•^ **^ 
 
 E... 
 
 Author. 
 
 Title 
 
 Imprint. 
 
 Ift— 4787»-9 flPO 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 003 229 442 A 
 
Peter's Journal 
 
 OP THE 
 
 First Presidential Count 
 
 AND 
 
 Washington's Inauguration 
 
 SHOWING HOW 
 
 Vice-President Adams 
 
 Got Ahead in the Ceremony 
 
 Edited by "Historicus" 
 
 .'4 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 Printed for the Proprietor and for Sale by all Respect- 
 able Booksellers and Newsdealers 
 
 1885 
 
 (I>R,ICE lO CIQNTS ) 
 
COPTRIGHT BY 
 
 W. M. OSBORN 
 
 1885 
 
 « 
 
 n 
 
•Ir • 
 
PETER'S JOURNAL 
 
 OF 
 
 Washington's First Inaupration. 
 
 This sixth day of April, 1789, there being a quorum 
 of both houses of Congress of the United States 
 ill session in the city of New York, John Langdon, 
 a Senator from Jifew Hampshire, was chosen Presi- 
 dent of the Senate for the purpose of counting the 
 votes for President and Vice President, after which 
 the ballots of the electors of the several States were 
 respectively opened and examined. By this exam- 
 ination it was found that the whole number of votes 
 was sixty-nine, of which His Excellency George 
 Washington had all, and was unanimously elected 
 President, and the Honorable John Adams had thir- 
 ty-four, and was elected Vice-President. After the 
 canvassing was concluded. His Excellency George 
 Washington was proclaimed President, and the 
 Honorable John Adams Vice-President of the 
 United States. Charles Thomson, Esq., who had 
 been Secretary of previous Congresses was then ap- 
 pointed to inform the President, and Mr. Sylvanus 
 Bourne to inform the Vice-P;:esident of their respec- 
 tive elections, with all expedition. These gentle- 
 men will depart on the important embassy early 
 
 Copyright by W. M. OsborD, 1835. 
 
to-morrow luoruiug — one for Virginia, the other on 
 the road to Boston. It is reasonably expected that 
 their Excellencies will arrive at Kew York within a 
 fortnight. 
 
 Tuesday, Aiml 'i, 1789 ;— A superb barge is now 
 being built, elegantly decorated and prepared to re- 
 ceive the beloved soldier and statesman at Eliza- 
 beth Town Point and to conduct him to the end of 
 his journey. The plan of operation laid down for 
 the escort of His Excellency from Philadelphia is as 
 follows : The Philadelphia troop is to conduct him 
 to Trenton, the Hunterdon horse to Eocky Hill, the 
 Somerset horse to Brunswick, the Middlesex horse 
 to VVoodbridge, and the Essex horse to the barge. 
 It is hoped that on this joyful occasion the counte- 
 nance of every friend to his country may bespeak 
 pleasure, and that our enemies, if there are any 
 amongst us, will not have the audacity to even look 
 upon his person. 
 
 Wednesday^ Aiyril 15, 1789; — In the House of 
 Kepresentatives, Mr. Egbert Benson, of ISTew York, 
 from the committee appointed to confer with a 
 committee of the Senate upon the subject of ar- 
 rangements for the reception of the President and 
 Vice-President, reported that Mr. Osgood, the pro- 
 prietor of the house lately occupied by the Presi- 
 dent of Congress, be requested to put the same and 
 the furniture thereof in proper condition for the res^ 
 idence and use of the President of the United 
 States, and otherwise, at the expense of the United 
 Stdtes, to provide for his temporary accommod^^ 
 
tion. Also, that it will be most eligible in tlie first 
 instance, that a committee of three members for the 
 Senate and five for the House of Representatives, to 
 be appointed by the houses respectively, attend to 
 receive the President, at such place as he shall em- 
 bark at from '^ew Jersey for ISTew York, and conduct 
 him without form to the house lately occupied by 
 the President of Confiress. 
 
 'is' 
 
 Monday, April 20, 1789 :— Amidst the acclama- 
 tions of all ranks of citizens, His Excellency John 
 Adams, Esq., Vice-President of the United States, 
 arrived in New York. The cavalcade which escorted 
 His Excellency into the city was numerous and 
 truly respectable. From the Connecticut line to 
 Kingsbridge he was attended by the light horse of 
 West Chester County under the command of Major 
 Pintard. At Kingsbridge, he was met by G(meral 
 Malcom with the officers of his brigade and the city 
 trooj) of horse commanded by Captain Stakes ; also, 
 by officers of distinction, many members of Congress 
 and a large number of citizens in carriages and on 
 horseback. While passing the Fort a federal salute 
 was tired. His Excellency alighted at the home of 
 the Honorable John Jay, P]sq., in Broadway, where 
 the committee of both houses of Congress, appointed 
 for that purpose, attended to congratulate His Ex- 
 cellency on his arrival. 
 
