Page:Republican Court by Rufus Griswold.djvu/166

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THE REPUBLICAN COURT.

adds in a postscript, "I have seen him! and though I had been entirely ignorant that he was arrived in the city, I should have known at a glance that it was General Washington: I never saw a human being that looked so great and noble as he does. I could fall down on my knees before him and bless him for all the good he has done for this country."

II.

The anxiously expected morning of Thursday, the thirtieth of April, was greeted with a national salute from the Bowling Green, and at an early hour the streets were filled with men and women, in their holiday attire, while every moment arrived new crowds from the adjoining country, by the road from King's Bridge, by ferry boats from more distant places, or by packets which had been all night on the Sound or coming down the Hudson. At eight o'clock some clouds about the horizon caused apprehensions of an unpleasant day; but when, at nine, the bells rung out a merry peal, and presently with a slower and more solemn striking, called from every steeple for the people to assemble in the churches "to implore the blessing of Heaven on the nation, its favor and protection to the President, and success and acceptance to his administration," the sun shone clearly down, as if commissioned to give assurance of the approbation of the Divine Ruler of the world.

As the people came out from the churches, where Livingston, Mason, Provoost, Bodgers, and other clergymen,^[1] had given passion-

↑ The list of clergymen, for the city, in 1789, comprised only fourteen names, as follows: — Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. John Rodgers; Scotch Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. John Mason; Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Samuel Provoost, Bishop, and Rev. Mr. Beach and Rev. Benjamin Moore; United Lutheran Church, Rev. Dr. John Christopher Kunzie; Methodist Church, Rev. Mr. Morrill and Rev. Mr. Cloud; Reformed Dutch Church, Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston and Rev. Dr. William Linn; German Church, Rev. Mr. Gross; Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. Foster; Jewish Synagogue, Rev. Gershom Seixas. While the ministry of peace exhibited this meagre catalogue, that of contention — the list of Supreme Court attorneys — embraced one hundred and twenty-two.

[1] The list of clergymen, for the city, in 1789, comprised only fourteen names, as follows: — Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. John Rodgers; Scotch Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. John Mason; Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Samuel Provoost, Bishop, and Rev. Mr. Beach and Rev. Benjamin Moore; United Lutheran Church, Rev. Dr. John Christopher Kunzie; Methodist Church, Rev. Mr. Morrill and Rev. Mr. Cloud; Reformed Dutch Church, Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston and Rev. Dr. William Linn; German Church, Rev. Mr. Gross; Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. Foster; Jewish Synagogue, Rev. Gershom Seixas. While the ministry of peace exhibited this meagre catalogue, that of contention — the list of Supreme Court attorneys — embraced one hundred and twenty-two.

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