Philadelphia, December 7, 1791
Dear Sir:
At the sametime that I address the letter which accompanies this to you, officially, permit me to offer my sincere congratulations on your Appointment to the Government of Virginia, and to add my best wishes for the prosperous Administration of the important Office which you now fill, as well as for your personal happiness.
An anxiety to do well, which is inseperable from high Offices, generally increases with the importance of the trust committed to our charge; and to that drawback you must lay your Account. But that you may experience as few troubles and difficulties as the nature of your situation will permit,
is the sincere wish of Dear Sir etc.1
1 From a photostat of the original in the University of Chicago Library.
On December 8 Washington wrote a brief note of thanks to Elbridge Gerry: "The President and Mrs. Washington have received the pears and the curious fluted Cymbling which Mr. Gerry has been so good as to send them, and beg his acceptance of their best thanks for this mark of polite attention." This note was sold at auction in 1926.