-••■A.,' :/.■,'.— v,v». ;,.'".'. • , . 4 . . » I r •»'.■.,( ■ » . • » ►-<••-•« .f < » • • '. ,,<,,.TT77m ,. '. , J ^■'».--* V- • • • • • > J . .., ' I'j I'f'r •'» •'•»■' v:^ii ilH ^^K.^.y..' ^^^^^H ^^K<-r:'-;'>'. jij^^m ^^■v^^*^'' ' ' ' 1 1 1 ' • *" ' • * ' * ^ - » , .t - t « .#,.■• • * ' '•*,■". /»'. . f' ' ■'■' •:•';:.• -V ' , ■••''•■:•: ^ ,', .'-'.M ^'».; Qass^Jc \1% BookJSA^ ■■■■■■I HISTORY / OP THE UNITED STATES OP WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF SOME OP TflTE PRINCIPAL EMPIRES AND STATES OP AXCIEJ^T AND MODERN TIMES. rOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. BY A CITIZEN OF MASSACHUSETTS STEREOTYPE EDITION, CORRECTED AND IMPROVED; WITH QUESTIONS, Adapted to the History of tbe United States, and the Compendiui35^ of Empires and States. STEREOTYPED B Y M. WALLIS, ?fEW-¥ORk.^ ' '^ r- KEENE, [N, % . . PUBLISHED BY JOHN PRlfei^ Proprietor of the Copy Right 1822. J District of Nkw-Hampshire — To icii. BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty -fourth day of July, in the forty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, John Prentiss, of the said District, hath deposited in this Office the title of a book, the right whereof lie claims as proprietor, in the woi'ds following, to wit : " HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ; with a brief account of some of the Principal Empires and States of Ancient and Modern Tuies.^— For the use of Schools and Families. By a Citizen of Massachusetts." In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled '' An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of stich co- pies, during the times therein mentioned." PEYTON R. FREEMAN, Clerk of the District of JVeio- Hampshirej^ A true copy of record, .iltest, PEYTON R. FREEMAN. Clerk. PREFACE. IN the compilation of this History of the individual States, and the general History of the United States when they act- ed in concert, I have encountered a task far more difficult and laborious than I had imagined before trial. Among about thirty volumes which I consulted during the progress of the work, I frequently found dates and statements quite variant from each other. In some few instances I could only be go- verned by a majority of authors, unless I could appeal to the Annals of America, by Dr. Hollies ; on whom he that de- pends may almost ever feel safe ; as he spent much time in their compilation, and had by far the greatest resources in books and manuscripts of any author who has written on the History of America. I have also found much discrimination necessary, in tha history of the individual States, in selecting either the most in- teresting or most important items. My best judgment has, however, been diligently and lalDoriously exercised in the ex- ecution of this task : nor shall I hesitate to claim, what I know is my due, the credit of never slightly examining 5 but assidu- ously investigating, till confident of the correctness of my statements, so far as reliaiice could be placed on the authors before me. To me it has long appeared singular that, while our schools abound with a variety of reading books for children and youth, there has never yet appeared a compendious History of the United States fitted for our common schools ; than which I scarcely know of a work more needed. Instead of those books usually read in our schools, consisting of detached pieces on va- rious subjects, would not a work like the following more en- gage the attention and interest the feelings ; and would it not be of far greater utility ? Or, if the former are retained, ought the latter to be neglected ? By reading of a history like the present, no inconsiderable ■seiiianHHHiHi IV PREFACE. general knowledge may be obtained of the story of our fathers : yet how many are there almost entirely ignorant of the " tales of other times," as they relate to our own country, whose igno- rance would be removed by the introduction, into our more humble seminaries, of a correct, succinct accoimt, of the princi- pal events which have marked the footsteps of our prosperity, from the lowly and desponding vale of struggle and obscurity, to the already lofty and brilliant heights of wealth, of happi- ness, and of power. I have added a very compendious account of some of the principal empires of ancient and modern times. To have noticed the minor states of former or recent days would have been to swell this performance beyond the size intended ; nor should I have known where with propriety to pause. The Chronological Table cannot fail to attract the attention of youthful minds. The Constitution of the United States ought not only to be studied in our schools, but should find a place on every family shelf; with the Bible and the catechism. RECOMMENDATIONS. the President of Harvard Universiti/, and Dr. Holmes of Cam- bridge. The design of 5'our work we entirely approve. Our children and youth want a brief history of our own country within the limits of a school book. Your History supplies this deficiency ; and, with a few exceptions — which may be corrected in this or a future edition — ap- pears justly entitled to commendation and encouragement. J. T. KIRKLAND, A. HOLMES. Cambridge, Sept. 4, 1820. From the Preceptor of Monson, (Mass.) Academy. MONSON, Aug. 26, 1820. ' Sir— I have perused with attention your " History of the Unite r> States," and am free to say that I consider it a compilation of distin- guished merit — a judicious selection of interesting facts. The plan you have pursued and the manner in which it is executed cannot fail of meeting the approbation of every candid mind. A work of this kind has been veir much wanted in our academies and common schools ; and by publishing this treatise you will render an important and acceptable service to our country. This work, I doubt not, will be gratefully received by an enlightened community, and raett that patronage which it merits. ROBERT RIDDLE. From the Rev. F. Foster, late Minister of Petersham, Mass. BRIMFIELD, Sept. 6, 1820. Sir — I have examined your " History of the United States," which you was pleased to submit to my inspection, and am happy to say that, in my opinion, you have selected such facts as are most profit- able to be known by the rising generation, and related them with that simplicity and per.spicuity of style which ought to characterize a work designed for the use of schools. I cannot, therefore, doubt that your labours for the benefit of our youth will be duly appreciated by the public, and that your book will not only find a welcome reception into our schools and academies, but be extensively circulated among our citizens. With the assurance of my best wishes for the success of this and every attempt to facilitate the acquisition of useful knowledge, 1 am, sir, yo«r humble servant, f ESTUS FOSTim. ■HP 6 RECOMMENDATIONS. From Dr. Daniel Mams, Author of the " Scholar's Arithmetic," " Tho- rough Scholar," " Geography, or a description of the World," <^c. History has been defined " a record of facts for the instruction of mankind." Its utility, therefore, must be obvious. The study of geo- graphy, which is now pretty generally introduced into our schools, will prepare the way for that of history ; and I doubt not but the time is fast approaching when no scholar will be considered as having com- pleted a good common school education, who is left ignorant of the history of his country. With these impressions on my mind, I apprc- iiend, that the '' IJisTOEy or the Unitej> States, designed for the use of schools," which you propose publishing, will be found to be boih seasonable and useful. DANIEL ADAMS. Mouid-Ve-rmn, N. H. August, 1^0. From the Kew-York Evening Post. Literary Intelligence. — A book has been put into our hands, with a request that we would examine it and speak of it according as in our judgment its merits v/ould warrant. It is entitled, " The Histori/ nf the United States, 8^c. for the use nf Schools and families,'" second edi- tion. Published by John Prentiss, pp. 210. We have not been able to examine with critical minuteness, the con- tents of this little work, but we have cursorily p^erused it. The subject itself, the main purpose for V.hich it is intended, and the cliaracter and circumstances of its late author, v/iio was personally known to us as a man of genius, a scholar, a poet, and a wit, are calculated to create much interest and expectation. We have found it what it professes to be, a vei'y useful work for the use of schools, and a convenient manual, to v/hich occasional recurrence may be had by any gentleman. Among the many authoritative recommendations which follow the preface, we observe one from the President of Harvard University, Mr. kirkland, and Dr. Holmes of Cambridge ; and several from the Pre- ceptor of Monson Academy, and other distin.guished scholars in Mas- sachusetts. A letter to the author from the Rev. F Foster, says, " 1 have examined your '■ History of the United States," and am happy to say that in my opinion, you have selected such facts as are most pro- fitable to be known by the rising generation, and related them with that simplicity and perspicuity of style which ought to characterize a work ilesigned for the use of schools." The book closes with interesting questions adapted to the history of the United States, peculiarly suitable to the work. In time, I doubt not this interesting work, will make its way into our schools by the side of Whelpley and Sampson. From the JV*. Y. Evening Journal We have read with attention, the History of tjeie United States, spoken of in the foregoing extract from the Evening Post, and can bear testimony to its value, as containing a greater mass of facts rela- tive to the history of our country, than any other book, calculated for the use of schools, which has yet appeared. m CHAPTER I.— Page 13. First Settlement of Virginia and Xew-England. Preliminary remarks ; Discovery of America ; Discovery of the North - ern Continent by Cabot ; Queen Elizabeth's letters patent to Gilbert and Raleigh ; Unsuccessful attempt to settle Virginia ; Tobacco •, Gosnold discovers Cape Cod ; Settlement at Jamestown, Virginia ; Captain Smith a prisoner ; saved by Pocahontas ; Chcsapeak bay explored ; Plot of the Indian? ; revealed by Pocahontas ; Pocahon- tas seized : her marriage ; Women sent to V^irginia for wives ; sohi for tobacco; Slavery introduced •, Northern voyage of Captain Smith j Unsuccessful attempt to settle New-England ; Rev. Mr. Robin- son's flock 3 Settlement at Plymouth ; Formed into a body politic ; Intercourse v/ith the Indian's ^ Deaths of the Company ; New ar- rivals : Settlement at Portsmouth and Dover; at Salem; Massa- chusetts colony ; Arrival of Winthrop ; Representatives chosen ; Ann H'atchinson; theological dissensions ; Massacre in Virginia by the Indians ; Virginia company relinquish to the king. CHAPTER Il.