 Tuesday, April 21 .• — A committee of the Senate, 
 consisting of Mr. Caleb Strong, of Massachusetts, 
 and Mr. Ralph Izard, of South Carolina, conducted 
 the Vice-President to the Senate Chamber^ whe?*:? 
 
Mr. Langdon, tbe President 2^^o tempore, left the 
 chair and, addressing the Vice-President, said " That 
 he had it in charge from the Senate to introduce him 
 to the chair of the house and to congratulate him on 
 his appointment to the office of Vice-President of 
 the United States of America." He then conducted 
 the Vice-President to the chair, who addressed the 
 Senate to the following purport : 
 
 Gentlemen of the Senate : — '' Invited to this respect- 
 able situation by the suffrages of our fellow-citizens, 
 according to the Constitution, I have thought it my 
 duty cheerfully and readily to accept it. Unaccus- 
 tomed to refuse any public service, however dan- 
 gerous to my reputation or disproportioned to my 
 talents, it would have been inconsistent to have 
 adopted another maxim of conduct at this time, 
 when the prosperity of the country and the liberties 
 of the people require perhaps as much as ever the 
 attention of those who possess any share of the pub- 
 lic confidence. 
 
 " I should be destitute of sensibility if, upon my 
 arrival in this city and presentation to this Legisla- 
 ture, and especially to this Senate, if I could see 
 without emotion so many of those characters of 
 whose virtuous exertions I have so often been a wit- 
 ness ; from whose countenances and examples I have 
 ever derived encouragement and animation ; whose 
 disinterested friendship has supported me in many 
 intricate conjunctures of public atfairs at home and 
 abroad. Those celebrated defenders of the liberties 
 of this country ,^whom menaces could not intimidate, 
 corruption seduce, nor flattery allure ; those intrepid 
 asserters of the rights of mankind, whose philosophy 
 
6 
 
 and policy have enlightened the world in twenty 
 years inore than it was ever before enlightened in 
 many centuries by ancient schools or modern uni- 
 versities. 
 
 '' I must have been inattentive to the course of 
 events if I were either ignorant of the same or in- 
 sensible to the merit of those other characters in the 
 Senate to whom it has been my misfortune to have 
 been, hitherto, personally unknown. 
 
 " It is with satisfaction that I congratulate the peo- 
 ple of America on the formation of a National Con- 
 stitution, and the fair prospect of a consistent ad- 
 ministration of a government of laws : On the ac- 
 quisition of a House of Kepreseutatives chosen by 
 themselves, of a Senate thus composed by their own 
 State legislatures, and on the prospect of an execu- 
 tive authority in the hands of one whose portrait I 
 shall not presume to draw. Were I blessed with 
 powers to do justice to his character it would be im- 
 possible to increase the confidence or affection of 
 his country or make the smallest addition to his 
 glory. This can only be effected by a discharge of 
 the present exalted trust on the same principles, 
 with the same abilities and virtues which have uni- 
 formly appeared in all his former conduct, public or 
 l^rivate. May I nevertheless be indulged to inquire, 
 if we look over the catalogue of the first magistrates 
 of nations, whether they have been denominated 
 Presidents or Consuls, Kings or Princes, where 
 shall we find one whose commanding talents and 
 virtues, whose overruling good fortune have so com- 
 pletely united all hearts and voices in his favor? 
 Who enjoyed the esteem and admiration of foreign 
 
6 
 
 nations and fellow-citizens with equal unanimity ? 
 Qualities so nucomnion are no coniinon blessing to 
 the country that possesses them. By those great 
 qualities, and being their effects, has Providence 
 marked out the head of this nation with an hand so 
 distinctly visible as to have been seen by all men 
 and mistaken by none. 
 
 " It is not for me to interrupt your deliberations by 
 any general observations on the state of the nation, 
 or by recommending or proposing any particular 
 measures. It would be superfluous to gentlemen of 
 your great experience to urge the necessity of order. 
 It is only necessary to make an apology for myself. 
 Not wholly without experience in public assemblies, 
 I have been more accustomed to take a share in 
 their debates than to preside in their deliberations. 
 It shall be my constant endeavor to behave towards 
 every member of this honorable body with all that 
 consideration, delicacy and decorum which becomes 
 the dignity of his station and character. But if from 
 inexperience or inadvertency anything should ever 
 escape me inconsistent with propriety, I must en- 
 treat you, by imputing it to its true cause, and not 
 to any want of resi)ect, to pardon and excuse it. 
 
