grefs. John Hancock, prefident. Attefted, Charles Thomion, fecretary.

30. New-Hampshire, Jofiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton. Maffachusetts-Bay, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry. RhodeIfland, Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery. Connecticut, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott.

31. New-York, William Floyd, Philip Livingfton, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris. New-Jersey, Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinfon, John Hart, Abraham Clark. Pennfylvania, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilfon, George Rofs. Delaware, Cefar Rodney, George Read.

32. Maryland, Samuel Chafe, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Virginia, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferfon, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelfon jun. Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton. North-Carolina, William Hooper, Jofeph Hewes, John Penn. South-Carolina, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward jun. Thomas Lynch jun. Arthur Middleton. Georgia, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton.

GENERAL WASHINGTON'S APPOINTMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMAND OF THE AMERICAN ARMY.

MR. PRESIDENT,

1. THOUGH I am truly fenfible of the high honor done me in this appointment, yet I feel great distress from a confcioufnefs, that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extenfive and important trust :

2. However, as the congress defire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I poffefs in their fervice, and for the fupport of the glorious caufe. I beg they will accept my moft cordial thanks for this diftinguished teftimony of their approbation.

3.

But left fome unlucky event should happen unfavor able to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare with the utmost fincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.

4. As to pay, fir, I beg leave to affure the congrefs, that as no pecuniary confideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenfes. Those I doubt not they will discharge, and that is all I defire.

GEN. WASHINGTON'S ADDRESS TO THE ARMY.

1. THE United States in congrefs affembled, after giving the most honorable teftimony to the merits of the federal armies, and prefenting them with the thanks of their country, for their long, eminent and faithful fervice, having thought proper, by their proclamation, bearing date the 18th of October laft, to discharge fuch part of the troops as were engaged for the war, and to permit the officers on furlough to retire from fervice, from and after to-morrow;

2. Which proclamation having been communicated in the public papers, for the information and government of all concerned, it only remains for the commander in chief. to addrefs himself once more, and that for the last time, to the armies of the United States, (however widely difperfed individuals who compose them may be,) and to bid them an affectionate-a long farewell.

3. But before the commander in chief takes his final leave of those he holds moft dear, he wishes to indulge himfelf a few moments in calling to mind a flight view of the paft: he will then take the liberty of exploring, with his military friends, their future profpects; of advifing the general line of conduct, which, in his opinion, ought to be purfued; and he will conclude the addrefs, by expreffing the obligations he feels himself under for the fpirited and

able aflistance he has experienced from them, in the performance of an arduous office.

4. A contemplation of the complete attainment, (at a period earlier than could have been expected,) of the object for which we contended, against fo formidable a power, cannot but infpire us with aftonishment and gratitude. The disadvantageous circumstances on our part, under which the war was undertaken, can never be forgotten..

5. The fignal interpofitions of Providence, in our feeble condition, were fuch as could fcarcely escape the attention of the most unobferving; while the unparalleled perfeverance of the armies of the United States, through almost every poffible suffering and difcouragement, for the space of eight long years, was little fhort of a standing miracle.

6. It is not the meaning, nor within the compass of this address, to detail the hardships peculiarly incident to our service, or to describe the diftreffes which, in feveral inftances, have resulted from the extremes of hunger and nakedness, combined with the rigors of an inclement season : nor is it necessary to dwell on the dark fide of our past affairs. 7. Every American officer and foldier must now confole himself for any unpleasant circumstance which may have occurred, by a recollection of the uncommon fcenes in which he has been called to act no inglorious part, and the astonishing events of which he has been a witnefs-events which have seldom, if ever before, taken place on the ftage of human action; nor can they probably ever happen again.

8.

For who has before feen a difciplined army formed at once from fuch raw materials? Who that was not a witnefs could imagine that the most violent local prejudices would ceafe fo foon, and that men who came from the dif ferent parts of the continent, ftrongly disposed by the habits of education to defpife and quarrel with each other, would inftantly become but one patriotic band of brothers ?

