The letter herewith transmitted, will inform you that it has pleased Divine Providence to remove from this life our excellent fellow-citizen, George Washington, by the purity of his character, and a long series of services to his country, rendered illustrious through the world. It remains for an affectionate and grateful people, in whose hearts he can never die, to pay suitable honor to his memory.
JOHN ADAMS.
United States, Dec. 19, 1799.
"Mount Vernon, Dec. 15, 1799
"Sir: It is with inexpressible grief that I have to announce to you the death of the great and good General Washington. He died last evening, between ten and eleven o'clock, after a short illness of about twenty hours. His disorder was an inflammatory sore throat, which proceeded from a cold, of which he made but little complaint on Friday. On Saturday morning, about three o'clock, he became ill. Doctor Craik attended him in the morning, and Doctor Dick, of Alexandria, and Doctor Brown, of Port Tobacco, were soon after called in. Every medical assistance was offered, but without the desired effect. His last scene corresponded with the whole tenor of his life; not a groan, nor a complaint, escaped him in extreme distress. With perfect resignation, and in full possession of his reason, he closed his well spent life.
"I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,
"TOBIAS LEAR.
"The President of the United States."
Mr. Marshall, from the committee appointed to wait on the President of the United States, to know when and where it will be convenient for him to receive this House in condolence of the national calamity, reported that the committee had, according to order, performed that service, and that the President signified to them it would be convenient for him to receive this House at one o'clock this afternoon, at his own house.
A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate have agreed to the resolution passed by the House of Representatives for the appointment of a joint committee of both Houses to report measures suitable to the occasion, and expressive of the profound sorrow with which Congress is penetrated on the loss of a citizen, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen; and have appointed Mr. Dayton, Mr. Bingham, Mr. Dexter, Mr. Gunn, Mr. Laurance, and Mr. Tracy, a committee on their part.