Glass 1-3''^ . Book .8 ^ ^ \4 WASHINGTON'S RECEPTION BY I' THl: PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY In 1789. /j^l^ BY WILLIAM S. STRYKER, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF NEW JERSEY PRINTED FOR PRIVATF. t/lSTlir;B'lMff'ci^'l', TRENTOV, X. J.: NAAR, DAY & NAAR, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 1882. WASMWfiTMilAHA ^S'^c^ do .< < Washington's Reception BY THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY In K89. On the sixth da}' of April, 1789, the American Congress, in session at New York, declared George Washington, of Virginia, to have been elected the first President of the United States. On the fourteenth of that month the official notice was presented to him, and after only two days' pre- paration, he left with unfeigned reluctance, his quiet home life at Mount Vernon to guide the civil government of the country which his military skill had wrested from the dominion of a foreign power. It was the intention of General Washington to avoid any display on his passage through the States, but he soon found it impossible to prevent the demonstrations of affec- tion which the people eagerly bestowed upon him. At the very outset of his journey his neighbors in Alexandria gave him a public dinner, and his old personal friends took occasion to recite his worthy deeds in the past and their confident hopes that the future would show that he would still be a blessing to the land he had saved. At Baltimore another ovation was extended to him, and just below Chester, on the border line of Pennsylvania, he met a group of his army comrades, headed by the Quaker soldier, General Thomas Mifflin, then President of the Su- 4 Washington's Reception' by the prerne Executive Council of tlie Commonwealth, and Gen- eral Arthur St. Clair. At Chester the procession formed and mounted on horseback and escorted by Captain Samuel Miles' Philadelphia City Troop, Washington passed under an arch decorated with laurel, at Gray's Ferry, on the Schuyl- kill river.^ He reached the city of Philadelphia about one o'clock, April 20thJ and was greeted with great enthusiasm and frequent shouts of "Long life to George Washington, the father of the people." He dined soon after at the City Tavern, Second street, above Walnut street, at a table spread for two hundred and fifty guests. Toasts in his honor were drank that afternoon and a display of fire- works was given in the evening. ( About ten o'clock on the morning of April 21st, he left Philadelphia in the midst of a disagreeable rain. He was now riding in a close carriage, having as his companions Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, an aide-de-camp on his staff during the war and for some months a member of his own household at Mount Vernon, and Mr. Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the late Continental Congress. The Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse escorted them be- yond the limits of the city. It was about two o'clock that day when the carriage arrived at the old stone ferry house at Colvin's Ferry, now Morrisville. Here Patrick Colvin, the owner of the ferry, took charge of the Presidential party and personally ferried them over the Delaware river. At the Trenton landing, near the tavern of Rensselaer Williams, the party was met by General Philemon Dickinson, Major Richard Howell, afterward Governor of the State, Rev. James F. Armstrong,' Chief Justice David Brearley, Dr. Isaac Smith, and other leading citizens of Trenton. He was greeted also by "an People of New Jersey in 1789. 5^ admiring concourse" of the inhabitants of Bloomsbury and Lamberton, wiio had gathered on the river bank. Captain Bernard Hanlon's battery fired a salute, and the troop of horse, commanded by Captain Israel Carle, the light infantry companies of Captain Hanior, Captain Munn, Captain Abraham Claypoole and Captain Albemarle Col- lins, formed the escorting column into the village of Tren- ton. General Washington and his suite here mounted horses prepared for them, and in this manner proceeded up the Ferry Road and thence toward the bridge over the Assunpink Creek. The column started from the ferry at just three o'clock, and the following was the order of tlie procession: Party of Horse. The Light Infantry. His Excellency on horseback, attended by Mr. Secretary Thomson and Colonel