To George Washington from Benjamin Guerard, 1 August 1783

I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 14th June—which, with chearfulness and pleasure, I will lay before our Legislature at their next Sitting.

I thank you, sir, for your congratulations on the happy and glorious Event of the peace, an event, the more heartfelt and joyful, as our country is not only thereby relieved from the accumulated, and almost insuperable distresses it was plunged into by the unatural and cruel war, but, through you, by the permission of the Director of all human events, it has obtained and enjoys "among the powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the laws of nature and of Natures God entitle us."

In return, I request most heartily to congratulate your Excellency, that you have lived to see the accomplishment of the great object of your important appointment, charge and Trust—that you have acquired for your Country by your Patriotism, Integrity—Benevolence, wisdom, Honour and valour—Peace, Freedom, Happiness, Sovereignty and Independence—and that you have survived Hardships, painful Anxieties, and great Fatigues, and escaped the numerous perils you were daily unavoidably exposed to, during the various and long doubtful Conflict.

May a character so great and finished, revered at home, and admired abroad, long enjoy that retreat he left reluctantly and returns to with joy, in undisturbed health, repose, Comfort and Happiness.

And May you, Sir, long live for the good of your Country and Country-men, to stimulate them by your Examples, to wise, great, munificent, disinterested, honourable, just, impartial, pure and right Thoughts and actions, Are the sincere wishes of Your Excellency’s, Most obedient and very Humble Servt