August 9th
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“The Man who means to commit no wrong, will never be guilty of enormities; consequently can never be unwilling to learn what is ascribed to him as foibles. If they are really such the knowledge of them in a well disposed mind will go half way towards a reform. If they are not errors he can explain and justify the motives of his actions.”
First Presidential Mansion, City of New York
New York Public Library
To David Stuart
New York, 26 July 1789
Dear Sir,
In the first moment of my ability to sit in an easy chair, and that not entirely without pain, I occupy myself in acknowledging the receipt, and thanking you for your letter of the 14th. instant.*
Although my time (before I was confined) had been, and probably now will be much more engaged, yet your communications, without any reserve will be exceedingly grateful and pleasing to me. While the eyes of America, perhaps of the world, are turned to this government, and many are watching the movements of all those, who are concerned in its administration, I should like to be informed, through so good a medium of the public opinion of both men and measures, and of none more than myself; not so much of what may be thought commendable parts, if any, of my conduct, as of those which are conceived to be of a different complexion. The Man who means to commit no wrong, will never be guilty of enormities; consequently can never be unwilling to learn what is ascribed to him as foibles. If they are really such the knowledge of them in a well disposed mind will go half way towards a reform. If they are not errors he can explain and justify the motives of his actions.
* Washington wrote James McHenry on 3 July 1789: “a feebleness still hangs upon me, and I am yet much incommoded by the incision which was made in a very large and painful tumor on the protuberance of my thigh; this prevents me from walking or sitting.”
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