The pair of letters below were exchanged between General Washington and the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. The Congress's letter was dated July 1st, the General's response came shortly thereafter. The letters are printed in the Journals of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, pp 438-9.

To His Excellency George Washington, Esq. general and commander in chief of the continental army:

May it please your excellency:--The Congress of the Massachusetts colony, impressed with every sentiment of gratitude and respect, beg leave to congratulate you on your safe arrival, and to wish you all imaginable happiness and success in the execution of your elevated station.

While we applaud the attention to the public good, manifested in your appointment, we equally admire that disinterested virtue, and distinguished patriotism, which alone could call you from those enjoyments of domestic life, which a sublime and manly taste, joined with a most affluent fortune can afford, to hazard your life, and to endure the fatigues of war, in the defence of the rights of mankind and the good of your country.

The laudable zeal for the common cause of America, and compassion for the distresses of this colony, exhibited by the great despatch made in your journey hither, fully justify the universal satisfaction we have with pleasure observed on this occasion, and are promising presages, that the great expectations formed from your personal character and military abilities, are well founded.

We wish you may have found such regularity and discipline already established in the army, as may be agreeable to your expectations. The hurry with which it was necessarily collected, and the many disadvantages, arising from a suspension of government, under which we have raised and endeavored to regulate the forces of this colony, have rendered it a work of time; and though, in great measure effected, the completion of so difficult, and at the same time so necessary a task, is reserved to your excellency, and we doubt not will be properly considered and attended to.

We would not presume to prescribe to your excellency, but supposing you would choose to be informed of the general character of the soldiers who compose the army, beg leave to represent, that the greatest part of them have not before seen service; and although naturally brave, and of good understanding, yet, for want of experience in military life, have but little knowledge of divers things most essential to the preervation of health and even life. The youth of the army are not possessed of the absolute necessity of cleanliness in their dress and lodging, continual exercise, and strict temperance, to preserve them from diseases frequently prevailing in camps, especially among those, who, from their childhood, have been used to a laborious life.

We beg to assure you, that this Congreww will, at all times, be ready to attend to such requisitions as you may have occasion to make to us; and to contribute all the aid in our power, to the cause of America, and your happiness and ease in the discharge of the duties of your exalted office.

We most fervently implore Almighty God, that the blessings of Divine Providence may rest on you; that your head may be covered in the day of battle; that every necessary assistance may be afforded, and that you may be long continued, in life and health, a blessing to mankind.

General Washington's Answer to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress

Gentlemen:--Your kind congratulations on my appointment and arrival, demand my warmest acknowledgments, and will ever be retained in grateful remembrance.

In exchanging the enjoyments of domestic life for the duties of my present honorable, but arduous station, I only emulate the virtue, and public spirit of the whole province of Massachusetts Bay, which, with a firmness and patriotism without example in modern history, has sacrificed all the comforts of social and political life in support of the rights of mankind, and the welfare of our common country. My highest ambition is, to be the happy instrument of vindicating those rights and to see this devoted province again restored to peace, liberty and safety.

The short space of time which has elapsed since my arrival, does not permit me to decide upon the state of the army. The course of human affairs forbids an expectation, that troops formed under such circumstances, should, at once, possess the order, regularity, and discipline of veterans. Whatever deficiences there may be, will, I doubt not, soon be made up by the activity and zeal of the officers, and the docility and obedience of the men. These qualities, united with their native bravery and spirit, will afford a happy presage of success, and put a final period to those distresses which now overwhelm this once happy country.

I most sincerely thank you, gentlemen, for your declaration of readiness, at all times, to assist me in the discharge of the duties of my station. They are so complicated and extended, that I shall need the assistance of every good man and lover of his country; I therefore repose the utmost confidence in your aids. In return for your affectionate wishes to myself, permit me to say, that I earnestly impore that divine being, in whose hands are all human events, to make you and your constituents, as distinguished in private and public happiness, as you have been my ministerial oppression, by private and public distress.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.