9028. WASHINGTON (George), President.—
Though we [in Paris] have not heard
of the actual opening of the new Congress, and
consequently have not official information of
your election as President of the United States.
yet, as there never could be a doubt entertained
of it, permit me to express here my felicitations,
not to yourself, but to my country. Nobody
who has tried both public and private life, can
doubt that you were much happier on the banks
of the Potomac than you will be at New York.
But there was nobody so well qualified as yourself
to put our new machine into a regular
course of action; nobody, the authority of whose
name could have so effectually crushed opposition
at home, and produced respect abroad. I
am sensible of the immensity of the sacrifice
on your part. Your measure of fame was full
to the brim; and, therefore, you have nothing
to gain. But there are cases where it is a duty
to risk all against nothing, and I believe this was
exactly the case. We may presume, too, according
to every rule of probability, that after doing
a great deal of good, you will be found to
have lost nothing but private repose.—
To General Washington. Washington ed. iii, 30.
Ford ed., v, 94.
(P. May. 1789)
