UNITED STATES, _November 29, 1797_.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
I receive this address from the House of Representatives of the United
States with peculiar pleasure.
Your approbation of the meeting of Congress in this city and of those
other measures of the Executive authority of Government communicated in
my address to both Houses at the opening of the session afford me great
satisfaction, as the strongest desire of my heart is to give
satisfaction to the people and their Representatives by a faithful
discharge of my duty.
The confidence you express in the sincerity of my endeavors and in the
unanimity of the people does me much honor and gives me great joy.
I rejoice in that harmony which appears in the sentiments of all
the branches of the Government on the importance of our commerce
and our obligations to defend it, as well as in all the other subjects
recommended to your consideration, and sincerely congratulate you and
our fellow-citizens at large on this appearance, so auspicious to the
honor, interest, and happiness of the nation.