ng formed
to secure the happiness of the French people, corresponds with the
ardent wishes of my heart, while it gratifies the pride of every
citizen of the United States by its resemblance to their own. On
these glorious events, accept, sir, my sincere congratulations.

"In delivering to you these sentiments, I express not my own
feelings only, but those of my fellow-citizens, in relation to the
commencement, the progress, and the issue of the French Revolution;
and they will certainly join with me in purest wishes to the
Supreme Being, that the citizens of our sister-republic, our
magnanimous allies, may soon enjoy in peace that liberty which they
have purchased at so great a price, and all the happiness that
liberty can bestow.

"I receive, sir, with lively sensibility the symbol of the triumphs
and of the enfranchisements of your nation, the colors of France,
which you have now presented to the United States. The transaction
will be announced to Congress, and the colors will be deposited
with the archives of the United States, which are at once the
evidence and the memorials of their freedom and independence. May
these be perpetual, and may the friendship of the two republics be
commensurate with their existence!"

Washington transmitted to Congress the letter from the Committee of
Safety, the French colors, and copies of the speeches of Adet and
himself at the presentation, on the fourth of January; whereupon, the
house of representatives, by resolution, requested the president to make
known to the representatives of the French people "the most sincere and
lively sensibility" which was excited by this honorable testimony of the
existing sympathy and affections of the two republics; that the house
rejoiced "in the opportunity thereby afforded to congratulate the French
nation upon the brilliant and glorious achievements" which they had
accomplished during the present afflictive war; and hoped that those
achievements would be attended with a perfect attainment of their
object, and "the permanent establishment of the liberty and happiness of
a great and magnanimous people."

On the sixth of January, the senate also passed resolutions expressive
of the pleasure they felt on the reception of this evidence of the
continued friendship of the French republic, and of a desire that the
"symbol of the triumphs and enfranchi