Books and Manuscripts

Rare Broadside Printing of Washington's Letter to President John Adams, Accepting the Role of Commander-in-Chief of the Military, During the Quasi War with France

General Washington's Letter, Declaring his Acceptance of the Command of the Armies of the United States
(Philadelphia): Published for General Information, 1798. Printed broadside, 18 x 11 in. (457 x 279 mm). Signed in type by George Washington. Expert restoration at upper corners. Evans 34829; Sabin 101713

By July, 1798, as war between France and the United States seemed inevitable, George Washington had been enjoying his retirement from public life at Mount Vernon for more than a year when Secretary of War James McHenry was sent to convince him that his country needed him once again. Though he was never required to lead troops in battle, Washington played an active role in building up the nation's military capacity, until his death a year and a half later.

The broadside prints Washington's epistolary response to President Adams, dated 13 July 1798. He expresses his "earnest wish that the choice had fallen upon a man less declined in years, and better qualified to encounter the usual vicissitudes of war" and his hesitation "at so late a period of life, to leave scenes I sincerely love, to enter upon the boundless field of public action, incessant trouble, and high responsibility." He goes on to describe the "insidious hostility" of the French Directory, including "their disregard of solemn treaties and the laws of nations; their war upon our defenceless commerce; their treatment of our ministers of peace; and their demands amounting to tribute." He accepts the commission as Commander-in-Chief, "with the reserve only, that I shall not be called into the field until the army is in a situation to require my presence." 

Rare. ESTC lists only three examples: the Library of Congress, the John Carter Brown Library, and the Boston Athenaeum.