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11
THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH
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SECOND PfiRT.
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1789 WASHINGTON 1889
Complete History of the Great Event New Yorkers
Are Joyously Celebrating.
THEMUGURATION (WASHINGTON
Ind the Scenes, That -Marked the Foundation of the
Grand National Republic.
flOF THE OOATOEtfTAL CONGRESS DIED,
And Patriots Struggled to Preserve the Constitution and
Porm a Pree Government.
LEAVES PEOM THE LIPE
His Hrst Inaugural, His Memorable Journey to the Ohio, His Death
and His Ancestry.
The fcrst inauguration of "Washington,
performed on the balcony of old Federal
Hall, April SO, 1780, marked the birth of
onr National Republic Colonial and pro
vincial America ceased to exist, and Na
tional America began. The hope of sac
cess lay apparently in one man, revered
and beloved as no other man had been or
ever will be, and upon the successful issue
of the trust to which he was here solemnly
devoted. 'What scene in history overtops
or even equals the grandeur and significance
of that glorious consecration?
The last Congress of the United States
tinder the confederation adopted a resolu
tion declaring that on the first "Wednesday
in January, 1789, Presidental electors
should be chosen in the several States; that
on the first "Wednesday in February the
electors should choose a President, and that
nwii-'
George Washington.
en the first "Wednesday in March Congress
should meet, the President be inaugurated
and the wheels of government begintoturn.
The first "Wednesday in March, 1789, struck
on the fourth day of the month. This is the
reason why Congressional and Presidental
terms begin and end on March 4.
But though the Government was born on
March 4, 1789, it did not begin active exist
ence until several weeks later. Steamboats
were not dreamed of then, and railroads did
not come into being until half a century
later. Traveling was slow and tiresome
work, and Congress was long in coming
together. The House of Representatives-did
not tjet a quorum until March SO, 26 days
after the date set apart for its opening. The
Senate did not organize until April 6. Con
gress then counted the vote and declared
George "Washington elected President and
John Adams, "Vice President So it comes
that the Centennial anniversary of the in
auguration of the first President of the
United States is credited to April 30, 1769,
and that tLe one hundredth anniversary of
that day marks the beginning of one of the
greatest celebrations of history.
At first it was intended to make the cele-
, oration a local affair, confining participa
tion to the original 13 States. But as the
grandeur of the occasion became more and
more apparent there were requests from
every State in the Union to be allowed to
participate in the proceedings. Hence, al
most unwittingly the celebration became at
once a national affair. A general invita-
, tion was extended to the entire country to
take part, and the responses were so numer
ous as to stagger the gentlemen of the-com-
' xnittee. From every State Commissioners
were appointed and from every State in the
nion came proffers from Governor and
staff to be present at this already brilliant
occasion.
3cTationcl and State appropriations of
money quickly followed, and the attend-
jance of the President and his Cabinet, the
-ex-Presidents and their wives and hundreds
o'f notables throughout the country was
-"'.promised, and the citizens of the great city
fof New York united in working for the suc--cess
of a great national event. Fitting in
'faeed is this record of interest In a city so
-cosmopolitan. The events of a century ago,
given in detail below, will add to the in
'aterest of the events of to-day, commemor
ating as they do the foundation of a Gov-
'eminent for the people and by the people in
tht "home of the brave and the land of
fibifree."
THE OLD CONGRESS.)
Hnr ItJxfr" Kew Tark-il Great
-M KatteMl Evewt Haw It Wsi Drives
Xrasa City to dttj An Iaterertlng Scrap
J of History. '
1 . ii- -;.... f nr.w., irco
F.klV,t t h i.it f Kw York, the old Csn.
p"?r. ...... , i t. v.j II
jkunentai uongress expirou. -... uu guue vu
laaiq tae goomg t niwn,, wa me ring
..Saw
f v V. ji
OP THE PIEST PBESIDENT.
ing of bells, but the glory of its dying mo
ments was one to which it had long been a
stranger. More like a ragged outcast than
anything else had this Congress been for
many months. Driven from city to city,
hooted at and abused, its resolutions disre
garded, its appropriations unpaid, it had
become the object of contempt and ridicule.
"Not worth a continental" had become the
common saying ot the common people, who
once had said "not worth a farthing."
' In Philadelphia a band of ploughmen
had gathered nnder the windows of the hall
where Congress was sitting, and had broken
up the meeting with taunts and threats, and
not a man had been fr'-nd to defend it. It
had gone to Princeton, to Annapolis and to
Trenton, and finally, in 1783, having been
driven from Philadelphia by a band of
mutinous soldiers, it had come to New
York. Here it sat in almost royal state, in
a large room in the old City Hall, then
standing on the corner of Nassau and "Wall
streets. There was in the Congress room a
railed platform where the President sat, the
chair of state, the polished mahogany tables
and the rich crimson hangings of damask.
Then there was the
XONG LINE OP POKTKAnS,
being those of the great soldiers of the war.
