Gazette Of The United States

NEW-YORK, APRIL 22, 1789.

Extract of a letter from Boston, dated April 12

" THIS day, at 10 o'clock, His Excellency JOHN
ADAMS, Esq. Vice-President of the United States,
set out from his seat in Braintree, to take the chair
at New- York, as President of the Most Hon. Senate.
Previous to his setting out, the Roxbury Troop of
Horse, under the command of Col. John TYLER,
waited at his house and escorted him into town.
On his arrival at the fortification gates, the bells
rang a peal, and, amidst the shouts of the assembled
citizens, he was escorted to His Excellency the
Governour's, where the principal Officers of the
State, and gentlemen of the town being assembled,
he partook at an elegant Colation, provided by the
Governour.—He was saluted on his arrival by a fe-
ederal discharge from a detachment of Major JOHN-
son's Artillery—and also by a discharge on his tak-
ing leave of our Chief Magistrate. During the
time the Vice President was at His Excellency
the Governour's, the Middlesex Horse, under the
command of Capt. FULLER, arrived—which, join-
ing that of Col. Tyler's, formed a very elegant es-
cort—both Corps being in blue, faced with white,
and the horses mostly of one colour, and very hand-
some. By these corps, and better by his fellow ci-
tizens, he was accompanied to Charlestown, where,
on his arrival at the square, he was again saluted
by a federal discharge, from Major CALDER's Ar-
tillery, and escorted, by the two companies of horse
to Cambridge—where the Roxbury horse took
their leave of His Excellency—who, escorted by
the Middlesex corps, continued his journey. Mr.
Adams will be met at Marlborough by Col. NEW-
ELL's regiment of Horse, who will relieve Capt.
FULLER—and in like manner, will this great and
good man be accompanied to New- York—Not with
the servile attentions of slaves and subjects—but by
the voluntary honours of his fellow citizens."

On Monday last arrived in this city, amidst the
acclamations of all ranks of citizens, His Excellen-
cy John Adams, Esq. Vice-President of the
United States,—The Cavalcade which escorted
His Excellency into the city, was numerous, and
truly respectable. From the Connecticut line to
Kingsbridge, he was attended by the Light Horse
of West-Chester county, under the command of
Major PINTARD. At Kingsbridge he was met by
Gen. MALCOM, with the officers of his brigade, and
the City Troop of Horse, commanded by Captain
STAKES. Also by Officers of distinction—many
Members of Congress—and a large number of Ci-
Citizens in carriages and on horseback. On passing the Fort, a federal salute was fired. His Excellency alighted at the house of the Hon. John Jay, Esq.

A Committee of both Houses of Congress, specially appointed for that purpose, attended to congratulate his Excellency on his arrival.

Yesterday a committee of the Senate, consisting of Mr. Strong and Mr. Izard, conducted the Vice-President to the Senate-Chamber, and Mr. Langdon, the President pro tempore, left the chair, and addressing the Vice-President, said, "That he had it in charge from the Senate, to introduce him to the Chair of the House, and to congratulate him on his appointment to the office of Vice-President of the United States of America." He then conducted the Vice-President to the Chair, who addressed the Senate to the following purport.

Gentlemen of the Senate,

INVITED to this respectable situation by the suffrages of our fellow-citizens, according to the Constitution, I have thought it my duty, cheerfully and readily to accept it. Unaccustomed to refuse any public service, however dangerous to my reputation, or disproportionate to my talents, it would have been inconsistent, to have adopted another maxim of conduct, at this time, when the prosperity of the country, and the liberties of the people, require perhaps as much as ever, the attention of those, who possess any share of the public confidence.

I should be destitute of sensibility, if upon my arrival in this city and presentation to this Legislature, and especially to this Senate, I could see, without emotion, so many of those characters, of whose virtuous exertions I have so often been a witness—from whose countenances and examples I have ever derived encouragement and animation—whose disinterested friendship has supported me, in many intricate conjunctures of public affairs, at home and abroad:—

Those celebrated defenders of the liberties of this country, whom menaces could not intimidate, corruption seduce, nor flattery allure: Those intrepid assertors of the rights of mankind, whose philosophy and policy, have enlightened the world, in twenty years, more than it was ever before enlightened in many centuries, by ancient schools or modern universities.

I must have been inattentive to the course of events, if I were either ignorant of the fame or insensible to the merit of those other characters in the Senate, to whom it has been my misfortune to have been, hitherto, personally unknown,

It is with satisfaction, that I congratulate the people of America on the formation of a National Constitution, and the fair prospect of a consistent administration of a government of laws. On the acquisition of an House of Representatives, chosen by themselves; of a Senate thus composed by their own State Legislatures, and on the prospect of an executive authority, in the hands of one whose portrait I shall not presume to draw.—Were I blessed with powers to do justice to his character, it would be impossible to increase the confidence or affection of his country, or make the smallest addition to his glory. This can only be effected by a discharge of the present exalted trust on the same principles, with the same abilities and virtues, which have uniformly appeared in all his former conduct, public or private. May I nevertheless, be indulged to enquire, if we look over the catalogue of the first Magistrates of nations, whether they have been denominated Presidents or Consuls, Kings or Princes, where shall we find one, whose commanding talents and virtues, whose overruling good fortune have so completely united all hearts and voices in his favour? Who enjoyed the esteem and admiration of foreign nations and fellow citizens with equal unanimity? Qualities of uncommon, are no common blessing to the country that possesses them. By those great qualities, and their benign effects, has Providence marked out the head of this nation, with an hand so distinctly visible, as to have been seen by all men, and mistaken by none.

It is not for me, to interrupt your deliberations by any general observations on the state of the nation, or by recommending, or proposing any particular measures. It would be superfluous, to gentlemen of your great experience, to urge the necessity of order. It is only necessary to make an apology for myself. Not wholly without experience in public assemblies, I have been more accustomed to take a share in their debates, than to preside in their deliberations. It shall be my constant endeavour to behave towards every Member of this Most Honourable Body, with all that consideration, delicacy, and decorum, which becomes the dignity of his station and character:—But, if from inexperience, or inadvertency, any thing should ever escape me, inconsistent with propriety, I must entreat you, by imputing it to its true cause, and not to any want of respect, to pardon and excuse it.

A trust of the greatest magnitude is committed to this Legislature—and the eyes of the world are upon you. Your country expects, from the results of your deliberations, in concurrence with the other branches of government, Consideration abroad, and Contentment at home—Prosperity, Order, Justice, Peace and Liberty: And may God Almighty's Providence assist you to answer their just expectations.

APRIL 21.