Washington, George (1732-1799) A Letter to the People of the United States of America from General Washington, on his Resignation of th

Description:

Washington, George (1732-1799) A Letter to the People of the United States of America from General Washington, on his Resignation of the Office of the President of the United States. London: for J. Debrett, 1796. First English edition, octavo, A-D4; 32 pages, modern plain wrappers, small hole in leaf C, affecting five words of text, three of which are supplied in early manuscript, some manuscript notes in the text, 7 x 4 1/4 in.
Washington sent his Farewell Address to the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser for publication on 19 September 1796. It was subsequently picked up and reprinted in other newspapers. This was the first of several editions that appeared in London in the same year.
"Though in reviewing the incidents of Administration, I am unconscious of intentional error; I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects, not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service, with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as I myself must soon be to the mansions of rest."
Provenance: The Estate of David Spinney.
Estimate $1,000-2,000


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