morals, and piety, can hardly fail of at- I rejoice, that a spirit of liberality taining an uncommon degree of eminence and philanthropy is much more prevain literature, commerce, agriculture, im- lent than it formerly was among the enprovements at home, and respectability lightened nations of the earth, and that abroad. your brethren will benefit thereby in proAs mankind become more liberal, they portion as it shall become still more exwill be more apt to allow that all those, tensive. Happily, the people of the Unitwho conduct themselves as worthy mem- ed States of America have, in many inbers of the community, are equally en- stances, exhibited examples worthy of titled to the protection of civil govern- imitation, the salutary influence of which ment. I hope ever to see America among will doubtless extend much farther, if, the foremost nations in examples of jus- gratefully enjoying those blessings of tice and liberality. And I presume, that peace, which, under the favour of Heaven, your fellow-citizens will not forget the have been obtained by fortitude in war, patriotic part, which you took in the ac- they shall conduct themselves with revcomplishment of their revolution and the erence to the Deity, and charity towards establishment of their government, or the their fellow-creatures. important assistance, which they received from a nation in which the Roman Catholic religion is professed.

May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews from their Egyptian oppressors, and

I thank you, gentlemen, for your kind planted them in the promised land, whose concern for me. While my life and my providential agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent nation, still continue to water them with the dews of Heaven, and to make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose God is Jehovah.

health shall continue, in whatever situation I may be, it shall be my constant endeavour to justify the favourable sentiments you are pleased to express of my conduct. And may the members of your society in America, animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and still conducting themselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity.

To the Hebrew Congregation of the City
of Savannah.

May, 1790.

I thank you, with great sincerity, for your congratulations on my appointment to the office which I have the honour to hold by the unanimous choice of my fellow-citizens; and especially for the expressions, which you are pleased to use in testifying the confidence that is reposed in me by your congregation.

I thank you cordially for the congratulations, which you offer on my appointment to the office I have the honour to hold in the government of the United States.

It gives me the most sensible pleasure to find, that, in our nation, however different are the sentiments of citizens on religious doctrines, they generally concur in one thing; for their political proAs the delay, which has naturally in- fessions and practices are almost univertervened between my election and your sally friendly to the order and happiness address, has afforded an opportunity for of our civil institutions. I am also appreciating the merits of the federal happy in finding this disposition particugovernment, and for communicating your larly evinced by your society. It is, sentiments of its administration, I have moreover, my earnest desire that all the rather to express my satisfaction, than members of every association or comregret, at a circumstance, which demonstrates (upon experiment) your attach ment to the former, as well as approbation of the latter.

munity, throughout the United States, may make such use of the auspicious years of peace, liberty, and free inquiry, with which they are now favoured, as they

shall hereafter find occasion to rejoice

for having done.

You overrate my best exertions when you ascribe to them the blessings which With great satisfaction I embrace this our country so eminently enjoys. From opportunity to express my acknowledg- the gallantry and fortitude of her citiments for the interest my affectionate zens, under the auspices of Heaven.

TRIUMPHAL ARCH ERECTED NEAR PHILADELPHIA, FOR THE RECEPTION OF GENERAL
WASHINGTON, APRIL 20, 1789.

fellow-citizens have taken in my recovery America has derived her independence. from a late dangerous indisposition; and To their industry, and the natural adI assure you, gentlemen, that, in men- vantages of the country, she is indebted tioning my obligations for the effusions of your benevolent wishes in my behalf, I feel animated with new zeal, that my conduct may ever be worthy of your favourable opinion, as well as such as shall, in every respect, best comport with the character of an intelligent and accountable being.

To the Congregational Church and Society at Medway, Formerly St. John's Parish, in the State of Georgia.

for her prosperous situation. From their virtue she may expect long to share the protection of a free and equal government, which their wisdom has established, and which experience justifies, as admirably adapted to our social wants and individual felicity.

Continue, my fellow-citizens, to cultivate the peace and harmony which now subsist between you and your Indian neighbours. The happy consequence is immediate. The reflection, which arises on May, 1791. justice and benevolence, will be lastingly I learn, with gratitude proportioned grateful. A knowledge of your happiness will lighten the cares of my station, and to the occasion, your attachment to my person, and the pleasure you express on be among the most pleasing of their remy election to the Presidency of the wards. United States. Your sentiments on the

Baltimore.

