Mount Vernon Feby. 20th.1784. My dear Sir, The bad weather, and great care which the Post Riders take of themselves, prevented your letters of the 3d. & 9th. of last Month from getting to my hands till the 10th. of this. - Setting of next Morning for Fredericksburgh to pay my duty to an aged Mother, and not returning till yesterday, will be admitted I hope, as a sufficient apology for my silence 'till now. I am much obliged by the trouble you have taken to report the state of the Garrison & Stores, together with the disposition of the Troops at West-Point, to me. - and think the allowance of Rations, or subsistence money to such Officers as could not retire at that inclement season, was not only perfectly humane, but perfectly just. - and that it must appear so to Congress. It would seem to me, without having recourse to calculation, that the allowance of a Majr. General in a seperate department, to the person who shall discharge the duties of Secretary at War, Master of Ordnance, & Commanding Officer of the Forces which may be retained, or Raised for a Peace Establishment is [strikeout] [inserted: as low as it well can be]. - I expect the President & some Members of Congress here in a day or two, & will tell them so. - It was amongst my first Acts after I got home, to write to the President of each state Society, appointing Philadelphia (& the first Monday in May) for the general meeting for the Cincinnati. - Colo. Walker took with him all the Letters for those Eastward of this before New Years day; the others for the Southward I dispatched by the Post [2] Post [strikeout] about the sametime - I have even sent duplicates for fear of miscarriage; yet, 'though it is the most eligable method, it is to be feared it will not prove so effectual a communication, as [struck: would] a general notification in the public Gazettes [inserted: would have been] - And, in case of failure, I shall be exceedingly concerned for not having adopted the most certain as it would give me pleasure to have the first general meeting, a very full one. - I have named Philadelphia (contrary to my own judgment, as it is not Central) to comply with the wishes of South Carolina, who, being the most Southern State, have desired it. - North Carolina I have not heard a tittle from, nor any thing official from New Hampshire. - all the other States have acceded very unanimously to the propositions which were sent from the Army. - I am just beginning to experience that ease, and freedom from public cares which, however desirable, takes some time to realize; for strange as it may tell, it is nevertheless true, that it was not 'till lately I could get the better of my usual custom of ruminating as soon as I waked in the morning, on the business of the ensuing day; - and of my surprize, after having revolved many things in my mind, to find that I was no longer a public man, or had any thing to do with public transactions. - I feel now, however, as I conceive a wearied Traveller must do, who, after treading many a painful step, with a heavy burden on his shoulders, is eased of the latter, having reached the Goal to which all the former were directed - & from his House top is looking back, & tracing with a [strikeout] [inserted: grateful] eye the Meanders by which he escaped the quicksand and Mires [3] Mires which lay in his way; and into which none but the All-powerful guide, & great disposer of human Events could have prevented his falling. I shall be very happy, and I hope shall not be disappointed, in seeing you at the proposed meeting in Philadelphia. - The friendship I have conceived for you will not be impaired by absence, but it may be no unpleasing circumstance to brighten the Chain, by a renewal of the Covenant. - My best wishes attend Mrs. Knox & the little folks, in which Mrs. Washington most heartily joins me. - With every sentiment of the purest esteem, regard and affection I am, My dear Sir, Yr. Most Obedt. & Obliged Hble Servant Go: Washington PS. I hope Genl Greene will be in the Delegation from Rhode Island - and that we shall see him at the Genl. Meeting of the Cincinnati - will you intimate this to him Majr. Genl Knox. [docket] from his Excellency Genl. Washington 20 Feby 1784 Original No 8 -