Washington, George, 1732-1799. The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources
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To ELIAS BOUDINOT

   Mount Vernon, February 18, 1784.

    Dear Sir: With equal emotions of pleasure and gratitude I received your very polite Letter of the 11th. ulto. from Elizabeth-town, the late acknowledgment of which is owing to the interruption of the post, and a visit to my aged Mother; the last of which engaged me several days, and from which I only returned yesterday.

    The private congratulations of friendship, upon my safe return to a peaceful abode, and the sweets of Domestic retirement, never can, with me, be lost in the midst of public ceremonies; and they are received with more pleasure when they are known to flow from a source which has always been the same. The affectionate terms therefore, in which your Letter is expressed, could not fail to affect all my sensibility and to call for a return of my warmest thanks, these I offer most sincerely.

    We have now a goodly field before us, and I have no wish superior to that of seeing it judiciously cultivated; that every Man, especially those who have laboured to prepare it, may reap a fruitful Harvest without the intermixture of Tares; the seeds of which I am sure are too apparent to be sown by a skilful husbandman, who possesses a disposition to be honest.

    It was with extreme pain I read that part of your Letter which speaks of the declining State of Miss Boudinots health. As the intemperence of the weather may have contributed thereto, so it is to be hoped the approaching season will remove the causes of the complaint, and restore her to good health, and to her friends; in this wish, and in most affectionate Compliments to Mrs. Boudinot and yourself, Mrs. Washington heartily joins.

    With the greatest sincerity and truth, I am, etc. 45

[Note:From the "Letter Book" copy in the Washington Papers . ]