January, 1793.

happy influence of our equal government To the Members of the New Church in impress me with the most sensible satisfaction. They vindicate the great interests of humanity; they reflect honour on the liberal minds that entertain them: It has ever been my pride to merit the and they promise the continuance and approbation of my fellow-citizens, by a improvement of that tranquillity, which faithful and honest discharge of the is essential to the welfare of nations and duties annexed to those stations, in the happiness of men. which they have been pleased to place

me; and the dearest rewards of my ser- Washington's Inaugurals.-The first invices have been those testimonies of es- auguration took place on April 30, 1789. teem and confidence with which they At nine o'clock in the morning there were have honoured me. But to the manifest religious services in all the churches, and interposition of an overruling Providence, prayers put up for the blessing of Heaven and to the patriotic exertions of United on the new government. At twelve o'clock America, are to be ascribed those events the city troops paraded before Washingwhich have given us a respectable rank ton's door, and soon after the commitamong the nations of the earth.

We have abundant reason to rejoice that, in this land, the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the power of bigotry and superstition, and that every person may here worship God according to the dictates of his own heart. In this enlightened age, and in this land of equal liberty, it is our boast that a man's religious tenets will not forfeit the protection of the laws, nor deprive him of the right of attaining and holding the highest offices that are known in the United States.

tees of Congress and heads of departments. came in their carriages. At half-past twelve 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 Your prayers for my present and fut- the troops, who were drawn up on each ure felicity are received with gratitude; side, into the hall and Senate chamber,

and I sincerely wish, gentlemen, that you may in your social and individual capacities taste those blessings which a gracious God bestows upon the righteous.

where the Vice-President, the Senate, and House of Representatives were assembled. The Vice-President, John Adams, recently inaugurated, advanced and conducted

Washington to a chair of state at the velvet cushion. This was all the parapherupper end of the room. A solemn silence nalia that had been provided for this prevailed when the Vice-President rose august scene. and informed him that all things were

All eyes were fixed upon the balcony, prepared for him to take the oath of when, at the appointed hour, Washington office required by the Constitution.

made his appearance, accompanied by The oath was to be administered by the various public functionaries, and members chancellor of the State of New York in a of the Senate and House of Representabalcony in front of the Senate chamber, tives. He was clad in a full suit of darkand in full view of an immense multi- brown cloth, of American manufacture, tude occupying the street, the windows, with a steel-hilted dress-sword, white silk and even roofs of the adjacent houses. The balcony formed a kind of open recess, with lofty columns supporting the roof. In the centre was a table with a covering of crimson velvet, upon which His entrance on the balcony was haillay a superbly bound Bible on a crimson ed by universal shouts. He was evidently

stockings and silver shoe-buckles. His hair was dressed and powdered in the fashion of the day, and worn in a bag and solitaire.

fection. Advancing to the front of the balcony he laid his hand upon his heart, bowed several times, and then retreated to an arm-chair near the table. The populace appeared to understand that the scene had overcome him, and were hushed at once into profound silence.

moved by this demonstration of public af- good sense, but uttered with a voice deep, slightly tremulous, and so low as to demand close attention in the listeners. He then proceeded with the assemblage to St. Paul's church, where prayers were read by Dr. Prevost, Bishop of the Protestant' Episcopal Church in New York, who had been appointed by the Senate one of the After a few moments Washington rose chaplains of Congress. So closed the cereand again came forward. John Adams, monies of the inauguration. the Vice-President, stood on his right; on Life of Washington. his left the chancellor of the State, Robert R. Livingston; somewhat in the rear were Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, Generals Knox, St. Clair, the Baron Steuben, and others.

Irving's

INAUGURAL SPEECH TO BOTH HOUSES OF
CONGRESS, APRIL 30, 1789.

Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House

The chancellor advanced to administer of Representatives,-Among the vicissi

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, Washington at the same time laying his hand on the open Bible. When it was concluded, he replied, solemnly, "I swear-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 displayed on the cupola of the hall; on which signal there was a general discharge of artillery on the battery. All the bells in the city rang out a joyful peal, and the multitude rent the air with acclamations. Washington again bowed to the people and returned into the Senate

chamber, where he

PEW OCCUPIED BY WASHINGTON AT ST. PAUL'S, NEW YORK.

delivered to both Houses of Congress tudes incident to life, no event could his inaugural address, characterized by have filled me with greater anxieties, than his usual modesty, moderation, and that of which the notification was trans

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