Humphreys. The Light Horse. The Gentlemen of the town and neighborhood on horse- back. At the bridge over the creek the ladies of Trenton had formed a plan to testify to General Washington their ap- preciation of his noble deeds and the love which the whole nation felt for its great deliverer. Here he had captured a body of Hessian mercenaries, under Colonel Rail, who had done all that bad men could do to injure the good people ot the Jerseys. On this very spot he had withstood for hours the advance of the British, and afterward had performed one of the masterly movements of the war. During these eventful two weeks he had nearly freed the entire State of an insolent foe. In grateful memory of the successful issue of the revolutionary struggle the ladies prepared for Wash- 6 Washington's Reception by the ington a reception which was peculiar in the good taste displayed, and which certainly was intensely gratifying to him. On the north side of the bridge an arch about twenty feet high was raised, supported on one side by seven and on the other by six pillars. The arch was nearly twenty feet wide and about twelve feet in length. Each of the thirteen pillars was entirely covered with masses of evergreens and wreaths of laurel, and the arches above were closely twined about with the same material, and festooned inside with long rones of laurel and the flowers of early spring. On the south side of the archway, the pide which first appeared to the Presidential party, an inscription in large gilt letters on a blue ground was fastened, and beautifully ornamented with flowers : "the defender of the mothers will be the protector OF THE daughters." Above this arch was a circlet of laurels and flowers, wreathing the dates of those two events just referred to : "December 20, 1776— January 2, 1777." On the top of this mass of evergreens was a large sun- flower, which was intended to embleinize the American people, who turned toward him as the only Sun which would give life and warmth to the body politic. The structure had been erected the day previous by workmen in charge of Benjamin Yard, and the ladies had been busy all the morning putting in position the wreaths and emblems which they had with such taste prepared. Beneath this arch General Washington must pass to enter Trenton. As he came to the high ground on Mill Hill, some two hundred yards below the creek, the beautiful triumphal People op New Jersey in 1789. 7 arch appeared. But as he passed through the archwaj' with uncovered head a still more lovely sight greeted him On the one side of the arch he saw six little girls dressed in white carrying baskets of flowers; on the other side, thir- teen young ladies to represent the several States, who were dressed in a similar style, and also had baskets filled with flowers. Behind all these a number of the matrons of the town and neighboring villages. As Washington entered the arch the six little girls began to sing a beautiful ode which had been written by Major Richard Howell, and which, under the instruction of Rev. James F. Armstrong, they performed with exquisite sweet- ness : 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 ! The first four lines were sung by both matrons and young ladies, the young ladies sang the fifth line, the matrons the first part and the young ladies the last part of the sixth line, then both sang the two next lines, the matrons the ninth, the young ladies the tenth line. His horse paced slowly through the arch, and as the last two lines of the ode were sung the pathway' was strewn with flowers by the young ladies and little girls. General Washington bowed frequently on either side in response to this novel greeting, and his deep emotion could not in the least be concealed. 