The King and Queen of France were there,
looking life-like enough to step ont of their
frames at any moment. The 'provincial
visitor who gazed about on this magnifi
cence went away impressed, but rather with
the hall than with the members. For the
people's representatives who sat there in
those days came only long enough in the
morning to register their names, and then
went away to the taverns.
Thus on the 13th of September hut nine
States were present, on the 18th there were
bnt six, and on the 14th of October there
were only two. It had been decided, how
ever, that on the first "Wednesday in Jan
uary, 1789, the States should meet and
choose the electors; that on the first "Wednes
day in February the electors shonld cast
their votes, and that the new Congress
should meet in the city of New York on the
first Wednesday in March.
The 4th of March arrived, the old Con
gress having ceased to exist, and the new
one having been summoned, there were
great expectations in the hearts of the peo
ple, but by 12 o'clock there were present
but 8 Senators and 13 "Representatives.
Days went by and none came. The weather
was bad, the few who straggled into New
York reported a bad condition of the roads,
and the necessity sometimes of going 100
miles up along the river before a crossing
could be made. This accounted for much
of the delay, but the waiting members were
impatient. A letter dated March 11 was
sent out. Each day stragglers came in. On
April fi the arrival of Richard Henry Lee,
Virginia, made a quorum in the Senate,
that of the House had been made on April 1.
"WASHINGTON AND ADAMS.
The subject -uppermost in the mind of
Congress was the choice of a President and
Vice President for the United States. As
to General "Washington there was but one
voice. All the 69 votes were cast for him.
About the Vice President Congress differed.
Adams was regarded as a snob, and as hav
ing been affected by contact with foreign
courts, and sentences from his book, like
this. "The rich, the well-born and the able
will acquire an influence among the people
that will soon be too mneh for simple hon
esty and plain sense in a House of Repre
sentatives," were quoted against him; not
withstanding, he carried the day against
General Clinton, the favorite candidate. As
the Constitution then read, the duty of' each
elector was to vote in this wayr He wrote
upon a piece ot paper two names, without in
dication which one of the two was to be
President The one receiving the greatest
number of votes was to be President, the
next in order Vice President Had Adams'
name been written on every piece of paper
containing that of "Washington, neither
would have been elected, and the House of
Representatives would then have had to de
cide. JOUENBI TO NEW YORK.
HowWaftMeaton and Adams Reached the
Capital The Father of Ht Country
Royally Keee Wed AH Along the Route.
The electoral vote counted, two messen
gers were appointed one, Charles Thomp
son, to carry the news to "Washington, and
the other, Sylvanus Bourne, to go to
Adams. Adams was inaugurated first;
that is on April 22. His progress in New
York was one long series of popular con
quests. Citizens from all the larger towns
on bis way waited upon him. On Monday,
the 20th of April, he arrived in New York.
At King's Bridge he was met by mounted
soldiers and members of Congress, guns
fired all along the route as he was escorted
to the house of the Hon. John Jay, whose
guest he was to be. This house. No. 2
Broadway, near the corner of Exchange
Place, was alterward the residence of Aaron
Burr when he killed Alexander Hamilton.
It finally passed into the hands of John
Jacob Astor. There is an aaecdote always
told when we speak of the isaugwal eere-
jnefiMsefAdagu, Jete JUUMok mI
brother Richard were standing in the crowd
about the doors ot Federal Hall when
Adams drove by. They pressed too closely,
and Randolph never forgot to his dying day
"the manner in which my brother was
sDurned by the coachman of the then Vice
John Adams.
President for coming too near the arms em
blazoned on the escutcheon ot the vice-regal
carnage. The Randolph anger was against
Adams, however, not the coachman, and
accounted for by the bitter enmity of the
brothers to him.
WASHINGTON'S JOtraHEY.
Meantime Sylvanus Bourne had carried
his message to Mount Vernon, and General
"Washington had set out on a journey, the
like of which our country has never known
before or since. Only when Lincoln was
buried and Garfield carried to the sea have
the people risen in the same way. Our
demonstrations have always been in the
hands of committees. But with "Washing
ton's progress it was different People met
him everywhere with the spontaneous de
light and enthusiasm of children. He had
not gone a mile from his own door when a
crowd of friends and neighbors on horse
back crowded about his carriage and rode
with him to Alexandria, The Mayor of
that town met him at the tavern where the
horses stopped. Speeches were made and
farewells taken, and so much of affection
displayed that the calm face of Washington
worked with emotion. The people followed
him to the banks of the Potomac, where the
citizens of Georgetown had come in such
numbers that the Alexandrians gave way,
leaving to them the privilege of escorting
their illustrious neighbor on his way. Bnt
hardly had he reached Baltimore before the
booming of cannon was heard and again the
people flocked about him. It was Snnday
evening when "Wilmington was reached,
and the good people of that town, with all
their patriotism stirred, were yet too much
in awe of the Sabbath day to decorate their
houses. So they compromised with their
consciences and illuminated instead a vessel
in the harbor. At Philadelphia the recep
tion was royal, and "Washington, leaving
his carriage, mounted a white horse and
rode through the town. At Gray's Ferry
arches of evergreens spanned the 'road, and
as "Washington passed under one of them a
wreath of laurel was lowered upon his brow.
