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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT. - The Writings of George Washington, vol. II (1758-1775)
ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT. - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. II (1758-1775) [1889]Edition used:The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1889). Vol. II (1758-1775).
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- The Writings of George Washington.
- 1758.
- To John Blair, President of the Council. 1
- To Colonel Stanwix.
- To Brigadier-general Stanwix.
- To Major Francis Halket.
- To the President of the Council.
- To Sir John St. Clair.
- To the President of the Council.
- To the President of the Council.
- To Major Francis Halket.
- To the President of the Council.
- To General Forbes.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Colonel Henry Bouquet, Commanding At Raystown.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Mrs. Martha Custis.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To [gabriel Jones]?
- To Colonel James Wood.
- To Colonel Bouquet. 2
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Major Francis Halket, Brigade Major.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To Colonel Bouquet.
- To John Robinson.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Mrs. George William Fairfax.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Mrs. George Wm. Fairfax.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To General Forbes.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To General Forbes.
- To General Forbes.
- To General Forbes.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To Governor Fauquier.
- To General Forbes.
- 1759.
- To Robert Cary and Company, Merchants, London.
- To Richard Washington.
- To Robert Cary and Company.
- Invoice of Sundries to Be Sent By Robert Cary and Company For the Use of George Washington.
- Invoice of Sundries to Be Shipped By Robert Cary and Company, For the Use of Master John and Miss Patty Custis, Each to Be Charged to Their Own Accounts, But Both Consigned to George Washington, Potomac River.
- To Robert Cary and Company.
- 1760.
- Journal, 1 1760.
- To Richard Washington.
- To Robert Cary & Co., London.
- To Captain Robert Mackenzie, At Venango.
- 1761.
- To Richard Washington.
- To Reverend Charles Green. 1
- To Richard Washington.
- 1762.
- [to George William Fairfax]?
- 1763.
- To Chs. Lawrence, Tailor In London.
- To Robert Stewart.
- To Robert Stewart.
- Notes On the Dismal Swamp. 1
- 1764.
- To Robert Cary & Co.
- 1765.
- Messrs. Carlyle & Adam.
- To Col. Burwell Bassett.
- To Francis Dandridge, London.
- 1766.
- To Captain Joh. Thompson.
- 1767.
- To Captain John Posey.
- To William Crawford. 1
- To Colonel Armstrong.
- To Captain John Posey.
- 1768.
- Diary For 1768. 1
- To Rev. Jonathan Boucher. 1
- To Robert Cary & Co.
- 1769.
- To William Ramsay. 1
- To George Mason. 1
- To Colonel Bassett.
- To Colonel John Armstrong.
- 1770.
- To Lord Botetourt, Governor of Virginia. 1
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- The Session of the Burgesses In 1770. 1
- To Geo. Wm. Fairfax.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- Journal of a Tour to the Ohio River. 2
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- 1771.
- To Dr. Boucher. 1
- To — Colston.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Robert Cary & Co.
- The Annapolis Races of 1771.
- To George Mercer, London. 1
- To Robert Stobo.
- 1772.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Dr. Boucher.
- To Lord Dunmore, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. 1
- To Matthew Campbell. 1
- To Lord Dunmore and Council.
- 1773.
- To Colonel Bassett.
- To Captain John Dalton.
- To Rev. Dr. Thruston.
- To James Wood. 1
- To James Wood.
- To Benedict Calvert.
- To Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia.
- To Colonel Bassett.
- Journey to New York, 1773. 1
- To Colonel Bassett.
- Advertisement of the Ohio Lands. 1
- To Willliam Crawford.
- To Michael Cresap.
- To Colonel Armstrong.
- To Lord Dunmore.
- 1774.
- To William Black.
- To Colonel Bassett.
- To Henry Riddell.
- To Thomas Lewis, Esq.
- Session of the House of Burgesses, 1774. 1
- To Bryan Fairfax.
- To Bryan Fairfax.
- Virginia Convention. 1
- To Richard Henry Lee.
- To Bryan Fairfax.
- The Continental Congress of 1774.
- To Captain Robert Mackenzie. 1
- To James Mercer.
- 1775.
- Instructions For Mr. James Cleveland.
- Supplementary Instructions. 1
- To John West.
- To John Connolly.
- To Jno. Washington.
- Instructions For William Stevens.
- To John Augustine Washington.
- To Lord Dunmore.
- To Montague.
- To Mercer. [ Extract. ]
- Advertisement. 2
- To George William Fairfax, England.
- Acceptance of Appointment.
- Commission As Commander-in-chief. *
- To Mrs. Martha Washington.
- To John Parke Custis.
- To Colonel Bassett.
- To the Captains of Several Independent Companies In Virginia.
- To John Augustine Washington.
- To the Continental Congress.
- To the Continental Congress.
- To Major-general Philip Schuyler.
- Answer to an Address of the New York Provincial Congress. 1
ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT.
On the 15 June, 1775, Congress having resolved “That a general be appointed to command all the continental forces raised or to be raised for the defence of American liberty,” proceeded to a choice, and the ballots being taken, George Washington, esq., was unanimously elected.
On the day following the president informed Mr. Washington that Congress had unanimously made choice of him to be general and commander-in-chief of the American forces and requested he would accept that employment, to which Mr. W., standing in his place, answered:
Mr. President,
Though I am truly sensible of the high honor done me in this appointment, yet I feel great distress from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important trust. However, as the Congress desire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty and exert every power I possess in the service and for support of the glorious cause. I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their approbation. But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavourable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.
As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress, that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those I doubt not they will discharge, and that is all I desire.
“As soon as he could get himself in readiness he set out for Boston to take upon him the command of the army before that town.” (MS. note of Charles Thomson prefixed to vol. i. of Washington’s Letters in the Records of the Continental Congress.) Thomson’s memorandum was made from a copy of the acceptance in the MS. of Edmund Pendleton. Continental Congress, No. 152, vol. i., p. 1.
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