8 Washingtc^n's Reception by the From all the information which could be obtained from one of the participants in this reception who was living in the year 1850, from one who died in 1864 and another in 1871, from others who remember to have seen it, and from tradition in the families of Trenton, it is believed that- the following were the Matrons who assembled at the house of James Ewing, now the southwest corner of Greene and Washington streets, and who took charge of the beautiful ceremonies on that occasion : Mrs. Susannah Armstrong, wife of Rev. James F, Arm- strong. She was the daughter of Robert James Livingston, of New York, was born February 13, 1758, and was married in Princeton, where her widowed mother then resided, by Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, August 22, 1782, to Mr. Armstrong. He was a very ardent patriot, had served in the war as a Chaplain of Maryland troops, was then pastor of the Pres- byterian Church of Trenton, and was a great personal friend of Washington. He died January 19, 1816, and she survived him until February 13, 1851. (Hall's History of Presbyterian Church, at Trenton.) Mrs. Mary Borden, widow of Captain Joseph Borden, Jr., of Bordentown. Mrs. Borden was the daughter of Lang- horn Biles, of Morrisville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and her mother was the sister of Colonel Joseph Kirkbride, a prominent citizen of that county. The village of Borden- town was named after the grandfather of Captain Bofden. Captain Joseph Borden, Jr., was the gallant commanding officer of a troop of light horse of Burlington county. He received a musket ball wound at the battle of Gerraantown, while acting as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Forman, from which he never fully recovered, and he died October 16, 1788, at the age of only thirty-three. (Woodward's History of Bordentown.) People of New Jersey in 1789. 9 Mrs. Susannah Calhoun, wife of Alexander Calhoun. She was the daughter of John Cliambers, of Trenton ; was born November 30, 1761, and died in the same house, on the Pennington road in which she was born, at the age of sixty-three. Mr. Calhoun was a prominent merchant in the city. Mrs. Elizabeth Chambers was also the wife of a well known merchant of Trenton, Mr. Alexander Chambers. They resided on the corner of what is now State and Wil- low streets. She died July 11, 1806, and is buried in the Presbyterian Churcliyard. Mrs. Esther Cox, wife of Colonel John Cox, of Blooms- , bury farm. She was the daughter of Francis and Rachel Bowes, and was married to Mr. Cox, November 16, 1760. He was, before the war, a merchant in Philadelphia, but his health failing he removed to a beautiful farm on the banks of the Delaware, near Trenton. He returned to Philadelphia in 1790, and died there April 28, 1793. He was a man of great integrity, and his family were in fre- quent social intercourse with General and Mrs. Washington. Mrs. Cox died February 10, 1814. Mrs. Mary Dickinson, wife of General Philemon Dick- inson. General Dickinson married first Mar}'' Cadwalader, who died August 5. 1791. He afterwards married her sister Rebecca, who was born in 1747. Both of these ladies were daughters of Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, who married in Quaker style at Trenton, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Lambert. In 1748, Dr. Cadwalader was First Chief Burgess of the borough of Trenton, and in 1750 he moved to Phila- delphia. He had two sons. Colonel Lambert and General John Cadwalader, celebrated as gallant officers in the Rev- olutionary struggle. General Dickinson was the comman- 10 Washington's Reception by the der of the New Jersey Militia during the whole period of the war, and distinguished himself in many battles, partic- ularly at Monmouth. He lived at " The Hermitage," on the River road, used by the Hessians in December, 1776, as a picket post. He died February 4, 1809. Mrs. Elizabeth Ewing, wife of James Ewing. She was a sister of Dr. James Tate, of Newtown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Ewing was a prominent citizen of Trenton, having held many offices of trust under Congress. He was the father of Chief Justice Charles Ewing. He died October 23, 1823. (Hall's History of Presbyterian Church of Trenton.) Mrs. Sarah Furman, wife of Moore Furman. He was Deputy Quartermaster General of New Jersey during the war. He died March 16, 1808, in his eightieth year. He was a faithful patriot, and greatly intrusted by the Govern- ment and by Washington during the Revolution. Before the war he was the junior partner of the mercantile house of Reed & Furman in Philadelphia — Mr. Andrew Reed being the father of General Joseph Reed, at one time the Adjutant General of the Continental Army, Mrs. Furman was the eldest daughter of Townsend White, of Philadel- phia, born in May, 1742, and married to Mr. Furman in Christ Church, March 17, 1767. Her father, her brothers and her sister were all loyalists, but her own and her hus- band's patriotism was pure and well-known. Miss Ann White, her sister, was one of the "Ladies of the Blended Rose," with Captain, afterward Earl Cathcart, as her knight, at the famous Mischianza Tourney and Fete, in Philadel- phia, May 18, 1778. Mrs. Susanna Gordon, wife of Peter Gordon. He was connected with the Quartermaster's Department during the People of New Jersey in 1789. 