From George Washington to John Lloyd and Hugh Rutledge, 28 May 1784
To John Lloyd and Hugh Rutledge
Mount Vernon (Virga) 28th May 84
Gentn
It was not until the 24th Instt (after my return from Philadelphia) that I had the honor to receive your Joint favor of the 10th of Feby.
If the happiness I feel from the restoration of Peace, after a long and arduous struggle for the rights & liberties of our Country, sweetened by the enjoymt of domestic life, could be much encreased by any additional circumstance, it certainly would be so by the polite & flattering terms in which you, Gentn, have been pleased to mention my past endeavours, to effect the former.
I pray you, Gentlemen, to present the enclosed to the Honble the Senate & representatives of the Ho. of Assembly of the State of So. Carolina,1 and to be assured, that with the greatest respect & consideration I have the honor to be Gentn
ADf, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.
1. The text of a draft of GW’s response of this date to the South Carolina legislature’s address of 10 Feb. 1784 is: “It was with pleasure which is more easy to conceive than express I received your congratulations on the restoration of Peace, & the happy establishment of the freedom, and Independence of the United States of America.
“To meet the plaudits of my Countrymen for the part I have acted in the revolution, more than compensates for the toils I have undergone in the course of an arduous contest; and to have them expressed in such indulgent, and flattering terms as are contained in your Communication of the 10th of Feby, is not more honorable than it is pleasing to me.
“Permit me, Gentlemen, on this occasion of general joy, to congratulate you & your State in a particular manner upon its present repose, & recovery from these scenes of accumulated distresses for which it has been remarkable—and whilst we have abundt cause to rejoice at the fair prospect which a beneficent Provid[enc]e has l[ai]d before us to assure you of my entire beleif that the wisdom & liberallity of the People of So. Carolina will leave nothing unassayed to make the revolution as benefycial to mankind as it hath been glorious in the Accomplishmt.
“For the favorable wishes you have kindly bestowed on me you have all my gratitude; & my prayers for the welfare of your State, shall never cease” (ADf, DLC:GW).