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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 363
President Washington left Philadelphia for his tour of the Southern
States at 11 o'clock in the forenoon of March 21, 1791. Besides his
coach, drawn by four horses, an equipage which he not inaptly styled
his chariot, the outfit for this journey included a light two-horse wagon .
which carried the baggage, four saddle horses, an extra horse, led by——-
the bridle, provided for the President's convenience in the event he
wished to ride horseback. He was accompanied by Major^Jackson,
lately a representative from Georgia in the First Congress, who had
either remained at the seat of government or else had made a special
trip from Savannah to Philadelphia for the purpose of accompanying the
President to Georgia. There were also five servants in attendance,
to wit, a valet de chambre, a postilion, a coachman and two footmen.
Washington's private fortune enabled him to travel in a manner almost
regal in its ostentatious display. Moreover, he was not trained in the
school of democracy which produced the great man of the people,
Thomas Jefferson. His vast landed estates, increased by the handsome
property acquired through his marriage to the rich Widow Custis, made
him easily the wealthiest man. of his day in America, the foremost pluto
crat as well as the first citizen of the land; and though called by the
spontaneous voice of the people to govern a nation of pioneers he was
in every sense of the word a born patrician.
Soon after leaving Philadelphia the presidential party encountered
rough roads. Travel was necessarily slow and little progress was made;
but no serious mishap occurred to mar the pleasure of the trip. En
route to Georgia, the President visited Wilmington, North Carolina, and
Charleston, South Carolina, Wednesday night, May 11, 1791, he spent
with Judge Heyward, on the east side of the Savannah River. From
this point the narrative will be continued in the President's own lan
guage, copied verbatim from the diary of his trip, the original of which
is preserved in the Library of Congress, at Washington, District of
Columbia. Here is the detailed record of his visit, entered with the
greatest care in the President's own hand-writing. It will be observed
that he did not fail to note how the ladies were dressed.
"Thursday 12th. By 5 o'clock we set out from Judge Hey ward's
and road to Purisburgh, 22 miles to breakfast. At that place I was met
by Messrs. Jones, Coin, Habersham, Mr. John. Houstoun, Genl. Mclntosh
and Mr. Clay, a comee. from the city of Savanna to conduct me thither—
Boats also were ordered there by them for my accommodation; among
which a handsome 8 oared barge rowed by 8 American Captns. at
tended.—In my way down the River, I called upon Mrs. Green, the
Widow of the deceased Genl. Green (at a place called Mulberry Grove).
I asked her how she did—At this place (2 miles from Purisburgh) my
horses and carriages were landed, and had 12 miles further by land to
Savanna—The wind & tide being against us, it was 6 o'clock before
we reached the city where we were received under every demonstration
that could be given of joy & respect.—We were seven hours in making
the passage, which is often performed in 4, tho the computed distance
is 25 miles—Illums. at night. I was conducted by the Mayor & Wardens