11 Revolutionary War, and was afterward Treasurer of the State. Mrs. Gordon was tlie sister of Abraham Hunt, of Tren- ton. She died July 18, 1823. Major Gordon died at Geneva, New York, in February, 1835, at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Mary Hanna, wife of Rev. John Hanna, of Bethle- hem, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Rev, James McCrea, a Scotch divine, who was pastor of the Presbyte- rian Church at Lamington, Somerset county, New Jersey. She had, it is stated, three brothers who died in the mili- tary service, two killed at the battle of Saratoga, and one who died of wounds received in a skirmish with the British. She was the sister of Jane McCrea, whose murder by the Indians near Fort Edward, on the Hudson river, July 27, 1777, did so much to arouse the patriotism of the people in the fall of that year. Mary McCrea was married in 1762 to Rev. John Hanna, at Bethlehem, Hunterdon county. Mr. Hanna was a physician as well as a minister, (Blane's Medical History of Hunterdon County.) Mrs. Sarah How, wife of Micajah How. He was one of the Judges of the C-ourt of Common Pleas of the county, and at one time High Sheriff under the. Colonial Govern- ment. He died January 14, 1799. Mrs. Keziah B. Howell, wife of Richard Howell. She was the daughter of Joseph Burr, of Burlington county, and married Mr. Howell in November, 1779, She died August 9, 1835, at Pittsburg, Pa, He was a Major of Colo- nel Israel Shreve's Battalion of New Jersey Continental Line during the war, and was Governor of the State from 1793 to 1801. He commanded the New Jersey Militia sent into Pennsylvania to suppress the Whisky Insurrection in 1794. He died in Trenton May 5, 1803, at the age of forty-nine. (Elmer's Reminiscences of New Jersey.) 12 Washingtoii^s Reception by the Mrs. Mary Hunt, wife of Abraham Hunt, Miss Mary Dagworthy, daughter of Sheriff Dagworthy, was one of the most zealous of all the patriotic ladies of the town. She was at the head of every organization to make supplies for the wounded in hospitals, and her efforts never flagged during all the years of the war. She married the rich mer- chant, Abraham Hunt, who was for mau}'^ years the Post- master of the village, and she died April 4, 1814, at the age of sixty-six. Mrs. Esther Lowrey, wife of Colonel Thomas Lowrey, of Fleraington. She was the daughter of Samuel Fleming who founded the village of Flemington in the year 1756. Her husband was born in Ireland April 3, 1737, and came to America with the father of Governor William Pat- erson. He commanded the Third Regiment, Hunterdon County Militia, during the Revolutionary War, and was distinguished as a patriot and a soldier. He was a member of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey in 1775. Tradi- tion says his wife was fourteen years old when he married her, and he but seventeen. Colonel Lowrey was a promi- nent man in the village and an extensive land owner. He died at Alexandria, Hunterdon county, N. J., November 10, 1809. Mrs. Lowrey was born April 15, 1739, and died Octo- ber 12, 1814. (Mott's History of Presbyterian Church, Flemington.) Mrs. Sarah Milnor, wife of Joseph Milnor. She was the daughter of Joseph Higbee, Sr., and sister of Joseph and Charles Higbee, both well known citizens of Trenton. Her husband was a prominent merchant of Trenton. Mrs. Ann Richmond, wife of Jonathan Richmond. She was the sister of Captain Albemarle Collins, a gallant sol- dier of the war. Her husband was Barrack Master of the PEorLE OF New Jersey in 1789. 