Washington's Farewell Address to the Army...

THE INDEPENDENT LEDGER & THE AMERICAN ADVERTISER, Boston, Nov. 24, 1783  

"One Inflamed Enlightened Heart" patriotic masthead

A very nice feature of this issue is the masthead engraving which features a very patriotic theme: "All Hands with One Inflamed Enlightened Heart." signifying the 13 united colonies having a common, patriotic purpose. One of the more patriotic masthead engravings of the Revolutionary War era.

The full text of his farewell orders is in this issue, noting in part: "...A contemplation of the compleat attainment (at a period earlier than could have been expected) of the object for which we contended, against so formidable a power, cannot but inspire us with astonishment and gratitude--The disadvantageous circumstances on our part, under which the war was undertaken, can never be forgotten--The singular interpositions of Providence in our feeble condition were such as could scarcely escape the attention of the most unobserving, while the unparalleled perseverance of the armies of the United States, thought almost every possible suffering & discouragement, for the space of eight long years, was little short of a standing miracle..." and more.  
Four pages, some discrete archival mends at the margins and spine, minor foxing, good condition. It is great to have the entire content on the front and back pages as the entire Address can be viewed if the issue is framed.

AI notes: This specific issue of The Independent Ledger & The American Advertiser stands as a premier artifact of the American founding, capturing the precise moment the Revolutionary War transitioned from a bloody conflict into a fragile peace. Printed on November 24, 1783—just twenty-four hours before the British finally evacuated New York City—the newspaper features a masthead that is a masterpiece of early American iconography, utilizing the "One Inflamed Enlightened Heart" motif to symbolize the hard-won unity of the thirteen colonies. The centerpiece, however, is the full text of George Washington’s "Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States." Penned at Rocky Hill, this address is a rare display of Washington's rhetorical skill, where he balances deep humility with a profound sense of awe, famously labeling the Continental Army’s eight-year endurance against a "formidable power" as a "standing miracle." Because the text spans the front and back pages, the issue offers a unique opportunity for archival display, allowing a viewer to see the entire close of Washington’s military career in a single, contemporary physical object that survived over 240 years of American history.