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.] ADDRESSES. 179
whatever situation I may be, it shall be my constant
endeavour to justify the favorable sentiments you are
pleased to express of my conduct. And may the
members of your society in America, animated alone
by the pure spirit of Christianity, and still conducting
themselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
GEORGIA.
DECEMBER, 1789.
GENTLEMEN,
The congratulations presented to me by the different branches of the legislature of the State of Georgia, upon my. having been elected with unanimity to
the Presidency of the United States, affect my mind
with the most pleasing sensations, and demand my
best acknowledgments.
From the observation, that, "in the great concerns
of mankind, success has not always been attendant on
the performance of duty, and that, where it has, the
sanction of public approbation has frequently been
withheld," I am naturally led to reflect on the unlimited gratitude, which we owe as a nation to the
Supreme Arbiter of human events for his interposition
in our favor; as well as on the singular obligations,
which are due from me as an individual for the indulgent sentiments, which my fellow-citizens have always had the goodness to entertain of my conduct.
Raised, as I am, to the head of a government pervading so vast a territory, and possessing, as I flatter