I have just witnessed one of the most imposing ceremonies of this government; I allude to the inauguration of the president of the United States. It took place about noon, on the 4th of March, when the power of the late incumbent ceased, and that of his successor commenced. It was simple in its forms, but it may possess sufficient interest to amuse a few leisure minutes.

Every body was in the capitol by the appointed hour. As it is altogether a ceremony of convention (with the exception of the oath of office), such persons were admitted to be spectators, as the officers who controlled the proceedings chose. But in a country like this, exclusion must proceed on a principle, and on such a principle, too, as shall satisfy the reason of the community. In the first place, the galleries of the hall of the house of representatives were thrown open to every body, a measure that in itself served to commence with a system of equality. The floor of the house was next occupied, as a matter of course, by the senators and representatives. The foreign ministers and their suites, the officers of the government, including those of the army and navy, ex-members of congress, and citizens of eminence from distant states, and finally strangers, who were deemed worthy of attention, composed the rest of the assembly.