The whole company followed in mute and solemn procession, with dejected countenances, testifying feelings of delicious melancholy, which no language can describe.

Having entered the barge, he turned to the company, and, waving his hat, bid them a silent adieu.

They paid him the same affectionate compliment; and, after the barge had left them, returned in the same solemn manner to the place where they had assembled.[16] [Footnote 16: Gordon.] Congress was then in session at Annapolis, in Maryland, to which place General Washington repaired, for the purpose of resigning into their hands the authority with which they had invested him.[17] He arrived on the 19th of December.

The next day he informed that body of his intention to ask leave to resign the commission he had the honour of holding in their service; and requested to know whether it would be their pleasure that he should offer his resignation in writing, or at an audience.
[Footnote 17: See note, No.II.at the end of the volume.] To give the more dignity to the act, they determined that it should be offered at a public audience on the following Tuesday, at twelve.
[Sidenote: General Washington resigns his commission and retires to Mount Vernon.] When the hour arrived for performing a ceremony so well calculated to recall the various interesting scenes which had passed since the commission now to be returned was granted, the gallery was crowded with spectators, and several persons of distinction were admitted on the floor of congress.

The members remained seated and covered.