August, thus giving ample time for the document to be discussed. When the convention reassembled the instrument was adopted without being referred to a popular vote.

The new Constitution was to a large extent modeled on that of the United States. The old executive council, the single legislative house, and the censors were swept away, and a governor to be elected by the people, and a legislature of two houses took their place. Most of the important State officials, including the judges, were to be appointed by the governor. The new Constitution took effect at once (October, 1790).1 General Thomas Mifflin was elected governor and was twice re-elected, holding office until 1799.

New Charter for Philadelphia, 1789. In March, 1789, the Assembly had passed an act creating the "Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Philadelphia" a body politic. The charter was much more democratic than the old one. The aldermen, and the members of the common council were elected by the people. The mayor was chosen annually by the aldermen.

Samuel Powel, who had been mayor when the old charter came to an end, was the first mayor under the new regulations. The city at this time was bounded by the two rivers on the east and west, and by Vine and Cedar (South) Streets, on the north and south.

Death of Franklin. On April 17, 1790, Benjamin Franklin died at the age of eighty-five. His funeral is said to have been witnessed by 20,000 people. The bells were muffled and tolled, and minute guns fired while the funeral procession moved. He was laid beside his wife in Christ Church burying ground, corner of Fifth and Arch Streets. A simple horizontal marble slab marks their grave.

1 This Constitution was in force until 1838.

Philadelphia the National Capital. By a resolution of the first Congress of the United States, Philadelphia was to be the capital of the country for the ten years from 1790 to 1800. Meanwhile a new city on the banks of the Potomac (Washington) was to be constructed as the permanent abode of the government. In accordance with this decision the offices of the Federal government were moved to Philadelphia late in 1790, and in December of the same year

Congress began its sessions. Congress met in the court house of Philadelphia County on the corner of Sixth and Chestnut Streets, which was offered for the purpose. The Senate met in the second story, and the House of Representatives occupied the lower floor. This building was soon known as Con

gress Hall. In it Washington was inaugurated for the second time, and in it delivered his Farewell Address. Here also John Adams took the oath of office as second President of the United States. In 1790 John Adams, Vice-President,

1 No payment was ever made for the ten years' use of Congress Hall, a fact not to the credit of the national Congress.

presided over the Senate of twenty-six members recently made complete by ratification of the Constitution by Rhode Island in May of that year. The speaker of the

House of Representatives was Frederick A. Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania, one of the three distinguished sons of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the great leader of the Lutherans in Pennsylvania.1 The Supreme Court of the United States held its sessions in the building on the corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets, beginning in 1791.2

President Washington in Philadelphia. — The Department of State occupied a building on the northwest corner of Eighth and Market Streets; the Treasury was at the southwest corner of Third and Chestnut Streets; and the other departments were housed wherever suitable accommodations could be found. President Washington occupied the fine residence of Robert Morris on Market Street below Sixth. Here he maintained a stately hospitality. He held receptions every other Tuesday afternoon. Washington had exalted ideas of the dignity belonging to his station, and on such occasions he never shook hands with any one, but received all with a dignified bow. "He stood before the fireplace, his hair was powdered and gathered behind in a silk bag, and he wore coat and breeches of plain black velvet, white or pearl-colored waistcoat, yellow gloves, a cocked hat in his hand, silver knee- and shoe-buckles, and a long sword, with a finely wrought and glittering steel hilt, the coat worn over it and its scabbard of polished white leather."

1 The other sons were John Peter Gabriel, a general in the Continental army, who is the preacher in T. B. Read's "Wagoner of the Alleghanies"; and Gottlieb Heinrich, a preacher, and one of the most distinguished botanists of his day.

2 These two buildings present the same external appearance as they did in the eighteenth century. The interior of Congress Hall was restored in 1913.

An account of the United States government belongs to national history and cannot be dwelt upon here, but it is. sufficient to say that the official life added much to the interest and gayety of life in Philadelphia.

The French Revolution and its Effect in America. The news of the French Revolution (1792) excited a great deal of feeling in America, especially in Pennsylvania. This was chiefly due to the activity of Genet, the French minister to the United States, who did his best to arouse feeling in favor of France and against England. So successful was he that John Adams wrote that there were ten thousand men in the streets threatening to drag Washington from his house to compel a declaration of war against England. The French partisans wore tri-colored badges and liberty caps. Genet, at the request of Washington, was recalled by the French government.

Bank of the United States; Insurance Companies. — As Robert Morris had put the finances of the Revolution on a safe basis, so now Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, was to do the same for the new Union. Part of

his plan was a Bank of the United States. Such an institution was chartered February 25, 1791, and is known as the first Bank of the United States. The bank began business in Carpenters' Hall, and in July, 1797, was removed to its own building on south Third Street, now occupied by the Girard National Bank. In 1792 the United States Mint was established in a building on Seventh Street near Filbert, and David Rittenhouse was the first Director. In 1794 two

1 When the charter of the bank came to an end the building was bought by Stephen Girard. It later became the property of the Girard Bank. Though the interior has undergone many changes, the Third Street front remains as it was, a fine example of the classical architecture of its day.

insurance companies were chartered: the Insurance Company of North America and the Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania. In 1791 the Bank of North America gave notice that hereafter all business would be transacted in dol

lars and cents, instead of pounds, shillings, and pence, but the change was not general until 1800.

Roads and Canals. The great increase of trade and commerce made some improvement in the means of communication a necessity, and the construction of turnpike roads began. The first of these was the Lancaster "pike" from Philadelphia to Lancaster, the first artificial road of such extent in the United States. It was sixty-two miles long. The first attempt was not a success. But an English road-builder, familiar with the Macadam system, was found,