When it became evident that none of the medical experts in charge of the White House patient were making any progress toward his recovery and the trip to Elberon, N. J., was planned to comply with the President’s desire to be near the ocean, and also as a forlorn hope that a change of air might again bring about an improvement, Mr. Arthur returned to his home in New York City, 123 Lexington Avenue, where, two weeks later, on the night of September 19, 1881, he received the official notice of the death of his chief. Although he had been daily informed of the President’s condition and had known for some days that the Chief Executive could not recover, yet the communication of the five members of the Cabinet was a shock. It read: ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE VICE PRESIDENT Long Branch, N. J., September 19, 1881. HON. CHESTER A. ARTHUR, No. 123 Lexington Avenue, New York. It becomes our painful duty to inform you of the death of President Garfield and to advise you to take the oath of office as President of the United States without delay. If it concurs with your judgment, we will be very glad if you will come here on the earliest train to-morrow morning. WILLIAM WINDOM, _Secretary of the Treasury_. WILLIAM H. HUNT, _Secretary of the Navy_. THOMAS L. JAMES, _Postmaster General_. WAYNE MAC VEAGH, _Attorney General_. S. J. KIRKWOOD, _Secretary of the Interior_. (The Secretaries of State and War were absent from Long Branch.) Preparations were made at once to follow the instructions, and Justices J. R. Brady and Charles Donoghue, of the Supreme Court of New York, were summoned, as were Elihu Root, ex-Commissioner French, Samuel G. Rollins, and they, with Alan D. Arthur, the son of the Vice President, comprised the group that witnessed the taking of the oath of office, administered by Justice J. R. Brady, at 2 A. M. on September 20, 1881. The news was flashed to Washington and word sent to Long Branch. By nine o’clock, Secretary of State Blaine, Secretary of War Robert Lincoln, and Postmaster General James called upon the new President, and journeyed with him later in the day to Elberon. On September 21st, President Arthur accompanied the funeral train to Washington. He again went to the home of Senator John P. Jones, of Nevada, and on Thursday, September 22d, repeated the oath of office given by Chief Justice Waite. Two former presidents, Grant and Hayes, were present at this ceremony, which occurred in the Vice President’s room in the Senate wing at the Capitol. The Bible was handed him by the clerk of the Supreme Court. President Arthur at once issued his inaugural address and a proclamation on the death of President Garfield.