The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

MET. 57.1 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 441
CHAPTER XVI.
He receives official Notice of being chosen President. —His Journey
to the Seat of Government at New York. —His Oath of Office and
Inaugural Speech. -Acquaints himself with the State of public Affairs. -His Attention to his private Pursuits. — His Manner of receiving Visits and entertaining Company.- Afflicted with a severe
Illness. -Death of his Mother. -Executive Departments formed, and
the Officers appointed. — Judiciary System organized. -- Washington's
Opinion of the Supreme Court. -His Rule in Appointments to Office.
IT being known that the choice of the people had
fallen on General Washington for President, he made
-preparations to begin the duties of the office as soon
as his election should be notified to him by the proper
authority. The 4th of March was assigned as the day
for the meeting of Congress, but a quorum did not
come together till a month later. The votes of the
electors were then opened and counted; and a special
messenger was despatched to Mount Vernon with a
letter from the President of the Senate to General
Washington, conveying official intelligence of his election. John Adams was at the same time declared to
be chosen Vice-President of the United States. Two
days after receiving the notification, Washington left
home for New York, which was then the seat of
Congress.
His feelings on this occasion are indicated in the following extract from his Diary, written on the day of his
departure. "About ten o'clock I bade adieu to Mount
Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity; and,
with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful
sensations than I have words to express, set out for
New York in company with Mr. Thomson and Colonel
Humphreys, with the best disposition to render serVOL. i. 56