l8o WASHINGTON. 



of artillery, and was joined by the Governor and other officers 

 of the State and the Corporation of the city. A procession 

 was then formed headed by a long military train, which was 

 followed by the principal officers of the State and City, the 

 clergy, foreign ministers, and a great concourse of citizens. 

 The procession advanced to the house prepared for the 

 reception of the President. The day was passed in festivity 

 and in joy, and the city was brilliantly illuminated during thtr 

 evening. 



On the 3Oth of April, Washington solemnly swore that 

 he would faithfully execute the office of President of the 

 United States, and that he would, to the best of his ability, 

 preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United 

 States, and the oath of office was administered to him on the 

 balcony, in front of the Federal Hall, by Mr. Livingston, the 

 Chancellor of the State of New York, in the presence of both 

 branches of the National Legislature, and thousands of specta 

 tors. During the ceremony a profound silence prevailed 

 throughout the whole of the assembled multitude, but no 

 sooner had the Chancellor proclaimed him President of the 

 United States, than he was answered by the discharge of 

 thirteen guns from the battery, and the deafening cheers of 

 thousands of grateful and affectionate hearts. Washington 

 then retired to the Senate Chamber, and in an impressive 

 speech addressed to his &quot; Fellow-citizens of the Senate and 

 House of Representatives,&quot; declared his reluctance to accept 

 the high office which the people had thought fit to bestow upon 

 him, his incapacity for the mighty and untried cares before 

 him, and offered his fervent supplications to that Almighty 

 Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the 

 councils of nations, and whose Providential aids can supply 

 every human defect, that his benediction might consecrate to 

 the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States, 

 a Government instituted by themselves for these essential 

 purposes, and might enable every instrument employed in its 

 administration to execute with success the functions allotted to 

 his charge. 



At the conclusion of his remarkable address, Washington 

 went to St. Paul s Church, where the service was read by the 

 Bishop, and the ceremonies of the day closed. Tokens 

 of joy were exhibited throughout the city, as on the day of 

 his arrival, and in the night the whole place was illuminated, 

 and fireworks displayed in almost every quarter. 



At the first session of Congress, a law was passed 