13 American Array, and he kept the inn on Mill Hill, where Washington had his headquarters January 2, 1777. Mrs. Richmond was alwaj's known as a very patriotic lady. She was buried in the Friends' burial ground in Trenton. Mrs. Mary Smith, wife of Isaac Smith. She died in ,1801, and her tombstone bears the inscription: "She was what a woman ought to be." Her husband was Colonel of the First Regiment of Hunterdon County Militia, a Justice of the Supreme Court, President of the Trenton Banking Company, and a physician by profession. He died AugU'st 20, 1807. Mrs. Rachel Stevens, wife of Colonel John Stevens, who served in the Hunterdon County Militia during the war, and in 1777 was Treasurer of the State. She was the daugh- ter of John Cox, of Bloomsbury Farm. She w^as born November 16, 1761, and died December, 1840.. Mrs. Annis Stockton, widow of Richard Stockton. She was Miss Annis Boudinot, sister of Hon. Elias Boudinot, President of the Continental Congress, and of Judge Elisha Boudinot, of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. She was a lady of great culture of mind, fine literary taste, firm in her patriotism, eminent in her piety. Her husband was born in Princeton, October 1, 1730, and in 1774 was a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Province. On June 22, 1776, he was chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress, and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. During the war he was captured by a party of royalists, confined in the jail at Perth Amboy, and afterward in New York. This greatly impaired his health, and he died in Princeton, Feb- ruary 28, 1781. (Hageman's Princeton and its Institutions. Ellet's Women of the Revolution.) Mrs. Catherine Stockton, wife of Samuel Witham 14 Washington'^ Reception by the Stockton and daugliter of John Cox. She was born July 27, 1764, and married Mr. Stockton, December, 1785. He held a position in the diplomatic service abroad during the war, and at one time was Secretary of State of New Jersey. He was accidentally killed June 27, 1795. After his death Mrs. Stockton married the Rev. Nathaniel Harris. Mrs. Jane Tate, wife of Dr. James Tate, of Newtown, Pennsylvania. Both the Doctor and his wife were frequent visitors at James Ewing's house in Trenton. Dr. Tate received his medical education in Europe. He married Miss Jane Keith, a lady greatly celebrated for her personal beauty, a daughter of William Keith, a merchant of Phila- delphia, whose wife was a daughter of Dr. Samuel Ormes, once Colonial Secretary of North Carolina and a signer of the non-imp^ortation resolutions of the Philadelphia mer- chants. Dr. Tate died at his residence, near Newtown, about the year 1814, and his widow survived him until November 11, 1852. Mrs. Grace Woodruff, daughter of Colonel Thomas Lowrey, of Flemington. She married Aaron Dickinson Woodruff, September 14, 1786. She died at Trenton, June 23, 1815. Mr. Woodruff was born September 12, 1762, graduated at Princeton College in 1779, and held the office of Attorney General of the State from 1793 until his death, June 24, 1817, one year excepted. He was a counselor of great professional ability and incorruptible integrity. With these matrons were thirteen young ladies, who rep- resented the several States. It is believed the following is a correct list : 1. Miss Eleanor Armstrong, daughter of Rev. James F. Armstrong. She married Chief Justice Charles Ewing in People of New Jersey in 1789. 15 the year 1803. He was appointed Chief Justice of New Jersey October, 1824, and died of cholera August 5, 1832. He had a vigorous intellect, was a profound jurist and accomplished scholar, and he had in an eminent degree the respect and confidence of the people. 2. Miss Elizabeth Borden, only daughter of Captain Joseph Borden, Jr., of Bordentown, New Jersey. She married Mr. Azariah Hunt, of Hopewell township, Mercer county. She was about thirteen years of age in 1789. 3. Miss Elizabeth Cadwalader was the sister of General John Cadwalader, and was visiting her sister, Mrs. General Dickinson, at the time of the reception. She was twenty- eight years of age, and she died unmarried April 13, 1799. 4. Miss Catherine Calhoun, daughter of Alexander Calhoun. She married Daniel Baker, who was for many years Keeper of the New Jersey State Arsenal, and an Ensign in Captain Wall's Company in the war of 1812. 5. Miss Esther Cox, daughter of Colonel John Cox, of Bloomsbur}^ Farm. She was born August 23, 1767, married Matthew Barton, and died October, 1848. 