December 7th
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“If it can be esteemed a happiness to live in an age productive of great and interesting events, we of the present age are very highly favored.”
“Perhaps in no instance of my life have I been more sensible of the sacrifice than in the present; for at my age the love of retirement grows every day more and more powerful.”
To David Humphreys
Philadelphia, 23 March 1793
If it can be esteemed a happiness to live in an age productive of great and interesting events, we of the present age are very highly favored. The rapidity of national revolutions appear no less astonishing, than their magnitude. In what they will terminate, is known only to the great ruler of events; and confiding in his wisdom and goodness, we may safely trust the issue to him, without perplexing ourselves to seek for that, which is beyond human ken; only taking care to perform the parts assigned us, in a way that reason and our own consciences approve of.
David Humphreys
Yale University Art Gallery
All our late accounts from Europe hold up the expectation of a general war in that quarter. For the sake of humanity I hope such an event will not take place; but, if it shou’d, I trust that we shall have too just a sense of our own interest to originate any cause, that may involve us in it; and I ardently wish we may not be forced into it by the conduct of other Nations. If we are permitted to improve without interruption, the great advantages which nature and circumstances have placed within our reach, many years will not revolve before we may be ranked not only among the most respectable, but among the happiest people on this Globe. Our advances to these points are more rapid than the most sanguine among us ever predicted. A spirit of improvement displays itself in every quarter, and principally in objects of the greatest public utility, such as opening the inland navigation, which is extensive and various beyond conception; improving the old roads and making new ones; building bridges and houses, and in short pursuing those things which seem eminently calculated to promote the advantage and accommodation of the people at large. Besides these, the enterprises of individuals shew at once what are the happy effects of personal exertions in a Country, where equal Laws and equal Rights prevail.
President George Washington
National Gallery of Art
For myself, you see me again entering upon the arduous duties of an important Office* to which the unanimous voice of my Country has once more called me. To you, who know my love of retirement and domestic life, it is unnecessary to say that, in accepting this re-appointment, I relinquish those personal enjoyments to which I am peculiarly attached. The motives which induced my acceptance are the same which have ever ruled my decision when the public desire (or, as my countrymen are pleased to denominate it, good) was placed in the scale against my personal enjoyment or private interest. The latter I have ever considered as subservient to the former; and perhaps in no instance of my life have I been more sensible of the sacrifice than in the present; for at my age the love of retirement grows every day more and more powerful, and the death of my nephew, the poor Major, will, I apprehend, cause my private concerns to suffer very much. This melancholy event took place on the 5th of last month at Colo. Bassett’s, where he had gone, hoping to benefit from a change of air and situation. Altho’ it had been long expected: and indeed, to me, of late appear’d inevitable; yet I have felt it very keenly.
You will receive from Mr. Jefferson every official communication necessary for your conduct, together with Laws, public papers, &ca. He will also inform you that the steps which you took in consequence of Mr. Barclay’s death, met my entire approbation.
I set out with intimating that my Letter would be very short; but upon looking back I find it can hardly be said to have that fault, and, lest it should partake of another at least as bad, I shall close it with assuring you that you have the best wishes, for your health and happiness, of Your sincere frd & Affecte Servt
G:o Washington
GEORGE WASHINGTON:
THE INTERVIEW POWERED BY A.I.
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