[THE ADDRESS OF THE INHABITANTS OF ALEXANDRIA, IN VIRGINIA TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, ON LEAVING HIS HOUSE TO ACCEPT OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [Never Before Printed.] [with,] THE Address of GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE MAYOR, CORPORATION AND CITIZENS OF ALEXANDRIA. [In,] THE UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PLEASURE. And Other Arts and Sciences Which May Render it Instructive and Entertaining. FOR JANUARY, 1790 [Through] JUNE, 1790. VOL. LXXXVI

First Edition of the volume for January through June of 1790, including the supplements. Containing the stated FIRST PRINTING of the Addresses of the Mayor of Alexandria, VA. to George Washington on his leaving his home in Mount Vernon to become President of the United States and of Washington's address to the people in reply. Most probably the first printing in book form of either of the addresses. No earlier printings in book form seem to exist and the Library of Congress shows only the manuscript copy in their holdings. Also containing one of the earliest reports of the mutiny onboard the H.M.S. 'Bounty' and an extensive essay on William Harvey, as well as an essay by Mrs. Piozzi on the present King of Naples. Illustrated throughout. 8vo, contemporary tan calf over marbled paper covered boards, the spine with raised bands and a single red morocco label gilt tooled and lettered. 379, [5 index] pp. A very fresh and well preserved copy, the text still quite clean and crisp, only a hint of occasional spotting, a few old marks by an early reader, including the marking of one small section as "Not Fact". The binding has some rubbing at the tips and edges, two joints starting, but still a firm and solid binding in original state with no evidence of repair or restoration.

Edizione: the universal magazine for the first half of 1790; which, with the stated first printing of the address to george washington and his address to the citizens of alexandria also contains "letters, debates, essays, tales, poetry, history, biography, antiquities, voyages, travels, astronomy, geography, mathematics, mechanics, architecture, philosophy, medicine, chemistry, husbandry, gardening and other arts and sciences."<br> at 10:00am on the morning of april 16, 1789 general george washington left mount vernon for the journey north to new york where he would be inaugurated as the first president of the new united states. his first stop was in alexandria with his former aide-de-camp, col. david humphries and the secretary of congress, charles thomson. at noon he arrived in alexandria where he took an early dinner at wise's tavern with citizens of the town. the address by the mayor celebrating washington's service to and love of country was followed by washington's own address concerning his considerations for his having accepted the honour to be bestowed upon him in new york. washington had wanted to retire from public life, but agreed to continue to serve the new nation upon the call of its citizenry.<br> both addresses are moving tributes, one to the man, one to the new nation and its people. humble in origin, brilliant in effect they are. in the later afternoon hours general washington was escorted by admirers up the potomac to georgetown where he was greeted by a large contingent of the citizenry of that town who escorted him up the post road towards baltimore where he spent the night at spurrier's tavern. <br><br>george washington's address:<br> <br>to the mayor, corporation, and citizens of alexandria<br><br>[alexandria, april 16, 1789.]<br><br>"gentlemen: although i ought not to conceal, yet i cannot describe, the painful emotions which i felt in being called upon to determine whether i would accept or refuse the presidency of the united states.<br><br>the unanimity of the choice, the opinion of my friends, communicated from different parts of europe, as well as of america, the apparent wish of those, who were not altogether satisfied with the constitution in its present form, and an ardent desire on my own part, to be instrumental in conciliating the good will of my countrymen towards each other have induced an acceptance.<br><br>those, who have known me best (and you, my fellow citizens, are from your situation, in that number) know better than any others that my love of retirement is so great, that no earthly consideration, short of a conviction of duty, could have prevailed upon me to depart from my resolution, “ never more to take any share in transactions of a public nature .” for, at my age, and in my circumstances, what possible advantages could i propose to myself, from embarking again on the tempestuous and uncertain ocean of public-life?<br><br>i do not feel myself under the necessity of making public declarations, in order to convince you, gentlemen, of my attachment to yourselves, and regard for your interests. the whole tenor of my life has been open to your inspection; and my past actions, rather than my present declarations, must be the pledge of my future conduct.<br><br>in the mean time i thank you most sincerely for the expressions of kindness contained in your valedictory address. it is true, just after having bade adieu to my domestic connexions, this tender proof of your friendship is but too well calculated still farther to awaken my sensibility, and encrease my regret at parting from the enjoyments of private life.<br><br>all that now remains for me is to commit myself and you to the protection of that beneficent being, who, on a former occasion has happly brought us together, after a long and distressing separation. perhaps the same gracious providence will again indulge us with the same heartfelt felicity. but words, my fellow-citizens, fail me: unutterable sensations must then be left to more expressive silence: while, from an aching heart, i bid you all, my affectionate friends and kind neighbours, farewell! "<br><br> this volume also contains a series of picturesque scenes from homer's iliad with handsome engravings; memoirs of the life and writings of the celebrated physician dr. william harvey; and a virtually countless array of stories and reports of "all things instructive and entertaining."