Yale University Library 39002064337257 WASHINGTON'S RECEPTION BY THE LADIES OF TRENTON TOGETHER WITH THE CHORUS SUNG AS HE PASSED UNDER THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH RAISED ON THE BRIDGE OVER THE ASSUNPINK APRIL TWENTY-FIRST MDCCLXXXIX PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY OF ICONOPHILES NEW YORK MCMIII C\> 3t oioo Of this book one hundred and four copies have been printed on American hand-made paper and the plates destroyed WASHINGTON S RECEPTION BY THE LADIES OF TRENTON TOGETHER WITH THE CHORUS SUNG AS HE PASSED UNDER THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH WASHINGTON'S RECEPTION BY THE LADIES OF TRENTON TOGETHER WITH THE CHORUS SUNG AS HE PASSED UNDER THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH RAISED ON THE BRIDGE OVER THE ASSUNPINK APRIL TWENTY-FIRST MDCCLXXXIX PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY OF ICONOPHILES NEW YORK MCMIII COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY THE SOCIETY OF ICONOPHILES PAGE CONTENTS Prefatory Note ...... i Washington's Progress to the Seat of Govern ment. From Irving's "Life of Washing ton" ....... 7 Washington's Reception at Trenton. From "The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Adver tiser" ....... 9 Washington's Reception at Trenton. From Stryker's "Washington's Reception by the People of New Jersey in 1789" . 15 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING The Trenton Arch. From the Columbian Mag azine, May, 1789 . . . .Title Photogravure on copper, same size as original. The Gray's Ferry Arch. From the Columbian Magazine, May, 1789 . . . . 4 Photogravure same size as original. Washington's Letter to the Ladies of Trenton 1 2 Zinc etching reduced. Chorus Set to Music . . . . .18 Photogravure on copper, reduced. Prefatory Note ON the 25th of November, 1783, the British troops evacuated the City of New York, and General Washington entered it at the head of the American Army. Nine days later the principal officers of that victorious army met at the hour of noon in the " long room " of Fraunces' Tavern, to bid fare well to their beloved Commander-in-Chief. That was one hundred and twenty years ago, and it is difficult, nay, impossible, for us now to fully realize the deep sig nificance of that meeting, or to feel the force of the wave of emotion which passed over that assemblage, moved those hardened warriors to tears, and made them dumb of speech when Washington, filling his glass, turned to them and said : " With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you ; I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosper ous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." When all the pregnant sentences that have fallen from human lips, and lie like scattered pearls along the highway of the ages, are gathered and garnered up, Prefatory Note surely among the most memorable and precious to a citizen of this great Republic will be these parting words of Washington to his brother officers, in which he epitomizes the story of the long battle for freedom which their courage and constancy had brought to a successful conclusion. Leaving the room in Fraunces' Tavern, thus made of such high and lasting historic interest, Washington passed through the ranks of a corps of light infantry and walked to Whitehall, whence a barge conveyed him to Paulus Hook on the Jersey shore. By easy stages and " greeted everywhere on the road by the acclama tions of his fellow citizens," he journeyed to Annapolis, Md., to which place Congress had adjourned from Princeton, N. J. Here, on the 23rd of December, he formally re signed his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental armies into the hands of the President of Congress,* took leave (to use his own words) of all the employments of public life, and became once more, to his own infinite satisfaction, a private citizen. The next morning he left Annapolis and reached Mount Vernon the same day, " having been absent in the command of the army somewhat more than eight years and a half, during which period he had never been at his own home except accidently while on his way, with Count de Rochambeau, to Yorktown and in returning from that expedition."-}" •General Thomas Mifflin. ¦fSparks* Life of Washington. Prefatory Note In the old colonial mansion on the banks of the broad and beautiful Potomac, which has become un der the benign a?gis of the Ladies' National Mount Vernon Association, the Mecca of the American peo ple, Washington hoped and expected to end his days in tranquillity, engaged in the cultivation of his broad and fertile acres, the " adornment and improvement of his grounds," and — aided by " the excellent house wifery of Mrs. Washington " — in dispensing an open- handed hospitality to the numerous guests drawn to Mount Vernon by " motives of curiosity, admiration, respect and friendship," and thus — he writes to La fayette — " I will move gently down the stream of life until I sleep with my fathers." For six years Washington was left to the enjoyment of the pastoral life he loved, and then, on one spring morning,his country summoned him again to her service. On the 14th of April, 1789, a special messenger, Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress, arrived at Mount Vernon with a letter from the President of the Senate, officially notifying Washington of his election as Presi dent of the United States with John Adams as Vice- President. Two days later about ten o'clock in the morning, he bade adieu to Mount Vernon, " to private life and domestic felicity," and in company with Mr. Thomson and Colonel Humphreys, began his coach and horseback journey, or rather triumphal procession, of nearly two hundred and fifty miles to the City of New York, then the seat of the Federal Government. Along his entire route, beginning at Alexandria, Va., 3 Prefatory Note the first town of importance through which he passed after leaving Mount Vernon, Washington was met with " welcomes and ovations," and in the principal cities by " firing of cannon, ringing of bells and mili tary display." On April 23rd he made his public entry into the City of New York, and on the 30th was inaugurated first President of the United States on the balcony of the Federal Hall. Among the numerous demonstrations of regard and affection which greeted Washington en route to his inauguration none received the contemporary notice accorded those which took place at Gray's Ferry near Philadelphia, and at Trenton, New Jersey, and none others were so fortunate as to have been depicted like these in the pages of " The Columbian Magazine " of that same year. There is an entirely fictitious picture representing Washington's entry into the City of New York, but the " East View of Gray's Ferry with the triumphal arches, etc., erected for the reception of General Washington, April 20th, 1789," and the " View of the Triumphal Arch and the man ner of receiving General Washington at Trenton," on the following day, are authentic pictures from drawings made at the time and on the spot. The music to which the little flower-crowned maidens attuned their words of welcome was also printed, so that this patriotic demonstration at Trenton was as fully reported and illustrated by the press of the day as it would have been had it occurred one hundred years later. One copy, if no more, of these verses, written by 4 Prefatory Note Major Richard Howell, with the music composed by A. Reinagle, has withstood the ravages of time and is here reproduced for the benefit of any musical anti quarian who may have the curiosity to try its notes on the keys of some old tinkling harpsichord and awake again its long silent and forgotten strains. The account of the reception at Trenton which fol lows is taken from the columns of the " Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser," Philadelphia, Friday, May ist, 1789. A similar account also appeared in the May, 1789, number of the " Columbian Magazine." The list of names, on pages 1 7, 1 8 and 1 9, of the mothers who planned and the daughters who took part in the reception, is taken from a pamphlet published at Trenton, 1882, by W. S. Stryker, Adjutant-General of the State of New Jersey. This information, General Stryker states, was obtained "from one of the participants in the reception who was living in the year 1 850 ; from one who died in 1864, and another in 1871 — from others who remembered to have seen it, and from tradition in the families of Trenton." Washington's Progress to the Seat of Government FROM IRVING's "LIFE OF WASHINGTON" VOLUME IV., CHAPTER 37 WASHINGTON'S progress to the seat of Government was a continual ovation. The ringing of bells and roaring of can- nonry proclaimed his course through the country. The old and young, women and children, thronged the highways to bless and welcome him. Deputations of the most respectable inhabitants from the principal places came forth to meet and escort him. . . . We question whether any of these testimonials of a nation's gratitude affected Washington more sensibly than those he received at Trenton. It was on a sunny afternoon when he arrived on the banks of the Dela ware, where, twelve years before, he had crossed in darkness and storm, through clouds of snow and drifts of floating ice, on his daring attempt to strike a blow at a triumphant enemy. Here at present all was peace and sunshine, the broad river flowed placidly along, and crowds awaited 7 Progress to the Seat of Government him on the opposite bank, to hail him with love and transport. We will not dwell on the joyous ceremonials with which he was welcomed, but there was one too pecu liar to be omitted. The reader may remember Wash ington's gloomy night on the banks of the Assunpink, which flows through Trenton ; the camp fires of Corn wallis in front of him; the Delaware full of floating ice in the rear; and his sudden resolve on that midnight retreat which turned the fortunes of the campaign. On the bridge crossing that eventful stream, the ladies of Trenton had caused a triumphal arch to be erected. It was entwined with evergreens and laurels, and bore the inscription, " The defender of the mothers will be the protector of the daughters." At this bridge the matrons of the city were assembled to pay him reverence, and as he passed under the arch, a number of young girls, dressed in white and crowned with garlands, strewed flowers before him, singing an ode expressive of their love and gratitude. Never was ovation more graceful, touching and sincere and Wash ington, tenderly affected, declared that the impression of it on his heart could never be effaced. Washington's Reception at Trenton FROM "THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET AND DAILY ADVERTISER" FOR FRIDAY, MAY I, 1 789 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM TRENTON, DATED APRIL 21 THIS day we were honored with the presence of his Excellency the President of the United States of America, on his way to New- York. A troop of horse, commanded by Capt. Carle, and a company of infantry, commanded by Capt. Hanlon, compleatly equipped, and in full uniform, with a large concourse of the gentlemen and inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, lined the Jersey bank of the Del aware, to hail the General's arrival. As soon as he set foot on shore, he was welcomed with three huzzas, which made the shores re-echo the cheerful sounds. After being saluted by the horse and infantry, he was escorted to town, in the following order : A detachment of the horse, The light infantry, His Excellency, on horseback, attended by Charles Thomson, Esq.; and Col. Humphreys, The troop of horse, The gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood, on