From George Washington to David Humphreys, 12 June 1796
To David Humphreys
(Private)
Philadelphia 12th June 1796.
My dear Humphreys
I could not suffer Capt: OBrian to return without carrying along with him, a testimony of my continued friendship and regard for you, in a few lines.1 In the diction of which, I must be concise: for a long and interesting Session of Congress, which only closed on the first instt, and many laws which require immediate attention & execution;2 added to a preparation for a journey to Mount Vernon (tomorrow) for a little relaxation from the unpleasant Scenes which have been, and are continually presenting themselves to my view—will not, however well disposed I might otherwise be, permit me to be profuse in my declaration.
From the Office of State, you will receive every thing that relates to public concerns; and the Gazettes (which I presume will accompany the dispatches) will give you a pretty good idea of the state of Politics, and Parties in this country; and will shew you, at the sametime (if Bache’s Aurora is among them) in what manner I am attacked for persevering, steadily, in measures which, to me, appear necessary to preserve us (during the conflicts of the Belligerent powers) in a state of tranquillity. But these attacks, unjust, and as unpleasant as they are, will occasion no change in my conduct;3 nor will they produce any other effect in my mind than to increase the solicitude which, long since, has taken fast hold of my breast, to enjoy, in the shades of retirement, the consolation of believing that I have rendered my country every service to which my abilities were competent—not from pecuniary or ambitious motives, nor from a desire to provide for any one farther than their intrinsic merit entitled them to; and surely not with a view to bring any of my own relations into Office.
Malignity, therefore, may dart its shafts, but no earthly power can deprive me of the consolation of knowing that I have not, in the whole course of my Administration (however numerous they may have been) committed an intentional error.
Whenever you shall think with the Poet, or Philosopher “that the Post of honor is a private Station”4 and may be disposed to enjoy yourself in my shades—I do not mean the shades below—where, if you put it off long—I may be reclining, I can only repeat that you will meet with the same cordial reception at Mount Vernon, that you have always found at that place; and that I am, and always shall be, Your sincere friend, & Affectionate Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. Mrs Washington who keeps her health as well as usual presents her best wishes to you. Betsey Custis is married to Mr Law (who was, I believe, in this Country when you were here last) an English Gentleman but last from the East Indies, of considerable fortune, and lives in the Federal City. Patcy you know was married ’ere you left us, to Mr Peter’s—Nelly has spent the last Winter with her mother—Washington grows fast—& We have just heard that all Doctr Stuarts family are well.5
ALS, NNGL; LB, DLC:GW. Humphreys replied to GW on 1 Jan. 1797 (DLC:GW).
1. For Capt. Richard O’Bryen, see Timothy Pickering to GW, 10 June 1796, n.5.
2. See Acts Requiring Presidential Action, c.8 June, printed as an enclosure with Pickering to GW, 8 June.
3. GW may have referenced Letter III from “PAULDING” to Benjamin Franklin Bache, who edited the Aurora General Advertiser (Philadelphia). Paulding’s letter, which appeared in the Aurora for 9 June, claimed that the Jay Treaty had “given the French Republic a sufficient inducement to treat us with severity” because it gave “evident advantages to Great Britain at the expence of the French Republic” and “thus violated our neutrality.” Paulding averred that American neutrality had been “a fraudulent one. … Indeed nothing but the universal sentiment of enthusiastic affection displayed by the people of the United States” towards France “could have subdued the Machiavelian policy” displayed in the questions that GW posed to the cabinet in his letter of 18 April 1793. GW’s letter, Paulding concluded, “has stamped upon its front in characters brazen enough for idolatry itself to comprehend, perfidy and ingratitude. … For the honor of the American character & of human nature, it is to be lamented, that the records of the United States exhibit such a stupendous monument of degeneracy. It will almost require the authenticity of holy writ to persuade posterity, that it is not a libel ingeniously contrived to injure the reputation of ‘the saviour of his country.’” GW continued to follow this anonymous critic (see his letter to Timothy Pickering, 18 July, and n.2 to that document; see also 280–81).
4. GW quoted from act 4, scene 4, of Joseph Addison’s play Cato: “When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, The post of honour is a private station.”
5. See Thomas Law to GW, 11 May.