IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1799.

The House of Representatives of the United States, having received intelligence of the death of their highly valued fellow-citizen, George Washington, General of the armies of the United States, and sharing the universal grief this distressing event must produce,

Unanimously resolve:

1. That this House will wait on the President of the United States, in condolence of this national calamity.

2. That the Speaker's chair be shrouded with black, and that the members and officers of the House wear mourning, during the session.

3. That a joint committee of both Houses be appointed 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.

4. That when this House adjourns, it will adjourn until Monday

next.

Ordered, That Mr. Marshall and Mr. Smith be appointed a committee to wait on the President of the United States, to know when and where he will receive this House for the purpose expressed in the first resolution.

Ordered, That Mr. Marshall, Mr. Craik, Mr. Henry Lee, Mr. Eggleston, Mr. Smith, Mr. Stone, Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Abiel Foster, Mr. Muhlenberg, Mr. Van Cortlandt, Mr. Dwight Foster, Mr. Franklin Davenport, Mr. Claiborne, Mr. Morris, Mr. John Brown, and Mr. Taliaferro, be a committee, jointly with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the Senate, for the purpose expressed in the third resolution. Ordered, That the clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

A written message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Shaw, his secretary, which, together with the letter ac

*The resolutions were drawn by Gen. Henry Lee and introduced by John Marshall, Representative from Virginia.

companying the same, was read, and referred to the committee last appointed, and is as follows:

Gentlemen of the Senate, and

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives :

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 honors to his memory.

United States, December 19, 1799.

JOHN ADAMS.

"Mount Vernon, December 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, with the highest respect, 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, by Mr. Otis, their secretary:

Mr. Speaker: 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. Lawrence, and Mr. Tracey, a committee on their part.

And then he withdrew.

The Speaker, attended by the House, then withdrew to the house of the President of the United States, when Mr. Speaker addressed the President as follows:

SIR: The House of Representatives, penetrated with a sense of the irreparable loss sustained by the nation in the death of that great and good man, the illustrious and beloved Washington, wait on you, sir, to express their condolence on this melancholy and distressing event.

To which the President replied as follows:

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

I receive, with great respect and affection, the condolence of the House of Representatives, on the melancholy and affecting event, in the death of the most illustrious and beloved personage which this country ever produced. I sympathize with you, with the nation, and with good men through the world, in this irreparable loss sustained by us all.

United States, December 19, 1799.

JOHN ADAMS.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1799.

Mr. Marshall, from the joint committee appointed to prepare and report measures suitable to the occasion, and expressive of the profound sorrow with which Congress is penetrated on the loss of their highly valued fellow-citizen, George Washington, General of the armies of the United States, made a report, in part; which he delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same was twice read and considered: Where

upon,

It was resolved, that the House do unanimously agree to the following resolutions, to wit:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a marble monument be erected by the United States, in the Capitol, at the city of Washington; and that the family of General Washington be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it; and that the monument be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life.

And be it further resolved, That there be a funeral procession from Congress Hall to the German Lutheran Church, in honor of the memory of General George Washington, on Thursday, the twentysixth instant, and that an oration be prepared at the request of Congress, to be delivered before both Houses, on that day; and that the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives be desired to request one of the members of Congress to prepare and deliver the same.

And be it further resolved, That it be recommended to the people of the United States to wear crape on the left arm, as mourning, for thirty days.

And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to direct a copy of these resolutions to be transmitted to Mrs. Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person and character; of their condolence on the late afflicting dispensation of Providence; and entreating her assent to the interment of the remains of General George Washington in the manner expressed in the first resolution.

And be it further resolved, That the President of the United

States be requested to issue a proclamation, notifying to the people throughout the United States the recommendation contained in the third resolution.

Ordered, That the clerk of this House do carry the said resolutions to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have agreed to the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives, directing certain measures to be taken suitable to the occasion, and expressive of the profound sorrow with which Congress is penetrated on the loss of their highly valued fellow-citizen, George Washington, General of the armies of the United States.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1799.

Mr. Gray, from the joint committee for enrolled bills, reported that the committee had examined the enrolled resolutions directing certain measures to be taken in honor of the memory of General George Washington, and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon,— Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled resolutions.

Ordered, That the clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

Mr. Wadsworth, from the joint committee for enrolled bills, reported that the committee did, this day, present to the President of the United States, for his approbation, the enrolled resolutions directing certain measures to be taken in honor of the memory of General George Washington.

A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Shaw, his secretary, notifying that the President did, this day, approve and sign the enrolled resolutions, which originated in this House, in honor of the memory of General George Washington.

The Speaker informed the House, that, conformably to the resolution of Congress, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives had requested Major General Henry Lee, one of the Representatives from the State of Virginia, to prepare and deliver a funeral oration before both houses, on Thursday, the twenty-sixth instant, in honor of the memory of George Washington, late General of the armies of the United States; and that Mr. Lee had been pleased to accept of the appointment.

On motion, the House adjourned until Thursday morning, half-past ten o'clock.