—Page 33. MainCj XeTi^-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecti- cut and Rhode-Island. Ineffectual attempt to settle Maine ; Charter to Gorges; separation from Massachusetts proper ; First settlement of New-Hampshire ; Settlement of Exeter ; Separation from Massachusetts ; Union witii, and siibsequent separation from Massachusetts ; Offensive and de- fensive union of the New-England States ; Indian war"; Defence of Number Four ; Internal commotions ; Dartmouth College ; King Philip's war ; Alliance with the Narragansetts ; General ris- ing of the Indians throughout New-England ; Defeat of the Narra- mmmmammmmm 8 CONTENTS. g^ansetts ; Defeat of the Indians and death of Philip ; Forfeiture of the charter of Massachusetts ; Arrival of Andros j Andros seized ; Charter resumed ; Ncav charter granted ; Attack and surrender of Louisburg j Disappointment of a French fleet ; Insurrection in Massachusetts ; Its suppression ; Settlement of Connecticut ; Arri- val of Winthrop ; War with the Pequots ; Their defeat ; New-Ha- ven Colony ; Forms of government ; Charter of Charles the second ; Secretion of the charter from Andros ; Yale College ; Territorial disputes ; Roger Williams moves to Rhode-Island ; settles Provi- dence ; Settlement of Newport ; Religiovis toleration ; Charter granted the Earl of Warwick; Charter of Charles the second ; Rhode-Island deprived of its charter ; Charter reassumed ; Brown University' . CHAPTER III.— Page 62. N.ew-Yorki New- Jersey^ Ddaii)are, Pennsylvania^ and Maryland. Discovery of the river Hudson ; Settlement of the Dutch at Manhat* tan ; Submission to the English ; Reassumption of the Dutch ; In.- dian war ; Disputes with Connecticut ; Grant of Charles ihe second to his brother the Duke of York ; Manhattan surrendered to the English ; Called New-York ; taken by the Dutch ; Again surren- dered to the English ; Papal ascendency ; Leiiler and his party ; Death of Leisler ; Fletcher's attempt to command the militia of Con- necticut ; Fruitless enterprize against Canada,; Congress at Alba- ny ; Settlement of New-Jersey ; Division of the province ; Burling- ton, settled; Purchase of Penn ; Barkley appointed Governor ; The (government surrendered to the Crown ; Union of the provinces ; Princeton College ; settlement of Delaware by the Swedes and Fins ; Victory of the Dutch ; Surrender to the English ; Granted to Pennsylvania ; partial separation from Pennsylvania ; Made a sepa- rate province ; Patent to William Penn ; Settlement of Philadelphia; Form of government ; New charter granted by Perm ; a second^ and third ; Emission of paper money ; Indian grants of land ; Li- brary ; Relinquishment of Penn's heirs ; Clayborne settles on Kent Island ; Patent of Maryland to Lord Baltimore ; Settlement of St. Mary's; General Assembly ; Indian war; Rebellion of Clayborne ; Civil wari Seat of government removed to Aunapolie. CONTENTS 9 CHAPTER IV.— Page 84. Virginia^ North and South-Carolina^ Georgia, Kentucky. Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Illinois Alabama, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas and Florida. Episcopacy established in Virginia ; Inquietude of the people ; Rebel- lion of Bacon ; he obtains a commission by compulsion ; he usurps the government ; he dies, and the rebellion is suppressed ; Culpep- per's administration ; William and Mary college ; Birth of Washing- ton ; Amidas and Barlow land in Carolina ; Reception of them by the Indians ; permanent settlements ;, Constitution ; Constitution of Locke ; Ch arleston laid out j Insurrection 5 New seat for Charleston ; Locke's Constitution abandoned ; Introduction of rice } Attack oii St. Augustine ; Indian war ; Charleston attacked ; defeat of the Spanish ; War with the Indians ', Bank ;. Another Indian war ; Dissensions; Division into North and South Carolina; Negro in- surrection ; Regulators ; Charter of incorporation for Georgia ; Set- tlement of Savannah ; Regulations ; Emigrations ; slow progress of population ; Unsuccessful attempt to reduce St. Augustine ; Inva- sion of the Spaniards ; Military skill of Oglethorpe ; retreat of the Spanish ; The government relinqixished to the Crown ; prosperity ; Kentucky explored by Colonel Boone ; Lexington laid out ; dis- membered froni Virgina ; made a separate state, and admitted into the union ; Name of Tennessee ; failure in first attempting a settle- ment ; subsequent success ; defeat of the Indians ; soil ceded to Con- gress ; admitted an- independent state into the union ; Settlement of Ohio by Rufus Putnam ; admission into the union ; antiquities ; Discovery of Louisiana ; failure of the Spanish in attempting to de- stroy the Missouri settlement ; massacre at Natches by the Indians ; destruction of the Natches tribe ; the country ceded to Spain, cession to Great Britain ; to France, by the treaty of St. Ildefonso , Purchase and possession by the United States. CHAPTER V.~PageI24. French and Indian War. Ohio Company ; threat of the French Governor of Canada ; encroach- ments of the French ; Washington sent to the Ohio ; military expe- dition under Washington ; plans of a campaign ; conquest of Aca- A 2 10 CONTENTS^ die; Braddock's defeat; Crown Point; Campaign of 1756 — of 1757 — cff 1758; Surrender of Louisburg, &&C, ; ^.nd of Fort du Qnesne ; campaig-n of 1759; proceedings of Amherst ; fall of Nia* g^ara ; fall of Quebec ; death of Wolfe and Montcalm ; Levi's at- tempt to regain Quebec; surrender of Montreal; complete conquest of Canada; Peace. CHAPTER VI.— Page 138. The Revolution, Commencement of the causes Avhich led to the Revolution ; Colonial Congress ; Opposition to the stamp act ; Its repeal ; Imposition of new duties by parliament ; Opposition of the colonies ; Repeal of the duties, excepting on tea ; Affray of March 5th, 1770; Destruc- tion of tea in Boston ; Boston port bill ; Meeting of Congress ; En- sagemcnts at Lexington and Concord ; Surrender of Ticonderoga and Crown Point ; Battle of Bunker's hill ; Washington appointed eommander in chief; He arrives at Carabvidge ; Surrender of fort 3t. Johns, and Montreal ; Unsuccessful attack of Quebec ; Death of Montgomery ; Burning of Norfolk, by lord Dunmore ; Boston evacu- ated ; Declaration of Independence ; Engagement on Long-Island, Retreat from the- Island ; Forts Washington and Lee surrendered to the British ; General despondency ; Capture of the Hessians at Trenton; Battle of Brandy wine ; Howe enters Philadelphia; Battle of Germantown ; Battle of Bennington ; Surrender of the British army under Burgoyne ; Treaty of Alliance with France ; Battle of Monmouth ; Savannah surrendered to the British ; Ineffectual at- tempt to recover Savannah ; Stoney Point taken by Wayne ; Penob- fcotexpeditiqn; Defeat of the Five Nations ; Surrender of Charles- ton to Clinton ; Battle of Camden ; and of King's Mountain ; Trea- son of Arnold ; Fate of Andre ; Predatory warfare of Arnold in Virginia ; Battle of Cowpens ; Battle of Guilford ; Battle of Eutaw Springs ; Surrender of the British army under Cornwallis ; New- London burnt by Arnold ; Naval engagement in the West Indies; Commissioners appointed to negotiate a peace ; Peace concluded j Army disbanded ; Washington's resignation. CONTENTS H CHAPTER VII.— Page 169. JVcffi) Constitution — Its Administrations— War with Great Britain— Peace, Incompetency of the National Government ; Meeting of deputies at Annapolis j National Convention to form a new constitution ; Constitution adopted by the states ; Washington elected Presi- dent ; Meeting of Congress at New-York ; Government organixed ; Funding of the national, and assumption of the state debts ; Inter- nal taxes ; National Bank ; Cause of parties ', Indian war ) appor- tionment of Representatives } Defeat of St. Clair by the Indians ; Forces raised ; Washington rechosen President ; War on the con- tinent of Europe ; Proclamation of neutrality ; Arrival of Genet ; His deportment ; Democratic societies ; Commercial resolutions ; Algerine captures ; The building of frigates ; Difficulties with En- gland ; Genet recalled ; Wayne's victory; Pennsylvania insurrec- lion ; Treaty with England ; with Algiers ; with the Indians ; and with Spain ; Ministers sent to France ; Death of Washington ; Mr Jefferson's administration ; Tripolitan war ; Burr's conspiracy ; Chesapeak and Leopard ; French and British Edicts ; Arrange- ment with Ermine ; Mr. Jackson's correspondence ; Measures pre- paratory to a Avar with Great Britain ; Declaration of war ; Mobia Baltimore > Capture of the Guerriere ; Hull's surrender ; Battle of - Queenston ; Capture of the Frolic ; the Macedonian ; and Java ; Battle at the Raisin ; Capture of the Peacock ; Battle and taking of York ; Fort Meigs ; Loss of the Chesapeak ; Victory on Lake Erie ; Loss of the Essex ; Capture of the Epervier ; Battle of Chippe- wa ; Possession of Washington by the British ; Plunder of Alex- andria ; Fort Erie defended ', Naval victory on Lake Champlain , Defeat of the British at Plattsburg ; Fleets on Lake Ontario > Hart- ford Convention ; Loss of the President } Battle of New-Orleans } Peace. 12 CONTENTS. EiMPIRES AND STATES. — ANCIENT AND MODERN. Page Assyria and Syria - - - - - ^- 208 Egypt - - 209 Persia - ----..- 210 Greece - - - - -- -- ib. Rome - --,--.. 212 Carthage - - - - - . - - - 213 China 1-- - -"« - . 215 Tartary - ------. jb. Ilindostan - - --- - - - 216 France - ------» it>. Spam 218 Germany - -----«. 219 Hussia - -- 220 England -------- Jb, Sovereigns of England, France, &c. - - . 225 Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United States 225 Chronological Table - . - . . 