Given under my hand, at the city of New York,
the 3rd day of October, AD 1789
George Washington

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to
be grateful for His benefits, and humbly
to implore His protection and favor;
and Whereas both Houses of Congress have,
by their joint committee, requested me
“to recommend to the people of the United States
a day of public thanksgiving and prayer,
to be observed by acknowledging with grateful
hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God,
especially by affording them an opportunity
peaceably to establish a form of government
for their safety and happiness.

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday,
the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by
the people of these States to the service of that
great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent
Author of all the good that was, that is,
or that will be; that we may then all unite
in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble
thanks for His kind care and protection of the
people of this country previous to their
becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold
mercies and the favorable interpositions
of His providence in the course and conclusion
of the late war; for the great degree of
tranquility, union, and plenty which we have
since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational
manner in which we have enabled do establish
constitutions of government for our safety
and happiness, and particularly the national
one now lately instituted; for the civil and
religious liberty with which we are blessed,
and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing
useful knowledge; and, in general, for the
great and various favors which He has been
please to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly
offering our prayers and supplications to the
great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech
Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;
to enable us all, whether in public or private
stations, to perform our several and relative
duties properly and punctually; to render our
national government a blessing to all the people
by constantly being a government of wise, just,
and constitutional laws, discreetly and
faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect
and guide all sovereigns and nations
(especially such as have shown kindness to us),
and to bless them with good governments,
peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge
and practice of true religion and virtue,
and the increase of science among them and us;
and, generally, to grant unto all mankind
such a degree of temporal prosperity as He
alone knows to be best.