ited under it; and that the monument be so designed as
to commemorate the great events of his military and
political life.

"_And be it further resolved_, That there be a funeral
procession from Congress Hall to the German Lutheran church,
in memory of General GEORGE WASHINGTON, on Thursday, the
twenty-sixth instant, and that an oration be prepared, at
the request of Congress, to be delivered before both houses
that day; and that the president of the senate and speaker
of the house of representatives be desired to request one of
the members of Congress to prepare and deliver the same.

"_And be it further resolved_, That it be recommended to the
people of the United States to wear crape on their left arm,
as mourning, for thirty days.

"_And be it further resolved_, That the president of the
United States be requested to direct a copy of these
resolutions to be transmitted to Mrs. Washington, assuring
her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear for her
person and character, of their condolence on the late
afflicting dispensation of Providence; and entreating her
assent to the interment of the remains of General Washington
in the manner expressed in the first resolution.[146]

"_Resolved_, That the president of the United States be
requested to issue his proclamation, notifying to the people
throughout the United States the recommendation contained in
the third resolution."

In accordance with the second of the foregoing resolutions. General
Henry Lee, of Virginia, then a member of Congress, and one of the
committee of sixteen, was invited to pronounce the funeral oration. He
was one of Washington's favorites. Throughout the war for independence,
he had been admired and beloved by the commander-in-chief for his manly
and soldierly qualities, and he had ever been a welcome guest at Mount
Vernon.

The choice of orator was an appropriate one. Both houses of Congress
went in a body to the German Lutheran church, in Fourth street, above
Arch, to listen to the oration.[147] A vast concourse of citizens was
also in attendance; and the M'Pherson Blues, a corps of about three
hundred young men, mostly from the best families of Philadelphia,
attended as a guard of honor on that occasion. Only six of that corps
are known to be alive at this time.[148]

On the thirtieth of December, the Congr