Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated. I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never again see the religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of society.

Letter to Edward Newenham (20 October 1792), these statements and one from a previous letter to Newenham seem to have become combined and altered into a misquotation of Washington's original statements to read: