pointed to consider on the most suitable manner of paying honour to the memory of the man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country : ઃઃ RESOLVED, that this house, when it adjourn, do adjourn to Monday." THESE resolutions were unanimously agreed to. Sixteen members were appointed on the third resolution. GENERALS MARSHALL and SMITH,having waited on the president to know when he would be ready to receive the house-the president named one o'clock this day. house accordingly waited on him, when the speaker thus addressed the president : SIR, The THE house of representatives, penetrated with a sense of the irreparable loss sustained by the nation, by the death of that great and good man, the illustrious and beloved WASHINGTON, wait on you, Sir, to express their condolence on this melancholy and distressing event. To which the President replied. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, I RECEIVE with the greatest respect and affection, the condolence of the house of representatives, on the melancholy and afflicting event in the death of the most illustrious and beloved personage which this country ever produced. I sympathize with you-with the nation, and with good men, through the world, in the irreparable loss sustained by us all. JOHN ADAMS. PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 23, 1799. THE senate of the United States, this day, sent the following letter of condolence to the president, by a committe of its members, to which he returned the annexed an swer. TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.. THE senate of the United States respectfully take leave, sir, to express to you their deep regret for the loss their country sus tains in the death of GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. To lose such a THIS event, so distressing to all our fellow citizens, must be peculiarly heavy on you, who have long been associated with him in deeds of patriotism. Permit us, sir, to mingle our tears with yours: on this occasion it is manly to weep. man at such a crisis is no common calamity to the world: our country mourns her father. The Almighty Disposer of human events has taken from us our greatest benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with reverence to him, who "maketh darkness his pavilion." WITH patriotic pride we review the life of our WASHINGTON, and compare him with those of other countries who have been pre-eminent in fame. Ancient and modern names are diminished before him. Greatness and guilt have too often been allied; but his fame is whiter than it is brilliant. The destroyers of nations stood abashed at the majesty of his virtues. It reproved the intemperance of their ambition, and darkened the splendour of victory. The scene is closed, and we are no longer anxious lest misfortune should sully his glory; he has travelled to the end of his journey, and carried with him an increasing weight of glory; he has deposited it safely, where misfortune cannot tarnish it, where malice cannot blast it. Favoured of heaven, he departed without exhibiting the weaknes of humanity; magnanimous in death, the darkness of the grave could not obscure his brightness. SUCH was the man whom we deplore. Thanks to God, his glory is consummated; WASHINGTON yet lives on earth in his spotless example-his spirit is in heaven. LET his countrymen consecrate the memory of the heroic general, the patriotic statesman, and the virtuous sage: let them teach their children never to forget that the fruits of his labours, and his example, are their inheritance. PRESIDENT's ANSWER. GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE, I RECEIVE With the most respectful and affectionate sentiments, in this impressive address, the obliging expressions of your regret, for the loss our country has sustained, in the death of her most esteemed, beloved, and admired citizen. IN the multitude of my thoughts and recollections on this melancholy event, you will permit me only to say, that I have seen him in the days of adversity, in some of the scenes of his deepest distress and most trying perplexities-I have also attended him in his highest elevation and most prosperous felicity-with uniform admiration of his wisdom, moderation and constancy. AMONG all our original associates, in that memorable league of the continent in 1774, which first expressed the sovereign will of a free nation in America, he was the only one remaining in the general government. Although, with a constitution more enfeebled than his, at an age when he thought it necessary to prepare for retirement, I feel myself alone, bereaved of my last brother-yet I derive a strong consolation from the unanimous disposition, which appears in all ages and classes, to mingle their sorrows with mine, on this common calamity to the world. P |