and flowers and supported by thirteen pillars, CHAP IIL each intwined with wreaths of evergreen. On the 1789. front of the arch was inscribed in large gilt letters

THE DEFENDER OF THE MOTHERS
WILL BE THE

PROTECTOR OF THE DAUGHTERS.
On the centre of the arch above the inscription
was a dome or cupola of flowers and evergreens
encircling the dates of two memorable events
which were peculiarly interesting to New Jersey.
The first was the battle of Trenton, and the second
the bold and judicious stand made by the Ameri-
can troops at the same creek, by which the pro-
gress of the British army was arrested on the
evening preceding the battle of Princeton.

At this place, he was met by a party of matrons leading their daughters dressed in white, who carried baskets of flowers in their hands, and sang, with exquisite sweetness, an ode* of two stanzas composed for the occasion.

* The following is the ode.

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.

Virgins fair and matrons grave,
Those thy conquering arms did save,
Build for THEE triumphal bowers;
Strew ye fair his way with flowers,
Strew your Hero's way with flowers.

At the last line the flowers were strewed before him.

CHAP. III.

1789.

At Brunswick, he was joined by the governor of New Jersey, who accompanied him to Elizabeth town Point. On the road, the committee of congress received and conducted him with much military parade to the Point, where he took leave of the governor and other gentlemen of Jersey: and with a committee of congress, Mr. Thompson, and colonel Humphries, embarked for New York in an elegant barge of thirteen oars, manned by thirteen branch pilots prepared for the purpose by the citizens of New York.

"The display of boats," says the general in his private journal, "which attended and joined on this occasion, some with vocal, and others with instrumental music on board, the decorations of the ships, the roar of cannon, and the loud acclamations of the people, which rent the sky as I passed along the wharves, filled my mind with sensations as painful (contemplating the reverse of this scene, which may be the case after all my labours to do good) as they were pleasing."

In this manner, on the 23rd of April, the man possessed of a nation's love, landed at the stairs on Murray's wharf, which had been prepared and ornamented for the purpose. There he was received by the governor of New York, and conducted with military honours, through an immense concourse of people, to the apartments provided for him. These were attended by foreign ministers, by public bodies, by political characters, and by private citizens of distinction, who pressed around him to offer their congratulations, and to express

the joy which glowed in their bosoms at seeing CHAP. III. the man in whom all confided, at the head of the 1789. American empire. This day of extravagant joy was succeeded by a splendid illumination.

It is no equivocal mark of the worth of Washington, and of the soundness of his judgment, that it could neither be corrupted nor misguided by those flattering testimonials of excessive attachment. If they had any influence upon his manners, they only softened the natural dignity of his deportment; and if they affected his mind, they only rendered him the more determined, by a faithful and steady attention to the real interests and honour of the nation, to prove himself worthy of the high station he was called to fill.

Two days before the arrival of the president, the vice president took his seat in the senate, and addressed that body in a dignified speech adapted to the occasion, in which, after manifesting the high opinion that statesman always entertained of his countrymen, he thus expressed his sentiments of the executive magistrate.

"It is with satisfaction that I congratulate the people of America on the formation of a national constitution, and the fair prospect of a consistent administration of a government of laws on the acquisition of a house of representatives, chosen by themselves; of a senate thus composed by their own state legislatures; and on the prospect of an executive 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 impossible to increase the

CHAP. II. confidence or affection of his country, or make 1789. the smallest addition to his glory. This can only

He forms a system of

conduct to be

observed in

his intercourse with

the world.

be effected by a discharge of the present exalted trust on the same principles, with the same abilities and virtues, which have uniformly ap peared in all his former conduct, public or private. 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 over ruling good fortune, have so completely united all hearts and voices in his favour? who enjoyed the esteem and admiration of foreign nations, and fellow citizens, with equal unanimity? qualities so uncommon, are no common blessings to the country that possesses them. By these great qualities, and their benign effects, has Providence marked out the head of this nation, with a hand so distinctly visible, as to have been seen by all men, and mistaken by none."

A president of the United States being in America a new political character, to a great portion of whose time the public was entitled, it became proper to digest a system of conduct to be observed in his intercourse with the world, which would keep in view the duties of his station, without entirely disregarding his personal accommodation, or the course of public opinion. In the interval between his arrival in New York, and entering on the duties of his office, those most capable of advising on the subject were consulted, and some rules were framed by general Wash

ington for his government in these respects. AS CHAP, III. one of them, the allotment of a particular hour 1789. for receiving visits not on business, became the subject of much animadversion; and, being considered merely as an imitation of the levee days established by crowned heads, has constituted not the least important of the charges which have been made against this gentleman. The motives assigned by himself for the rule may not be unworthy of attention.

him on this

subjects.

Not long after the government came into operation, doctor Stuart, a gentleman nearly connected with the president in friendship and by marriage, addressed to him a letter stating the accusations which were commonly circulating in Virginia on various subjects, and especially against the regal manners of those who administered the affairs of the nation. In answer to this letter the Letters from president observed, "while the eyes of America, and other perhaps of the world, are turned to this government, and many are watching the movements of all those who are concerned in its administration, I should like to be informed, through so good a medium, of the public opinion of both men and measures, and of none more than myself;...not so much of what may be thought commendable parts, if any, of my conduct, as of those which are conceived to be of a different complexion. The man who means to commit no wrong will never be guilty of enormities, consequently can never be unwilling to learn what are ascribed to him as foibles....If they are really such, the knowledge of them in a well disposed mind will