 " A trust of the greatest magnitude is committed 
 to this legislature— and the eyes of the world are 
 upon you. Your country expects, from the results 
 of your deliberations, in concurrence with the other 
 branches of government, consideration abroad and 
 contentment at home— prosperity, orderj justice, 
 peace and liberty. And may God Almighty's provi- 
 dence assist you to answer their just expectations." 
 
Wednesday^ April 22, 1789 :— Charles Thomson, 
 who was despatched by Congress on the 7th of April, 
 reached Monnt Vernon on the 14th and officially 
 informed General Washington of his election, who 
 immediately commenced his jonrney to New York, 
 receiving npon his route addresses and other evi- 
 dences of welcome at every principal place he 
 passed through. 
 
 On the morning of the 18th, His Excellency Thomas 
 Mifflin, Esq., President of Pennsylvania, the Hon. 
 Richard Peters, Esq., Speaker of the Legislature, 
 and the old City troop of horse commanded by 
 Colonel ISTiles, proceeded from Philadelphia as far 
 as the line of Delaware, " under the pleasing ex- 
 pectation of meeting our beloved Washington, 
 President-General of the United States. We were, 
 however, disappointed," says one of the party, '' as 
 he did not arrive at the line till early the next morn- 
 ing, when we were joined by another troop from the 
 city commanded by Captain Bingham. After pay- 
 ing him the tribute of military honor due to his 
 rank and exalted character by proper salutes and 
 otherwise, we escorted him into Chester, where 
 we breakfasted and rested perhaps a couple of 
 hours." 
 
 *'This great and worthy man, finding he could not 
 elude the parade which necessarily must attend mani- 
 festations of joy and affection, when displayed by 
 a grateful people to their patriot benefactor, ordered 
 his carriages into the rear of the whole line, and 
 mounted an elegant horse, accompanied by the ven- 
 erable patriot Charles Thomson, Esq., and his for- 
 mer Aid-de-Camp, the celebrated Col. Humphries, 
 
8 
 
 both of whom were also on horseback. On our way 
 to the city we were joined by detachments from the 
 Chester and Philadelphia troops of horse, com- 
 manded by Captains McDowell and Thomson, and 
 also by a number of respectable citizens at whose 
 head was the citizen and soldier. His Excellency 
 Arthur St. Clair, Esq., Governor of the Western 
 territory. Thus we proceeded to Mr. Grey's bridge 
 on Schuylkill, observing the strictest order and regu- 
 larity during the march. But here such a scene 
 presented itself that even the pencil of a Kaphael 
 could not delineate. The bridge was highly dec- 
 orated with laurel and other evergreens, by Mr. 
 Grey himself, the ingenious artist Mr. Peale, and 
 others, in such a style as to display uncommon taste 
 in these gentlemen. At each end there were erected 
 magnificent arches composed of laurel, emblemati- 
 cal of the ancient triumphal arches used by the Ro- 
 mans, and on each side of the bridge a laurel shrub- 
 bery, which seemed to challenge even Nature her- 
 self for simplicity, ease and elegance. And as our 
 beloved Washington passed the bridge a lad beau- 
 tifully ornamented with sprigs of laurel, assisted by 
 a certain machinery, let drop above the Hero's head, 
 unperceived by him, a civic crown of laurel. There 
 was also a very elegant display of variegated flags, 
 on each side of the bridge, as well as other places, 
 which alternately caught the eye and filled the spec- 
 tator's soul with admiration and delight. 
 
 " But who can describe the heartfelt gratulation of 
 more than twenty thousand free citizens, who lined 
 every fence, field and avenue between the bridge 
 and the city. The aged sire, the venerable matron, 
 
the blooming virgin and the ruddy youth were all 
 emulous in their plaudits. Nay ! the lisping infant 
 did not withhold its innocent smile of praise and 
 approbation. In short, all classes and descriptions 
 of citizens discovered (and they felt what they dis- 
 covered) the most undisguised attachment and un- 
 bounded zeal for their dear chief, and I may add 
 under God, the Savior of their country. Not all the 
 pomp of majesty, not even imperial dignity itself 
 surrounded with its usual splendor and magnificence 
 could equal this interesting scene. 
 
