May we unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of nations, and to beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions: to enable us all, whether in public or

private stations, to perform our several 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 sovereign nations, and to bless them with good government, peace and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Superstition, but at an Epoch when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period, the researches of the human mind, after social happiness, have been carried to a great extent, the Treasures of Knowledge, acquired by the labours of Philosophers, Sages and Legislatures, through a long succession of years, are laid open for our use, and their collected wisdom may be happily applied in the Establishment of our forms of Government. At this auspicious period, the United States

came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own.