The roads were lined with thousands upon
thousands of people all shouting with joy.
"When the rain began to fall "Washington
declined the escort oi the city troon, saying
he would not ride under cover while they
were exposed to the rain.
tbitjmphai. pbooeess.
At Trenton, over Assunpink creek, where
12 years before Washington had retreated
to fall on the British forces again at Prince
ton, an evergreen arch with 13 columns had
Washington's Headquarters as Commander of
the Army.
been raised, covered with loval inscriptions.
Young women and children in white, with
white garlands on their heads, strewed flow
era in his way, singing:
Welcome, mighty chief, once more,
W-lcome to this grateful shore;
Now no mercenary foe
Aims again the fatal blow.
Aims at thee the fatal blow.
Virgins fair and matrons grave,
Those thy conquering arms did save,
Build for thee triumphal bowers:
Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers,
Strew your hero's way with flowers.
General "Washington writes to them as the
"white-robed choir," and says that im
pression has been made on his mind that
"will never be effaced."
At Elizabethtown, in the house of Ellas
Boudinot, Washington first met the com
mittee of Congress. At the Elizabethtown
point the barge was waiting which was to
convey him to New York. This was on
Thursday, the 23d of April. And now be
gan imposing ceremonies, such as still stir
the imagination as one reads. The day was
one of surpassing beauty, the sky cloudless,
the air crisp and clear, the water like a
crystal mirror. Gayly dressed people stood
on the wharves, and snips with flags waviag
lay all about People shouted and waved
banners, and over the water came now and
then the exultant boom of cannon. In the
barge itself sat Washington, rowed by 13
pilots in white uniforms. All about him
darted boats gayly decorated. Washington
was deeply affected.
LANDING IS NEW TOBK.
Just as Bedloe's Island was reached, a
large sloop under full sail swept up, and
some 20 ladies and gentlemen standing on
deck broke into song. Hats were waved,
other ships rode by, oars were presented.
Even the porpoises swam up to the surface
"as if they had risen up," said Elias Bou
dinot "What was the cause ot all this
happiness?" Only the Spanish ship-of-war
was silent It had neither flags nor sails
visible. Everything on board was ominous
ly silent. The people were aghast, as they
glanced thatway, and almost indignant
But suddenly as Washington's boat swept
by, the colors of ail the nations appeared on
the rigging', 13 gnns were fired, the yards
were manned. The effect was eleetrical,and
one of the most startling of that day.
At Hurray's wharf, now the foot of Wall
street, the party landed. A rich crimson
carpet was laid up the steps to the carriage;
but the General preferred walking to the
Franklin House (now Franklin square),
which had been fitted up as his residence.
The city troop accompanied him, and all
the dignitaries of the town. "He fre
quently," says Miss Qnincy, "bowed to the
multitude and took oil his 'hat to the ladies
at the windows, who waved their handker
chiefs before him and shed (ears of joy and
congratulations." "The decorations of the
ships, the loud acclamations of the people,
which ent the skies as I walked Along the
street" said Washington that night in his
diary "filled my mind with sensations as
.peaceful (considering the reverse of this
scene, which may be the case after all my
efforts to do good) as they are plejsia&"
On6e arrived in town, the inaugural cere
monies might well, it would seem, have be
gun. Bat people were not so hurried in
those days, sad tWerM-snwh that tad to
be daw. .
PITTSBURG, "WEDNESDAY, MA.Y 1, 1889.
WASHINGTON'S INAUGURAL.
Imposing Ceretnonlea New York Filled
With Patriots Tho fnannarnl Proces
sion Toe Ball in Honor or Wniulnston
Fnshlons of a Centnrr Ago.
The capacity of New York City in 1789 on
the occasion of Washington's inauguration
was fully tested by the crowds that had
been pouring into the city for a fortnight
previous to the 30th of April from all parts
of the Union, all eager to witness the im
posing ceremonial which was to complete
the organization of he Government All
the taverns and boarding honses were
thronged with visitors and every private
honse was filled with guests. A young
lady, in writing to a friend of the difficulty
in obtaining accommodations, said: "We
shall remain here, even if we have to sleep
in tents, as so many will have to do. Mr.
Williamson had promised to engage us
rooms at Fraunees', but that was jammed
Washington Landing in New York.
long ago, as was every other public house;
and now, while we were waiting at Mrs.
Vandervoort's, in Maiden Lane, till after
dinner, two of our beaux are running about
town, determined to obtain the best places
for us to stay at which can be opened
for love, money or the most persuasive
speeches."
The booming of cannon at sunrise began
the ceremonies of the day, and at 9 o'clock
the bells of the churches rang for half an
hour, railing the congregations to assemble
in their respective places of worship, to im
plore the blessings of Heaven upon their
new Govefnment, its favor and protection to
the President, and snecess and acceptance to
his administration.