 ** On approaching near the city our illustrious chief 
 was highly gratified with a further military display 
 of infantry, commanded by Oapt. James Rees, and 
 artillery, commanded by Oapt. Jeremiah Fisher, two 
 active and able oflScers. And here I must not omit 
 to give due praise to that worthy veteran, Major 
 Fullerton, for his zeal, activity and good conduct on 
 this occasion. The corps joined the procession and 
 thousands of freemen, whose hearts burned with pa- 
 triotic fire, also fell into the ranks almost every 
 square we marched until the column swelled beyond 
 amaze, and raptures of a grateful people broke 
 forth in such emphatical expressions as Long Live 
 George Washington, the Father of the People !" An 
 elegant entertainment of two hundred and fifty 
 covers, prepared for His Excellency by the citizens, 
 was celebrated at the City Tavern, at which a num- 
 ber of toasts were drank, attended by the discharge 
 of ordnance, and a band of music. Two ships in the 
 Delaware were handsomely dressed. A variety of 
 addresses, from classes, judicial, civil, military and 
 maritime, were presented to His Excellency expres- 
 
10 
 
 sive of the occasion. To which His Excellency was 
 pleased to return respective replies couched in terms 
 which indicate that the first chair in the Union will 
 be ornamented with the essence of republican vir- 
 tues—dignified humility. "How excellent is glory 
 when earned by virtue !" How different is power 
 when derived from its only just source, the people 
 — from that which is derived from hereditary sac- 
 cession ! The first magistrates of the nations of 
 Europe assume the titles of Gods and treat their 
 subjects like an inferior race of animals. Washing- 
 ton delights to show that he is a man, and, instead 
 of assuming the pomp of master, acts as if he con- 
 sidered himself the friend of the people. 
 
 On the morning of the 21st, His Excellency con- 
 tinued his journey through New Jersey, and about 
 three o'clock was conducted into Trenton by civil 
 and military and an admiring concourse. Trenton 
 has been twice memorable during the war ; once by 
 the capture of the Hessians, and again by the re- 
 pulse of the whole British army in their attempt to 
 cross the bridge, the evening before the battle of 
 Princeton. Eecollecting these memorable circum- 
 stances, the ladies of Trenton forujed a design and 
 carried it into execution, solely under their di- 
 rection, to testify to His Excellency, by the cele- 
 bration of these actions, the grateful sense they 
 retained of the safety and protection afforded by him 
 to the daughters of New Jersey. A triumphal arch 
 was raised . on the bridge, twenty feet wide, sup- 
 ported by thirteen pillars. The center of the arch 
 from the ground was about twenty feet. Each pil- 
 
11 
 
 lar was eutwined with wreaths of evergreen. Tbe 
 arch, which extended about twelve feet along the 
 bridge, was covered with laurel and decorated on 
 the inside with evergreens and flowers. On the 
 front of the arch, or that side to which His Excel- 
 lency approached, was the following inscription in 
 large gilt letters : " The Defender of the Mothers 
 will be the Protector of the Daughters." The up- 
 per and lower sides of this iu scrip tion were orna- 
 mented with wreaths of evergreens and artificial 
 flowers of all kinds, made for the purpose, beauti- 
 fully interspersed. On the center of the arch, above 
 the inscription, was a dome or cupola of flowers and 
 evergreens, encircling the dates of those glorious 
 actions inscribed in large gilt letters. The summit 
 of the dome displayed a large sunflower, which, 
 pointing to the sun, was designed to express the 
 sentiment or motto, " To You Alone," as emblematic 
 of the unparalleled unanimity of sentiment in the 
 millions of the United j^tates. 
 
 A numerous train of ladies, leadiug their daugh- 
 's at their hands, assembled at the arch thus to 
 thav^k their Defender and Protector. As His Ex- 
 . cy passed under the arch he was addressed in 
 the fVlowing sonata, composed and set to music 
 for the occasion, and sung by a number of young 
 misses dressed in white and crowned with wreaths 
 and chaplets of flowers : — 
 
 Welcome ! mighty chief, once more. 
 Welcome to this grateful shore; 
 Now no mercenary foe 
 Aims again the fatal blow — 
 Aims at thee the fatal blow 
 
12 
 
 Virgins fair, and matrons grave, 
 Those thy conq'ring arms did save 
 Build for thee triumphal bowers. 
 Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers — 
 Strew your Hero's way with flowers. 
 
 Each of the singers held a basket in their hands, 
 filled with flowers, which, when they sung, " Strew 
 your Hero's way with flowers," they scattered before 
 him. 
 
