THE EASTERN TOUR.

I.

Soon after the adjournment of Congress Washington made arrangements for a journey through New England. He anticipated perhaps some pleasure from revisiting the earlier scenes of his command during the revolution,* but he was most anxious for the restoration of his health, and to observe the condition and disposition of the people of that part of the Union.

He sat out from New York on Thursday morning, the fifteenth of October, in his own chariot, drawn by four Virginia bays, and accompanied by two of his secretaries, Tobias Lear and Major Jackson, on horseback. The Chief Justice, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of War, escorted him as far as Rye, where Mr. Jay had his country residence.

As he approached New Haven, in the forenoon of Saturday, he was met by a deputation of members of the legislature of Connecticut, escorted by the guards of the Governor, who conducted him, amid crowds of people, to his lodgings. Governor Huntington, soon after, presented to him a congratulatory address, and the

*As early as 1785 Washington had written to Mr. James Warren of Massachusetts: "It would afford me great pleasure to go over those grounds in your state, with a mind more at ease than when I travelled them in 1775 and 1776, and to unite in congratulation on the happy change, with those characters who participated the anxious moments we passed in those days, and for whom I entertain a sincere regard."

Congregational ministers of the city-Ezra Stiles, James Dana, Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Wales, and Samuel Austin-all men of eminent reputations, also addressed him, saying, in reference to his recent illness, "We most sincerely rejoice in the kind and gracious providence of God, who has been pleased to preserve your life during your late dangerous sickness, and to restore you to such a degree of health as gives us this opportunity to express our joy, and affords us the most pleasing hopes that your strength may be firmly reestablished." To the governor and to the clergy he made appropriate replies, and to the latter observed: "The tender interest you have taken in my personal happiness, and the obliging manner in which you express yourselves on the restoration of my health, are so forcibly impressed on my mind as to render language inadequate to the utterance of my feelings. If it shall please the Great Disposer of events to listen to the pious supplication which you have presented in my behalf, I trust the remainder of my days will evince the gratitude of a heart devoted to the advancement of those objects which receive the approbation of Heaven, and promote the happiness of our fellow men. My prayers are offered at the throne of Grace for your happiness and that of the congregations committed to your care." The next day he attended divine service at Trinity Church in the morning, and at the Congregational church of Dr. Edwards in the afternoon. The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Treasurer, and Roger Sherman, dined with him.

Accompanied by a troop of cavalry, and a large number of citizens on horseback, he left New Haven on Monday morning, and the same evening arrived at Hartford, where he was received in an appropriate manner by the public authorities and by the people. On Tuesday he visited the manufacturing establishments of that city, and on Wednesday proceeded on his journey.

Information having reached Worcester, on Thursday evening, that the President would be in that village early the next morning, about forty citizens assembled on horseback before sunrise, on Friday, and proceeded as far as Leicester line to welcome him and escort him into town. On notice being given of his approach, five cannon were fired for the New England states-three for those which had accepted the Constitution, one for Vermont, which was expected immediately to come into the Union, and "one as a call for Rhode Island to be ready before it should be too late." When he came in sight of the meeting-house eleven cannon were fired. He viewed with attention the artillery, as he passed, and expressed to the people his sense of the honor conferred upon him. He stopped at "The United States Arms" to breakfast, and, to gratify the inhabitants, proceeded through the rest of the town on horseback. The Worcester Spy, in giving an account of these circumstances, refers to the President as "His Highness." The discussion of the subject of titles was not yet ended; Representatives were called "Honorable," Senators and members of the Cabinet, "Most Honorable,” and in many of the journals it was insisted that the President should be addressed by some distinctive and peculiar designation. It was alleged in illustration of the necessity of such a style as might distinguish him from other eminent persons, at least when travelling, that, as he approached one of the villages between New Haven and Worcester, a messenger was sent forward to inform the keeper of the inn where he intended to pass the night, that "the President was near by, and wished to be accommodated with a little necessary refreshment, and lodging." The host was absent, but his wife, supposing it was Doctor Manning, President of Rhode Island College, who was an occasional visitor, generally having with him Mrs. Manning, whom she did not feel quite well enough to entertain, sent word that "the President must go