THE IN AUGUEAL PABASE.
The military were meanwhile preparing
to parade, and at 12 o'clock marched before
the President's house on Cherry street A
part of the procession came direct from Fed
eral Hall. Following Captain Stakes with
his troop of horse were the "assistants"
General Samuel Blatchley Webb, Colonel
William S. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel
Nicholas Fish, Lieutenant Colonel Franks,
Major L 'Enfant, Major Leonard Bleecker
and Mr. John "R. Livingston. Following
the assistants were Egbert Benson, Fisher
Ames and Daniel Carroll, the committee of
the House of Representatives; Richard
Henry Lee, Ralph Izard and Tristram Dal-
ton, the committee of the Senate; John Jayn
uenerai .tienry Jxnox, saniuel usgod, Ar
thur Lee, Walter Livingston, the heads of
the three great departments, and gentlemen
in carriages and citizens oh foot
The full procession leit the Presidental
"Mansion at 12:30 o'clock and proceeded to
Federal Hall via Queen street, Great Dock
and Broad street Colonel Morgan Lewis,
as grand marshal, attended by Majors Van
Home and Jacob Morton, as aids de camp,
led the way. Then followed the troop of
horse, the artillery, the two companies of
grenadiers, a company of light infantry and
the battalion rneu.Ni company in the full
uniform of Scotch Highlanders with the
national music of the bagpipe, the Sheriff,
Robert Boyd, on horseback; the Senate
Committee, the President in a state coach,
drawn by four horses and attended by the
assistants and civil officers; Colonel Hum
phreys and Tobias Lear, in the President's
own carriage; the Committee of the House,
Mr. JayGeneral Knox, Chancellor Liv
ingston, His Excellency the Count de Mom
tier, His ExcellencyDon Diegode Gardoqni,
the French and Spanish Ambassadors; other
gentlemen ol distinction, and a multitude
of citizens. The two companies of grena
diers ATXEACTED HTJCH ATTENTION.
One, composed of the tallest voung men in
the city, were dressed "in blue with red
facings and gold-laced ornaments, cocked
hats with white feathers, with waistcoats
and breeches and white gaiters, or spatter
dashes, close buttoned from the shoe to the
knee and covering the shoe buckle. The
second, or German company, wore blue
coats with yellow waistcoats and breeches,
black gaiters similar to those already de
scribed, and towering caps, cone shaped,
and faced with black bear skin."
When the military, which amounted to
Old Procession Saluting
"not more than 600 men," and whose "ap
pearance was quite pretty," arrived within
200 yards of Federal Hall at 1 o'clock, they
were drawn upon each side, and Wash
ington and the assistants and the gentle
men especially invited passed through the
lines and proceeded to the Senate Chamber
of the "Federal State House." This
building, which had been the old city
hall, had been renovated and improved at
an expense of $32,000, which sum was ad
vanced by a number of wealthy -New
Yorkers, lor the occupancy of the new Con
gress. The architect of the improvements
was Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who
had been the architect of St. Paul's Church,
and who subsequently laid oat the city oi
Washington. He transformed the building
into an imposing structure. The arched
basement on Wall and Nassau streets
formed a promenade for citizens.
CAPACITY Off THE CAPITOL.
There were sevea openings to the base
ment on Wall street; The tour heavy
Tuscan columns in tie aentar exteadad to
tkMeMtrv--wsrM'. bcJawy. where'
the inauguration oath was administered.
These columns supported four high Doric
pillars, over which, in the pediment, were
ornamental figures and a great American
eagle carrying 13 arrows and the arms of the
United States. Within the building were
the Representatives' room, the Senate cham
ber, the committee rooms, audience room,
and ante-chambers, a library and a marble
paved hallway extending from tbe, bottom
to the top of the building, and roofed by a
glass cupola, so that a strong light might be
thrown down on the lobby adjoining th
Senate chamber.
The Senate chamber was 40 by SO and IS
feet high, with fireplaces of American
marble or "as fine a gram as any from En
rope." On the ceiling were a sun and 13
stars.
The Representatives room, or Federal
Hall proDer, was 61 feet deep, 68 feet wide,
and 36 high, and contained four fireplaces.
On the Broad street side were two galleries
for spectators; at the north end was the
Speaker's chair, and arranged in circular
lorm in the room were seats, for the hity-
nine representatives. The most elegant and
most-talked-of ornament of the building
was the eagle on the outside.
After Congress had begun the transaction
of business the building was crowded with
visitors, so eager were all to inspect this
wonderful structure. It might he added
that after Congress moved to Philadelphia,
Federal Hall was altered to receive the
courts and the State Assembly, and was
taken down in 1813 to make way for build
ings which in turn gave way to the old cus
tom house and to the United States sub
treasury building of to-day.
THE OATH ADMINISTERED.
When Washington reached the Senate
Chamber he was received by Vioe President
Adams, who conducted him to the chair of
state and introduced him to the assembled
members of Congress.
