Events January–March January 8 – United States President George Washington gives the first State of the Union address, in New York City. January 11 – The 11 minor states of the Austrian Netherlands, which took part in the Brabant Revolution at the end of 1789, sign a Treaty of Union, creating the United States of Belgium. January 14 – U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton submits his proposed plan for payment of American debts, starting with $12,000,000 to pay the foreign debts of the confederation, followed by $40 million for domestic debts, and $21.5 million for the war debts of the states. The plan is narrowly approved 14-12 in the Senate, and 34-28 in the House. January 15 – Fletcher Christian & 8 mutineers aboard the Bounty land on Pitcairn. January 26 – Mozart's opera Così fan tutte premieres in Vienna. January 30 – The first boat specialized as a rescue lifeboat is tested on the River Tyne in England. Olowalu Massacre, American Captain Simon Metcalfe opened fire with cannon towards villagers in canoes, killing about one hundred Hawaiians, and wounded many others. February 1 – In New York City, the Supreme Court of the United States convenes for the first time. February 4 – Louis XVI of France declares to the National Assembly that he will maintain the constitutional laws. February 11 – Two Quaker delegates petition the United States Congress for the abolition of slavery. February 25 – North Carolina cedes its western territories (modern day Tennessee) to the federal government. March 1 – The first United States Census is authorized; it is held later in the year. March 4 – France is divided into 83 départements, which cut across the former provinces, in an attempt to dislodge regional loyalties based on noble ownership of land. March 6 – The New York legislature consents to the admission to the Union of a new state, Vermont, formed within the boundaries of New York, contingent upon the successful conclusion of negotiations concerning disputed real-estate claims, and the boundary between the two states. March 21 – Thomas Jefferson reports to President George Washington in New York, as the new United States Secretary of State. April–June April 10 – The United States patent system is established. May 13 – Battle of Reval: Gustav III of Sweden sends the battlefleet to eliminate the Russian squadron wintering at Reval (Estonia), but is defeated;