The committee further report it, as their opinion, that it will be proper that a committee of both Houses be appointed to take order for conducting the business. This was read and accepted. Whereupon Mr. Lee, Mr. Izard, and Mr. Dalton, on the part of the Senate, together with a committee that may be appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, were empowered to take order for conducting the business.

On the same day was read an order of the House of Representatives, concurring in the appointment of a committee on their part, to confer with a committee appointed on the 24th instant, on the part of the Senate, to consider and report "what style, &c., it will be proper to annex to the offices of President and Vice President." From it it appeared, as before stated, that Mr. Benson, Mr. Ames, Mr. Madison, Mr. Carroll, and Mr. Sherman were appointed on the part of the House.

On the Senate Journal, under date of Monday, April 27, it is stated that "the committee appointed to take order for conducting the ceremonial of the formal reception, &c., of the President, reported:

"That it appears to them more eligible that the oath should be administered to the President in the outer gallery, adjoining the Senate chamber, than in the Representatives' chamber; and, therefore, submit to the respective houses the propriety of authorizing their committee to take order as to the place where the oath shall be administered to the President, the resolution of Saturday, assigning the Representatives' chamber as the place, notwithstanding. Read and accepted.

66

Resolved, That after the oath shall have been administered to the President, he, attended by the Vice President and members of the Senate and House of Representatives, proceed to St. Paul's Chapel, to hear divine service, to be performed by the Chaplain of Congress, already appointed. Sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence."

Before proceeding further, we remark that on the 5th of March, 1789, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania passed resolutions offering the use of the public buildings in the city of Philadelphia, for the temporary use of Congress; and that a design existed with some members of Congress to make an early effort to remove the Congress from New York to Philadelphia, which effort, however, failed, as stated in the following extract of a letter dated New York, 16th April, 1789, addressed by William Maclay to Judge Peters, of Philadelphia, viz:

"DEAR SIR: I have received yours of the 12th, and will, with

my own hand, deliver Mr. Adams' letter, as he is now expected daily. The messenger that went for him took a passage by water, and was at Rhode Island in nineteen hours; so that in all probability Mr. Adams received official information of his election in two days after the ballots were opened. Fortune has now fixed us here for the present session. The Romans, you know, made a goddess of her; and although she is not now worshiped, yet her power seems not to be diminished. The critical moment to have been embraced, was just after the ballots were opened, and before the messengers were sent off for the President and Vice President. An adjournment to Philadelphia was the point to be carried. What we most wanted was a bold, determined leader in the lower House, of a different State from We wanted to make Madison the man, but his darling Potomac kept uppermost with him, in spite of all our efforts. greatly regretted the absence of Fitzsimmons.

our own.

We

On the other hand, not greater consternation seized the city when the British left them. Beaux, belles, macaronis, clergy, and all, went to work, and such a running from house to house was hardly ever heard of. Our friends of New England gave way, and declared for removal to the permanent residence only. In the meanwhile the irrevocable hour was passed, the messengers were sent off, and our scheme sunk in abortion. It now remains that we lay in a sufficient stock of materials for the end of the session, and that proper attention be paid to the word adjournment, when, I hope, madam, the Roman Goddess, will be more propitious to our wishes.

Thank you for the mention of your plough. Never word brought a more endearing assemblage of ideas in its train. All the joys and blessings of domestic life seemed to start into existence at the very mention of this first of human inventions. There is not even the sign of such an implement in this vile place, keen and attentive as they are to their interests. I wonder none of them have thought of such a thing, for even an ale-house with such a symbol at the door would command custom. Our Pennsylvanians, at least, would venerate the plough. Somebody brought a report into town that there was a green field two or three miles off. Mr. Clymer and a party immediately set off in quest of it. I could not be of their company, as I have been confined, for some days, by a violent rheumatism in my right knee-a complaint for which, I am told, this place is remarkable. I am, however, much better, and hope for health in a few days-a blessing which I have, in a great degree, been a stranger to since I came to this place.

Am, with much respect, your obedient, humble servant, WILLIAM MACLAY.

Honorable RICHARD PETERS.

It has been before stated that General Washington arrived at New York on the 23d of April. The Journal of Mr. Maclay commences on the next day, the 24th of April, and he, inter alia, remarks:

I understood that it was agreed among the Senators yesterday, that they would meet at the hall this morning, and go in a body to pay their respects to General Washington. I went, about ten o'clock, to the hall, accordingly. There was, however, no person there. After staying some time, Ellsworth came in. I repeated the conversation of last night, and asked him whether he had been to wait on the General. Yes, he had been, and a number more with him. Some went last night, and some this morning. *

*

*

*

I whipped down stairs, and joined the Speaker and a number more of the Pennsylvanians, who were collecting for that purpose; went and paid my respects, &c.

Mr. Izard had yesterday been very anxious to get a report adopted, respecting the communications between the Houses. It was so. But now we hear the House below laugh at it. Mr. Izard moved to have the adoption taken from the minutes. This could not be done. But now a curious scene opened. Mr. Lee, being of the Title Committee of yesterday, produced a copy of the resolution for appointing that committee, and moved that the House should pass a vote for the transmitting it down to the other House. This was truly ridiculous; but mind, this business had been (gone) into yesterday solely on the motion of our President, (Mr. Adams); but, now, (he continues,) Lee wanted to bring it on again, when the President would not appear in it." "I showed the absurdity of his motion plainly enough; but it seemed to me, that by getting a division of the resolution, I could, perhaps, throw out the part about titles altogether. Mr. Carroll, of Maryland, showed he was against titles. I wrought so far, that I got a question, whether we should throw out the part about titles altogether. We lost the question." However, I could plainly see that we gained ground in the House.

