Gazette Of The United States

Newport, August 19.

ADDRESS
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SIR,
IMPRESSSED with the liveliest sentiments of gratitude and affection, the citizens of Newport salute you on your arrival in this State, and wish to express their joy on this interesting occasion.
The present circumstances of this town forbid some of those demonstrations of gratitude and respect, which the citizens of our sister States have displayed on a similar occasion; yet we rejoice in this opportunity of tendering the richest offering which a free people can make—hearts sincerely devoted to you, and to the government over which you preside.
We anticipate with pleasing expectation the happy period when, under the auspicious government of the United States, our languishing commerce shall revive, and our losses be repaired—when commerce at large shall expand her wings in every quarter of the globe, and arts, manufactures and agriculture be carried to the highest pitch of improvement.
May kind Providence long continue your invaluable life, and in the progressive advancement of the United States, in opulence, order and felicity, may you realize the most glorious prospect which humanity can exhibit to an enlightened and benevolent legislator; and when you shall cease to be mortal, may you be associated to the most perfect society in the realms above, and receive that retribution for your disinterested and extensive services, which the Judge of all the earth will bestow on the friends of piety, virtue and mankind.
By Order,
H. MARCHANT, Moderator.

THE ANSWER.
TO THE FREEMEN OF THE TOWN OF NEWPORT.

Gentlemen,
The kind address of the inhabitants of Newport, on my arrival in this State, although I am not ignorant how much the worthy inhabitants of this town have been injured in their circumstances by their patriotic sufferings and services; yet I must be allowed to say, that nothing on their part has been wanting to convince me of their affection to myself, and attachment to the government over which I am appointed to preside.
I request, gentlemen, you will be persuaded that I take a due interest in your particular situation; and that I join with you in anticipating the happy period, when, in our country at large, commerce, arts, manufactures and agriculture, shall attain the highest degree of improvement.
My expressions would but faintly communicate my feelings, should I enlarge beyond the proper limits of an answer to your address, in evincing my sensibility of your affectionate wishes for my felicity in the present and future state of existence.—It will be a better proof of my zeal for the prosperity of the inhabitants of this town, and their fellow-citizens of this State, to lose no opportunity of attending to the advancement of their interests, in combination with the general welfare of the community.—This I shall do with unfeigned satisfaction—And may all the happiness be theirs, which can result, in their social character, from the uniform practice of industry, virtue, fraternal kindness, and universal philanthropy.
GEO. WASHINGTON.