 His Excellency being presented with a copy of 
 the sonata, was pleased to address the following card 
 to the ladies : 
 
 To the ladies of Trenton, who were assembled on 
 the 21st day of April, 1789, at the Triumphal Arch 
 erected by them on the bridge which extends across 
 Assanpiuck Greek : 
 
 " General Washington cannot leave this place 
 without expressing his acknowledgements to the 
 matrons and young ladies who received him in so 
 novel and grateful a manner at the Triumi^hal Arch 
 in Trenton, for the exquisite sensations he experi- 
 enced in that affecting moment. The astonishing 
 contrast between his former and actual condition at 
 the same spot — the elegant taste with which it was 
 adorned for the present occasion, and the innocent 
 appearance of the white-robed choir, who met him 
 with the gratulatory song, have made such an im- 
 pression on his remembrance, as he assures them, 
 will never be effaced." 
 
 Wednesday, Ai)ril 23, 1789 :— At Elizabeth Town, 
 Kew Jersey, His Excellency was received by a depu- 
 tation of three Senators and five Eepresentatives ot 
 
IS 
 
 the United States and three officers of the State 
 and Corporation, with whom he embarked on the 
 barge built for the purpose of wafting him across 
 the bay. Thirteen pilots in white uniform rowed 
 this barge, Thomas Eandall, Esq., acting as cock- 
 swain. It is impossible to do justice in an attempt 
 to describe the scene exhibited on His Excellency's 
 approach to New York. Innumerable multitudes 
 thronged the shores, the wharves and the shipping, 
 waiting with pleasiug anticipation his arrival. His 
 Catholic Majesty's sloop of war, the Galviston, the 
 ship North Carolina, belonging to Arnold H. Dolh- 
 man, Esq., and other vessels were dressed, manned 
 and highly decorated. His Excellency's barge was ac- 
 companied by several other barges, in one of which 
 was the Honorable the Board of Treasurv, the Min- 
 ister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary at War, 
 besides a long train of vessels and boats from New 
 Jersey and New York. As he passed the Galviston 
 she tired a salute of thirteen guns. The ship North 
 Carolina and the Battery also welcomed his ap- 
 l)roach with the same number. In one of the sloops 
 which composed the little fleet that attended His 
 Excellency's barge, there were a number of ladies 
 and gentlemen who sung several sweet and delight- 
 ful airs, and in particular an ode composed for the 
 occasion with all its parts in full chorus. The voices 
 of the ladies were as much superior to the flutes that 
 played to the stroke of the oars in Cleopatra's silken 
 corded barge, as the very superior and glorious wa- 
 ter scene of New York bay exceeds the silver Cyd- 
 nus in all its pride. With rapture one might dwell 
 upon this interesting subject, and wander into the 
 
14 
 
 fields of fancy for expressions to paint the various 
 and delightful appearances that vied with each other, 
 at the same time to welcome the great and illustri- 
 ous man to our now happy city. 
 
 ODE. 
 
 Sung on the arrival of the President of the United States. 
 Tune :—" God Save," (&c. 
 
 Composed by Mr. L * *. 
 
 Hail thou the auspicious day 
 Far let America 
 
 Thy praise resound, 
 Joy to our native land ! 
 Let every heart expand, 
 For Washington 's at hand, 
 
 With Glory crown'd. 
 
 Thrice blest Columbians hail! 
 Behold, before the gale, 
 
 Your Chief advance ; 
 The matchless Hero 's nigh! 
 Applaud him to the sky, 
 Who gave you Liberty, 
 
 With gen'rous France. 
 
 Illustrious Warrior hail ! 
 Oft did thy sword prevail 
 
 O'er hosts of foes; 
 Come and fresh laurels claim, 
 Still dearer make thy namti, 
 Long as immortal faine 
 
 Her trumpet blows ! 
 
 Thrice welcome to this shore. 
 Our Leader now no more; 
 
 But Ruler thou ; 
 Oh truly good and great! 
 Long live to glad our State, 
 Where countless honors wait 
 To deck thy brow. 
 
15 
 
 Far be the din of arms, 
 Henceforth the Olive's charms 
 Shall War preclude ; 
 
 These shores a Read shall own. 
 Unsullied by a throne, 
 Our much-loved Washington, 
 The Great, the Good. 
 
 On His Excellency's arrival at the stairs at Mur- 
 ray's wharf, prepared and ornamented for his land- 
 ing, he was saluted by Captain Van Dyck's artillery, 
 and received and congratulated by His Excellency 
 Governor Clinton, and the oflficers of the State and 
 Corporation, after which a procession of military 
 and other distinguished personages, followed by an 
 immense concourse of citizens, moved through 
 Queen street to the house prepared for the reception 
 of the President, from whence he was conducted 
 without form to the Governor's, where he dined. 
 
