found in
my own, I doubt not I shall find with you, though, I cannot
promise to be a better subject of this government, than my whole
conduct will evince that I have been to that of great Britain.

Justly, however, as I think I may complain of the treatment I have
met with in England I sincerely wish her prosperity, and, from the
good will I bear both that country and this I ardently wish that
all former animosities may be forgotten and that a perpetual
friendship may subsist between them.

And on Monday, June, 11, 1794, having taken the first opportunity to
visit Priestley, the Tammany Society presented this address:

Sir,

A numerous body of freemen who associate to cultivate among them
the love of liberty and the enjoyment of the happy Republican
government under which they live and who for several years have
been known in this city, by the name of the Tammany Society have
deputed us a Committee to express to you their pleasure and
congratulations on your safe arrival in this country.

Their venerable ancestors escaped, as you have done, from
persecutions of intolerance, bigotry and despotism, and they
would deem themselves, an unworthy progeny were they not highly
interested in your safety and happiness.

It is not alone because your various useful publications evince a
life devoted to literature and the industrious pursuit of
knowledge; not only because your numerous discoveries in Nature
are so efficient to the progression of human happiness: but they
have long known you to be the friend of mankind and in defiance of
calumny and malice, an asserter of the rights of conscience and
the champion of civil and religious liberty.

They have learned with regret and indignation the abandoned
proceedings of those spoilers who destroyed your house and goods,
ruined your philosophical apparatus and library, committed to the
flames your manuscripts, pryed into the secrets of your private
papers, and in their barbarian fury put your life itself in
danger. They heard you also with exalted benevolence return unto
them "blessings for curses:" and while you thus exemplified the
undaunted integrity of the patriot, the mild and forbearing
virtues of the Christian, they hailed you victor in this
magnanimous triumph over your en