"Sir," said the Vice President "the Sen
ate and House of Representatives of the
United States are ready to attend you to
take the oath required by the Constitution,
which will be administered by the Chan
cellor of the State-of New York"
"I am ready," was the reply.
He was at once conducted to the balcony
in front of the Senate chamber, which
looked upon Broad street, and the oath was
administered. Besides Adams, Clinton and
Livingston, who stood near Washington on
the balcony, were -Roger Sherman and
Richard Henry Lee, Generals Henry Knox
and Arthur St Clair, Baron Steuben and
Samuel A. Otis, Secretary of the Senate,
and in the vrear the Senators, Representa
tives and other distinguished officials.
Alexander Hamilton viewed the ceremony
from his residence opposite, at the corner of
Wall and Broad streets. Broad and Wall
streets in each direction presented a compact
mass of upturned faces, and it is remarked
that every person was still as a statue and
profound silence reigned. The windows
and housetops were crowded with people.
Spectators exactly on the opposite side
have many times described the appearance
of the group on the balcony.
"IT is DONE."
Washington stood in the center of the bal
cony between two pillows, clad in a com
plete snit ot elegant broadcloth of American
manufacture, with white silk stockings,
also a native production, plain silver
buckles in his shoes, head uncovered, his
hair heavily powdered and' tied in a cue,
according to the fashion of the day. He
stood npon a square stone slightly elevated
above the floor of the balcony. Just before
the oath was to be administered it was dis
covered that there was no Bible in Federal
Hall, but Chancellor Livingston borrowed
one from St John's Lodge of Masons, which
was near by, and that Bible is Btill the
property of that lodge.
Chancellor Livingston slowly pronounced
the oath. "Washington reverently repeated
it after him. The Bible was raised. As
the President bowed to kiss it, he said in a
clear voice: "I swear," then, closing his
eyes, added, "So help me, God."
"It is done," said the Chancellor. Then,
turning to the multitude, he said in a loud
voice:
"Long live George Washington, Presi
dent of the United States!"
Ship of State at Howling Green.
Instantly the flag was run up to thel top
of the staff of the cupola of Federal Hall,
and all the bells of the city broke forth at
once. Shouts, and acclamations from the
waiting thousands were repeated again and
Again, and cannon boomed from every point
of the compass from land and water.
Immediately after the oath was adminis
tered Washington returned to the Senate
Chamber, where he delivered bis inaugural
address, and then the President, accom
panied by the Vice Presideut, the Speaker,
the two honses of Congress and all who at
tended the inauguration ceremony, proceed
ed on foot to St Paul's Church, where ser
vices were conducted by the Chaplain of the
Senate, Rt Rer. Dr, Samuel Provost,
Bishop of tbe Episcopal Church in New
York. After the religious services were
concluded Washington entered the state
coach and was escorted to his residence.
That night there was a brilliant display of
fireworks, private bouses were illuminated,
as were also the ships in the harbor, from
Whose decks rockets aad other fireworks
were also set oi".
f , v
1 -i
TfccuMgwtfiMhfUldidBGi taka pbae
until the evening' of May 7, when it was
held in the Assembly rooms, a building
situated on the east side of Broadway, a few
doors above Wall street It was an elabor
ate affair, brilliant in every way, and was
regarded as the great eventof the times.
It was attended by President Washington,
sS kefifticd aSfKSifi? tKv&MiS
Inauguration Scene, 1789.
Vice President Adams, and by a majority
of the members ot both Houses of Copgress.
The Ministers Irom France.and Spain were
also there, together with the Governor of
New York, General Knox, Mr. Jay, Mr.
Hamilton, and all the other people of dis
tinguished rank in the city.
The historian describes the ladies as being
especially beautiful, while their costumes
were of great beauty, of the most fashion
able design, and in the height of taste.
Colonel Stone describes some of the costnmes
worn, which will certainly convince the
ladies of the present day that their "grand
mothers" werd "up" in all the fashions of
the day. He writes as follows:
"One favorite dress was a plain celestial
blue satin gown, with a white satin petti
coat On tlje neck was worn a very large
Italian ganze handkerchief, with border
stripes of satin. The head dress was a pouf
of gauze in theform of a globe, the creneaux,
or headpiece, of which was composed of
white satin, having a double wing in large
plates and trimmed with a wreath of roses.
The hair was dressed all over in detached
curls, four of which, in two ranks, fell on
each side ot the neck and were relieved be
hind by a floating chignon. Another beau
tiful dress was a perriot made of gray In
dian taffeta, with dark stripes of the same
color, having two collars, one yellow and
the other white, both trimmed with blue
silk fringe. Under the perriot they wore a
yellow corset or bodice, with large cross
stripes of bine. Some of tbe ladies with
this dress wore hats, a l'Espagnoie of white
satin. This hat, which, with a plume, was
a very popular article of head dress, was re
lieved on tbe left side by two handsome
cockades. On the neck was worn a very
large gauze handkerchief, the ends of which
were hidden nnder the bodice, after the
manner represented in Trumbull's and
Stuart's portraits of Lady Washington."