Now, a most curious question arose. The President (Mr. Adams) knew not how to direct the letter to the Speaker. He called on the House to know how it should be directed. The House showed a manifest disinclination to interfere. The President urged, and ceased not until a question was pointedly put, whether the Speaker should be styled honorable. It passed in the negative; and from this omen, I think our President may go and dream about titles for none will he get.

25th April, Saturday. Attended the House. Ceremonies, endless ceremonies, the whole business of the day. I did not embark warmly this day. "Otis, our Secretary, makes the grossest mis

takes in our minutes, and it cost us an hour or two to rectify them. I was up as often, I believe, as was necessary, and certainly threw so much light on two subjects, that the debate ended on each."

The President, as usual, made us two or three speeches from the chair. I will endeavor to recollect one of them. It was on the reading of a report, which mentioned that the President should be received in the Senate chamber, and proceed thence to the House of Representatives, to be sworn.

"GENTLEMEN: I do not know whether the framers of the Constitution had in view the two Kings of Sparta, or the two consuls of Rome, when they formed it—one to have all the power while he held it; and the other to be nothing. Nor do I know whether the architect that formed our room, and the wide chair in it, (to hold two, I suppose,) had the Constitution before him. Gentlemen, I feel great difficulty, how to act. I am possessed of two separate powers-the one in esse, the other in passe. I am Vice President. In this, I am nothing; but I may be everything. But I am President, also, of the Senate. When the President comes into the Senate, what shall I be? I wish, gentlemen, to think what I shall be."

A solemn silence ensued. God forgive me, for it was involuntary, but the profane muscles of my face were in tune for laughter, in spite of my indisposition.

Ellsworth thumbed over the sheet Constitution, and turned it for some time. At length he rose, and addressed the Chair, with the most profound gravity:

"Mr. PRESIDENT: I have looked over the Constitution, (paused,) and I find, sir-it is evident and clear, sir-that wherever the Senate is to be, there, sir, you must be at the head of them; but, further, sir, (there he looked aghast, as if some tremendous gulf had yawned before him,) I shall not pretend to say."

I

"Thursday next is appointed for swearing in the President. am worse of my rheumatism, and perhaps it is owing to the change of weather, for the wind is at northwest, and cold.

"Sunday, 26th April. Went out half after nine o'clock; visited Governor St. Clair, General Butler, Delany, McPherson. At Ellsworth's called on Mr. Clymer and Mr. Fitzsimmons. The very end of this visit was to concert some measures with them for the re

NOTE.-The following is a note to third volume of J. C. Hamilton's history. I have endeavored to ascertain where it was obtained by him, but I have not succeeded:

"Are we," Adams observed in the Senate, "the two Kings of Sparta, the two Consuls of Rome, or the two Suffetes of Carthage."—See 3d vol., p. 560, of His. U. S., by John C. Hamilton.

moval of Congress, but they kept me off. I mentioned a favorable disposition in some of the Maryland gentlemen to be in unison with the Pennsylvania delegation. They seem not to credit me.

"Monday, 27th April, 1789. Attended the hall. We had prayers this day by the Chaplain, Doctor Provost. A new arrangment was reported from the joint committee of ceremonies. This is an endless business. Lee offered a motion to the Chair that after the President was sworn, (which now is to be in the gallery opposite the Senate Chamber,) the Congress should accompany him to Saint Paul's church and attend divine service. This had been agitated in the joint committee; but Lee said expressly that they would not agree to it. I opposed it as an improper business, after it had been in the hands of the joint committee and rejected, as I thought this a certain method of creating a dissension between the Houses."

As to Duties on Importations.

On the 8th of April, the House of Representatives being in Committee of the Whole, Mr. Madison addressed it on the subject of duties on importations, and having in view to embrace the spring importations, he introduced a resolution as follows:

Resolved, As the opinion of this committee, that the following duties ought to be levied on goods, wares, and merchandise imported into the United States, viz: On rum, per gallon,dollar; on all other spirituous liquors,

on Madeira wine,

Bohea teas, per lb.,

; on molasses,

-; on all other wines,
; on all other teas,
; on loaf sugars,

; on brown sugars,

other sugars,

articles,

portation.

of a -;

-; on common ; on paper, -; on all ; on all other

; on cocoa and coffee, per cent. on their value at the time and place of im

That there ought, moreover, to be levied on all vessels in which goods, wares, or merchandise shall be imported, the duties following, viz: On all vessels built within the United States, and belonging wholly to citizens thereof, at the rate of per ton. On all vessels belonging wholly to the subjects of Powers with whom the United States have formed treaties, &c., &c.; and on all vessels belonging wholly or in part to the subjects of other Powers, at the rate of

Some debate ensued, and the committee rose, and the subject was subsequently before the House and was debated, as stated in part, in the preface to this book.

It is now four o'clock, and I will take a walk. in with Mr. Sturgis, Mr. Wyngate, Mr. Goodhue.

In my walk I fell
We took a circuit