Mount Vernon, 13^th July, 1798 Dear Sir, I Had the honour, on the evening of the 11^th Inst, to receive from the hand of the Secretary of War, your favour of the 7^th announcing that you had, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed me "Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the armies raised, or to be raised, for the service of the United States." I cannot express how greatly affected I am at this new proof of public confidence, and the highly flattering manner in which you have been pleased to make the communication; at the same time, I must not conceal from you my earnest wish, that the choice had fallen upon a man less declined in years, and better qualified to encounter the usual vicissitudes of war. You know, Sir, what calculation I have made relative to the probable course of events; on my retiring from Office, and the determination I had consoled myself with, of closing the remnant of my days at my present peaceful abode; you will therefore be at no loss to conceive and appreciate the sensations I must have experienced, to bring my mind to any conclusion that would pledge me, 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. It was not possible for me to remain ignorant of, or indifferent to, recent transactions. The conduct of the Directory of France towards our country; their insidious hostility to its government; their various practices to withdraw the affections of the people from it; the evident tendency of their acts, and those of their agents, to countenance and invigorate opposition; their disregard of solemn treaties and the laws of nations; their war upon our defenceless commerce; their treatment of our minister of peace; and their demands amounting to tribute; could not fail to excite in me corresponding sentiments with those my countrymen have so generally expressed in their affectionate address to you. Believe me, Sir, no one can more cordially approve of the wise and prudent measures of your administration. They ought to inspire universal confidence; and will, no doubt, combined with the state of things, call from Congress such laws and means as will enable you to meet the full force and extent of the crisis. Satisfied, therefore, that you have sincerely wished and endeavoured to avert war, and exhausted, to the last drop, the cup of reconciliation; we can with pure hearts appeal to Heaven for the justice of our cause; and may confidently trust the final result to that kind Providence who has heretofore, and so often, signally favoured the People of these United States. Thinking in this manner; and feeling how incumbent it is upon every person, of every description, to contribute at all times to his country's welfare, and especially in a moment like the present, when every thing we hold dear and sacred is so seriously threatened, I have finally determined to accept the commission of Commander in Chief of the armies of the United States; with the reserve only, that I shall not be called into the field untill the army is in a situation to require my presence, or it becomes indispensable by the urgency of circumstances. In making this reservation, I beg it to be understood, that I do not mean to with-hold any assistance to arrange and organize the army, which you may think I can afford. I take the liberty also to mention, that I must decline having my acceptance considered as drawing after it an immediate charge upon the public; as I [undecipherable] can receive any emoluments annexed to the [undecipherable] ment; before entering into a situation to meet [undecipherable] existences. The Secretary of War being anxious to return to the seat of government, I have detained him no longer than was necessary to a full communication upon the several points he had in charge. With very great respect and consideration, I have the honour to be, Dear Sir Your most Ob't H'ble Serv't George Washington John Adams, President of the U. States [Photostatic copy of original in possession of the Chicago Historical Society] [Address and endorsement panel — multiple notations in varying orientations, largely undecipherable; bottom notation reads: came U.S. Washington 18 [undecipherable]]