Page:Republican Court by Rufus Griswold.djvu/162

ly we were favored in the weather; the whole procession had been completely finished, and we had repaired to the Governor's, before it began to rain. When the President was on the wharf an officer came up and, addressing him, said he had the honor to command his Guard, and that it was ready to obey his orders. The President answered that, as to the present arrangement, he should proceed as was directed, but that after that was over, he hoped he would give himself no farther trouble, as the affection of his fellow-citizens (turning to the crowd) was all the guard he wanted."

The house to which Washington was conducted, and which became his official residence, was that which still exists at the corner of Cherry street and Franklin square. It was owned by Mr. Osgood, of the Treasury Board, and had been occupied by the presidents of the Continental Congress. As his domestic establishment was not yet organized his table for a few days was supplied from Fraunces's tavern, and on the evening of his arrival he was entertained at dinner by Governor Clinton, with the Vice President, the heads of departments, the committee of Congress appointed to receive him, the foreign ambassadors, and several other eminent persons. "The occasion of the President's first arrival at the seat of government," says Fenno, "arrested the public attention beyond all powers of description; the hand of industry was suspended, and the various pleasures of the capital were centered in a single enjoyment." Some who were advanced in years, and hardly expected to see him till they should meet in heaven, could with difficulty "restrain their impatience at being in a measure deprived of the high gratification, by the eagerness of the multitude of children and young people, who probably might long enjoy the blessing; and others were heard to say they should now die contented, nothing having been wanted previous to this auspicious time but a sight of the Saviour of his Country."