You will infer our earnestness on this point, from the liberty which will be used of placing your name at the head of them.

How far this liberty may correspond with the ideas by which you ought to be governed, will be best decided where it must ultimately be decided.

In every event it will assist powerfully in marking the zeal of our legislature, and its opinion of the magnitude of the occasion." [Footnote 33: Mr.Madison.] "Although," said the general in reply, "I have bid a public adieu to the public walks of life, and had resolved never more to tread that theatre; yet, if upon an occasion so interesting to the well being of the confederacy, it had been the wish of the assembly that I should be an associate in the business of revising the federal system, I should from a sense of the obligation I am under for repeated proofs of confidence in me, more than from any opinion I could entertain of my usefulness, have obeyed its call; but it is now out of my power to do this with any degree of consistency--the cause I will mention.
"I presume you heard, sir, that I was first appointed, and have since been rechosen president of the society of the Cincinnati; and you may have understood also, that the triennial general meeting of this body is to be held in Philadelphia the first Monday in May next.

Some particular reasons combining with the peculiar situation of my private concerns, the necessity of paying attention to them, a wish for retirement and relaxation from public cares, and rheumatic pains which I begin to feel very sensibly, induced me, on the 31st ultimo, to address a circular letter to each state society, informing them of my intention not to be at the next meeting, and of my desire not to be rechosen president.

The vice-president is also informed of this, that the business of the society may not be impeded by my absence.