227 Census of the U. States -- - - - 231 Constitution of the U. States - - - - 233 Questions on the History of the U. States - - 249 Questions on the Compendium - ^ - - 2^3 SKETCH OF THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. CHAPTER I. First Settlement of Virginia and New-England. Preliminary remarks — Discovery of America — Discovery of the North- ern Continent by Cabot — Queen Elizabeth's letters patent to Gilbert and Raleigh — Unsuccessful attempt to settle Virginia — Tobacco — Gosnold discovers Cape Cod — Settlement at Jamestown ^ Virginia — Captain Smith a prisoner — saved by Pocahontas — Chesapeak bay explored — Plot of the Indians ; revealed by Pocahontas — Pocahon- tas seized : her marriage — Women sent to Virginia for wives ; sold for tobacco — Slavery introduced^^ — Northern voyage of Captain Smith — Unsuccessful attempt to settle New-England — Rev, Mr. Robin- son's flock — Settlement at Plymouth — ^Formed into a body politic — Intercourse with the Indians — Deaths of the Company — New ar- rivals — Settlement at Portsmouth and Dover — at Salem — Massa- chusetts colony — ^Arrival of Winthrop — Rfepyesentatives chosen^ — Ann Hutchinson :. theological dissensions — Massacre in Virginia by the Indians — Virginia company relinquish to the king-. THE overthrow of ancient dynasties, the establish- ment of recent, or other most important revolutions in an empire, can have but an inconsiderable effect, com- pared with the stupendous events that have resulted, and that must hereafter result, from the discovery of Ameri- ca by Columbus. The consequences of the greatest victories have ge- nerally been neither an accession to human happiness, nor an increase of the human race; but rather a diminution of both, or a mere change of masters. Far otherwise in all human probability, must eventually be the bene- ' jfiiiiiwiBiiu Jill— iu , r-^-.xr-,?';-''- — ' — r-J^^m 14 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ficial effects arising from the discovery of the western world. In South America, when we consider how much lon- ger time has elapsed since its first invasion, conquest and settlement principally by the Spaniards, than since the first permanent setdements in North America, it must be confessed that the progress of refinement, the diffu- sion of literature, and the extension of the arts and sci- ences, have been impeded by that inaptitude to exertion or enterprise, which has arisen from the abundance of, and from the facility of extracting silver and gold " out of the bowels of our mother earth ;" as well as from the general ignorance and superstition of the pi*iesthood, and the gloomy and oppressive tendency of their reli- gion, thus rigidly taught and rigourously enforced. The very gradual increase of population may be in a great degree attributed to the inhospitality of the cli- mate in many places ; but in a greater, to the manners and habits of the people. If we compare the growth of some of the large cities in South America with those of the United States, the great disparity of increase will be apparent. Lima was founded in 1535. In the year 1600 its inhabitants were 14,000; in 1700 they were 27,000; in 1790, they amounted to 52,000. Potosi was found- ed in 1545, and now contains about 100,000 inhabitants. Quito was founded in 1634, and contains about 65,000 inhabitants. There are many other cities, founded about the same time, the site of which for commerce, or on account of their nearness to rich mines, seems ex- tremely favourable for a far greater population. Eighty years since, where Baltimore now stands, there were not ten dwelling houses. In 1790 it contain- ed above 13,000 inhabitants ; and in 1810 its popula- tion amounted to 46,555. Philadelphia, founded by Penn in 1682, contained in 1790, 43,525, and in 1810, 92,247, including the suburbs. The eity of New-York, in 1697, contained 4,302 souls ; in 1790, 33,131; in ,1810 its population was 93,914. Not in the cities only, but in the United States at VIRGINIA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 15 large, there has been a similar increase of population. When the census was first taken in 1790, the number of inhabitants was 3,950,000. In 1800, 5,305,666. In 1810, 7,230,514. At tins computation of increase, the number of souls double in less than twenty-five years ; at which rate, the following table will show the result for 150 years. No. of Inhabitants in 1810 7,230,514 do in 1835 — 14,461,028 do in 1860—28,922,056 do in 1885 — 57,844,112 do in 1910_115,688,224 do in 1935—231,376,448 do. .... . in 1960—462,752,896 Allowing that in the United States, including Loui- siana, there are two millions of square miles, or twelve hundred and eighty millions of acres; in one hundred and fifty years there would be about 230 persons to a square mile, not three acres to a man. That the pre- sent territory of the Union may increase in population, in the above proportion, for a century, is not, at once, to be considered improbable ; though many causes may conspire against it. What may be the effects of divisions and consequent warSj of the increase of luxury and intemperance, of famine, of pestilence, or a decrease of migrations from Kurope, it is impossible to foresee. It is, however, de- lightful to anticipate the continuance of the Union for .centuries ; and to contemplate three or four hundred millions of our fellow creatures, enjoying climates pro- fuse in every variety of good, basking in the sunshine <)f temperate liberty, and bound by the beneficent laws of one government and one constitution ;, extending,, Mot over the present dominions of the United States only, but stretching their limits to the shores of the Arctic Sea and Western Pacific. The longevity of the oldest individual is so limited, that the most important changes and transactions of empires far distant or near, of ages remote^ recent, or present, speaking in the aggregate, have little effect qo Hi 16 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. his own happiness ; otherwise than as he, from senti- ments of philanthropy or patriotism, in sympathy en- joys the pleasures of nations once happy; participates in the happiness of such as are now so ; or foretastes the expansion, continuance, and augmentation of na- tional felicity, in approaching ages.^ Notwithstanding all the unmerited disappointments, cruel hardships, and severe maltreatment, which em- bittered so great a part of the life of Columbus, we can- not but suppose he received, in his latter days, not merely consolation, but high satisfaction, in reflecting on the magnitude anxJ success of his vast enterprise ; in anticipating the justice that would be rendered his cha- racter; the unbounded benefits that would result to mankind ; and the exaltation of his name, permanent as the world he discovered, and co-extensive with the annals of time. " A light — a light,'* on board the little fleet of Co- lumbus, was the joyful exclamation, at midnight, on the 11th of October 1492; and the next day the soil of America was pressed by the footsteps of Europeans. Who can peruse the accounts of this voyage without sharing with a moistened eye, in the feelings of indig- nation, of hope and dread suspense, doubt and anxiety, that tenanted the bosom of the daring adventurer, for several days before this discovery ; or be less affected with ardent exultation, when the land became visible to his long gazing eyes ; and his labours of twenty years were at last crowned with success ? Of the difficulties he encountered^ before he could pre- vail on any of the powers of Europe to patronize the un- dertaking ; of his fortitude and perseverance, and of his final success, it may be proper to take a brief notice. Columbus is supposed to have been a native of Ge- noa. In 1447, he repaired to Lisbon. The Portuguese, at this time, were anxious to find a passage to the East Indies, round Africa. Columbus, from various consi- derations which to him appeared plausible, believed that a passage to the East Indies might be found by a west- ern course over the Atlantic. VIRGINIA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 17 He sought the assistance of the Genoese, but was de- nied; the project appearing to them chimerical. He next solicited the Portuguese, but was unsuccessful. He sent his brother Bartholomew to England, to lay his plan before Henry VII. ; but his brother was captured, and did not reach England for several years. Ferdinand and Isabella now governed the united kingdom of Castile and Arragon. To them he appli- ed ; and, after much urgency, the negociation ended in a treaty with Columbus, April 1 7th, 1492. On the 3d of August of the same year, a little before sunrise, Co- lumbus set sail with three small vessels. He steered directly to the Canary Islands, which hd left the 6th of September, and held his course due west, over seas never before ploughed by European keels. His men ere long began to murmur; and several days before land was discovered threatened to throw hira overboard. By threats and flattery he persuaded his men to continue the voyage three days longer ; when, if land should not be discovered, he would return. Little however did he risk by this stipulation ; the indications of the nearness of land being so numerous and almost indisputable. On the 11th of October, at the approach of night, he ordered all his sails furled, lest the vessel should be driven on shore. Not an eye was closed. All was doubt, expectation, fear, hope, and the trepidation of awful suspense. Each gazed with dreadful anxiety to that quarter where it was hoped land would be discovered. A little after midnight the cry of Land, Land, was heard on board the Pinta, the most forward vessel. Having been often before deceived, suspense became the more painful, till morning, when all doubts were dispelled. Land was visible. With tears of joy the crews of the three vessels sung a hyran of thanksgiving to Almighty God. In a rich dress, with a drawn sword, Columbus land- ed, and took possession, for the crown of* Castile and Leon. The Spaniards were surprised at the novelty of the scene. The naked simplicity of the natives^^ 18 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. beardless, with long black hair, and other shape than their own, struck them with astonishment; nor less thp novelty of every herb, each shrub and tree. Nor less was the wonder of the natives, at the sight of the Spaniards, whom they regarded as the children of the sun; but greater was their astonishment at the sight of the ships, wliich they considered as