The Brookhaven leader., 1889-05-02

Tie country roads and the general incon-
ventences Of travel only eight Senators
and thirteen Representatives. not enough
Tor quorum, were present Rivers and
brooks that usually could be forded ss
particular places were overhowing their
IaBKs making this kind of passage inn
possible. The Raritan river, at New
brunswick. y. j., and the Delaware river
were crossed IN scows upon which cur
riages were driven. Travel wasso ilnpoded
that 1t was not until over a month later,
April 0, that a quorum of Congressmen
had assembled, and on that date they met
and organized The first business was
opening and counting the votes for Presi-
dent and Yloe-presideut to which offices
George Washington and John Adams were
duly declared elected
General Washington left Mount Vernon
for New York OH the morning OF April l6
Before his departure he wrote to Henry
Knox that his feelings were not unlike
those Of a culprit going to the place of ex-
ecution," Washington wished to make the
trip to New York as quietly and with as little
show as possible, but he soon found that this
was out of the question, owing to the pa
triotlo ardor that was afiams ev rywhere,
and the intense admiration for the noble
chieftain; so that his journey, instead of be-
Ing devoid of incident and ostentation was
characterized by the widest enthusiasm OF
the citizens all the way from Mount Vernon
to Federal Hall Towns and cities along
the route were In the highest pitch OF
patriotic excitement and Wed with each
other In honoring t hero of the Revolu-
ton and the first President Of q peaceful
republic. Among the displays was long
| avenue of laurels through which Washing
ton was escorted at Grays Ferry, in Penn
| sylvania. As the President elect passed
under the last arch, boy, concealed In
the foliage above, dropped upon his head a
handsome laurel crown The aot aroused
enthusiastic demonstrations among the
spectators A triumphal arch was erected
by ladies at Trenton. Riding upon his
white charger, Washington passed Under
this, and as he did SO, thirteen beautiful
young ladies strewed flowers before the
hero, at the same time singing an ode
especially composed for the occasion.
Upon reaching Eiizabethtown Point
Washington was received by a committee
of Congress, Elias Bou,linot, chairman. with
whom were Robert T. Livingston, Chan
oellor of the State Secretary Jay, Secre-
tary Knox, the Commissioners of the Treas
ury, Mayor Duane and Recorder yarick, of
New York, and several other officials A
barge, elegantly decorated, and manned by
thirteen masterpieces in white uniforms,
was waiting at this point to con-
vey Washington and his party to
the city. As it moved away, other
barges covered with decorations, fell into
line This procession came through the
XIII Won Kull between New Jersey and
Staten IslandJ and up the bay. gathering
In its wake craft of every description All
the vessels in the harbor moving and at
anchor, were lavishly dressed with flags and
other emblems Of rejoicing the Spanish
man -of-wsr Galveston displaying a variety
OF national colors from its rigging. A sloop
under full sail contained twenty-five gentle
men and ladies, who sang al ode of well
come to the tune of Col Save the King"
In which every body within sound eagerly
joined. Band music from boats on every
side, continual cheering and the boom Of
artillery from the war vessels and neigh
boring forts fillod the air, echoiDg and re-
echoing over the wa ers
The landing place was Murray's wharf
near the foot of Wall street whore there
was ferry. Here the stairs and railin9s
were carpeted and decorated Governor
Clinton formally received the President
elect, and an enthusiastic crowd that had
been waiting expectantiy at the ferry made
the air ring vita tumultuous cheering as he
appeared in the street 1t was difficult to
form procession among the excited inhab-
itants, who were desperately struggling
with each other in an effort to see General
Washington, but after some delay this was
finally accomplished
W shington was escorted to the house Sc
lected for his official residence a large,
three-story brick structure, at the corner
of Cherry street and Franklin square, ad-
joining where the Harper's publishing
house now stands Every house and build
ing along tho route was decorated with
flags, silk banners floral and evergreen
garlands, Men, women and children of all
degrees hocked through the streets, shout
ing and waving hats and handkerchiefs In
their almost delirioIs enthusiasm The
name of Washington was not only upon
every lip, but displayed in ornamental
arches under which the procession passed
The official resid ence was known as the
Walter Franklin House. 1t had been occu-
pied by Samuel Osgood, OF the Treasury
Board who moved out to give room to
Washington and his family. Shortly after
arriving at his new home Washington was
called upon and cong ratulated by Govern
ment officials, foreign Ministers, public
bodies military celebrities and many ri
NdUo CiOlLeuS nc WIN hOE
Clinton that evening, at the latter resi-
dence in Pearl street Many Of the streets
were brilliantly illuminated.
Between the date of Washington s arrival
and his inauguration, the city was overrun
with visitors and sight-seers from all parts
Of the country All the hotels and even
private mansions were crowded Excite
ment ran high There was an Unsuitable
desire prevalent to get look at Washing
ton, who had been described as the noblest
grandest man human eyes ever saw. Old
people expressed tn ir readiness to die af-
ter having once seen the First President
Impatientiy every body waited for the
great day, April -, the dawn OF new era;
and when it finally came the citizens and
visitors were absolutely frantic with patri-
otic fervor. At daybreak National sa-
Lutte was fired from the fort at the Bat
terry, and within short tim the city was
seething with excitement OF course all
business was suspended Thousands OF