 This great occasion has arrested the public atten- 
 tion beyond all j)ower of description. The hand of 
 industry has been suspended and the various pleas- 
 ures of the Capital are concentrated to a single en- 
 joyment. All ranks and professions express their 
 feelings in loud acclamations and with rapture hail 
 the arrival of the Father of His Country. The city 
 has been illuminated this evening, the transparent 
 paintings in various quarters doing great honor to 
 the ingenuity and public spirit of the parties con- 
 cerned in their exhibition. 
 
 Thursday, Airril 30, 1789 .-—The inauguration of 
 the President of the United States was solemnized 
 to-day. At nine o'clock, the people assembled in 
 the various churches, with the clergy of the respec- 
 
16 
 
 tive cleDomiuatious, to implore the blessings of 
 Heaven upon the new Government, its favor and 
 protection to the President, and success and accept- 
 ance to his administration. At noon, the procession 
 moved from the home of the President, in Cherry 
 Street, through Queen, Great-Dock and Broad 
 Streets, to Congress Hall, in the following order : 
 
 Col. Lewis and two Officers. 
 
 Capt. Stakes, Troop of Horse. 
 
 Artillery —Ma joTi Van Horne. 
 
 Grenadiers under Capt. Harsin. 
 
 German Grenadiers under Capt. Scriba. 
 
 Major Bicker — Infantry — Major Christie. 
 
 Sheriff on Horseback. 
 
 Committee of the Senate. 
 
 The President, and Suite with assistants and Civil Officers on either 
 
 side. 
 
 Committee of the Representatives. 
 
 Hon. Mr. Jay, Gen. Knox, Chancellor Livingston, 
 
 And several gentlemen of distinction. 
 
 When within a proper distance of the hall, 
 the trooi)S formed a line on both sides of the 
 way. The President, passing through, was conducted 
 into the Senate Chamber and introduced to both 
 houses of Congress. Immediately after, accom- 
 panied by the two houses, he was conducted into the 
 gallery adjoining the Senate Chamber and fronting 
 Broad Street, which was decorated with a canopy 
 and curtains of red interstreaked with white for the 
 solemn occasion. There, in the presence of an im- 
 mense concourse of citizens, the oath prescribed by 
 the Constitution was administered to him by the 
 Hon. E. R. Livingston, Chancellor of the State of 
 New York. The Chancellor then proclaimed him 
 President of the United States, which was followed 
 
17 
 
 by the instant discliarge of thirteen cannon and loud 
 repeated shouts. The President bowing to the peo- 
 ple, the air then rang with acclamations. He then 
 retired with the two houses to the Senate Chamber, 
 where he delivered the following speech : 
 
 Fellow- Citizens of the Senate and of the House of 
 Represen tatives. 
 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 or- 
 der, and received on the 14th day of the present 
 month. On the one hand I was summoned by my 
 country, whose voice I can never hear but with ven- 
 eration and love, from a retreat which I had chosen 
 with the fondest predilection, and in my flattering 
 hopes, with an immutable decision, as the asylum of 
 my declining years. A retreat which was rendered 
 every day more necessary as well as more dear to me, 
 by addition of habit to inclination and of frequent in- 
 terruptions in health, to the gradual waste commit- 
 ted on it by time. On the other hand the magnitude 
 and diflSculty of the trust to which the voice of my 
 country called me, being sufficient to awaken the 
 wisest and most experienced of her citizens, a dis- 
 trustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not 
 but overwhelm with despondence, one, who, inher- 
 iting inferior endciVments from nature, and unprac- 
 ticed in the duties of civil administration, ought to 
 be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies. In 
 this conflict of emotions, all I dare aver is that it 
 has been my faithful study to collect my duty 
 from a just appreciation of every circumstance by 
 
18 
 
 wMcli it might be effected. All I dare hope is, that 
 if in execntiiig this task, I have been too much 
 swayed by a grateful remembrance of former in- 
 stances, or by an affectionate sensibility to this 
 transcendent proof of the confidence of my fellow- 
 citizens, and have thence too little consulted my in- 
 capacity as well as disinclination for the weighty 
 and untried cares before me ; my error will be pal- 
 liated by the motives which mislead me, and its con- 
 sequences be judged by my country, with some share 
 of the partiality in which they originated. 
 
