The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART II.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 367
should do violence to my feelings and inclination, were
I to suffer you to leave this country without the,warmest assurances of an affectionate regard for your person
and character.
Our good friend, the Marquis de Lafayette, prepared
me, long before I had the honor to see you, for those
impressions of esteem, which opportunities and your
own benevolent mind have since improved into a deep
and lasting friendship; a friendship, which neither time
nor distance can eradicate. I can truly say, that never
in my life have I parted with a man, to whom my soul
clave more sincerely than it did to you. My warmest
wishes will attend you in your voyage across the Atlantic, to the rewards of a generous prince, the arms of
affectionate friends; and be assured, that it will be one
of my highest gratifications to keep up a regular intercourse with you by letter.
I regret exceedingly, that circumstances should withdraw you from this country before the final accomplishment of that independence and peace, which the arms
of our good ally have assisted in placing before us in
so agreeable a point of view. Nothing would give me
more pleasure, than to accompany you in a tour through
the continent of North America at the close of the
war, in search of the natural curiosities with which it
abounds, and to view the foundation of the rising empire. I have the honor to be, &c.
to pay their respects to your Excellency, and to express their feelings
on the occasion.
"Having thus interpreted their sentiments to your Excellency, allow
me, Sir, to embrace this opportunity to assure you, that the sentiments
you have already permitted me to express to you will be as durable as
the profound respect, with which I have the honor to be, &c." —JIS.
Letter, Boston, December 18th, 1782.
The fleet set sail from Boston on the 24th of December, with all the
troops (except Lauzun's legion) on board, the army having been in the
United States two and a half years.