ter communicating this act, Washington wrote on
the 27th of February, stating his doubts about accepting such a
gratuity, but at the same time asking the governor as a friend to
assist him in the matter by his advice. Governor Henry's reply is of
interest to us, not only for its allusion to his own domestic
anxieties at the time, but for its revelation of the frank and cordial
relations between the two men:--

RICHMOND, March 12th, 1785.

DEAR SIR,--The honor you are pleased to do me, in your favor
of the 27th ultimo, in which you desire my opinion in a
friendly way concerning the act enclosed you lately, is very
flattering to me. I did not receive the letter till
Thursday, and since that my family has been very sickly. My
oldest grandson, a fine boy indeed, about nine years old,
lays at the point of death. Under this state of uneasiness
and perturbation, I feel some unfitness to consider a
subject of so delicate a nature as that you have desired my
thoughts on. Besides, I have some expectation of a
conveyance more proper, it may be, than the present, when I
would wish to send you some packets received from Ireland,
which I fear the post cannot carry at once. If he does not
take them free, I shan't send them, for they are heavy.
Captain Boyle, who had them from Sir Edward Newenham, wishes
for the honor of a line from you, which I have promised to
forward to him.

I will give you the trouble of hearing from me next post,
if no opportunity presents sooner, and, in the mean time, I
beg you to be persuaded that, with the most sincere
attachment, I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,

P. HENRY.[344]

GENERAL WASHINGTON.

The promise contained in this letter was fulfilled on the 19th of the
same month, when the governor wrote to Washington a long and careful
statement of the whole case, urging him to accept the shares, and
closing his letter with an assurance of his "unalterable affection"
and "most sincere attachment,"[345]--a subscription not common among
public men at that time.

On the 30th of November, 1786, having declined to be put in nomination
for a third year, as permitted by the Constitution, he finally retired
from the office of governor. The House of Delegates, about the same
time, by unanimous vote, c