Washington, George, as First President

Circular letter signed ("Go: Washington"), written in a clerical hand, 1 page (9 7/8 x 8 1/8 in. ; 252 x 205 mm) on a bifolium of laid paper (watermarked Posthorn | gr), United States [Philadelphia], 1 March 1797, this copy directed by "The President of the United States to Jacob Read, Senator for the State of South Carolina," integral blank with address panel and reception docket, "1st March 1797 The President of the United States Summons to Attend the Senate on the 4th of March"; some light mat burn at edges, leaves neatly rejoined at central fold, a few other short fold separations repaired. 

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 (9 7/8 x 8 1/8 in. ; 252 x 205 mm) on a bifolium of laid paper (watermarked Posthorn | gr), United States [Philadelphia], 1 March 1797, this copy directed by "The President of the United States to Jacob Read, Senator for the State of South Carolina," integral blank with address panel and reception docket, "1st March 1797 The President of the United States Summons to Attend the Senate on the 4th of March"; some light mat burn at edges, leaves neatly rejoined at central fold, a few other short fold separations repaired.
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A previously unrecorded invitation to the inauguration of the second President. Washington calls the Senate into Session for the swearing-in of his successor: "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 routine language of Washington's summons belies its significance: terms for representatives and retiring members of the Senate in the Fourth Congress expired on 3 March 1797. The following day would mark not only the commencement of a new congress, but the inauguration of the administration of a new President, John Adams. The constitutionally mandated succession of executive power was to become reality.

Read 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/).

The Papers of George Washington, University of Virginia, previously had records of Washington's invitation to six of the nation's then thirty-two senators: Samuel Livermore of New Hampshire, Theodore Foster of Rhode Island, John Rutherford of New Jersey, Henry Latimer of Delaware, John Eager Howard of Maryland, and John Laurance of New York. The last of any of these to appear at auction was Rutherford's, more than two decades ago (Sotheby's, 29 October 1986).