 pairs of “gilt Tumblers,” 4 pairs of large candlesticks, and numerous other items. GW used his funds to purchase a variety of items in this group, including 4 large wine coolers and patent lamps. Under “Japan-Ware,” the inventory included 2 tea trays and 17 “Oval Waiters with landscapes.” In the same category, the only items that GW bought were 2 plate warmers and an “India Tea Tray.” GW spent well over £100 on looking-glasses. Carving, dessert, and table knives figured among the cutlery. GW only listed two clocks. The one provided by the public was “On the Stairs.” It was valued at £30. The clock “On the Chimney,” purchased by GW, is not accompanied by a monetary amount. The household upholstery included bed pillows, 4 hair mattresses, window curtains, and “Venetian Windw blinds.” The inventory shows that GW spent $32.63 on “Yellow Moreen Window Curtains,” and $15.40 on “Blue furniture for front drawg Room.” GW noted that one large mattress “went to Virginia.” The few items that are listed under girandoles and sconces were provided by the public. Under “Lamps,” GW recorded 12 “Oval Japan lookg glass sent by Go[u]v[erneu]r Morris.” GW cataloged 2 “Mahogany ding Tables,” 3 breakfast tables, 2 “Circular side boards,” knife boxes, and a “Night Stool,” among the many items provided by the public for “Cabinet Work.” GW’s personal expenditures for this category included a table for Martha Washington, 2 armchairs for the “yellow drawing room,” 1 “Cloaths press,” 3 chimney boards, and “Sundries for Mrs Fanny Washington.” Finally, while no stoves provided at public expense are listed, GW had bought several stoves during his presidency. These included Franklin stoves and a “Ship stove.” At the end of the inventory, GW wrote commentary about the dilapidated state of table linen, “Sheeting,” china, and “Glass-ware which was furnished at the expence of the United States” (see also GW to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 14 Oct. 1796, n.2). GW recorded that many of the damaged and worn-out objects were “replaced (at private expence) over & over again.” GW added: “Nor has any account been taken of the Kitchen furniture, as that also, except a few of the most durable articles, (which will be left) has been broke, burn⟨t⟩ out, & otherwise reduced … The Carpets … all on the floors, at present, have been purchased on private account.”

In a separate undated document, GW inventoried the “Prints purchased and at what prices.” This inventory reflects the vast number of prints acquired by GW during his presidency. In the document, GW recorded details such as the inventory number, cost, dimensions, and theme of each print. He also listed amounts in pounds under a column headed “sold for.” Some of the prints, including Morning and Evening, Moonlight, and Storm with Lightning, portray landscapes. GW also collected a number of prints that depict classical subjects in rustic settings. These include “Cupid’s Pastime” and “Nymphs” (DLC:GW). GW mostly sold or auctioned off the furniture and other objects in the executive mansion, but decided to transport much of the artwork to Mount Vernon. However, he did sell some artwork, while retaining some furniture and chinaware (see Joseph Manca, George Washington’s Eye: Landscape, Architecture, and Design at Mount Vernon [Baltimore, 2012], 171–72, 199–200).

7The Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser for 6 March described the inauguration of John Adams, which took place on 4 March at noon in the “Chamber of the House of Representatives.” Adams, Vice President Thomas Jefferson, and GW received applause as they entered the chamber. GW stood to Adams’s right during the ceremony.

The Impartial Herald (Newburyport, Mass.) for 14 March 1797 printed the following item: “On Saturday the 4th March … At twelve o’clock the Senate went down to the room of the Representatives and having taken their seats, The President elect came in attended by the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court of the United States the Secretaries of State, Foreign Ministers, &c, and preceeded by the Sheriffs and other Peace Officers of the City. He placed himself in the speakers chair.

“The President elect … arose and made an elegant and learned Address to the Senate, and to the audience, in which he paid a just and respectful attention to his virtuous Predecessor who attended there as a private citizen. The oath was then administered to him according to the Constitution, by the Chief Justice of the United States.”

Adams’s inaugural address contained significant praise for GW and his administration. Adams pronounced the following: “Such is the amiable and interesting system of government … under the administration of a citizen who, by a long course of great actions, regulated by prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude, conducting a people … to independence and peace, to increasing wealth and unexampled prosperity, has merited the gratitude of his fellow citizens … and secured immortal glory with posterity.” Adams wished GW a long life in his voluntary retirement and added: “His name may still be a rampart, and the knowledge that he lives a bulwark, against all open or secret enemies of his country’s peace” (Richardson, Messages and Papers description begins James D. Richardson, comp. A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789–1897. 10 vols. Washington, D.C., 1896–99. description ends , 1:230).

The Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser for 6 March described the celebration held in honor of GW on Inauguration Day at John Bill Ricketts’s circus amphitheater in Philadelphia. The report announced that Philadelphia merchants “gave a Public Dinner, at Ricketts’s Circus, to GEORGE WASHINGTON, in testimony of their approbation of his conduct as President of the United States.” Attendees, including foreign ministers, congressmen, Pennsylvania governor Thomas Mifflin, and merchants, first met at Oeller’s Hotel and marched from there to the circus. According to the report, “Not less than two hundred and forty persons were present, and a most sumptuous entertainment was provided.” A total of seventeen toasts was given, including those raised to GW, Adams, Jefferson, the United States, Pennsylvania, agriculture, American manufacturers, arts and sciences, and the U.S. army and navy.

In a letter of 5 March to his wife, Abigail, Adams wrote: “your dearest Friend never had a more trying day than Yesterday. A Solenm Scene it was indeed and it was made more affecting to me, by the Presence of the General, whose Countenance was as serene and unclouded as the day. He Seem’d to me to enjoy a Tryumph over me. Methought I heard him think Ay! I am fairly out and you fairly in! see which of Us will be happiest. When the Ceremony was over he came and made me a visit and cordially congratulated me and wished my Administration might be happy Successful and honourable” (Adams Family Correspondence description begins Lyman H. Butterfield et al., eds. Adams Family Correspondence. 13 vols. to date. Cambridge, Mass., 1963–. description ends , 12:9–11).

For other events of 4 March that preceded the inauguration, see Circular to United States Senators, 1 March, and n.1 to that document.

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