Introduction

Bergman’s letter welcoming Washington to the Savannah area is, in many ways, typical of the many addresses the president received from religious congregations during his national tour. He praises Washington’s virtue and wisdom, but, unusually, he composes his message in Latin. Bergman could not have been understood by Washington had he written in his own language, nor did he possess the facility with English to convey his sentiments appropriately. Instead, he chose to use the lingua franca of the educated classes of whatever national or ethnic background to express his profound appreciation for the religious liberty his community had experienced in America. In this, Bergman’s letter stands as a material testament to the emerging religious plurality of the new nation.

Bergman’s Letter

To the President of the United States of America:

Permittas, quaeso, Illustrissime Washington! ut devoti piique animi sensa TIBI declarem, cui contigerit insignis illa felicitas, TE Savannae adeundi, virum, tot tantisque factis illustrem. Profecto admiratus sum TUAM humanitatem et indulgentiam, qua me hominem ignotum excepisti, qui non ausus essem ad TE accedere nisi ab amico optimo certior factus essem, tristem abs TE discedere neminem. Georgia laetatur de TUA Splendidissima praesentia, qua eam exhilarare dignatus es. Diu vivas o Washington! deliciae americani populi, tuumque nomen, et facta illustria Sera posteritas celebrabit. Semper precabor Deum Optimum Maximum, qui TE Praesidem harum civitatum constituit, ut omnibus rebus conatibusque Tuis propitius adsit. Accipe hanc tenuiorem epistolam, nullo ornatu commendabilem, eadem indulgentia, qua me excipere dignatus es. Anglia quidem scripturus eram si facultate pollerem eleganter scribendi, et ut dignum esse posset insignibus virtutibus et illustrissimis factis TUIS. Peregrinus, in hanc provinciam missus sum benignissimam doctrinam Redemtoris nostri profitendi inter posteros colonorum Salisburgensium, quos inprimis quia curae meae concrediti sunt, cum omni gente germanica Georgiae Americanae Tuo potentissimo patrocinio magnopere commendo. Ego vero nunquam desinam ardentissimas preces mittere ad Deum benignissimum, pro totius populi Americani salute.

John Earnst Bergman,
Minister of the German Congregation of Ebenezer
Savannah d. 14. May 1791

Translation

To the President of the United States of America:

Please allow me, Distinguished Washington, to declare my devoted and dutiful spirit to you, whom that distinguished success has touched, [upon] your coming to Savannah, you, a man, famous because of so many great deeds. In fact, I am surprised to see the humanity of thy life, and the way of indulgence [in which you], received me, a man unknown, afraid to approach you except that I have been assured that no one departs from you sad. Georgia is delighted by you and your most splendid presence, by which you have honored us. Long live Washington! And may your name be a delight of the American people, so that posterity will celebrate your true famous deeds.

I always will pray to God Almighty, who called you to be the president of these states, that he may be merciful in every way upon your endeavors. Accept this rather thin unworthy letter: were I able to write in English, I would write one more worthy of your famous virtue and illustrious deeds. I was sent as a foreigner into this province [which was] a very kind doctrine of Redemption, to care for those who share my faith in the colony of Salzburgers in American Georgia. We greatly trust in your very powerful patronage. For my part, I truly never shall cease to pray most ardently to the good and gracious God on behalf of the salvation of all Americans.

 

John Earnst Bergman,
Minister of the German Congregation of Ebenezer
Savannah d. 14. May 1791