living, ani- mals with wings, with eyes of lightning and with tongues of thunder. Columbus made several voyages after this ; but Ame- ricus Vespucius, a Florentine adventurer, robbed him of a name that ought to have been given the New World. Gold and silver were the great objects of search ; and these were found in South America, and here the settle- ments of the Spanish were made, w hile above a century elapsed, from the first discovery of North America, be- fore it was again visited with success for purposes of settlement, excepting in Mexico and about the Isthmus of Darien. May 1497, Giovanni Caboto, or John Cabot, a Ve- netian, having received a commission from Henry VII. of England, sailed from Bristol ; and, on the 24th of June, discovered Newfoundland. Leavilig this Island, and steering westwardly, he soon discovered the con- tinent. His course was now directed northwardly in pursuit of a north-east passage to the East Indies, to the 67th degree of N. latitude, according to some au- thors, and, according to others, which accoimt we con- sider more probable, to about the 56th or 57th. ; Thence returning, he pursued a S. W. course, along the continent of North America, to the bay of Chesa- peake ; or, as others suppose, to East Florida; and thence returned to England, without any where attempt- ing a settlen^ent. From this time, although Cabot had pretended to take possession of the coast in the name of Henry VII. nothing was done towards effecting a settlement till the reign of Elizabeth. In 1524, Verrazzano, a Florentine, under the auspi- ces of Francis I. of France, sailed along the coast from VIRGINIA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 19 Florida to the 50th degree of North latitude. The next year, he made another voyage : but the crew were lost, and the French, for many years, relinquished further thoughts of discovery or settlement. In 1578, Queen Elizabeth granted letters patent to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, to make discoveries and settle- ments. Gilbert spent some time about Cape Breton and Newfoundland, taking possession in the name of the Queen ; but was lost on his passage home. In 1584, his half brother, the famous and unfortunate Sir Walter Raleigh, obtained similar letters patent, with very ample powers : and in July entered Pampli- co Sound, now in North Carolina. " He then proceeded to the Roanoke, and spent Seve- ral weeks in examining the native productions of the soil, and in traffic with the Indians ; who manifested no fear, nor disposition to hostility. Sir Walter an'ived in England in September. Elizabeth, in honour of her own reign, and of her virginity, denominated the new country Virginia. In the spring of the succeeding 3'ear, Raleigh sailed from England with seven small ships, laden with pro- visions, arms, and passengers, for a settlement. In June he arrived at the island of Roanoke, and esta- blished a colony of one hundred and eight persons. Inquiries were immediately made by the adventurers^ for gold, which they supposed equally abundant in North and South America ; and in fruitless search for which, they spent most of that time, which ought to have been sedulously employed in securing the means of their own subsistence. In 1586, Sir Francis Drake ^irrived with provisions^ and about one hundred more colonists : bvit, a violent storm arising, and continuing for three days, several of his vessels were damaged ; and that containing the men and provisions, having been forced to sea, the co- lonists requested Sir Francis to take them to England; with which request he complied. A short time after the departure of Drake, Sir Wal- ter arrived, with provisions for the colony. Not find- 20 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ing them, he returned. Soon after, Sir Richard Gren- ville arrived, with large supplies, in three ships. Search for the colonists proving abortive, he also departed ; after having left fifteen of his crew, with provisions for two years : of whom, as nothing was ever heard, it was little doubted but that they were de- stroyed by the savages; though the Indians declared that they left the country. During Sir Walter's stay he had familiarized himself to the habit of smoking tobacco* Some of which he carried with him to England, and introduced its use among the court and nobility. Thus, though Virginia did not yield the precious me- tals sought, it has yielded that by which abundance of the precious metals have been obtained. Such are the powers of example and of habit, that what is at first nauseous to the taste, and intoxicating to the brain, be- comes afterwards a supposed comfort, and at length is made a pretended necessary of life. 1587. This year Sir Walter made another attempt to establish a colony, with three ships, and one hundred and fifty men and some women ; which adventurers he incorporated under the title of '^ the Borough of Raleigh in Virginia ;" the legislative power being invested in a Governor and twelve counsellors. These were ordered to Chesapeake Bay, which had been discovered during the previous year. They how- ever went to Roanoke ; where, after having learned the loss of their countrymen left by Grenville, they con- cluded once more to attempt effecting a setdement. One of the Indians, who had visited England, and had returned, was christened, and styled " Lord of Roanoke and Desamonguepeuk." The first child of English descent was born here this year, and named Virginia, The preparations of the Spanish to invade England with their Invincible Armada ; the part taken by Ra- leigh and Grenville, and the need of their services in the protection of the kingdom ; as well as of the arm- ed vessels destined for th6 relief of the colony, together with the risk of capture by the Spanish y all conspired VIRGINIA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 21 to prevent the succours needed by the unfortunate ad* venturers at Roanoke. In 1589, Sir Walter sold his patent to Sir Thomas Smith and a company of London merchants ; who, the next year, sent three ships to Roanoke. It had been agreed, three years before, when the party were left here, that should they remove, they should mark on some trees, or posts, the name of the place to which they should remove. The word Croatan was found ; the name of an In- dian town, about fifty miles distant, on the north side of Cape Look-out : to which place, attempting to sail, the next day, their cables, from the violence of the wea- ther, being parted, and their provisions scant}^, they concluded to return to England. No search was after- wards made for the colony, and nothing further was •iver heard of them. In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold left Falmouth, in a nail bark with thirty persons, intending to effect a ttlement in the north part of Virginia. He disco- ?red a head land, where he came to anchor ; and, hav- g found abundance of cod, he called the cape, Cape od. Directing his course to the S, W, in a few days he discovered Nantucket, Buzzard's Bay, Martha's V ineyard, and one of the Elizabeth Islands ; which still retains the Indian name of Cuttyhunk ; and on V' hich he built a fort and a storehouse ; but, from some uneasiness or misfortune, the island was soon abandon- 1, and the company returned to England. The accounts given by Gosnold, and subsequently )nfirmed by others, who visited where he had been, began to inspirit many of the English with a determi- nation again to attempt the so often frustrated plan of a colony in what was still called Virginia. Sir Walter Raleigh having been accused of high li eason, his patent became void- James, who succeed- * I Elizabeth, granted, in 1606, letters patent to two )mpanies, called the London and the Plymouth Com- 1 niies; by which they ^re authorized to possess the ixsmtories lying between llie 34tl¥ and 45th decrees of 22 HISTORY OF THE UxNITED STATES. North latitude : the Southern part to the London, and the Northern to the Plymouth Conipany ; the king him- self having undertaken to frame for them a code of laws. Three ships were provided by the London company, on board of which were 105 persons, who were expect- ed to remain at Roanoke, which was the place of their destination. The command of this squadron was giv- en to Captain Christopher Newport, who sailed from London on the 20th Dec. 1606 ; and, after a tedious and disasterous passage of four months, by the circuit- ous route of the West Indies, on the 26th of April, discovered Cape Henry, the southern cape of the Chesapeake, a storm having driven him northwardly Ijeyond the place of his destination. . Soon after he dis- covered Cape Charles, and entered the spacious bay of the Chesapeake. Gratified by the appearance of the country, the com- pany resolved to begin a settlement ; and the neigh- bouring situations were explored. Passing above Old Point Comfort, a party proceeded up a beautiful river, by the Indian^alled Powhatan, and by the colonists, in honour of James L called James' River. On a pen- insula some way up this river, they determined to commence a settlement, calling the place Jamestown. This was the first British settlement that was not aban- doned. Shortly after the company received supplies from England, and an accession to their numbers, making the whole about two hundred. Two vessels were freighted for England ; the one loaded with a yellow and brilliant sand, common in many places of that vi- cinity, and which the colonists vainly considered as containing a large proportion of gold : the other was laden with cedar. Among the members of the council, the most active, able, resolute, daring, and persevering, was Capt. John Smith ; to whom, more than to any other, the success of the establishment was indebted. Captain Smith having passed a considerable distance into the desert, to explore the Chickahominy river, was taken prisoner VIRGINIA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 23 by a large party of Indians ; who determined to put him to death. For this purpose, he was confined, and led to the place of execution : his head was placed upon a stone, for the purpose of beating out his brains with clubs. Powhatan, the most powerful Indian chief of that vi- cinity, at whose palace the execution was to take place, stood over Captain Smith, turning a deaf ear to the pa- thetic and continued solicitations of his daughter, Po- cahontas, then about thirteen years of age. The entreaties of Pocahontas not prevailing, before the fatal blows were given she fell upon Sm-Jth, clasp- ing his neck with her arms, and resting her head upon his. Powhatan relented ; and, two days after, sent Smith to Jamestown. i In June, 1608, Captain Smith left Jamestown, in an open boat with thirteen men, for the purpose of explor- ing the Chesapeake, its creeks, harbours, and rivers ; and to open an intercourse with the Indians. During an absence of six weeks he explored the bay on each ; side as far as the Rappahannock. In a subsequent ex- »lpedition, he explored the Bay quite up to the Susque- f|iannah, sailing up the principal rivers to a considera- ible distance. 