Home > Washington's famous Circular Letter from the end of the Revolutionary War, in which he tenders his resignation as Commander-in-Chief... Much more on the war's end...
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Washington's famous Circular Letter from the end of the Revolutionary War, in which he tenders his resignation as Commander-in-Chief... Much more on the war's end...



Item # 701081

August 01, 1783

THE POLITICAL MAGAZINE, London, August, 1783  This is certainly one of the less common titles from England during the Revolutionary War. It contains a wealth of reports concerning the concluding events of the war.
Pages 1 and 2 have: "Lord Sheffield's Observations on the Commerce of the American States". Another page has a lengthy list of the: "American Ships Taken" during the war. Another page has: "An Act for Forfeiture & ale of the Estates of Persons who have adhered to the Enemies of this States..." meaning the Loyalists.
Also a lengthy article from New York that begins: "This once happy country is now enveloped with clouds of ruin. There is nothing but anarchy and confusion..." with much more taking nearly 2 pages.
"A Circular Letter from his Excellency George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States of America" dated June 18, 1783. (The actual document is dated June 8th, however, the British reports note the 18th.)
The letter is datelined from his headquarters at Newburgh, New York, and begins: "The great object for which I had the honour to hold an appointment in the service of my country being accomplished, I am now preparing to resign it into the hands of Congress and return to that domestic retirement which, it is well known, I left with the greatest reluctance...". It closes with a fervent prayer "...I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection; that he would incline that hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field; and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion; without an humble imitation of whose example, in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation..." Signed in type: G. WASHINGTON.
Yet still more American content with: "Present State of Government at Philadelphia" and: "Mutiny at Philadelphia" and; "American Manifest & Intercourse Bill" and then in the news reports near the back is a letter signed by: Guy Carleton concerning events at the end of the war.
Complete in 80 pages, full title/contents pages, 5 bay 8 1/4 inches, very nice condition.

Item from our most recent catalog - #361, released for December, 2025

Category: Revolutionary War