stopped in Annapolis. This was on November 21, 1782. Annapolitans
greeted the conquering hero with a salute of cannon, the acclamation
of citizens and an official reception by the Governor and the members
of the General Assembly. Here is an eyewitness account as reported
in the Maryland Gazette, a newspaper which is still being printed
in Annapolis and which is reputed to be the oldest in the country.
The Gazette wrote:

"When the citizens received the pleasing intimation of his
excellency's intentions to honor them with his presence, all business
ceased and every consideration gave way to their impatience to
behold their benefactor and the deliverer of his country. On his
appearance in the streets, people of every rank and every age
pressed forward eagerly to feed their eyes with gazing on the
man to whom, under Providence, and the aid of our great and
good ally, they owed their present security and their hopes of
future liberty and peace. The courteous affability with which he
returned their salutes lighted up ineffable joy in every countenance
and diffused the most animated gratitude through every breast. "

The newspaper, in the somewhat ornate journalistic style of the day,
went on to describe a public dinner next day, followed by an assembly
where the ladies were present. "His excellency, " the Gazette wrote,
"to gratify the wishes of the fair, crowned the entertainment with his
presence, and with graceful dignity and familiar ease so framed his
looks, his gestures and his words that every heart o'erflowed with
gratitudes and love, and every tongue grew wanton in his praise. "
This, then, was Washington, triumphant and relaxed in victory. And,
making allowances for the rather exuberant journalism, this is a picture
of the living Washington and the feeling his presence inspired in the
hearts of his neighbors in Maryland.

But perhaps the most immemorable of all the visits to Annapolis
came the following winter—on December 23, 1783. At high noon on
that day, Washington appeared before the Continental Congress to
resign his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The setting
for this awesome occasion was the Senate chamber of the Maryland
State House—a chamber which we in Maryland have set aside as a
shrine in the building which still houses the executive and legislative
branches of our State government. From a paper which he held in
trembling hands, Washington his voice agitated, said:

"Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the
great theater of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this