The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

KINGSTON, (Esopus) November 19.

On Friday last their Excellencies General Washington and Governor Clinton arrived at this place, and were received with the greatest marks of public gratitude and esteem; and spent the day in company with many of the most respectable characters of this place; during which the following toasts were drank:

1. The United States in Congress. 2. His Most Christian Majesty: 3. The other powers engaged in war with us. 4. The States. 5. The American army in the northern department. 6. The American Ministers abroad. 7. Count Rochambeau and the allied army. 8. Admiral Vaudreuil and the French squadron. 9. Gen. Green and the southern army. 10. The friends of freedom and virtue throughout the world. 11. The memory of the heroes who have fallen in the present contest. 12. May the gratitude of America towards her sons be equal to their merit. 13. A safe, lasting, and honorable peace.

The following address of the Trustees of the town was presented to his Excellency General Washington, on the occasion

SIR,

WE the Trustees of the freeholders and commonalty of the town of Kingston, for ourselves and in behalf of those we represent, beg leave with the most unfeigned love and esteem to congratulate your Excellency on your arrival in this place.

To a people whose principles of liberty were early decided, and whose actions have been correspondent, the appearance of a character among them, who by his wisdom has directed, and by his fortitude has led the arms of America to victory and success, affords a joy more sensibly felt, than is in the power of language to express.

While, Sir, we take a retrospect of the past campaigns, and in every vicissitude of the war observe your Excellency exhibit the most steady patriotism, the most undaunted courage; and while as a consequence of this we are informed, the Ministry of Britain are plunged into negotiation, and their armies into inaction; we trust--it is our prayer! that the same benign Providence, which has hitherto guided, will enable you speedily to terminate the present contest, in the unmolested glory and freedom of this extended empire. And when that era shall arrive, and the welfare of your country shall permit, may you then exchange the fatigues of the camp for the sweets of domestic retirement; and may your well earned fame run parallel with time, and your felicity last through eternity.

To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following answer.

Gentlemen,

RECEIVE, with peculiar pleasure, the affectionate address of the Trustees of the freeholders and commonalty of the town of Kingston.

Your polite and friendly reception of me is a proof of its sincerity.

While I view, with indignation, the marks of a wanton and cruel enemy, I perceive, with the highest satisfaction, that the heavy calamity which befell this flourishing settlement, seems but to have added to the patriotic spirit of its inhabitants; and that a new town is fast rising out of the ashes of the old.

That you and your worthy constituents may long enjoy that freedom for which you have so nobly contended, is the sincere wish of,

Gentlemen,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Kingston, Nov. 16, 1782.

The following is a copy of an address of the Minister, Elders, and Deacons of Kingston, to his Excellency General WASHINGTON.

SIR,

AMIDST the general joy which instantly pervaded all ranks of people here, on hearing of your Excellency's intended visit to this place, we the Ministers, Elders, and Deacons, of the Protestant reformed Dutch church in Kingston, participated in it; and now beg leave, with the greatest esteem and respect, to hail your arrival.

The experience of a number of years past has convinced us that your wisdom, integrity and fortitude, have been adequate to the arduous task your country has imposed upon you; never have we, in the most perilous of times, known your Excellency to despond; nor in the most prosperous, to slacken in activity; but with the utmost resolution persevere, until, by the aid of the Almighty, you have brought us thus near to independence, freedom and peace.

Permit us to add, that as the loss of our religious rights was partly involved in that of our civil: and you being instrumental in restoring the one, affords us a happy presage that the Divine Being will prosper your endeavours to promote the other.

When the sword shall be sheathed, and peace reestablished and whenever it is the will of heaven that your Excellency has lived long enough for the purposes of nature, then may you enter triumphantly through the blood of the Lamb into the regions of bliss, there to take possession of that crown of glory, the reward of the virtuous, and which fadeth not away.

To which his Excellency was pleased to make the following return.

GENTLEMEN,

I AM happy in receiving this public mark of the esteem of the Minister, Elders and Deacons, of the reformed Protestant Dutch church in Kingston.

Convinced that our religious liberties were as essential as our civil, my endeavours have never been wanting to encourage and promote the one, while I have been contending for the other. And I am highly flattered, by finding that my efforts have met the approbation of so respectable a body.

In return for your kind concern for my temporal and eternal happiness, permit me to assure you, that my wishes are reciprocal; and that you may be enabled to hand down your religion, pure and undefiled, to a posterity worthy of their ancestors, is the fervent prayer of,

Gentlemen,

Your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.