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 V.] PROCLAMATIONS. 133
and to all persons whomsoever within the United
States, to set apart and observe Thursday the 19th
day of February next, as a day of public thanksgiving
and prayer, and on that day' to meet together and
render their sincere and hearty thanks to the Great
Ruler of nations for the manifold and signal mercies,
which distinguish our lot as a nation; particularly for
the possession of constitutions of government, which
unite, and by their union establish, liberty with order;
for the preservation of our peace, foreign and domestic;
for the seasonable control, which has been given to
a spirit of disorder in the suppression of the late insurrection; and, generally, for the prosperous course
of our affairs public and private; and at the same
time humbly and fervently to beseech the kind Author
of those blessings graciously to prolong them to us;
to imprint on our hearts a deep and solemn sense
of our obligations to him for them; to teach us rightly
to estimate their immense value; to preserve us from
the arrogance of prosperity, and from hazarding the
advantages we enjoy by delusive pursuits; to dispose
us to merit the continuance of his favors by not abusing them, by our gratitude for them, and by a correspondent conduct as citizens and as men; to render
this country more and more a safe and propitious
asylum for the unfortunate of other countries; to extend among us true and useful knowledge; to diffuse
and establish habits of sobriety, order, morality, and
piety; and finally to impart all the blessings we possess, or ask for ourselves, to the whole family of mankind.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the
United States of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done at
the city of Philadelphia, this first day of January, one
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