Gentlemen,

I received with great satisfaction your obliging and affectionate letter dated the 2^d instant at Winchester, inclosing a resolution of the citizens of Frederic county, who met the preceding day at the County Court-House, expressing their entire approbation of my conduct, in ratifying the treaty lately negotiated between the United States and Great Britain.*

Next to the approbation of my own mind, arising from a consciousness of having uniformly, diligently and sincerely aimed, by doing my duty, to promote the true interests of my country, the approbation of my fellow citizens is dear to my heart. In a free country, such approbation should be a citizen’s best reward; and so it would be, if Truth and Candour were always to estimate the conduct of public men. But the reverse is so often the case, that he who, wishing to serve his country, is not influenced by higher motives, runs the risk of being miserably disappointed. Under such discouragements, the good citizen will look beyond the applauses and reproaches of men, and persevering in his duty, stand firm in conscious rectitude, and in the hope of [an] approving Heaven. I am gentlemen with much respect your fellow citizen & friend

G:^o Washington