6. Miss Mary Cox, another daughter of Colonel John Cox. She married James Chestnut, of Camden, South Carolina, September 20, 1796, and was. the mother of Hon. James Chestnut, for many years a United States Senator from that State. She v/as born March 22, 1775, and died near Camden, S. C, March 13, 1864. When her father moved to Philadelphia she was accustomed to attend Lady Washington's drawing-room receptions and she was present at a complimentary ball given to President Washington on his birthday in 1796, a few months before her own marriage. 7. Miss Mary Dickinson, daughter of General Philemon Dickinson, was in her 21st vear at the time we allude to. 16 Washington-'^ Reception by the She married October 10, 1803, George Fox, of Philadelphia, a gentleman of Quaker family. 8. Miss Maria Furman, daughter of Moore Furman, whose wife has been referred to. She married Peter Hunt, of Lamberton. He was a prominent citizen, and in 1804 was appointed Adjutant General of the State, and held that office until his death in Charleston, South Carolina, March 11, 1810. She died October 8, 1816. 9. Miss Mary C. Keen, daughter of Jacob Keen of Tren- ton, a gallant soldier in the Revolutionary war. Her mother, Hannah Keen, was noted for piety and for her zeal in behalf of the Baptist Church. She was born February 3, 1766; married John Scudder, of Scudders Falls, Mercer county. New Jersey, November 21, 1791, and died April 16, 1839. 10. Miss Mary Lowrey, daughter of Colonel Thomas Lowrey, of Flemington. She was born July 30, 1775, married George Henry, April 14, 1795, and died in Trenton, January 23, 1804. 11. Miss Maria Meredith, daughter of Samuel Meredith, of Philadelphia. He was a Major in the Philadelphia Bat- talions of Associators in the Revolutionary War, and was the first Treasurer of the United States. Miss Meredith died unmarried. At the time of the reception she was visiting at the residence of General Dickinson. 12. Miss Sarah Moore, daughter of Nathaniel Moore, of Trenton. Her father lived at the landing at Beatty's Ferry. She was born July 22, 1778, and married, first, Stewart Wil- son about 1795, who died in 1798. She married, second, Jonathan Hand, of Cape May, July 25, 1802, and they were the ancestors of the large family of that name in that county. She died April 3, 1871, in her 93d year. People of New Jersey in 1789. 17 13. Miss Margaret Tate, sister of Dr. James Tate, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, whose wife and married sister have been heretofore mentioned. The six little girls who sang the ode of welcome to Gen- eral Washington were — 1. Miss Sarah Airy, daughter of Cornelius Airy, of Elizabeth Town. Her mother was a sister of Benjamin Smith, a well-known merchant of Trenton. She lived with Mr. Smith, who had no children, until 1814, when he re- moved to Elizabeth Town, and* she died at his house there, never having married. 2. Miss Jemima Broadhurst, daughter of Joseph Broad- hurst, was born in Amwell township, Hunterdon county, March 9, 1782, and in 1789 was at school in Trenton. She married Joshua S. Anderson, of Trenton, in 1805. In after years they removed to Philadelphia, and she died there December 10. 1839. She is buried in the churchyard of the First Presbyterian Church, Trenton. 3. Miss Sarah Collins, daughter of Isaac Collins. Her father was a printer, who came from Burlington to Trenton in 1778 and removed to New York in 1786. Her mother was the great-granddaughter of Mali Ion Stacy. 4. Miss Sarah How, daughter of Micajah How. Her parents have been before referred to. She never married, and is buried in the old graveyard attached to the Metho- dist Church at Pearsonville, Mercer county. 5. Miss Sarah B. Howell, daughter of Major Richard Howell. She was born August 5, 1783, and married Dr. James Agnew, of Princeton, N. J., in January, 1806, and died August 3, 1868, nearly 85 years of age. She is the mother of the distinguished jurist, Chief Justice Daniel 18 Washington's Reception by the Agnew. Dr. Agnew was a graduate of Princeton College in 1795 and of the University of Pennsylvania at Phila- delphia. He died at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1840. 