THE old time 400.
Clad in such costumes as these, it is not
difficult to imagine the surpassing loveli
ness of the ladies who graced the ball with
their presence. Among them were Lady
Stirling and her two daughters, Lady Mary
Watts, Lady Kitty Duer, Mrs. Peter Van
Brugh Livingston, who was sister of the
Late Lord Stirling; Mrs. Montgomery,
widow of the late hero ot Quebec; Lady
Christiana Griffin,Lady Temple, the March
ioness) de Breham, Mme. de la Forrest Mrs.
Clinton,. Mrs. Jay, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs.
Provost, wife of Bishop Provost; Mrs.
Duane, wife of the Mayor; Mrs. Dalton,
Mrs. Langdon, Mrs. Dominio Lynch, Mrs.
Federal Sail Washington Driving by Before
Inauguration.
Eibridge Gerry, Mrs. Wilson -S. Smith,
Mrs. James H. Maxwell, Mrs. Beekman,
Mrs. Robinson, the Misses Livingston, the
Misses Bayard and Miss Van Zandt
All these ladies were of themselves hand
some, and if we are to accept the portrait of
one, Mrs, John Jay, painted by the cele
brated artist, Pine, as a sample, she was
quite the "loveliest creature under the sun."
The cotillon was danced, and President
Washington had for partners Mrs. Peter
Van Brugh Livingston and Mrs. Maxwell.
In the minnet he danced with Miss Van
Zandt With Mrs. Maxwell he had danced
before, while he was in headquarters atMor
ristown, where before her marriage she was
one of the reigning belles. A beautiful
souvenir of this first inauguration ball was
presented to every lady, in the shape of an
ivory fan made in Paris especially for the
occasion, which, when opened, revealed an
exquisitely painted medallion portrait of
Washington, executed in profile.
IRYJNG'S ACC0DKT
Of the Inauguration of Washington An
AuEDBt Scene Washington Deeply
Moved by tho Demonstration A Joyoas
Finale.
In Irving's "Life of Washington" is the
following account of tho inauguration:
"The inauguration took place on the 30th
of April. At 9 o'clock in the morning
there were religious services in all the
churches, and prayers put up for the bless
ing of heaven cjj tbe new government. At
12 o'clock tbe city troops paraded before
Washington's door, and soon after the com
mittees, of Congress and heads of depart
ments came in their carriages. At 12:30
the procession moved forward preceded by
the troops; next came the committees and
heads of departments in their carriages;
then Washington in a coach of state, his
aide-de-camp, Colonel Humphreys, and his
secretary, Mr. Lear; in his own carriage.
The foreign ministers and a long train of
citizens brought up the rear.
"About 200 yards before reaching the hall,
Washington and his suite alighted from
their carriages, And passed through the
troops, who were drawn up on each side,
into tbe hall and Senate chamber, where the
Vice President, the Senate and House of
Representatives were assembled. The Vice
President, John Adams, recentlv inaug
urated, advanced and conducted Washing
ton to a chair of State at the upper end of
the room. A solemn silence prevailed;
when the Vice President rose, and informed
him that all things were prepared for him
to take the oath of office required by the
Constitution.
AN AUGUST SCENE.
"The oath was to be administered by the
Chancellor of the State of New York in a
balcony in front of the Senate chamber,
and in full view of an immense multitnde
occupying the street, the windows, and even
roofs of the adjacent houses. The balcony
formed a kind of open recess, with lolty
columns supporting the roof. In the center
was a table with a covering of crimson vel
vet cushion. This'was all the paraphernalia
fer the Mgoet aeeae.
4 . " uK&lXyiSiz
IwSMfflTTiitrSr - Say ' "
when, at the appointed hour, Washington
made his appearance, accompanied by
various public functionaries, and members
of the Senate and House of Representatives.
He was clad in a fnll suit of dark brown
cloth, of American manufacture, with a
steel-hilted dress sword, white silk stockings,
and silver shoe buckles. His hair was
dressed and powdered lathe fashion of the
day, and worn, in a bag and solitaire.
His entrance on the balcony was hailed
by universal shouts. He was evidently
moved by this demonstration of public
affection. Advancing to the front of the
balcony he laid his hand upon his heart,
bowed several times and then retreated to
an armchair near the table. The populace
appeared to understand that the scene had
overcome him; and were hushed at once into
profound silence.
A BEVEEENTIAL KISS.
"After a few moments Washington rose
ancfagain came forward. John Adams, the
Vice President stood on his right; on his
left the Chancellor of the State, Robert R.
Livingston; somewhat in the rear were
Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, Gen
erals Knox, St Clair, the Baron Steuben
and others.
