FEBRUARY 22nd
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ON THIS DAY IN 1732
GEORGE WASHINGTON IS BORN*
“I have only been an instrument in the hands of Providence, to effect, with the aid of France and many virtuous fellow Citizens of America, a revolution which is interesting to the general liberties of mankind, and to the emancipation of a country which may afford an Asylum, if we are wise enough to pursue the paths wch. lead to virtue and happiness, to the oppressed and needy of the Earth.”
Artist: Hendrik Pothoven. Rijksmuseum
To Lucretia Wilhelmina van Winter
Mount Vernon, 30 March 1785
Madam,
The honor which your pen has done me so far exceeds my merits, that I am at a loss for words to express my sense of the compliment it conveys.
The Poem, in celebration of my exertions to establish the rights of my Country, was forwarded to me from Philada. By Mr. Vogels; to whom I should have been happy to have offered civilities, but he did not give me the pleasure to see him. At best I have only been an instrument in the hands of Providence, to effect, with the aid of France and many virtuous fellow Citizens of America, a revolution which is interesting to the general liberties of mankind, and to the emancipation of a country which may afford an Asylum, if we are wise enough to pursue the paths wch. lead to virtue and happiness, to the oppressed and needy of the Earth. Our region is extensive, our plains are productive, and if they are cultivated with liberality and good sense, we may be happy ourselves, and diffuse happiness to all who wish to participate.
The Lady of whom you have made such honorable mention, is truly sensible of the obligation, and joins with me in wishing you every happiness which is to be found here, and met with hereafter. I have the honor, &c.**
THE DIARIES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
1797
FEBRUARY
22. Rain in the Night, cloudy forenoon with the Wind at East, afterwards at S.W. clear and very fine, went in the evening to an elegant entertmt. given on my birth night.*** Mery. 38****
* Washington’s old nominal birthday was 11 February 1731; the Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar in Great Britain in 1752.
** Slight variations of this letter exist; this letter is from the Washington Papers via Fitzpatrick.
*** “Washington’s Presidency would end in ten days, on March 4th. “Given at Ricketts’s Amphitheatre. Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser stated that the ball given on this, the last birthday of the President that would be spent in Philadelphia, ‘for Splendor, Taste and Elegance, was, perhaps, never excelled by any similar entertainment in the United States.’ Baker (Washington after the Revolution, p. 341) quotes from James Iredell’s letter to Mrs. Iredell: ‘At the Amphitheatre at night it is supposed there was at least 1200 persons. The show was a very brilliant one, but such scrambling to go to supper that there was some danger of being squeezed to death. The Vice President handed in Mrs. Washington, and the President immediately followed. The applause with which they were received is indescribable. The same was shown on their return from supper. The music added greatly to the interest of the scene. The President staid till between 12 and 1.’” — Fitzpatrick, et al., DGW
**** temperature in degrees fahrenheit
GEORGE WASHINGTON:
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