Note 5 — Chapter I
Reading edition
Address to General Washington,
Presented at Cape's Tavern.
To his Excellency George Washington, Esquire, General and Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States of America:
The Address of the Citizens of New York, who have returned from exile, in behalf of themselves and their suffering brethren:
Sir:
At a moment when the arm of tyranny is yielding up its fondest usurpations, we hope the salutations of long suffering exiles, but now happy freemen, will not be deemed an unworthy tribute. In this place, and at this moment of exultation and triumph, while the ensigns of slavery still linger in our sight, we look up to you, our deliverer, with unusual transports of gratitude and joy. Permit us to welcome you to this City, long torn from us by the hard hand of oppression, but now by your wisdom and energy, under the guidance of Providence, once more the seat of peace and freedom. We forbear to speak our gratitude or your praise, we should but echo the voice of applauding millions; but the Citizens of New York are eminently indebted to your virtues, and we who have now the honor to address your Excellency, have been often companions of your sufferings, and witnesses of your exertions. Permit us therefore to approach your Excellency with the dignity and sincerity of freemen, and to assure you that we shall preserve with our latest breath our gratitude for your services, and veneration for your character. And accept of our sincere and earnest wishes that you may long enjoy that calm domestic felicity which you have so generously sacrificed; that the cries of injured liberty may nevermore interrupt your repose, and that your happiness may be equal to your virtues.
Signed at the request of the meeting.
Thomas Randall. Dan. Phœnix. Saml. Broome. Thos. Tucker. Henry Kipp. Pat. Dennis. Wm. Gilbert, Sr. Wm. Gilbert, Jr. Francis Van Dyck. Jeremiah Wool. Geo. Janeway. Abra'm P. Lott. Ephraim Brashier.
New York, Nov. 25th, 1783.
The General's Reply.
To the Citizens of New York who have returned from exile:
Gentlemen—
I thank you sincerely for your affectionate address, and entreat you to be persuaded that nothing could be more agreeable to me than your polite congratulations. Permit me in turn to felicitate you on the happy repossession of your City.
Great as your joy must be on this pleasing occasion, it can scarcely exceed that which I feel at seeing you, Gentlemen, who from the noblest motives have suffered a voluntary exile of many years, return again in peace and triumph, to enjoy the fruits of your virtuous conduct.
The fortitude and perseverance, which you and your suffering brethren have exhibited in the course of the war, have not only endeared you to your countrymen, but will be remembered with admiration and applause to the latest posterity.
May the tranquility of your City be perpetual,—may the ruins soon be repaired, commerce flourish, science be fostered, and all the civil and social virtues be cherished in the same illustrious manner which formerly reflected so much credit on the inhabitants of New York. In fine, may every species of felicity attend you, Gentlemen, and your worthy fellow citizens.
Geo. Washington.