Washington, George, as First President

Circular letter signed ("Go: Washington"), written in a clerical hand, 1 page (6 5/8 x 7 3/8 in.; 170 x 189 mm) cut from a larger sheet of laid paper, United States [Philadelphia], 1 March 1797, this copy directed by "The President of the United States to Theodore Foster, Senator for the State of Rhode Island"; folds reinforced on verso.   

The Writings of George Washington, ed. Fitzpatrick, 35:407–08 (text from the copy sent to New Hampshire Senator Samuel Livermore)

Circular letter signed ("Go: Washington"), written in a clerical hand, 1 page (6 5/8 x 7 3/8 in.; 170 x 189 mm) cut from a larger sheet of laid paper, United States [Philadelphia], 1 March 1797, this copy directed by "The President of the United States to Theodore Foster, Senator for the State of Rhode Island"; folds reinforced on verso.
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Washington invites Senator Foster to the inauguration of his successor. Washington calls the Senate into Session for the swearing-in of John Adams: "It appearing to me proper that the Senate of the United States should be convened on Saturday the fourth day of March instant; you are desired to attend in the Chamber of the Senate on that day at eleven o'Clock in the forenoon, to receive any communications which the President of the United States may then have to lay before you, touching their interests."

The simple (and opaque) language in which Washington couched his invitation became the model for similar inaugural calls issued by later occupants of the Executive Office (see also lots 40 and 89). Foster and the other senators of the Fifth Congress convened in their upper-floor chamber in Congress Hall on that Saturday to witness Adams, their former presiding office, take office. In letter to his wife written the day after the inauguration, Adams revealed that while the ceremony made "a Solemn Scene," he "never had a more trying day than Yesterday." Adams also made a bemused observation of the retiring Washington, "whose Countenance was as serene and unclouded as the day:" "He Seemed to me to enjoy a Tryumph over me. Methought I heard him think Ay! I am fairly out and you fairly in! See which of Us will be happiest" (Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/).

Seven of the thirty-two senatorial invitations to Adams's inauguration that Washington would have sent are known to survive. The last one to appear at auction was directed to Senator John Rutherford of New Jersey, sold more than two decades ago (Sotheby's, 29 October 1986, lot 145).