1609. The destruction of the whole colony was plotted by the Indians ; but their intention was render- ed abortive by the friendship of Pocahontas towards the English. She, in a very dark night, went to Jam^- town, and disclosed to the president the plot of her fa- ther. The colony was put on their guard ; and Pow- hatan soon after reconciled. 1610. A famine having reduced the company from iive hundred to only sixty, it was resolved to abandon the country, and return to England. For this purpose ' they had already embarked : but, meeting Lord De- laware, who had, the previous year, been appointed Governor, under a new charter, with one hundred and fifty men and a large supply of provisions, they con- sented to return and resettle the colony. Under the administration of Delaware, the affairs of 24 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. the company wore a more auspicious aspect. Captain Argal was sent up the Potomac to obtain provisions • where he found a young Englishman by the name of Spelman, who had been saved from the fury of Powha- tan by the intercession of his daughter, the benevolent Pocahontas. Two years after, Captain Aj'gail was again sent to the Potomac for corn ; where he learned that Pocahontas, from some unknown cause, had se- creted herself from her father. Argal found means to discover her retreat, and took her with him to James- town ; expecting the possession of her would have a beneficial effect on the feelings of her fathei*. The next year she married an English gentleman by tlie name of Rolfe. She embraced the Christian reli- gion, and was baptized by the name of Rebecca. She died four years after, at Gravesend, on her return with her husband from England. She left one son, whose descendants inherited lands from her title ; and from whom are descended many respectable families in Vir- ginia ; who, instead of mortification, ought to glory in the virtues of their illustrious ancestor. 1614. Captain Argal was sent from Jamestown t^ Manhattan (now New-York,) to lay claim to it on ac-o count of its discovery by Hudson, in 1609. Here were. a few Dutch traders, who immediately acknowledged the supremacy of king James, and the governor of Virginia under him. 1619. A provincial legislature was convoked, eleven corporations sending representatives to the colonial convention. Shortly after arrived upwards of twelve hundred persons, to increase the population of the co- lony. One hundred and fifty young women, " handsome and uncorrupt," were sent to Virginia : who were sold to the planters for one hundred, and one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco each ; tobacco being then va- lued at three shillings per pound. We are- not inform- ed whether this was a speculating traffic of girl-hold- ers ; nor of the manner of courtship, nor selection of wives. They, however, were not sold tor slavery: VIRGINIA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 2j though twenty of tlie sable sons of Africa were about the same time brought there in a Dutch vessel, and sold : whence we may date the commencement of the cruel and impolitic system of slave-holding in the Southern States. Let us now attend to the affairs of New-England. Captain Smith, (1614) was sent from England to ex- plore north Virginia. He ranged along the coast from Penobscot to Cape Cod, making observations on the shores, harbours, islands, and headlands : he made a map of the country ; and on his return to England showed it to prince Charles (afterwards the royal mar- t3T) who, from the description of it given by Smith, declared that the country should be called New-Eng- land. Cape Anne was so called by the prince, from respect to his mother. One of his vessels Smith left behind with orders to Thomas Hunt, the master, to load it with fish, and proceed immediately to Malaga. Hunt, under pretext of traffic, seduced twenty-four Indians on board his ship, basely put them under hatches, and sold them to the Spaniards in Malaga. Captain Hobson was sent to New-England, the same year, to effect a settlement ; but, on his arrival, was at- tacked by the Indians, with arrows from twenty canoes : was himself wounded, and some of his men. Discou- raged by this onset of the savages, and hopeless of suc- cess in making a settlement, he immediately returned to Great Britain. Two attempts were made, in the two succeeding years, to fix an establishment in New- England, but both proved unsuccessful. The Rev. Mr. Robinson with his flock, of the re- formed church of the north of England, usually de- nominated Puritans, removed to Amsterdam in 1606, and soon after to Leyden. A variety of motives led his congregation to turn their attention to the new world : the principal were, the enjoyment of perfect liberty of conscience ; " the preservation of ecclesiastical affairs distinct from those of the state ;" and a hope of laying a foundation for an extensive empire, that should be B 26 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. purged from all religious impurities. The second a tempt of the agents of Mr. Robinson's congregation to iiegociate with the Virginia company proved success- ful, (1619.) 1 620. A part of the congregation, who were to cross the Atlantic and make preparation for the rest, left Leyden in July, and sailed from Southampton, in Eng- land, in August : but, on account of the leakiness of one of their ships, they were twice compelled to return. On the 6th of September they sailed from Plymouth ; and, at day-break, on the 9th of November, they dis- covered Cape Cod. Pursuing their course southward- ly, with intent to discover Hudson's river, they fell among shoals, and altered their course to the north- ward. It is stated that the master of the ship had been brib- ed in Holland, to convey them north of Manhattan, that they might not disturb the Dutch there; who, though they had once submitted to the authority of the English, from reinforcements and enlargement of this colony, had long since thrown off the British yoke. On the 10th of November, the ship anchored in Cape Cod harbour. Perceiving that they were so far north as to be with- out the territory of the south Virginia Company, soiiie hesitation arose: but the winter ^was at hand, and it was now too late to go in search of a settlement with- in the jurisdiction of that company. Previous to their landing, after prayer and thanks- giving, they formed themselves into a body politic, iDinding themselves by a written covenant to be govern- ed by the decisions of a majority. This instrument was subscribed by forty-one, who with their children and domestics, amounted to one hundred and one per- sons. Mr. John Carver was chosen, without a dissen- " tient, Governor for one year. Parties were sent on shore to make discoveries. I Some Indians were seen but could not be overtaken.] A considerable quantity of corn was found in heaps oi sand, secured in baskets, which serv^ for seed the en-l VIRGLMA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 27 {iuiiig spring, and tended to save the adventurers from ' famine. On the 6th of December, Carver, Standish, Winslovv, Bradford, and others, sailed to various places, to dis- cover a suitable situation for a settlement. Monday, December 11th, O. S. they landed at what was after- wards called Plymouth, and from the goodness of the harbour, and the favourable appearance of the land, resolved here to commence a settlement. A house was immediately built : the company was divided into nineteen families, and lots of ground as- signed to each for houses and gardens. In January they began to lay out a town in two rows of houses : in February they attended to their military concerns, and appointed Miles Standish their Captain. In March, an Indian, who had learnt some broken English from a little intercourse with Englishmen who had before been fishing on the coast, came, fearlessly and unattended, into the open street of the town, ex- claiming, " Welcome Englishmen, welcome English- men." This Indian informed them that a plague tli^e year before, or, as some state, four years before, had destroyed all the Indians in the vicinity. Through the friendly interposition of this Indian, whose name was Samoset, a treaty was made with Mas- s^soiet, the most powerful sachem of the neighbouring tribes, which was uninterruptedly maintained for fifty years. The fatigues and diseases, to which the company were exposed, together with a deprivation of the com- forts and conveniencies they had heretofore enjoyed, swept away one half of their number, before the next spring : among them the Governor, in whose room Mr. William Bradford was elected. Their bodies vi^ere bu- ried near the shore, and covered with level sods, that this great diminution of their, number might not be known to the Indians by the discovery of their graves. September 19th, 1621. Governor Bradford sent a shallop with ten men and three Indians, to make dis- coveries in the Bay, and traffic with the Indians. At i ^ 28 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. the bottom of the bay they landed under a cliff, sup- posed to be Copps' Hill in Boston ; had an interview with the chief; agreed upon articles of submission and friendly intercourse; collected some beaver, and re- turned. In November the company received an addition of thirty-five persons, brought ov^er in a ship from Eng- land. The ship however brought no provisions ; and it was necessary she should immediately return. The colonists, great as was their own want of provisions, ge- nerously victualled her, though in consequence, they were obliged to put themselves on half allowance for six months. The returning ship was laden with clapboards, bea- ver skins, &;c. to the value of 500?. The next yeartwo vessels arrived, bringing provisions, goods, and about sixty passengers, for the settlement. Settlements were made, in 1623, under the orders of Mason and Gorges, who had obtained patents of ter- ritory in New-England, at Piscataqua, (Portsmouth, N. H.) and at Dover. A settlement was also begun, the next year, at Cape Anne. 1628. The council for New-England sold to Ros- well Young, and others, a patent for all that part of New-England, lying between three miles north of the Merrimac and three south of Charles river. Thus was laid a foundation for a union of the settlements under one colony. A settlement was this year begun at Naum- keag, (Salem) under the government of Mr. John En- dicot. 