little parade as possible, but the enthusiasm of the people could not be repressed. His journey was like a triumphal march. At Alexandria he partook of a public dinner, when the mayor aid, "The first and best of our citizens must leave us; our ged must lose their ornament, our youth their model, our agriculture its improver, our commerce its friend, our infant academy its protector,* our poor their benefactor." * "Farewell!" he said, turning to Washington, “Go, and make a grateful people happy; a people who will be doubly grateful when they contemplate this new sacrifice for their interests." * * * * Washington's feelings were deeply touched. He could say but little. "Words fail me," he said, "unutterable sensations must, then, be left to more expressive silence, while from an aching heart I bid all my affectionate friends and kind neighbors-farewell." The president was greeted by the Marylanders at Georgetown; and at Baltimore he was entertained by a large number of citizens at a public supper. When leaving the city the next morning, at half-past five, he was saluted by discharges of cannon, and attended by a cavalcade of gentlemen who rode seven miles with him. At the frontier of Pennsylvania, he was met early on the morning of the 19th, by two troops of cavalry, and a cavalcade of citizens, at the head of whom were Governor Mifflin and Judge Peters; and by them he was escorted to Philadelphia. Upon that frontier, Washington left his carriage, and mounting a superb white charger, he took * Washington had given funds for the establishment of an academy at Alexandria, and was its patron. position in the line of procession, with Secretary Thomson on one side, and Colonel Humphreys on the other. At Gray's Ferry, on the Schuylkill, they were joined by an immense number of citizens, led in order by General St. Clair. A triumphal arch was erected on both sides of the river covered with laurel branches, and approached through avenues of evergreens. As Washington passed under the last arch, Angelica Peale, daughter of the eminent artist, and a child of rare beauty, who was concealed in the foliage, let down a handsomely ornamented civic crown of laurel, which rested upon the head of the patriot. The incident caused a tumultuous shout. The procession moved on into the city, its volume increasing every moment. At least twenty thousand people lined its passage-way from the Schuylkill to the city; and at every step the President was greeted with shouts of "Long live George Washington!" "Long live the Father of his country!" The President was entertained at a sumptuous banquet, given by the authorities, at the City Tavern, and the next morning the military were paraded, to form an escort for him to Trenton But heavy rain frustrated their designs. Washington was com pelled to ride in his carriage, and he would not allow an escort of friends to travel in the rain. When the President and suite approached Trenton in the afternoon, the clouds had disappeared, and in the warm sunlight, he crossed the Delaware amid the greetings of shouts, and cannon-peals, and the feu de joie of musketry. His route lay across the same bridge over the little stream which flows through the town, where, twelve years before, he had been riven across by Cornwallis, on the evening previous to the battle at Princeton. Upon that bridge, where he was thus humiliated, was now a triumphal arch, twenty feet in height, supported by thirteen pillars twined with evergreens. It was the conception and work of the women of New Jersey, under the general direction of Annis Stockton; and upon the side of his approach, over the arch, were emblazoned the words: 66 THE DEFENDER OF THE MOTHERS WILL BE THE PROTECTOR OF THE DAUGHTERS." The arch was otherwise beautifully decorated, and as Washmgton approached, many mothers with their daughters appeared on each side of it, all dressed in white. As he passed, thirteen young girls, their heads wreathed with flowers, and holding baskets of flowers in their hands, while they scattered some in his way, sang the following ode, written for the occasion by Governor Howell: "Welcome, mighty chief, once more Now no mercenary foe, Aims again the fatal blow, Aims at thee the fatal blow. "Virgins fair, and mothers grave, Strew your hero's way with flowers." With joyous greetings at every step, Washington proceeded thongh New Jersey, over which he had once fled with a half starved, half-naked army, before a closely pursuing foe; and at Elizabethtown Point, he was met, on the morning of the 23d, by a committee of both houses of Congress, and several civil and military officers. They had prepared a magnificent barge for his reception, which was manned by thirteen pilots, in white uniforms, commanded by Commodore Nicholson. In New York harbor, the vessels were all decked with flags, in honor of the President, and gayly dressed small boats swarmed upon the waters, filled with gentlemen and ladies. The Spanish ship-of-war Galveston, lying in the harbor, was the only vessel of all nations, that did not show signs of respect. The neglect was so marked, that many words of censure were heard, when, at a given signal, just as the barge containing Washington was abreast of her, she displayed, on every part of her rigging, every flag and signal known among the nations. At the same moment she discharged thirteen heavy guns, and these were answered by the grand battery on shore. In the midst of this cannonade, and the shouts of the multitude on land and water, the President debarked, and was conducted by a military and civic procession to the residence prepared for his use, at No. 10 Cherry-street, near Franklin Square. Such was the reception of the first President at the capital of the Union. The demonstrations of joy and loyalty were most sincere and universal, and yet the pen öf wit and the pencil of caricature had been busy. As early as the 7th of April, John Armstrong wrote to General Gates, from New York, saying: "All the world here are busy in collecting flowers and sweets of every kind to amuse and delight the President in his approach and on his arrival. Even Roger Sherman has set his head at work to devise some style of address more novel and dignified than 'Excellency.' Yet in the midst of this admiration, there are skeptics who doubt its propriety, and wits who amuse themselves at its extravagance. The first will grumble, and the last will laugh, and the President should be prepared to meet the attacks of both with firmness and good nature. A caricature has already appeared called 'THE ENTRY,' full of very disloyal and profane allusions. It represents the general mounted on an ass, and in the arms of his man Billy-Humphreys leading the Jack, and chanting hosannahs and birth-day odes. The following couplet proceeds from the mouth of the devil: 'The glorious time has come to pass, On Thursday, the 30th of April, 1789, Washington was inaugurated the First President of the United States. The ceremonies were preceded by a national salute at Bowling Green, the assembling of the people in the churches to implore the blessings of Heaven on the nation and the President, and a grand procession. The august spectacle was exhibited upon the open gallery at the front of the old Federal Hall at the head of Broad-street, in the presence of a vast assemblage of people. Washington was dressed in a suit of dark-brown cloth, and white silk stockings, all of American manufacture, with silver buckles upon his shoes, and his hair powdered and dressed in the fashion of the time. Before him, when he arose to take the oath of office, stood Chancellor Livingston, in a suit of black broadcloth; and near them were Vice-President Adams, Mr. Otis, the Secretary of the Senate, who held an open Bible upon |