6. Miss Elizabeth Milnor, daughter of Joseph Milnor. She married Lucius Horatio Stockton, son of Richard Stockton, the "Signer." Mr. Stockton was an eminent law- yer, and at one time District Attorney of New Jersey. Presi- dent John Adams, in 1801, nominated him to be Secretary of War. He was an ardent politician, and very eccentric in his manners. He died May 26, 1835. After the tribute of respect at the archway, the escort pro- ceeded to Samuel Henry's City Tavern, on the southwest corner of Second and Warren streets, where General Wash- ington dined with the principal citizens of the place and held a reception in the parlors of the inn. Late in the afternoon he took carriage for Princeton, the Rev. Mr. Armstrong accompanying him that far on his journey. It is generally understood that they spent that night at the residence of the President of the College, the Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, During the afternoon a copy of the song with which the little girls had greeted him at the Trenton bridge had been given him, and he handed Mr. Armstrong that evening the following letter : People of New Jersey in 1789. 19 /^S /cTytc^^^ <^^£/ ^a- j^ C^Cpt^^ ^^J^^ ^%jeJ^ A.-.C'^^*^ P/-^ 20 Washington's •Reception by the This letter was read the following afternoon at a gather- ing of ladies at the residence of Dr. Isaac Smith, en King, now Warren street, the property now covered b}'- the Amer- ican Hotel. The ladies were all greatly pleased with this elegant response to their patriotic testimonial. It certainly expressed in brief language the feelings which must have filled his breast while passing over such historic ground. The letter was afterwards printed and each lady received a copy. The note was preserved in the family of Dr. Smith and then passed into the famil}'' of Chief Justice Ewing, and is to-day carefully preserved by the daughter of Rev, Mr. Armstrong in Trenton. One of the arches has also been kept in possession of the same family. At eleven o'clock on the morning of April 22d, General Washington bade farewell to his host, the learned divine, and leaving Nassau Hall took the old road to Brunswick. Here he was met by William Livingston, the war Governor of the State, and they rode on to Woodbridge, where they spent the night, it is generally thought, at John Manning's Inn. On the morning of Thursday, April 23d, a number of military companies, among which were Captain Condict's Company, of Newark, Captain Wade's Company, of Con- necticut Farms, and Captain Meeker's Company, of Eliza- beth Town, marched to Bridgetown, lower Rahway, and with a considerable number of the citizens of the neighbor- hood, met the General and escorted him into Elizabeth Town, where he "received a federal salutation." General Matthias Ogden, the commanding oificer of the First Regi- ment, Continental Line of New Jersey during the war, was in charge of the procession, and he took him, about nine o'clock, "amidst festive throngs of numerous spectators," to People of New Jersey in 1789. 21 the hotel of Samuel Smith, now a part of the Sheridan House, where he held a brief reception for the citizens of Elizabeth Town. At the tavern he partook of a repast pro- vided by the good people of the village, and he then pro- ceeded to the elegant mansion of the Hon. Elias Boudinot, where he met the Committee of Congress. This Committee Consisted of John Langdon, of New Hampshire, Charles Carroll, of Maryland, William S. Johnson, of Connecticut, Of the Senate. Elias Boudinot, of New Jersey, Egbert Benson, of New York, Theodorick Bland, of Virginia, Thomas Tudor Tucker, of South Carolina, John Lawrence, of New York, Of the House of Representatives. After spending a half hour at Dr. Boudinot's residence, he rode to Elizabeth Town Point, attended by a vast con- course of people. He then reviewed the escorting troops and took leave of the party of Jerseymen. With the Committee referred to. Colonel Humphreys and Mr. Thomson, about twelve o'clock, noon, he entered a large boat elegantly adorned, and manned by thirteen skill- ful pilots of the harbor, all dressed in white sailor costume, Thomas Randall acting as cockswain. A large number of smaller boats, handsomely festooned, accompanied him, flags were flying from every vessel in the bay, and with vocal and instrumental music, with the discharge of artillery, and the loud welcome of tlie people, lie reached Murray's Wharf, now Wall street, in the city of New York, between two and three o'clock in the afternoon. 22 Washington's "Reception in 1789. Here he was received by George Clinton, the Governor of the State, and Richard Varick, the Mayor of the city, and on April 30th he was inaugurated the first President of the United States. SL-^^]^ n