pointed to consider on the most suitable manner of paying honour to the memory of the man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country: "RESOLVED, that this house, when it adjourn, do adjourn to Monday." THESE resolutions were unanimously agreed to. Sixteen members were appointed on the third resolution. GENERALS MARSHALL and SMITH,having waited on the president to know when he would be ready to receive the house-the president named one o'clock this day. The house accordingly waited on him, when the speaker thus addressed the president : SIR, THE house of representatives, penetrated with a sense of the irreparable loss sustained by the nation, by the death of that great and good man, the illustrious and beloved WASHINGTON, wait on you, Sir, to express their condolence on this melancholy and distressing event. To which the President replied. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, I RECEIVE with the greatest respect and and affection, the condolence of the house of representatives, on the melancholy and afflicting event in the death of the most illustrious and beloved personage which this country ever produced. I sympathize with you-with the nation, and with good men, through the world, in the irreparable loss sustained by us all. JOHN ADAMS. PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 23, 1799. THE Senate of the United States, this day, sent the following letter of condolence to the president, by a committe of its members, to which he returned the annexed an swer. TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. THE senate of the United States respectfully take leave, sir, to express to you their deep regret for the loss their country sus tains in the death of GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. THIS event, so distressing to all our fellow citizens, must be peculiarly heavy on you, who have long been associated with him in deeds of patriotism. Permit us, sir, to mingle our tears with yours on this occasion it is manly to weep. man at such a crisis is no common calamity to the world: our country mourns her fath er. To lose such a The Almighty disposer of human events has taken from us our greatest benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with reverence to him, who "maketh darkness his pavilion." WITH patriotic pride we review the life of our WASHINGTON, and compare him with those of other countries who have been pre-eminent in fame. Ancient and modern names are diminished before him. Greatness and guilt have too often been allied; but his fame is whiter than it is brilliant. The destroyers of nations stood abashed at the majesty of his virtues. It reproved the intemperance of their ambition, and darkened the splendour of victory. The scene is closed, and we are no longer anxious lest misfortune should sully his glory; he has travelled to the end of his journey, and carried with him an increasing weight of glory; he has deposited it safely, where misfortune cannot tarnish it, where malice cannot blast it. Favoured of heaven, he departed without exhibiting the weaknes of humanity; magnanimous in death, the darkness of the grave could not obscure his brightness. SUCH was the man whom we deplore. Thanks to GOD, his glory is consummated; WASHINGTON yet lives on earth in his spotless example-his spirit is in heaven. LET his countrymen consecrate the memory of the heroic general, the patriotic statesman, and the virtuous sage: let them teach their children never to forget that the fruits of his labours, and his example, are their inheritance. PRESIDENT'S ANSWER. GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE, I RECEIVE With the most respectful and affectionate sentiments, in this impressive HIS example is now complete, and it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age, but in future generations, as long as our history shall be read. If a TRAJAN found a PLINY, a MARCUS AURELIUS can never want biographers, eulogists, or historians. JOHN ADAMS. IN the house of representatives, General MARSHALL made a report, in part, from the joint committee appointed to consider a suitable mode of commemorating the death of Gen. WASHINGTON. HE reported the following resolutions: Resolved by the senate and house of represen tatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, that a marble monument be erected, by the United States, in the capitol of the city of WASHINGTON, and that the family of General WASHINGTON be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it, and that the monument be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life. |