 Such being the impressions under which I have, 
 in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the 
 present station, it would be peculiarly improper to 
 omit in this first olBScial act, my fervent supplica- 
 tions to that Almighty Being, who rules over the 
 universe, — who presides in the councils of nations, 
 and whose providential aids can supply every hu- 
 man defect, that His benediction may consecrate 
 to the liberties and happiness of the peoj)le of the 
 United States, a government instituted by them- 
 selves for their essential purposes ; and may enable 
 every instrument employed in its administration to 
 execute with success the functions allotted to his 
 charge. In tendering this homage to the Great Au- 
 thor of every public and private good, I assure my- 
 self that it expresses your sentiments not less than 
 my own, nor those of my fellow-citizens at large, 
 less than either. No people can be bound to ac- 
 knowledge and adore the invisible hand which con- 
 ducts the affairs of men, more than the people of 
 the United States. Every step, by which they have 
 advanced to the character of an independent nation, 
 
19 
 
 seems to have been distiuguished by some token of 
 providential agency ; and in the important revolu- 
 tion just accomplished in the system of their united 
 government, the tranquil deliberations and volun- 
 tary consent of 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 pious 
 gratitude along with an humble anticipation of the 
 future blessings which the past seem to presage. 
 These reflections, arising out of the present crisis, 
 have forced themselves too strongly on my mind 
 to be suppressed. You will join with me, I trust 
 in thinking that there are none under the influence 
 of which the proceedings of a new and free govern- 
 ment can more auspiciously commence. 
 
 By the article establishing the Executive Depart- 
 ment it is made the duty of the President " to rec- 
 ommend to your consideration such measures as he 
 shall judge necessary and expedient." The circum- 
 stances under which I now meet you will acquit me 
 from entering into that subject, farther than to refer 
 to the great constitutional charter under which you 
 are assembled, and which, in defining your power, 
 designates the objects to which your attention is to 
 be given. It will be more consistent with those cir- 
 cumstances, and far more congenial with the feelings 
 which actuate me, to substitute in place of a recom- 
 mendation of particular measures, the tribute that 
 is due to the talents, rectitude and the patriotism 
 which adorn the characters selected to devise and 
 adopt them. In these honorable qualifications I be- 
 hold the earnest pledges, that as on one side, no local 
 
20 
 
 prejudices, or attachments ; no separate views nor 
 party animosities will misdirect the comprehensive 
 and equal eye which ought to watch over this great 
 assemblage of communities and interests. So, on 
 another, that the foundations of our national policy 
 will belaid in the pure and immutable principles of 
 private morality, and the pre-eminence of free gov- 
 ernment be exemplified by all the attributes which 
 can win the affections of its citizens, and command 
 the respect of the world. I dwell on this prospect 
 with every satisfaction which an ardent love for my 
 country can inspire. Since there is no truth more 
 thoroughly established than that there exists in the 
 economy and course of nature an indissoluble union 
 between virtue and happiness, between duty and ad- 
 vantage, between the genuine maxims of an honest 
 and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of 
 public prosperity and felicity. Since we ought to 
 be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of 
 Heaven can never be expected on a nation that dis- 
 regards the eternal rules of order and right, which 
 Heaven itself has ordained ; and since the preser- 
 vation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of 
 the Republican model of government are justly con- 
 sidered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the 
 experiment entrusted to the hands of the American 
 people. 
 
 Besides the ordinary objects submitted to your 
 care, it will remain with your judgment to decide 
 how far an exercise of the occasional power dele- 
 gated by the fifth article of the Constitution is ren- 
 dered expedient at the present juncture, by the na- 
 ture of objections which have been urged against 
 
21 
 
 the system, or by the decree of inquietude which 
 has given birth to them. Instead of undertaking 
 particular recommendations on this subject, in which 
 I could be guided by no lights derived from oflScial 
 opportunities, I shall again give way to my entire 
 coufidence in your discernment and pursuit of the 
 public good. For I assure myself that whilst you 
 carefully avoid every alteration which might endan- 
 ger the benefits of an united and effective govern- 
 ment, or which ought to await the future lessons of 
 experience, a reverence for the characteristic rights 
 of freemen, and a regard for the public harmony, 
 will sufficiently influence your deliberations on the 
 .question how far the former can be more impregna- 
 bly fortified, or the latter be safely and advantage- 
 ously promoted. 
 
 To the preceding observations I have one to add, 
 which will be most properly addressed to the House 
 of Eepresentatives. It concerns myself, and will, 
 therefore, 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 for its liber- 
 ties, the light iu which I contemplated my duty re- 
 quired that I should renounce every pecuniary com- 
 pensation. From this resolution I have in no in- 
 stance departed. And being still under the impres- 
 sion which produced it, I must decline as inapplicable 
 to myself, any share in the personal emoluments, 
 which may be indispensably included in a perma- 
 nent provision for the executive department, and 
 must accordingly pray that the pecuniary estimates 
 for the station in which I am placed may, during 
 my continuance in it, be limited to such actual ex- 
 
22 , 
 
 penditures as the public good may be thought to 
 require. 
 
