Wharf
he was welcomed by Governor Clinton and General Knox. It is of the
landing at this point that the anecdote is told that an officer asked
Washington's orders, announcing himself as commanding his guard.
Washington, with his ready presence of mind, begged him to follow any
directions he had already received in the arrangements, but said that
for the future the affection of his fellow-citizens was all the guard
that he required.

At the end of the day, in his diary, the sad man says:

The acclamations of the people filled my mind with sensations as
painful as pleasing.

It was some days before the formal inauguration. The two houses of
Congress did not know by what title they should address him, and a
committee had been appointed to discuss this subject. It was finally
agreed that the address should be simply, "To the President of the
United States"--a form which has remained to the present day.

The inauguration finally took place on the thirtieth of April.

On the thirtieth at last all things were ready, and the inauguration
went forward. The place was at what they then called Federal Hall, in
New York, and Chancellor Livingstone administered the oath:

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully administer and execute
the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best
of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of
the United States.

A salute of thirteen guns followed, amid the cheers of thousands of
people. Washington then delivered his inaugural speech to both houses in
the Senate Chamber. After this ceremony he walked to St. Paul's Church,
where the Bishop of New York read prayers. Maclay, who was a Senator in
the first Congress, says:

He was agitated and embarrassed more than he ever was by the
leveled cannon or pointed musket. He trembled and several times
could scarce make out to read his speech, though it must be
supposed he had often read it before.

Fisher Ames says:

He addressed the two houses in the Senate Chamber. It was a very
touching scene, and quite of a solemn kind. His aspect, grave
almost to sadness, his modesty, actually shaking, his voice deep, a
little tremulous, and so low as to call for close attention.

John Adams had taken his place as President of the Senate two days
before. As he did not always in after life speak any too cordially of
Washington, it is worth noting tha