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Home Item #718031

A terrific & detailed account of Washington's first inauguration...

Item # 718031 ·
THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 4, 1789  Mot of page 3 is taken up with reports on the: "Proceedings of Congress" with datlines of April 28, then April 29, under the latter are reports on preparations for Washington's inauguration.
These reports include: "The committees of both houses of Congress, appointed to take order for conducting the ceremonial of the formal reception, etc. of the President of the United States, have agreed to the following order thereon, viz:...That a chair be placed in the senate chamber for the President of the United States....and that the senators take their seats on that side of the chamber on which the Vice President's chair shall be placed...That seats be provided in the senate chamber sufficient to accommodate the late President of Congress, the Governor the Western Territory..." and more positions mentioned whose presence was deemed appropriate.
Continuing: "...That the members of both houses assemble in their respective chambers precisely at twelve o'clock...The the committees attend the President from his residence to the senate chamber, and that he be there received by the Vice President, the senators and representative rising, and be by the Vice President conducted to his chair. That after the President shall be seated in his chair...To the end that the oath of office may very well be administered to the President in the most public manner...That when the President shall proceed to the gallery to take the oath, he be attended by...Both Houses having resolved to accompany the President after he shall have taken the Oath, to St. Paul's Chapel to hear divine service...That a pew be reserved for the President..." and much more on the procedures to be followed on inauguration day. Simply great detail, the likes of which are rarely found in period newspapers.
Then the report with a May 1 dateline (Washington was inaugurated April 30). It begins: "Yesterday took place, according to the resolution of the two houses of Congress, the cremony of the introduction of his Excellency George Washington, to the Presidency of the United States. 
The scene was extremely solemn & impressive; we imagine the public cannot be more satisfactorily informed than by an unembelished recital of the events, and a simple picture of the figure which composed it...About nine o'clock A.M. the clergy of different denominations assembled their congregations...About twelve o'clock the procession moved from the house of the president in Cherry street, through Dock street, and Broad streeet, to Federal Hall; in the following order..." and what follows is a graphic representation of the  procession.
Then more detail: "...Then followed a multitude of citizens. When they came within a short distance of the Hall, the troops formed a line on both sides of the way, and his Excellency passing through the ranks was conducted into the building...in the presence of an immense concourse of citizens, he took the oath prescribed by the constitution, which was administered to him by the Hon. R. R. Livingston, Esq; Chancellor of the state of New York. Immediately after he had taken trhe oath, the Chancellor proclaimed him President of the United States.--Was answered by the discharge of 13 guns, and by loud repeated shouts; on this the President bowed to the people, and the air again rang with their acclamations. His Exellency with the two houses, then retired to the senate Chamber, where he made the following SPEECH...".
What follows is the full text of Washington's inaugural address, taking over a full column and signed by him in type: George Washington.
Reports continue on what transpired after his address, and latter that evening (see the photos).
One can only imagine the reaction of the world to this novel, peaceful process, where typically leaders had always been determined by heredity, and replaced only by death or violent revolution.
Complete in 4 pages, a bit of light dirtiness to the front page, a tiny hole in the back leaf affect just one word in the report (see photo), very nice condition.

Item from our most recent catalog - #369 - released for August, 2026

Price
$6,650
100% Authentic: Original printing, never a reproduction.