CONCLUSION Washington's term as President ended at noon on March 4, 1797.

He was present at the inauguration of President John Adams which immediately followed.

On the 3d, besides attending to the final necessary routine, he wrote several letters of farewell to his immediate friends, including Henry Knox, Jonathan Trumbull, Timothy Pickering, and James McHenry.

To all he expressed his grief at personal parting, but also immense relief and happiness in concluding his public career.

He said, for instance, in his letter to Trumbull: Although I shall resign the chair of government without a single regret, or any desire to intermeddle in politics again, yet there are many of my compatriots, among whom be assured I place you, from whom I shall part sorrowing; because, unless I meet with them at Mount Vernon, it is not likely that I shall ever see them more, as I do not expect that I shall ever be twenty miles from it, after I am tranquilly settled there.