1629. King Charles incorporated "the governor and company of Massachusetts' bay in New-Ecgland." An agreement was made at Cambridge, between Sir Richard Saltonstall, Thomas Dudley, John Winthrop, and others, to be prepared the next March to embark with their families to New-England, to settle in that country. Winthrop was made Governor, and Dudley Deputy Governor. The next spring they embarked with fourteen vessels. Several gentlemen of wealth and eminence acconipani- VIRGINIA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 29 ed ; the men, women, and children, making in the whole about fifteen hundred. These first planted themselves in Charlestown, but soon after crossed the river to the peninsula, Shawmut, (Boston) where the first General Court was this year held. Articles of faith were agreed upon, to which every one was required to assent, and become a member of the' church, before he could be entitled to vote at the elec- tions, or could become eligible to the office of a magis- trate or juryman. Thus could those, who, at such risk, under such hardships, and with such sacrifices, had fled from religious intolerance, exercise immediately an in- tolerance certainly not less severe nor less unjust ; and deprive a fellow-citizen of his civil rights, because he could not conscientiously subscribe to every article of religion, believed by the majorit}^ But, while we lament this intolerance, we ought to re- member that it was the rage of the times, not less in America than in Europe. Even Virginia, above thirty years after, made it penal for parents to refuse to bap- tize their children ; and passed the most severe lavrs^ against Quakers, forbiddingtheir residence among them, imprisoning them till they should abjure their tenets, ov leave the country; severely punishing the frrst and se- cond return, but inflicting death on the third. In the year 1634, there were settlements above thirty miles distant from Boston in several directions ; hence it became impracticable with convenience for all the freemen to attend the general court. The constitution was therefore altered to a representative democrac}', twenty-four delegates representing the different towns. Four general courts were to be held every year. lu that of the general election, all the freemen were to at- tend ; but the freemen of every town might choose de- puties to represent them at the other three general courts. This form of legislation remained, with little altera- tion, during the continuance of the charter. Seven men were chosen in Boston to regulate the division of the town lands. Their powers were afterwards enlarged, and hence arose, throughout New-England, the custom 30 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. of choosing Selectmen, to regulate town affairs. A njarket, and public inn were erected, and the first mer- chant's shop was opened. 1637. The troops of Massachusetts and Connecticut liad several engagements with the Pequot Indians, and finally subdued them. This year was famous for a great theological disturbance made by Ann Hutchinson, a woman of much subtlety and considerable talents ; who was accused of maintaining heresies, and supporting them by lectures frequently given to large auditories. The consequence was a synod of the Ministers, elders, and messengers, of the churches ; who, after three weeks deliberation, condemiied eighty-two opinions as hereti- cal ; v.'hich had been disseminated in New-England : and, fearful of public disturbance by her adherents, fifty- eight persons were disarmed ; and none were allowed to remain within the jurisdiction without the consent of a magistrate. Some banishments of course took place; Mrs. Hutrh- inson herself was banished ; and, with her husband and children, removed to Rhode-Island. Tiie legislature this year founded a public school at Nevv'town, afterwards called Cambridge. Two years al'ter, Mr. John Harvard of Charlestown, a clergyman, left a legacy of 779Z. 175 2,d. to the above mentioned school : a gift, which, considering the value of money at the time, and the profession of the donor, a profession seldom imcumbered with the burdens of wealth, marks his great public spirit and his zeal for the diffusion of erudition. Cambridge, in England, having been the place where many of tlie first settlers of New-England had received their education, the name of Newtown was altered to that of Cambridge, by the legislature, and the school was established under the appellation of Harvard College. In Cambridge was established (1639) the first printing- ofiice introduced in North America. One hundred laws, by the appellation of " The Body of Liberties," were established (1640) for the govern- ment of the colony. Many of these were highly ne- VIRGINIA AND NEW-ENGLAND. 31 cessary and advantageous : but the admixture of theo- logical control, and civil policy, must have been a source of constant perplexity. No injunction was to be laid " on any church, church officer, or member, in point of doctrine, viorship, ov discipline, besides the institution of the Lord." When the law was defective, decision was to be " by the word of God." After a slight sketch of the affairs of Virginia, to the present date, for the sake of greater perspicuity, those of the different colonies will be, for the most part, distinctly considered. 1622. Powhatan, who from the time of the marriage of his daughter with Mr. Rolfe, had been invariably friendly to the Virginia colony, having died four years before, was succeeded by Opechancanough. This chief was not less notorious for his audacity and subtlety, than for his jealousy and cruelty. i So perfect had been the peace, and so constant and unreserved the intercourse of the colonists and the In- dians, that the latter had been supplied with muskets, , ^and taught their use; while the former, considering /themselves in perfect safety, had long neglected almost every species of precaution, unsuspectingly admitting the savages to their dwellings by night and by day, as innoxious or friendly visiters. In this state of peace, and perfect confidence on the one part, on the morning of the 22d of March, the In- dians came among the colonists, in their usual friendly manner ; and, at the appointed moment, murdered three hundred and forty-seven men, women, and children. Notice having been given the preceding night by a friendly Indian to one of the planters, who had time to inform those of Jamestown and its vicinity of their dan- ger, the massacre was more limited than it otherwise would have been ; it having been the design of the sa- vages to destroy the whole settlement. A famine succeeded, which greatly added to the dis- tresses occasioned by the massacre. Of eighty planta- tions only eight remained. The want of provisions and ^2 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. the loss of persons were, however, soon, in some degree supplied and alleviated by the arrival from England of twenty ships, with provisions, arms, and thirteen hun- dred souls. A general war with the savages was levied with success, and in a short time most of the neighbour- ing tribes were exterminated or slain. 1624. The company, after having expended above one hundred thousand pounds, was dissolved ; and the colony taken hiio the hands of the king ; there being now about eighteen hundred persons left, of above nine tliousand, besides those that were born in the colony. The king issued a special commission, appointing a governor and twelve counsellors, for the superintendence of the colony ; and in whom all legislative and execu- tive powers were vested. For several years, under this administration, the colony suiiered much from burden- some, vexatious, and arbitrary regulations and proce- dures. Sir John Harvey was appointed Governor in 1629, whose tyrannical, rapacious, and oppressive deport- ment, so excited the resentment of the colonists, that ihey seized him. and sent him a prisoner to England. King Charles, though at first equally disposed with his father to maintain a royal government in Virginia, having involved himself in great difficulty with his peo- ple and parliament, at home, seems to have relented in his severity towards his colonies. Sir William Berkley succeeded Harvey, whose com- mission was revoked. The talents, probity, and suavity of manners, which he exemplified, were highly pleas- ing : nor less was the gratification to learn that he was directed to summon the burgesses to meet the governor and council in general assembly. CHAPTER II. Maine, New -Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont^ Connec ticut and Rhode- Island. laeffectual attempt to settle Maine — Charter to Gorges — separation from Massachusetts proper — First settlement of New-Hampshire — Settlement of Exeter — Separation from Massachusetts — Union with, and subsequent separation from Massachusetts — Offensive and de- fensive union of the New-England States — ^Indian war — Defence of Number Four— Internal commotions — Dartmouth College — King Philip's war — Alliance with the Nanragansetts — General ris- ing of the Indians throughout New-England — Defeat of the Narra- gansetts — Defeat of the Indians and death of Philip — Forfeiture of the charter of Massachusetts — Anival of Andros — Andros seized — Charter resumed — New charter granted — Attack and surrender of Louisburg — Disappointment of a French fleet — Insurrection in Massachuseits— Its suppression — Settlement of Connecticut — Arri- val of Winthrop — War with the Pequots — Their defeat — New-Ha- ven Colony — Forms of government — Charter of Charles the second — Secretion of the charter from Andros — Yale College — Territorial disputes — Roger Williams moves to Rhode-Island — settles Provi- dence — Settlement of Newport — Religious toleration — Charter granted the Earl of Warwick — Charter of Charles the second — Rhode-Island deprived of its charter — Charter i*eassumed— Brown University. MAINE. THE first attempt to make any settlement in the state of Maine was in 1607. Two ships, with a hundred men and provisions, were sent from England by Sir John Popham. They landed in August, at the mouth of the Kennebeck, or Sagadahock. A storehouse was built and fortified : and in December the ships departed, leaving behind forty-five persons. When visited, the next year, by ships bringing them supplies, they determined, with one consent, to return ; considering the country " a cold, barren, mountainous B 2 34 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. desert ;" where they could find nothing but " extreme extremities." The Plymouth colonists obtained a patent for Ken- nebeck in 1628 ; and erected a house for trade. Some scattered settlements were made in the province some years after ; when the first began under Gorges and Mason in New-Hampshire. 