George Washington to Providence Citizens, 14 March 1781
To Providence Citizens
[14 March 1781]
Gentn
I am happy in the opportunity which your address affords me of testifying to you how deeply I am penetrated with those demonstrations of attachment which I have experienced from the Inhabitants of this Town. The confidence and affection of his fellow Citizens is the most valuable & agreeable reward a Citizen can receive—Next to the happiness of my Country, this is the most powerful inducement I can have to exert myself in its Service—Conscious of a sincere desire to promote that great object, however Short of my wishes the success of my endeavours may fall I console myself with a perswasion that the goodness of my intentions in some measure justifies your approbation.
The determination you are pleased to express of making every effort for giving vigor to our Military operations is consonant with the Spirit that has uniformly actuated this State; It is by this disposition alone we can hope, under the protection of Heaven to secure the important blessings for which we contend.
With sincere gratitude for your sentiments and wishes towards me,1 I beg you to accept the assurances of that perfect esteem and regard with which I have the honor to be Gentn Yr Most Obedt & Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ADfS, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW addressed his draft to “The Honble Jabez Bowen &ca.” He wrote “Answer to the Address from The Town of Providence” on the docket. For the date given this document, see n.1 below.
The Providence Gazette; and Country Journal for Saturday, 17 March, reported that GW had arrived from Newport on Tuesday afternoon “with his Suite, accompanied by Major-General Howe, and several other Gentlemen of the Army. He was met at the Lower-Ferry by a Number of Gentlemen, and escorted to the House of the Hon. Jabez Bowen, Esq; On his Excellency’s Arrival, he was saluted by a Discharge of Thirteen Cannon, from the Continental Park of Artillery, and from the Shipping in the Harbour; and welcomed by the chearful Countenances of the Inhabitants. In the Evening the Town, and Shipping in the Harbour, were beautifully illuminated,—On Wednesday an elegant Entertainment was provided at the State-House, at which were present his Excellency, the military Gentlemen who attended him here, a Number of the Inhabitants, &c. After Dinner Thirteen Toasts were drank, under Discharges of Cannon; and the Evening concluded with a splendid Ball, which was honored by the Presence of his Excellency General Washington, Gen. Howe, &c. &c.” The American Journal, and General Advertiser (Providence) for 17 March printed the toasts, “at the giving of each of which 13 Cannon were fired: 1 Congress. 2 Our Illustrious Ally the King of France. 3 The King of Spain. 4 The American Army. 5 Count Rochambeau. 6 The French Army and Navy. 7 The Governor and State of Rhode Island. 8 The glorious Memory of those brave Men who have fallen in the Cause of American Liberty. 9 His Excellency Benjamin Franklin, Esq; and the other American Ministers in Europe. 10 The Honourable Mr. Laurens and all our Friends in Captivity. 11 The Trade and Navigation of the United States. 12 Success to the present Expedition to the Southward. 13. May the Virtue and Perseverance of America be crowned with Independence and Liberty” (see also GW to William Greene, 12 March, postscript and n.8).
1. The Providence Gazette; and Country Journal for 17 March printed the address presented to GW on 14 March: “To his Excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States.
“THE Subscribers, in Behalf of the Inhabitants of the Town of Providence, beg Leave to address your Excellency, upon your Arrival in this Place.
“Your Excellency’s great military Abilities; your unquestionable Patriotism, and the perfect Confidence of a free People, just entering into a War with a most formidable Foe, induced Congress to place you at the Head of the American Armies: The Appointment gave us the most sincere Pleasure; and we gratefully acknowledge the kind Providence, which, in the most arduous Enterprizes, and through all the Dangers of your Situation, hath preserved a Life so important to the United States.
“We beg Leave to assure your Excellency, that we will manifest our Attachment to your Excellency, and the great Cause in which we are engaged, by exerting the utmost of our Abilities, in enlisting and supporting such a Force, as, with the Aid of our generous Allies, will be sufficient to bring the War to an happy Issue.
“That your Excellency may be the glorious Instrument of effecting this most desirable Event, which will deliver your Name to Posterity with a Fame equal to that of the most celebrated Heroes of Antiquity; and that you may long enjoy the Honors which will be paid you by a grateful Country.” Former Rhode Island deputy governor Jabez Bowen and five others signed the address. The same newspaper then reported: “Early on Thursday Morning [15 March] his Excellency, with his Suite, s[e]t out for the Westward. He was escorted a few Miles from Town by Major-General Howe, some other military Gentlemen, and a Number of the Inhabitants” (see also , 370–72). GW returned to his headquarters at New Windsor (see GW to Rochambeau, 16 March, n.1).