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 4 *•* » " " « <^ 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Rhode Island 
 Society ok Cincinnati 
 
 TO 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON 
 
 AND 
 
 His Answer 
 1797- 
 
 Brooklyn, JV. T. 
 Privately Printed 
 
 1885. 
 
E3IZ 
 
 ■ ^i 
 
 '5L>Sr 
 
 The Rhode Island State Society of 
 Cincinnati to Georoe Washinoton, 
 
 o o 
 
 President oj the United States — 
 Sir 
 
 In looking forward to the period 
 which is intended to terminate the 
 career of your pubHc Hfe, our feehngs 
 will not permit us to suspend the 
 deep acknowledgements of that debt 
 of gratitude which is your due from 
 a Country to whose Independence 
 and Happiness you have so essen - 
 tially contributed. The interesting 
 scene of your intended retirement 
 
 /^- 3 
 
 W] 
 
 IN EXCHr.NGE 
 
 New York Public Library 
 
 JUN 27 1012' 
 
3 
 revives in the minds of our fellow 
 Citizens in general the many proofs 
 of eminent wisdcm and unshaken 
 patriotism displayed in the fickl, the 
 glory ol which can be eclipsed only 
 by the innumerable evidence of your 
 firm, enlightened, and uniform attach- 
 ment to republican and constitutional 
 principles displayed in \(nir political 
 transactions. 
 
 While testimonies of respectful af- 
 fection and grateful attachment are 
 arising to you from every part of the 
 union, a similar attention from a So- 
 ciety of Citizens who have "laid 
 down in peace Arms assumed for the 
 public defence," cannot be unaccept - 
 able on this occasion. 
 
 By this address we do not think of 
 adding anything to the lustre of a 
 
4 
 Character composed of an assemblage 
 of the most eminent pubhc and pri - 
 vate virtues, a Character who like 
 bodies highly polished, may attract, 
 but as readily eludes the envenomed 
 shafts of envy ; and which the vir - 
 tuous can only admire. 
 
 We do but attempt to express the 
 honest feelings of every member of 
 the Sociey, in whose behalf we ad - 
 dress you, when we say that we ex - 
 tremely regret the occasion of a 
 retirement dictated by reasons which 
 must silence every objection to the 
 measure. — In that retirement may 
 you meet all that tranquility and 
 happiness you so ardently desire, 
 and enjoy all the blessings of private 
 and domestic life ; There may you 
 still live to receive the rich harvest of 
 
5 
 your labours and services in the 
 peace and prosperity of your Coun - 
 try, in the fervent affection of your 
 fellow Citizens, the applause of an 
 Admiring World and the higher 
 Pleasures of an approving conscience. 
 May your lengtheningd ays still ex - 
 tend your usefulness and your set - 
 ting Sun shine with undiminished 
 lustre till a reward more than Man 
 can give shall be yours. 
 
 Impressed with these sentiments, 
 and actuated by the pleasing sensi - 
 bility of personal aftection and grat - 
 itude, Respected Sir, we bid you 
 Adieu 
 
 Enos Hitchcock 
 
 Jere'h Olney 
 
 Jno. Dexter 
 
 William Allen 
 
6 
 Ephraim Bowen, Jun. 
 Thomas Smart 
 Dan. L. Dexter 
 Sam'l Snow 
 Providence, Febr. 25th. 1797. 
 
 To tlic Members of the Rhode 
 Islanel State Society of the Cin - 
 cinnati — 
 Gentlemen 
 
 For your affectionate Address 
 on my retiring from public life I beg 
 you to accept my grateful acknow- 
 ledgements, and be assured that no 
 circumstance can tend more to 
 sweeten the few remaining years of 
 my life, then the pleasing remem - 
 brance of my services having been 
 appoved by those who have partici- 
 
pated in the arduous struggle to 
 establish our Independence, or to 
 regulate the important Era of our 
 Civil affairs. 
 
 In bidding you Adieu, I pray that 
 the best of Heav^ens blessings may 
 rest upon you 
 
 Go. Washington. 
 Philadelphia. 6th. Mar. 1797. 
 
 (Kljtbir ^nss. 
 100 Cojiies Printed 
 No. 11 
 
Vd4 
 

 
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