MRS. WASHINGTON's LETTER.

"SIR,

"Mount Vernon, Dec. 31, 1799.

"WHILE I feel with keenest anguish the late dispensation of Divine Providence, I cannot be insensible to the mournful tributes of respect and veneration, which are paid to the memory of my dear deceased husband; and, as his best services and most anxious wishes were always devoted to the welfare and happiness of his country, to know that they were truly appreciated, and gratefully remembered, affords no inconsiderable consolation.

"Taught by the great example, which I have so long had before me, never to oppose my private wishes to the public will, I must consent to the request made by Congress, which you have had the goodness to transmit to me, and in doing this I need not, I cannot say what a sacrifice of individual feeling I make to a sense of public duty.

"With grateful acknowledgment and unfeigned thanks for the personal respect and evidences of condolence expressed by Congress and yourself, "I remain very respectfully,

"Sir,

"Your most obedient and

"Humble Servant,

"MARTHA WASHINGTON."

"The President of the

"United States."

These letters were followed by the following

Proclamation.

By

By the President of the United States of America. A PROCLAMATION.

"WHEREAS the Congress of the United States have this day resolved: "That it be recommended to the people of the United States to assemble the 22d day of February next, in such numbers and manner as may be convenient, publicly to tes tify their grief for the death of General George Washington, by suitable eulogies, orations and dis courses, or by public prayers;" and "That the President be requested to issue a Proclamation for the purpose of carrying the foregoing resolution into effect"-Now, THEREFORE, I, John Adams, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the same accordingly.

"Given under my hand and seal of the United States, at Philadelphia, the 6th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1800, and of the independence of the said States the twentyfourth.

"By the President."

"JOHN ADAMS,”

This was the signal for an universal display of folly and hypocrisy such as the world never before witnessed. Take the following for a specimen of the newspaper praise that was bestowed on the deceased "hero."

"Last Saturday was devoted by this city accord"ing to the proclamation of the President, to so"lemn recollections and funeral orations in honour "of our beloved WASHINGTON. General Ha"milton at the head of the Cincinnati, and fol"lowed by the corporation of the city and other "public bodies,. attended in the morning at the "Dutch Church, when Dr. Linn, who had been "previously appointed, delivered an eulogium"which

CA

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" which for felicity of conception-for fire of"imagination-for energy of diction-and for elo66 quence, will long be remembered. His selection "of circumstances was so judicious-his metaphors "so bold and original-his gesture so appropriate " and forcible-and his voice, countenance and manner so impassioned, that a crowded and "respectable auditory, were now elevated by his "sublimity-now transported by his enthusiasm, "and now melted by his pathos.-With what pa"triotic pride did every American listen to the "praises which the orator bestowed on the hero "of Monongahela, and the farmer of Potowmac. "The splendours of ancient and modern names "faded away before the superior brightness of this

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sun of American glory. His august image "towered above all former greatness--and even "royalty itself sunk beneath the majesty of his "virtues. The eloquence of this oration was at

tended with its natural effects. Not an eye could "be seen that was not moistened with the big tear of "grateful admiration not a heaving bosom that did "not breathe for th its ardent vows to the Father of "his Country. The spectacle was infinitely interest

ing-a numerous assembly embalming with their "tears the memory of the founder of their empire, "and the foul stain of the ingratitude of republics, "in one moment-blotted out for ever."

Amongst the obsolete puffs that were now revived, was the following corespondence with the wis LORD BUCHAN.

In the year 1792, the following paragraphs appeared in the papers of the United States:

"Philadelphia, Jan. 4. "On Friday morning was presented to the PREFIDENT of the United States [then Gen Washington], a box, elegantly mounted with silver, and made of

the

the celebrated Oak Tree that sheltered the WASHINGTON of Scotland, the brave and patriotic Sir WILLIAM WALLACE, after his defeat at the battle of Falkirk, in the beginning of the fourteenth century, by EDWARD I. This magnificent and truly characteristical present is from the Earl of BUCHAN, by the hand of Mr. ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON, a Scots gentleman, and portrait painter, who arrived in America some months ago. The box was presented to Lord BUCHAN by the Goldsmiths' Company at Edinburgh; from whom his lordship requested and obtained leave to make it over to a man whom he deemed more deserving of it than himself, and the only man in the world to whom he thought it justly due. We hear further, that Lord BUCHAN has, by letter, requested of the PRESIDENT, that, on the event of his decease, he will consign the box to that man, in this country, who shall appear, in his judgment, to merit it best, upon the same considerations that induced him to send it to the present possessor.

"The inscription, upon a silver plate, on the inside of the lid, is as follows :-Presented by the Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, to DAVID STUART ERSKINE, Earl of BUCHAN, with the freedom of their corporation, by their deacon, 1792."

The following is the Letter which accompanied the Box that was presented to General GEORGE WASHINGTON, by Mr. ROBERTSON, from Lord BUCHAN.

"I had the honour to receive your Excellency's letter relating to the advertisement of Dr. Anderson's periodical publication in the Gazette of the

United States; which attention to my recommendation I feel very sensibly, and return you my grateful acknowledgements.

"In the 21st Number of that Literary Miscellany, I inserted a monitory paper respecting America, which I flatter myself may, if attended to on the other side of the Atlantic, be productive of good consequences.

"To use your own emphatic words, may that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe-wha presides in the Councils of Nations-and whose providential aid can supply every human defect-consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the American people, a government instituted by themselves for public and private security, upon the basis of law and equal administration of justice, preserving to every individual as much civil and political freedom as is consistent with the safety of the nation, and may HE be pleased to continue your life and strength as long as you can be in any way useful to your country!

"I have entrusted this sheet, inclosed in a Box made of the Oak that sheltered our great Sir William Wallace after the battle of Falkirk, to Mr. Robertson, of Aberdeen, a painter, with the hope of his having the honour of delivering it into your hands; recommending him as an able artist, seeking for fortune and fame in the New World. This Box was presented to me by the Goldsmiths' Company at Edinburgh, to whom, feeling my own unworthiness to receive this magnificently significant present, I requested and obtained leave to make it over to the man in the world to whom I thought it most justly due; into your hands I commit it, requesting of you to pass it, on the event of your decease, to the man in your own country who shall appear to your judgment to merit it best, upon the

same