"The Chancellor advanced to administer
the oath prescribed by the Constitution, and
Mr. Otis, the Secretary of the Senate, held
up the Bible on its crimson cushion. The
oath was read slowly and distinctly; Wash
ington at the same time laying his hand on
the open Bible. When it was conclnded,
he replied solemnly, 'I swear1 so help me
God!' Mr. Otis would have raised the Bible
to his lips, but he bowed down reverently
and kissed it
"The Chancellor now stepped forward,
waved his hand and exclaimed, 'Long live
George Washington, President of the United
States!' At this moment a flag was dis
played on the .cupola of the hall; on which
signal there was a general discharge of ar
tillery on the battery. All the bells in the
flralillllUI
T7ie Bub Treasury Building and Washington
Statue, on the Site of Federal Sail.
city rang out a joyful peal, and the multi
tude rept the air with acclamations.
"Washington again bowed to tbe people
and returned into the Senate chamber, where
he delivered, to both Houses of CongTess,
his inaugural address, characterized by his
usual modesty, moderation and good sense,
but uttered with a voice deep, slightly
tremulous, and so low as to demand close
attention in the listeners. After this he
proceeded with the whole assemblage on foot
to St Paul's Church, where prayers suited
to the occasion were read by Dr. Prevost,
BishoD of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in New York, who had been appointed by
the Senate one of the chaplains of Congress.
So closed the ceremonies of .the inaugura
tion." WASHINGTON'S ADDRESS.
The First Innagnral Speech How the First
President of the United States Assumed
the Duties of His High Offleev
The inaugural address of the firsfPresi-
dent was -not delivered irom the balconyJ
Where me oam ot ouicb wiu auiuimarcreu
bnt after that imnres3ive ceremony was con-1
"eluded "Washington retired to the Sena-j
Chamber and there read his address as fol
lows;
'Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House
of Represents tires:
"Among the vicissitudes incident to life,
no event could have filled me with greater
anxieties than that of which the notification
was transmitted by your order, and received
on the 14th day of the present month. On
the one hand, I was summoned by my coun
try, whose voice I can never hear bnt with
veneration and love, from a retreat which I
had chosen with the fondest predilection,
and, in my flattering hopes, with an im
mutable decision as the asylum, of my de
clining years a retreat which was rendered
every day more necessary, as well as more
dear to me, by the addition of habit to in
clination, and of frequent interruptions in
my health to the gradual waste committed
on it by time.
"On the other hand, the magnitude and
difficulty of the trust to which tbe voice of
my country called me, being sufficient to
awaken in the wisest and most experienced
of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his
qualifications, could not bnt overwhelm with
despondence one who, inheriting inferior
endowments from nature, and unpracticed
in the duties of civil administration, ought
to be peculiarly conscious of his own de
ficiences. In this conflict of emotions, all I
dare aver is that it has been my faithful
study to collect my duty from a just appre
ciation of every circumstance by which it
might be affected. All I dare hope is, that
if in accepting this task, I have been too
much swayed by a remembrance of former
instances, or by an affectionate sensibility
to this transcendent proof of the confidence
of my fellow-citizens, and have thence too
little consulted my incapacity as well as
disinclination for the
WEIGHTY AND UNTRIED
cares before me, my error will he palliated
by the motives which misled me, and its
consequences be judged by my country with
some share of the partiality in which they
originated. Such being the impressions
Washington' Residence lifter Inauguration.
nnder which I have in obedience to the
fjublic summons repaired to he present sta
tion, it will be peculiarly improper to omit
in this first official act my fervent supplica
tions to that Almighty Being who rules
over the universe, who presides in the coun
cils of nations, and whose providential aids
can supply every human defect, that HU
benediction may consecrate to tbe liberties
and happiness of the people of the United
States, a government instituted by them
selves for these essential purposes,
and may enable every instrument
employed in its administration, to
execute with success the function al
lotted to its charge. In tendering this
homage to the great author of every public
and private good, I assure myself that it
expresses your sentiments not less than'my
own, Jior those of my fellow citizens at large
less than either. No people can be bound
to acknowledge and adore the invisible
hand which conducts the affairs of men
more than the people of the United States.
Every step by which they have advanced to
tbe character of an independent nation
seems to have been distinguished b'y some
token of providential agency. And the
important revolution just accomplished in
the system of their united government, the
tranquil deliberations and voluntary con
sent ot so many distinct communities, from
which the event has resulted cannot be
compared with the means by which most
governments have been established, without
some return of pleas gratitude, along with
as hjuaW aa4lftte of Mm Meet
g-mmz
ings which the past seems io presage. .Thes J
reflections, arising out of the present ctIsm, 1
have forced themselves too strongly on asT.;
mind to be suppressed. You will join with, j
me, x trust, in tninsung ma mere re uuw :
under the influence of which the proceed
ings of a new and free Government caa bom
auspiciously commence. . , j
"By an article establishing the execatrrw ;
department, it is made the duty ot th :
President to recommend to your considera
tion such measures as he shall Judge neces
sarv and exnedient The circumstance '
under which I now meet you will acquit
me from entering into the subject further
than to refer to the great
CONSTITUTIONAIi CHABTEB
under which you are assembled, and which) J
in defining your powrs, designates the oh-' i
jects to which your attention is to oe gtvea.
