"A sonata, sung by a number of young girls, dressed in white and decked with wreaths and chaplets of flowers, holding baskets of flowers in their hands, as General Washington passed under the triumphal arch raised on the bridge at Trenton, April 21, 1789.

Written by Richard Howell and sung to the tune of Handel's "See the conquering hero comes." Later set to music and published by Alexander Reinagle, to whom the words are sometimes mistakenly attributed. See: Stryker, William S. Washington's reception by the people of New Jersey in 1789 (Trenton, 1882).
First line: Welcome, mighty chief! once more.
Followed by a message from George Washington, addressed to the ladies, expressing his grateful acknowledgement.
Ascribed to the press of Isaac Collins by Evans.

Richard Howell

1789-00-00

eng

"Written by Richard Howell and sung to the tune of Handel's "See the conquering hero comes." Later set to music and published by Alexander Reinagle, to whom the words are sometimes mistakenly attributed. See: Stryker, William S. Washington's reception by the people of New Jersey in 1789 (Trenton, 1882)." American Antiquarian Society. Accessed on Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans.

American Antiquarian Society

A SONATA

Sung by a Number of young Girls, dressed in white and decked with Wreaths and Chaplets of Flowers, holding Baskets of Flowers in their Hands, as General Washington passed under the Triumphal Arch raised on the Bridge at Trenton, April 21, 1789.

WELCOME, mighty Chief! once more,
Welcome to this grateful Shore:
Now no mercenary Foe
Aims again the fatal Blow --
Aims at thee the fatal Blow.

Virgins fair, and Matrons grave,
Those thy conquering Arms did save,
Build for thee triumphal Bowers.
Strew, ye Fair, his Way with Flowers --*
Strew your Hero's Way with Flowers.

*As they sung these Lines they strewed the Flowers before the General who halted until the Sonata was finished.

The General being presented with a Copy of the Sonata, was pleased to address the following Card to the Ladies.

To the Ladies of Trenton, who were assembled on the twenty-first Day of April 1789, at the Triumphal Arch erected by them on the Bridge, which extends across the Assanpinck Creek.

General Washington cannot leave this Place without expressing his Acknowledgments to the Matrons and Young Ladies, who received him in so novel and grateful a Manner at the Triumphal Arch in Trenton, for the exquisite Sensations he experienced in that affecting Moment.--The astonishing contrast between his former and actual Situation at the same Spot -- the elegant Taste with which it was adorned for the present Occasion -- and the innocent Appearance of the White-Robed Choir who met him with the gratulatory Song -- have made such an Impression on his Remembrance, as, he assures them, will never be effaced.

Trenton, April 21, 1789.

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