9. Or who that was not on the fpot, can trace the steps by which fuch a wonderful revolution has been effected, and fuch a glorious period put to all our warlike toils?

10. It is univerfally acknowledged, that the enlarged profpects of happiness, opened by the confirmation of our independence and fovereignty, almost exceed the power of defcription and fhall not the brave men who have contri

buted fo effentially to these ineftimable acquifitions, retiring victorious from the field of war to the field of agriculture, participate in all the bleffings which have been obtained?

11. In fuch a republic, who will exclude them from the. rights of citizens, and the fruits of their labors? In fuch a country, fo happily circumftanced, the pursuits of commerce, and the cultivation of the foil, will unfold to industry the certain road to competence.

12. To thofe hardy foldiers who are actuated by the spirit of adventure, the fisheries will afford ample and profitable employment; and the extenfive and fertile regions of the weft, will yield a most happy asylum to those who, fond of domestic enjoyment, are feeking perfonal independence.

13. Nor is it poffible to conceive that any one of the United States will prefer a national bankruptcy, and the diffolution of the union, to a compliance with the requifitions of congrefs, and the payment of its juft debts; fo that the officers and foldiers may expect confiderable affiftance, in recommencing their civil occupations, from the fums due to them from the public, which must and will moft inevitably be paid.

14. In order to effect this defirable purpofe, and remove the prejudices which may have taken poffeffion of the minds of any of the good people of the ftates, it is earnestly recommended to all the troops, that, with ftrong attachment to the union, they should carry with them into civil fociety the most conciliating difpofitions, and that they should prove themselves not lefs virtuous and useful as citizens, than they have been victorious as foldiers.

15. What though there fhould be fome envious individuals, who are unwilling to pay the debt the public has contracted, or to yield the tribute due to merit; yet, let fuch unworthy treatment produce no invective, or any instance of intemperate conduct. Let it be remembered, that the unbiaffed voice of the free citizens of the United States, has promised the juft reward, and given the merited applaufe.

16. Let it be known and remembered, that the reputation of the federal armies is established beyond the reach of malevolence; and let a confcioufnefs of their achievements and fame, ftill excite the men who compofed them to honorable actions, under the perfuafion that the private virtues

of economy, prudence, and induftry, will not be lefs amiable in civil life, than the more fplendid qualities of valor, perfeverance, and enterprise, were in the field.

17. Every one may reft affured, that much, very much of the future happiness of the officers and men, will depend upon the wife and manly conduct which shall be adopted by them, when they are mingled with the great body of the community.

18. And, although the general has fo frequently given it as his opinion, in the most public and explicit manner, that unless the principles of the federal government were properly fupported, and the powers of the union increased, the honor, dignity, and juftice of the nation would be loft for ever;

19. Yet he cannot help repeating, on this occafion, fo interesting a fentiment, and leaving it as his laft injunction to every officer and every foldier, who may view the subject in the fame serious point of light, to add his best endeavors to thofe of his worthy fellow citizens, towards effecting thefe great and valuable purposes, on which our very existence as a nation fo materially depends.

20. The commander in chief conceives little is now wanting to enable the foldier to change the military character into that of the citizen, but that steady, decent tenor of behavior, which has generally diftinguished not only the army under his immediate command, but the different detachments and armies, through the course of the war.

21. From their good fenfe and prudence he anticipates the happiest consequences; and while he congratulates them on the glorious occafion which renders their services in the field no longer neceffary, he wishes to exprefs the ftrong obligations he feels himself under, for the affiftance he has received from every class, and in every instance.

22. He presents his thanks in the most serious and affectionate manner, to the general officers, as well for their counfels on many interefting occafions, as for their ardor in promoting the fuccefs of the plans he had adopted-to the commandants of regiments, and corps, and to the other officers, for their zeal and attention in carrying his orders promptly into execution-to the staff, for their alacrity and exactness in performing the duties of their feveral depart