things;-diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing;-establishing with Powers so disposed-in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our Merchants, and to enable the Government to support them-conventional rules 5 of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit; but temporary, and liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied, as experience and circumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view, that 't is folly in one nation to look for disinter- 10 ested favors from another,-that it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under that character,-that, by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with 15 ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. 'Tis an illusion, which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.

In offering to you, my Countrymen, these counsels of 20 an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish,-that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our Nation from running the course which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. But, if I may 25 even flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism; this hope 30 will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.

How far in the discharge of my official duties I have been guided by the principles which have been delineated, the public Records and other evidences of my conduct must witness to You and to the World.-To myself the assurance of my own conscience is, that I have at least believed myself to be guided by them.

35

In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my Proclamation of the 22d of April, 1793, is the index of my plan. Sanctioned by your approving voice, and by that of Your Representatives in both Houses of Congress, 5 the spirit of that measure has continually governed me, -uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or divert me from it.

After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied that our coun10 try, under all the circumstances of the case, had a right to take, and was bound in duty and interest to take, a Neutral position. Having taken it, I determined, as far as should depend upon me, to maintain it, with moderation, perseverance, and firmness.

15

The considerations which respect the right to hold this conduct, it is not necessary on this occasion to detail. I will only observe, that according to my understanding of the matter, that right, so far from being denied by any of the Belligerent Powers, has been virtually admitted 20 by all.

The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, without anything more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every Nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of 25 peace and amity towards other nations.

The inducements of interest for observing that conduct will best be referred to your own reflections and experience. With me, a predominant motive has been to endeavor to gain time to our country to settle and mature 30 its yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption to that degree of strength and consistency which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.

Though in reviewing the incidents of my Administra35 tion, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors.-Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to

avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend.-I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will 5 be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.

Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is so natural to a man who views in it the native soil of himself 10 and his progenitors for several generations, I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat, in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good Laws under a free Government, the 15 ever favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

NOTES

The Text. This edition is printed from the Lenox reprint of the MS.-"Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States of America. New York. 1850.' Changes are made in spelling and punctuation to approximate modern usage.

The original MS. of the Address is preserved in the Lenox Library, New York City. A photograph of the first page appears elsewhere in this volume.

PAGE 3, LINE 4.—not far distant. The Address appeared in the press on September 19, 1796. The election followed on various days of November of the same year.

3, 8-expression of the public voice. Washington felt that if he were out of the way as a candidate his friends and others would feel more freedom in expressing their real opinions.

4, 1-earlier in my power. He wished very much at the end of his first term of office to retire; but yielded finally to the generally expressed wishes of his friends to become a candidate for the presidency for the second time.

4, 19—on the proper occasion. In his inaugural speech to both Houses of Congress, April 30, 1789.

5, 35—the result of much reflection. Washington had had the Farewell Address in mind for at least five years.

6, 5-a former and not dissimilar occasion. At the close of his first term of office.

6, 27-Palladium. An image of the goddess Pallas. According to a legend of the Greeks the safety of Troy depended upon the preservation of this image. It has come then to mean, as it does here, anything believed or reputed to afford protection and safety.

7, 5-fought and triumphed together. In the War of the Revolution.

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