From George Washington to Maria I of Portugal, 11 March 1794
To Maria I of Portugal
[Philadelphia, March 11, 1794]
Great and good Friend
It was with the most sincere pleasure, that I was informed by your Majesty’s highly-esteemed letter, of the addition made to your domestic happiness, and to the joy of your Kingdom, by the birth of the Princess of Beira. This event, so interesting in itself, is heightened by the favorable escape of the Princess of Brazil, from the danger attached to it.1
Your Majesty has a full claim upon the congratulations of the United States, in every instance of your prosperity, from the noble and friendly part, which you have lately adopted, by granting convoys to our Trade, against the Corsairs of Algiers.2
With the warmest hope, that the Amity, now subsisting between your Majesty and the United States, will be perpetual, I pray God to keep you, Great and good Friend, under his holy protection.
Written at Philadelphia the Eleventh day of March 1794. Your good Friend
Go: Washington3
By the President of the
United
States of America
Edm: Randolph ⟨Secretary of State⟩
LS, Torre do Tombe: National Archives Institute, Lisbon, Portugal; LB, DNA, RG 59, Credences.
1. The birth of the Princess of Beira, Maria Teresa (d. 1874), on 29 April 1793 was announced in a letter to GW of that same date (LS [Portuguese], DNA: RG 59, Communications from Heads of Foreign States). The Princess of Brazil (Carlota Joaquina; 1775–1830) was married to the future John VI (1767–1826), who was a son of Maria I of Portugal (1734–1816).
2. On the protection offered to American shipping by Portugal, see David Humphreys to GW, 31 Jan., and n.1 to that document.
3. The following text and signature is in the writing of Edmund Randolph. The text in angle brackets is from the letter-book copy.