 Having thus imparted to you my sentiments as 
 they have been awakened by the occasion which 
 brings us together, I shall take my present leave, 
 but not without resorting once more to the benign 
 Parent of the human race, in humble supplication, 
 that since He has been pleased to favor the Ameri- 
 can people with opportunities for deliberating in 
 perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding 
 with unparalleled unanimity on a form of govern- 
 ment, for the security of their Union, and the ad- 
 vancement of their happiness ; so His divine bless- 
 ing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged 
 views, the temperate consultations, and the wise 
 measures ou which the success of this Government 
 must deijend. 
 
 Immediately after the delivery of bis speech. 
 President Washington, accompanied by the Vice- 
 President, the Speaker of the House of Representa- 
 tives and both houses of Congress, proceeded on foot 
 to St. Paul's Church, where divine service suitable 
 to the occasion was performed by the Right Rever- 
 end Dr. Provoost, Bishop of the Episcopal Church iu 
 the State of New York, and Chaplain to the Senate. 
 From the church the attendants severally left for 
 their respective homes. 
 
 The transparent paintings exhibited in various 
 parts of the city in the evening have been equal at 
 least to anything of the kind ever before seen in 
 America. That displayed before the fort at the bot- 
 tom of Broaclway did great Uouor to its inventors and 
 
23 
 
 executors for the ingenuity of the design and good- 
 ness of the workmanship. It was finely lighted and 
 advantageously situated. The Virtues— Fortitude 
 (the President), Justice (the Senate), and Wis- 
 dom (the Eepresentatives of the United States), 
 were judiciously applied. Of the first all Amer- 
 ica has had the fullest evidence ; and with re- 
 spect to the two others, who does not enter- 
 tain the most pleasing anticipations ! His Ex- 
 cellency, Don Gardoqui's residence fixed the eye 
 in pleasing contemplation, the whole forming a 
 most brilliant front ; the figures were well fancied ; 
 tbe graces suggested the best ideas, ^nd the pleas- 
 ing variety of emblems, flowers, shrubbery and 
 arches, and, above all, the moving pictures that fig- 
 ured in the windows, or, as it were, in the back- 
 ground, by fixing the transparencies between the 
 windows, afforded a new and enchanting si^ectacle. 
 The residence of His Excellency Count Moustier was 
 illuminated in a style of novel elegance; the splen- 
 did bordering of lamps around the windows and 
 doors, with the fancy pieces in each window and the 
 large designs in front did great honor to the taste 
 and sentiment of the designer. 
 
 The portrait of General Washington exhibited in 
 Broad Street was extremely well executed, and the 
 transparency shown at the theatre and at the corner 
 near the Fly Market was perfect in its purpose and 
 parts. The illumination of the Congress Hall, in 
 which the inauguration had taken place, is consid- 
 ered by many as the most agreeable of the exhibi- 
 tions of the evening, while the ship Carolina formed 
 a beautiful pyraipid of stairs, The evening has 
 
24 
 
 been pleasant, the company innumerable, every one 
 appears to have enjoyed the scene, and no accident 
 has cast the smallest cloud upon the retrospect. 
 
 The President appeared at the inauguration 
 dressed in a complete suit of homespun clothes; but 
 the cloth was of so fine a fabric and so handsomely 
 finished that it was universally mistaken for a for- 
 eign manufactiu:ed superfine cloth. The Vice- 
 President also appeared in a suit of American man- 
 ufacture, while several members of both houses 
 were distinguished by the same token of attention 
 to the manufacturing interest of their country. 
 

 
Announcement. 
 
 It is the intention ' of the proprietor of ' ' PETER'S 
 JOURNAL, OF THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL COUNT AND 
 TVASHING-TON'S INAUGU'RATION," to print at an early | 
 day. 
 
 THE PAMPHLET, 
 
 AN OCCASIONAL PUBLICATION, 
 
 NOT A NEWSPAPER, 
 
 In "Which topics of general interest to the public will be- 
 treated in an independent, unbiassed, and responsible 
 manner. It will appear as the times and demands of the 
 people require. Subscriptions for it will not be received. 
 Persons desiring it will find copies for sale on the counters j 
 of all respectable booksellers and newsdealers, and due 
 notice will be given of its publication. 
 
 THE PAMPHLET. 
 
 New York, February 14. 1885.