Monday, December 30.
Respect to the Memory of General Washington.
The Speaker informed the House that, in pursuance of the resolution of Friday last, he had addressed to Major General Henry Lee, one of the members for the State of Virginia, the following letter:
"Philadelphia, Dec. 27, 1799.
"Dear Sir: The enclosed resolutions, which unanimously passed the House of Representatives this day, will make known to you how highly they have been gratified with the manner in which you have performed the service assigned to you, in preparing and delivering a funeral oration on the death of General Washington. That our constituents may participate in the gratification we have received, from your having so well expressed those sentiments of respect for the character, of gratitude for the services, and of grief for the death of that illustrious personage, I flatter myself you will not hesitate to comply with the request of the House, by furnishing a copy of your oration, to be taken for publication.
"Allow me, while performing this pleasing task of official duty in communicating an act of the Representatives of the people, so just to you and so honorable to themselves, to embrace the opportunity to declare that I am, personally, with great esteem and sincere regard, dear sir, your friend and obedient servant,
"THEODORE SEDGWICK.
"The Hon. Maj. Gen. Lee."
To which Mr. Lee had replied as follows:
"Franklin Court, Dec. 28, 1799.
"Dear Sir: I owe to the goodness of the House of Representatives the honor which their resolutions confer on my humble efforts to execute their wish.
"I can never disobey their will, and therefore will furnish a copy of the oration delivered on the late afflicting occasion, much as I had flattered myself with a different disposition of it.
"Sincerely reciprocating the personal considerations with which you honor me, I am, very respectfully, sir, your friend and obedient servant,
"HENRY LEE.
"The Speaker of the House of Reps."
Mr. Marshall, from the joint committee appointed to consider and report what measures ought to be adopted in honor of the memory of General Washington, made another report in part, which was unanimously agreed to by the House, in the words following, to wit:
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled, That it be recommended to the people of the United States to assemble on the twenty-second day of February next, in such numbers and manner as may be convenient, publicly to testify their grief for the death of General George Washington, by suitable eulogies, orations, and discourses, or by public prayers.
And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to recommend the same, by a proclamation for that purpose.
Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said resolutions to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.