The Constitution of the United States was ratified by the states in June 1788.1 In February of the following year the new nation’s Electoral College2 selected George Washington to be its first president. On April 16, 1789 Washington began the journey from his home at Mount Vernon to New York City, then the nation’s capital, where he would be inaugurated. Washington was reluctant to leave the serenity of his home and uncertain about his new position.3 His journal entry for that day noted:
　　“About 10 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. Thompson, and Colonel Humphries, with the best dispositions to render service to my country in obedience to its call, but with less hope of answering its expectations.4”
　　His journey to New York City took seven days and was transformed into a triumphal procession by the crowds and local officials who greeted the new president along the way.5 Celebrations erupted6 at numerous towns along his route including Alexandria, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia and Trenton. Washington arrived at Elizabeth Town, NJ on April 23 where a ceremonial barge awaited to take him across the river to Manhattan.7
　　Entrance into the City
　　Rudolph Von Dorsten was the Secretary of the Dutch Legation8 in New York City and describes Washington’s entrance into the city:
　　“President George Washington made his entry into New York on Thursday, April 23d. On the previous day a barge left this city. The barge was built expressly by the citizens of New York, and was rowed by thirteen pilots, all dressed in white.9 A committee of three Senators and five Representatives on behalf of Congress, and three of the first officers on behalf of New York, went to Elizabethtown in New Jersey, to welcome the President, and to await his arrival there. His Excellency was also accompanied by some well-equipped sloops and by a multitude of small craft with citizens of New Jersey and New York on board.10
　　A Spanish royal packet-boat, happening to be anchored at the entrance of the harbor, at sight of the barge, on board of which was the President, fired a signal-shot, whereupon that vessel was dressed at once with the flags of all nations.11 When the presidential barge passed, the Spanish vessel saluted his Excellency by firing thirteen guns, which was repeated by the Battery, and again thirteen guns were fired by the fort when the President landed.12
　　His Excellency was received by Governor George Clinton, the mayor of the city and other officers, and, after a procession had formed, consisting of some companies of uniformed citizens and the merchants and other citizens of the city, the President walked with his escort and, Governor Clinton at his side, to the house prepared by Congress for his use.13”
　　Taking the Oath of Office14
　　Washington remained at his New York residence for a week while the House and the Senate ironed out15 their differences over how the formal inauguration should be conducted. Finally, on April 30, Washington was escorted to Federal Hall on Wall Street and into the Senate Chamber. Washington, Vice President John Adams, the Senators and Representatives stepped out of the chamber onto a balcony overlooking the street filled with a cheering crowd. As there were as yet no Supreme Court Justices, the Oath of Office was administered by Chancellor Robert R. Livingstone—New York’s highest ranking judge.16 After taking the oath, Washington and the others returned to the Senate Chamber where the new president gave a short speech.
　　William Maclay was a farmer, a lawyer and one of Pennsylvania’s Senators. He kept a diary of his experiences. We pick up his story as Washington arrives at the Senate Chamber:
　　“The President advanced between the Senate and Representatives, bowing to each. He was placed in the chair by the Vice-President; the Senate with their president on the right, the Speaker and the Representatives on his left. The Vice-President rose and addressed a short sentence to him. The import17 of it was that he should now take the oath of office as President. He seemed to have forgotten half what he was to say, for he made a dead pause and stood for some time, to appearance, in a vacant mood.18 He finished with a formal bow, and the President was conducted out of the middle window into the gallery, and the oath was administered by the Chancellor. Notice that the business done was communicated to the crowd by proclamation19, etc., who gave three cheers, and repeated it on the President bowing to them.
　　As the company returned into the Senate chamber, the President took the chair and the Senators and Representatives, their seats. He rose, and all arose also, and addressed them. This great man was agitated and embarrassed more than ever he was by the leveled cannon or pointed musket.20 He trembled, and several times could scarce make out to read, though it must be supposed he had often read it before.
　　He put part of the fingers of his left hand into the side of what I think the tailors call the fall of the breeches (corresponding to the modern side-pocket),21 changing the paper into his left (right) hand. After some time he then did the same with some of the fingers of his right hand.
　　When he came to the words “all the world”, he made a flourish with his right hand, which left rather an ungainly impression.22 I sincerely, for my part, wished all set ceremony in the hands of the dancing-masters23, and that this first of men had read off his address in the plainest manner, without ever taking his eyes from the paper, for I felt hurt that he was not first in everything.
　　He was dressed in deep brown, with metal buttons, with an eagle on them, white stockings, a bag, and sword.”
　　
　　1. the Constitution: 美国宪法；ratify: 正式批准，（尤指经签署）认可。
　　2. Electoral College: 〈美〉总统选举团（由各州选举人推选组成，参加投票选举总统及副总统）。
　　3. 华盛顿不太情愿离开自己家乡的安详宁静，并对其新的任职感到前途未卜。serenity: 安详，宁静。
　　4.大概十点钟的时候，我向弗农山道别，告别了私人生活和家庭乐趣；而且，我怀着一种无以言状的焦虑与痛苦掺杂的激动心情，在汤普森先生和汉弗莱斯上校的陪同下，启程前往纽约市，肩负着为我的祖国效劳的最崇高使命，遵从它的召唤，但却对达成它的殷切期望感到前途渺茫。
　　5.triumphal:凯旋的，成功的；procession:（人、车、船等的）列队行进。
　　6. erupt: 爆发，突然冒出。
　　7.ceremonial:礼仪的，典礼的；barge:（在内河、港湾被拖曳或推顶航行的）大型平底船，驳船。
　　8. legation: 代表团。
　　9. expressly: 特意地，专诚；pilot: 舵手，舵工。
　　10. Excellency: 阁下（对大使、总督、主教、总理等的尊称）；sloop: 单桅帆船；a multitude of: 许多；craft:船。
　　11. packet-boat:（通常在内河和近海航行的）班轮，定期邮船；whereupon: 随之，于是；vessel: 船。
　　12. salute:（以鸣炮等方式）向……致敬；the Battery:（美国纽约市曼哈顿岛南端的）炮台公园。
　　13. uniformed: 穿着制服的；escort: 护卫队，仪仗队，下文出现的escort作动词，是“护送”的意思。
　　14. take the oath of office: 宣誓就职。
　　15. iron out: 〈俚〉解决，消除。
　　16. administer: 主持……的仪式；Robert R. Livingstone: 罗伯特·R. 利文斯敦（1746—1813），美国早期政治家、大陆会议代表、美国独立宣言起草委员、美国首任国务卿。
　　17. import: 意思，含意。
　　18. dead pause: 完全停顿；vacant:茫然的。
　　19. proclamation: 公告，宣言。
　　20. agitated: 激动不安的，焦虑的；leveled cannon: 瞄准的大炮；pointed musket: 瞄准目标的火枪。
　　21. fall:（衣服的）宽下摆；breech:臀部；correspond to: 相当，相类似；side-pocket: 侧兜。
　　22. flourish: 炫耀性的动作，戏剧性的手势；ungainly: 难看的，笨拙的。
　　23. dancing-master: 舞蹈教师。