horseback. Washington's Reception at Trenton When the procession arrived at the bridge south of the town, they were presented with a scene to which no description can do justice. As Trenton had been rendered twice memorable during the war, once by the capture of the Hessians, and again by the repulse of the whole British army, in their attempt to cross the bridge over the Assanpinck Creek, the evening before the battle of Princeton — a plan was formed by a number of ladies, and carried into execution, solely under their direction, to testify to the General, by the celebration of these eventful actions, the grateful sense they retained of the safety and protection afforded by him to the daughters of New-Jersey. For this purpose, a triumphal arch was raised on the bridge, about 20 feet wide, supported by 1 3 columns — the height of the arch to the centre was equal to the width. Each column was intwined with wreaths of evergreen. The arch, which extended about twelve feet along the bridge, was covered with laurel, and decorated on the inside with laurel, running- vines, and a variety of evergreens. On the front of the arch the following motto was inscribed in large gilt letters — " 'The Defender of the mothers will also protect the daughters — " The upper and lower edges of this inscription were ornamented with wreaths of evergreen and artificial flowers of all kinds, made by the ladies for the occasion, beautifully interspersed. On the centre of the arch, above the inscription, was a dome, or cupola, of artificial flowers and evergreen, encircling the dates of those glorious events which the whole was 10 Washington's Reception at Trenton designed to celebrate, inscribed in large gilt letters. The summit of the dome displayed a large sun-flower, which, always pointing to the sun, was designed to express this sentiment, or motto — " To you alone " — as emblematic of the affections and hopes of the people being directed to him, in the united suffrage of the millions of America. A numerous train of ladies, leading their daugh ters, were assembled at the arch, thus to thank their Defender and Protector. As the General passed under the arch, he was addressed in the following sonata composed and set to music for the occasion, by a num ber of young ladies, dressed in white, decked with wreaths and chaplets of flowers, and holding in their hands baskets filled with flowers : WELCOME, mighty Chief! once more, Welcome to this grateful shore ; Now no mercenary foe Aims again the fatal blow — Aims at thee the fatal blow. Virgins fair, and Matrons grave, Those thy conquering arms did save, Build for thee triumphal bowers. Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers — * Strew your Hero's way with flowers. When his Excellency came opposite the little female band, he honored the ladies by stopping until the Sonata was finished. The scene was truly grand — * Js they sung these lines, they strewed the flowers before the General. II Washington's Reception at Trenton universal silence prevailed — nothing was to be heard but the sweet notes of the songsters — and the mingled sentiments which crowded into the mind in the mo ments of solemn stillness during the song, bathed many cheeks with tears. The General most politely thanked the ladies for their attention, and the procession moved on to his lodgings. The ladies who formed and executed this design have displayed a degree of taste, elegance and patriot ism on the occasion, which does them the highest honor and, I believe, stands unexampled. But what particularly merits observation, all expense was most carefully avoided : — the materials were the most plain and unpolished, until so superbly decorated by the hands of the ladies, which cost them but the labor of a few evenings in preparing flowers and evergreens. The General, being presented with a copy of the Sonata, was pleased to address the following CARD TO THE LADIES: " To the Ladies of Trenton, who were assembled on the 2lst day of April, Ij8g, at the Triumphal Arch erected by them on the Bridge, which extends across the Assanpinck Creek : " General Washington cannot leave this place, with out expressing his acknowledgments to the Matrons and Young Ladies who received him in so novel and grateful a manner at the Triumphal Arch in Trenton, for the exquisite sensation he experienced in that af fecting moment. — The astonishing contrast between 12 -4//L q- r f if r'n i Ln hi j m Wel.come Wel.come Wel.come to &is gratefal to tEis grate _ ful to tEis f ii f r i J f Jlrr— '"">' ¦ EEE ^ yfr tfLsJ- j i Jlhtf'ln Qfi grate, ful grate. ful Shore to tiift grate .ful to tEis grate, ful ffffll'h I I MUiii.fnni^i grate, ful grateful Store to* tEis grate. fol to tEis grate-ful to tEis grate.ful "EI ^'n r r 1 f j if ¦' 1 '"ill 1 Jf . ft- na.ry foe aims a -gain the fatal low Now no ajer.ce na.ry foe \ ' I r fl I [j rr '' i » § » I I U I Hi I U T 1 1 na.ry foe aims a.gaintEe fatal blow Now no mer.ce na.ry foe ytr Ti r rrr ifr i if i aimstEe fa.tal blow Now no mer.ce. na.ry foe aims a . gain tEe |=Se1 fa.tal blow aims a. gain tEe fa.tal blow mm rcj.fr ji j. j bjji i -. the fa_ tal faX tal blot warn Vir.gins ) ¦'LLUiHUUlm frffi"fffiii Vir.gins Vir.gins SEE ^ "^ ^rff # £ £ P§ £ Vir ir.gins fairand Ma.trons gr^ve tEofe tEy conquering arms did fave f rfiLirJ'rnLfi^i £ 5=?=F Vir.gins fair and Ma.trons grave tEofe thy conqu'ring arms did fave SEE > F P P =ffi ee g § r r X Ev concur rin Vir gins fairand ma.trons grave a.wi» bum «4« - UV"C 510 v *. ^, rr irr f j rfi 1 KM thofe thy conqirring Vir.gins fair and ma.trons grave tEofe thy conqu'ring tEofe tEy conferring P * 3=3 £ 3 ± P Si ta^ ¥ ±ff£ tEofe tEy conqu'ring arms did fave m t £gm thofe thy concju'ring ¦f" PP^ i m thofe thy conqu'ring arms did fave thofe thy conquering thofe thy conqu'ring 4 f r r 'I g ii,j. 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