THE INAUGURATION. I. Ar length the important day arrived when the great leader who had maintained our independence in the field with so much wisdom, prudence, energy, and indomitable perseverance, was to be inaugurated the first chief magistrate of the united and consolidated republic. For nearly a fortnight the taverns and boarding-houses in the city had been thronged with visitors, and now every private house was filled with guests, from all parts of the Union, assembled to witness the imposing ceremonial which was to complete the organization of the government. "We shall remain here, even if we have to sleep in tents, as so many will have to do," wrote Miss Bertha Ingersoll to Miss McKean;* "Mr. Williamson had promised to engage us rooms at Frauncis's, but that was jammed long ago, as was every other decent public house; and now, while we are waiting at Mrs. Vandervoort's, in Maiden Lane, till after dinner, two of our beaus 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." Another young woman, after recounting the vicissitudes of a journey from Boston, and various difficulties in finding agreeable accommodations in the metropolis, * Afterward Marchioness d'Yrujo. adds in a postcript, "I have seen him! and though I had been en tirely ignorant that he was arrived in the city, I should have known at a glance that it was General Washington: I never saw a human being that looked so great and noble as he does. I could fall down on my knees before him and bless him for all the good he has done for this country." II. THE anxiously expected morning of Thursday, the thirtieth of April, was greeted with a national salute from the Bowling Green, and at an early hour the streets were filled with men and women, in their holiday attire, while every moment arrived new crowds from the adjoining country, by the road from King's Bridge, by ferry boats from more distant places, or by packets which had been all night on the Sound or coming down the Hudson. At eight o'clock some clouds about the horizon caused apprehensions of an unpleasant day; but when, at nine, the bells rung out a merry peal, and presently with a slower and more solemn striking, called from every steeple for the people to assemble in the churches "to implore the blessing of Heaven on the nation, its favor and protection to the President, and success and acceptance to his administration," the sun shone clearly down, as if commissioned to give assurance of the approbation of the Divine Ruler of the world. As the people came out from the churches, where Livingston, Mason, Provoost, Rodgers, and other clergymen,* had given passion * The list of clergymen, for the city, in 1789, comprised only fourteen names, as follows:Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. John Rodgers; Scotch Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. John Mason; Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Samuel Provoost, Bishop, and Rev. Mr. Beach and Rev. Benjamin Moore; United Lutheran Church, Rev. Dr. John Christopher Kunzie; Methodist Church, Rev. Mr. Morrill and Rev. Mr. Cloud; Reformed Dutch Church, Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston and Rev. Dr. William Linn; German Church, Rev. Mr. Gross; Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. Foster; Jewish Synagogue, Rev. Gershom Seixas. While the ministry of peace exhibited this meagre catalogue, that of contention the list of Supreme Court attorneys-embraced one hundred and twentytwo. |