It will be more than consistent with thes
circumstances, and far more congenial with
the feelings which actuate me, to substi
tute in place of a recommendation of par
ticular measures, the tribute that is due t
talent3, tbe rectitude and the patriotism
which adorn the characters selected to
devise and adopt them. In these honorable
qualifications I behold the surestpledge
that as,on one side no local prejudices or at
tachments, no separate views or party ani
mosities, will misdirect a comprehensive
and equal eye which ought to watch over
this great assemblage of communities and
interests; so on another, that the founda
tions of our national policy will be laid in
the pure and immutable principles of pri
vate.morality, and the pre-eminence of free
tcovernment be exemplified bv all the attri
butes which can win the affections of it r
citizens ana command tne respect oi u
world.
"I dwell on this prospect with every satis
faction which an ardent love for my coun
try can inspire. Since there is no truth
more thoroughly established than that
there exists in the economy and course of
nature and dissoluble union between virtue
and happiness; between dnty and advant
age; between the genuine maxims of an
honest and magnanimous policy and the
solid rewards of public prosperity and felici
ty; since we onght to be no less persuaded
that tbe propitious smiles of Heaven caa
never be expected on a nation that disre
gards the eternal rale of order and right
which Heaven itself has ordained, and
since the preservation of the
SACKED riEE OF LTJJESTT,
and the destiny of the republican model of
government, are justly considered as deeply,
perhaps as finally staked on the experiment
entrusted to the hands of the American peo
ple. Besides the ordinary objects submit
ted to your care, if will remain with your
judgment to decide how far an exercise of
the occasional power delegated by the fifth
article of the Constitution, is rendered ex
pedient at the present juncture by the na
ture pf objections whicb have been urged
against the system, or by the degree of in
quietude which has given birth to them. In
stead of undertaEing particular recommen
dations on this subject, in which I would be
guided by no lights derived from official op
portunities, I shall again giVe way to my
entire confidence in onr discernment,
and nnvenit f tTiA nnrilin ffruul
wuu jjuiauif V UO J-M,tUV W , ;
The Old Washington Hotel.
For I assure myself that whilst voa.
carefully avoid every alteration which
might endanger the benefits of a united and,
effective government or which ought to
await the fnture lessons of experience, a
reverence for the characteristic rights of
freemen and a regard for the public har
mony will sufficiently influence your delib
erations on the question how far the former
can be more impregnably fortified or the
latter be safelv and aldvantageously pro
moted. To the preceding observations"!
have one to add, which will be most, prop
erly addressed to the House of Bepresepta-J
uves. t concerns myseji, auu iu, mere
fore, be as brief as possible.
"When I was first honored with a call
into the service of my country, then on the
eve of an arduous struggle lor its liberties,
the light in which I contemplated my dnty
required that I should renounce every pecu
niary compensation. From this resolution
I have in no instance departed.
And being still under the impres
sions which produced it I must decline at
inapplicable to myself any share in the per
sonal emoluments which maybe indispensa
bly included in a permanent provision for
the Executive Department, and must ac
cordingly pray that the pecuniary estimates
for the station in which I am placed may,
during my continuance in it be limited to
such actual expenditures as the public good
may be thought to require. Having thus
imparted to you my sentiments a3 they have
been awakened by the occasion which brings
us together, I shall take my present leave,
butnoi without resortintr once more to the
benign Parent of the human race in humble ,i
supplication that since He nas been pleasea,
to favor the American people with oppor- "
tunities for deliberating in perfect tranquil- A
litv and dispositions for deciding with unvi
paralleled unanimity on. a, form of govern-.3
ment, lor tne security oi tneir union ana tne
advancement of their happiness, so Hissi
divine blessings may do equally conspicuous
in the enlarged views, tne temperate consul
tations, and the wise measures on which the
success of this Government must depend." ,
WASHINGTON'S APPEARANCE..
Nose of the Portraits Regarded as Truth
fulnow He Actually Losked Few
Caricatures of the First President.
To any one who compares any of the like
nesses of Washington with his death mask,;
there can be no doubt of the fact that abso
lutely none-of the portraits of him in ex
istence can be called truthful. They are aUj
more or less idealized, the ptuart portraits Ja
particular. In the death mask, now attae
Metropolitan Museum, Washington appears
to have had a remarkably large, broad nose?
decidedly aquiline in profile. The mouttf
was peculiar, inclining downward at! tM
center, the under lip being very full and the
upper lip sharply defined, but very small.
Tbe chin was prominent, as in all hi$g$?
traits. This view of Washington's personal
appearance is borne out by a description.
given by David Ackerson in 1811, who adds
to a description of the face some interesting
details about his person: t
rv tuuuigbuu u, a jaigc, uu iiesc,a
it was very rea mat aay, giving me the-i
pression that he was not so moderate Ini :
use of Honors as he was supposed toibe?
found afterward that this was a. peculiarity.
His nose was apt to tnrn scarlet ia a Cold!
wind. He wasstsndine near a small. csmr.
fire, evidently lost in thought aad aakisgl
no effort to keep warm.. He seaswdsiil
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