1639. A distinct charter was granted to Sir Ferdi- nando Gorges, of all the land from Piscataqua to Saga- dahock ; and the territory was called The Province of Maine. In this province he established a government, and incorporated a city, near the mountain Agamenti- cus, ill York, and called it Gorgeana. A general court was held at Saco, in 1640. In 1652 the Province was taken under the jurisdiction of Mas- sachusetts, by tbeir own request. Commissioners were sent to York to receive their submission. Tix: Province was made a county, and called Yorkshire ; the towns sending deputies to the general court at Boston. Massachusetts also claimed this Province as lying within her charter of 1628. Sir F. Gorges being dead, and his estate in the province falling to his son, who, through despair or inability, paid little attention to it ; and for some time the inhabitants " managed their own affairs in their own way ;" more attentive to the profits of lumber, than to the advantages of agriculture. Fal- mouth, (now Portland,) was incorporated in 1718 ; se- veral towns of minor importance having been previ- ously settled. The settlers of the Province, as v/ell as those of New- Hampshire, had been long distressed by the Indians; till (1726) a treaty was made between them and the go- vernment of Massachusetts, from which resulted a long peace. Hostilities afterwards arose ; and the inhabi- tants suffered much, till the conclusion (1749) of another treaty, founded on the principles of that of 1726. It were useless here, and much beyond the province of our intentions, to examine the different grants of ter- ritory, and endeavour to ascertain the boundaries, of the State of Elaine. On this subject, as on all subjecta NEW-IIAxMPSIIIRE. OJ m which the history of the District is concerned, ahnost^ all that can be known, of importance, may be acquired by a perusal of Gov. Sullivan's History of the District. Maine was incorporated with Massachusetts in 1691. In 1786, 1787, 1802, and 1816, attempts were made to separate from Massachusetts Proper ; to which separa- tion a majority of the inhabitants were averse. In 1619, numerous petitions for separation were presented to the legislature ; and an act was passed for obtaining the full sentiments of the inhabitants : a due majority ap- pearing in favour of forming Maine into a new Slate, a convention was tabe called, and a constitution formed. A vast majority appearing in favour of separation, the Convention mt sachusetts had been their former correspondents and confederates. This was construed into a resignation, though nothing could be further from the design of the colony. Sir Edmund came to Hartford, uith sixty regular troops, during the October session of the Assembly, and made a demand of the charter.- After a debate till evening, the charter was at length produced, and laid on the table ; when the lights were suddenly extinguish- ed, and one of the members priv^ately conveyed it away, and hid it in a large oak tree that bad a cavity in its trunk. The candles were relighted, but the charterwas gone. Andros assumed the government. After the seizure of Andros at Boston, the magistrates reassumed the go- vernment ; and in 1691 the old charter was acknowledg- ed valid, nojudgment having been entered against it. The government of Sir Edmund was begun with flat- tering professions of his regard to the public safety and happiness ; but Gov. Hutchinson observes, that " Nero concealed his tyrannical disposition iixore years than Sir Edmund and his creatures did months." He soon laid a restraint upon theliberty of the press. Magistrates only were allowed to join people in the banns of wedlock ; and this he prohibited, unless bonds with sureties, were first given the governor. He sus- pended the laws for the support of the Gospel, and me- naced the people, that if they resisted his will, their meeting houses should be taken from them. The com- mon probate fee ^'^^ fifty shillings, and the widow and fatherless were obliged to appear at Boston to transact iill business relative to the settlement of estates. He taxed the people at his pleas'ure, and at length de- clared that the titles of the colonists to their lands were of no value. The purchasers and cultivators, after fif- ty and sixty years improvement, were obliged to take out patents for their estates, paying the most exorbitant Zees : " All New-England groaned under his oppres- sion." In 1700, ten of the principal ministers were nomi- G2 58 HISTOHY OF THE UNITED STATES. nated as trustees, to found, erect, and govern a college : and the next year, on application to the general assem- bl}^, a charter of incorporation was granted, together with the annual sum of one hundred and twenty pounds. It was at first founded at Saybrook, but, for greater convenience, it was, in the year 1717, removed to New- Haven ; and named Yale College, in honour of its principal benefactor. Governor Yale. 1654. The charter of Connecticut extending the boundary of the colony westward to the Southern or Pacific Ocean, purchases were made of the Indians, by many of the inhabitants, called the Susquehannah and Delaware companies, of a large tract of land west of the Delaware, and spreading over the eastern and west- ern branches of the Susquehannah. The settlers w-ere afterwards incorporated with the county of Litchfield. The charter of Pennsylvania covering a part of the same territory, a dispute was maintained with consider- able warmth for a long time. At the close of the re- volutionary war, that part of the territory which was covered by the Pennsylvania charter, being decided by arbitration to belong to that state, Connecticut yielded to Congress all her charter right to the land west of Pennsylvania, reserving only a tract of tbe width of the state of Connecticut, and one hundred and twenty miles in length, lying north of Lake Erie, and compris- ing about four millions of acres. Of this tract, in 1793, half a^ million of acres were granted b}^ the legislature to the sufl'erers of the several towns that were burnt during the revolutionary war. During the revolution great changes were made in all the states with regard to their form of government, and new constitutions adopted, Connecticut and Rhode- Island only excepted. Connecticut while a colony of Great Britain, from the time of its first settlement till it received a charter from Charles the Second, and from that time till l8tS, has ever elected its own governor and subordinate oflicers. Hence, while changes were necessary in other states, little alteration was supposed to be needed in this. A new constitution was, however, RHODE-ISLAND. o9 adopted in 1818, similar in most respects to those of the neighbouring states. RHODE-ISLAND. From some supposed errors in theology, in the view of some, and from real and great errors, both in his opinions and conduct, in the view of others, Mr. Roger Williams,* a minister of Salem, Mass. was summoned, in 1 G36, to appear before the general court, and all the ministers of the colony. One of the ministers, " Mr. Hooker, was appointed to dispute with him ; but could not reduce him from any of his errors } so the next morning the court sentenced him to depart out of the jurisdiction within six weeks ; all the ministers save one approving the sentence."! Thus expelled, Mr. Williams went to Seconk, now Rehoboth, and purchased land of an Indian sachem. Having learned that he was within the jurisdiction of Plymouth colony, he went to Mooshausic, and began a plantation, which, on account of the kindness of hea- ven towards him, he called Providence. 1638. W^illiam Coddington, who has been styled the father of Rhode-Island, a w^ealthy and respectable mer- chant of Boston, having been, as he conceived, perse- cuted, for assisting the famous Ann Hutchinson, on her trial for heresy ; John Clark having been sentenced to quit the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, for delivering a seditious and erroneous sermon, and for contempt of the magistracy ; with others, amounting to eighteen inthe whole, having removed fronxMassachusettSy purchased of the sachems the island Aquetneck, and soon after began a settlement on the eastern part of it. - On account of the fruitful nes? and the salubrity of the climate, it was compared to the Island of Rhodes ; which, by transposition, soon became Rhode-Island, * Whatever his errors were, he was, in one important pomt, more illuminated tiian his brethren: " That to punish a man for any matter of conscieuce is persecution."