Page:Republican Court by Rufus Griswold.djvu/270

Randall, chairman of the committee of gentlemen through whom he had received it.

"Sir: On the second of May, 1789, I wrote you, requesting that my acknowledgments might be offered to the gentlemen who had presented an elegant barge to me, on my arrival in this city. As I am, at this moment, about commencing my journey to Virginia, and consequently shall have no farther occasion for the use of the barge, I must now desire that you will return it, in my name, and with my best thanks, to the original proprietors: at the same time I shall be much obliged if you will have the goodness to add, on my part, that in accepting their beautiful present, I considered it as a pledge of that real urbanity which, I am happy in declaring, I have experienced on every occasion during my residence among them; that I ardently wish every species of prosperity may be the constant portion of the respectable citizens of New York; and that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the polite attention of the citizens in general, and of those in particular to whom the contents of this note are addressed. I am, with sentiments of regard and esteem, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,