-— rn i.,. TENNESSEE. ' 10? \Tliite and black, was almost sevcnt\-four thousand; Ten years after, the whole number was two hundred and twenty-one thousand ; in 1810, the number amount- ed to upwards of four Iiundred and six thousand ; and in 1S20, to upwards of five hundred and sixty-four thousand. TENNESSEE. The state of Tennessee, like that of Kentucky, re- ceives its name from its principal river. The name iu the Indian language signifies a spoon, the curvature o{ the Indian spoon, in the imagination of the savages, re- sembling that of the river Tennessee. Soon after Georgia was settled, the Shawnee Indians, who lived about the river Savannah, settled on the Cum- berland, near where the town of Nashville now stands ; but were driven away by the Cherokees who possessed the country atthe time of its first settlement. This was in the year 1754 ; at which time about fifty families had made a settlement : from which, however, they were dis- lodged by the savages before the close of the next year^ In the second charter of Charles the Second to the proprietors of Carolina, this territory, was included. When North and South Carolina were divided, what is now Tennessee fell to the former. The interposition of mountains, the distance from the sea, and the dan- gers to be apprehended from the savages, all conspire^ to prevent its settlement. In 1765, attempts were again made to settle it. At the commencement of the revolution some considerable settlements were made on the river- Watawga. They were for a long time wholly unnoticed by the govern- ment of North Carolina or its laws ; but adopted for their own government such regulations as their circum- stances required. Henry Stewart and Alexander Cameron, during the revolution, made overtures to the Tennesseans to join the British standard. The overtures were indignandy rejected ; they unanimously determined to support the 108 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. measures of Congress. In consequence of which the ' Cheroliees were instigated to invade their settlements^ intending to depopulate tlieir country quite to the Kan- hawa. In this attempt, however, the savages were al- together defeated. When the constitution of North Carolina was esta- blished in 1776, the district sent deputies. The popu- lation, from emigrations, principally, rapidly increased. North Carolina, ceded their right to the western terri- tory of the slate, to Congress, in 1789, and the next May, Congress passed an act, establishing a territorial c;overnment, under the title of " The territory of the United States south of the river Ohio." Six years af- ter, it Was made an independent state, and admitted, the sixteenth, into the tJnion. The constitution of the state was established the same year, (1796.) While the government was territorial, acts were pass- ed for incorporating three colleges in what is called East Tennessee, the state being divided into two dis- tricts, the eastern and western. A college has also late- ly been established at Nashville, in West Tennessee, under the name of Cumberland College. OHIO. The state of Ohio, so called from the river on which it borders, was inhabited only by the Indians, a few 3Ioravians and trespassers on lands belonging to the public, till the year 1787. The territory was claimed by Virginia, the boundless limits of whose charter, might include a great part of North America, extending to the Pacific. In the original charter of Connecticut, a large part of the state was also included ; of which men- lion has been made in the history of that state. The legislature of Virginia, in 1781, ceded to the United States all their rights to the territory north-west of the river Ohio, excepting some military tracts re- served for the officers and soldiers of that state, who had assisted in the reduction of British forts on the Ohio and its branches. wmmm OHIO. 209 Under the direction of General Rufus Putnam, the first settlement was begun at Marietta, in 1788. It had been, the year before, erected into one district, including the present territories of Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. The wars with the Indians prevented its rapid increase in population till the year 1795 ; when a genera! peace with the different tribes having taken place ; emigrations from Europe, but more from theNew-EnglandstateSjSoon began to make the " wilderness blossom like the rose.'* In 1800 the population amounted to forty-two thou- sand : in 1810, to two hundred and thirty-one thousand. In 1802, what is now the state of Ohio, was separated from the remainder of the north-west territory, and ad- mitted a member of the Union. The present consti- tution of the state was soon after adopted, and the go- vernment was organized the succeeding March. A college, now in its infancy, has been founded in Cincinnati, over which Dr. Elijah Slack presides. Cin- cinnati is the largest town in the state. In 1820, it con- tained upwards of 9,000 inhabitants, and is a place of great trade, with extensive manufactories. In 1S19, there had been nearly seventy steam-boats built to na- vigate the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi, of from 50 to 400 tons burthen. Many of them have, however, been injured or lost, by obstructions in the navigation. This state is remarkable for certain antiquities^ par- ticularly its ancient mounds and forts ; a short account of which we here extract from the last edition of the Ohio Gazetteer, by John Kilbourn. '"'^Antiquities. — The most prominent antiquities are the numerous mounds and forts of earth, in the state of Ohio, as well as the western states generally, which are found interspersed throughout almost the whole extent of country, as far west and south-west of the Allegany mountains as the country is much known. The gene- ral direction in which these fortifications, as they are called, lie, is from north-east to soutli-west. The place where they commence, or at least, where they are very remarkable, is in the western part of the state of New- York, near the southern shores of lake Ontario. From 110 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATED. thence tlley exti^nd in a soutli-westerly direction through the western states and territories,and terminate in Mexico. '•' \ arious have been the conjectures of the learned, concerning the time when, by what people, and even for what purpose, these stupendous monuments of human ingenuity were erected. Their origin is so deeply in- volved in the obscurity of remote antiquity, without any light of history, or even authentic tradition, to conduct our inquiries concerning them to the desired resuhj that no certainty* upon the subject will probably ever be at- tained. The writer will therefore only give an account of facts, or a mere statement of the present appearances of those antiquities ; and even within these limits, he will confine himself chiefly to a description of those which have fallen within thelimits of his own personal observation; It will likewise be unnecessary to describe, minutely, every individual mound and fortification ; for, almost always, the same general plan and principle of their structure is discoverable in them all. There- fore, a particular- d-eseriptjon of a few will substantially be a description of the remainderi " Some ofthe most remarkable forts and mounds in this state, are:at Worthington, at Granville, in Athens, in Marietta^ in Galliopoiis, in Chilicothej on Paint Creek, eighteen miles north-west from Ghilicothe, on a. plain three miles north-east of Chilicothe, and at Cir- cleville on the east bank of the &cioto river, about six- ty miles in a direct line from its mouth, and on the little !^Iiami river. There are no fortifications, or not any of much notoriety, at any of these places, except at Granville, at Gircleville, near Ghilicothe, on Paint Greek, and the little Miami ; but, at these places, there are both mounds and forts. . Mounds of earth, of various sizes, are found inter- spersed over almost the whole face af the country; but the forts, as they are called, are not so numerous. The mounds vary, in magnitude, vastly from each other, and somewhat so in shape ; some are of a conical figure, ending on the top in a point, and as steep on the sides as the earth could be made to lie ; others are of the same OHIO. 11! form, except that they present a ffat area on the top, like a cone cut offat some distance from its vertex, in a plane coincident with its base, or with the horizon. " Others again are of a semi-globular shape. Of this latter description is that standing in Galliopolis. The largest one near Worthington is of the second kind, and presents, on the summit, a level area of 40 feet in diameter. There is one at Marietta of the same kind, but the circular area on the top does not exceed 20 feet in diameter. Its perpendicular height is about 50 feet ; and is 20 rods in circumference at its base. Those in Worthington and Galliopolis, are each from 15 to 20 rods in circumference, at their bases. *' There are a number of others of less magnitude, which have fallen within the hmits of the writer's obser- ^ vation, particularly on the west side of theHockhocking riyer, in the township of Athens; on the south side of Shade river about 20 miles south of Athens : and in tlie French Grant about 60 rods north of the Ohio river^ and opposite to the mouth of Litiie Sandy river, in Kentucky. *'~At each of tlie two latter places, respectively, there are several mounds witliin a few feet of eac)i other. These are much smaller than those before described, and are each from 5 to 10 or 15 feet in perpendiculai* height, and proportionably large in circumference. " Many of these mounds are composed of earth of a different quality from that which is found in their im- mediate vicinitj'. This circumstance seems to indicate that the earth cf which the^ were composed, was trans- ported from some distance. A striking instance of this difference of composition was observed, a fewyears since, in a mound at Franklinton, near the main fork of the Scioto river. This mound was composed altogether of clay, of which the brick for the court house, in that town, were made. In it were likewise found a much greater number of human bones, than have been dis- covered in almost any other of its size. " It is believed, from the best information which can be obta'.ncd upon the subject, that the largest of ail tlta^ 112 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. mounds which have yet been discovered, is the one ad~ joinmg Big Grave creek, near the Ohio river, 14 miles below Wheeling. " This mound, according to the account given of it by an intelligent gentleman, who examined itpersonall}^, is about 33 rods in circumference, and consequently be- tween 10 and 11 rods in diameter at its base. Its per- pendicular height is about 70 feet. On the summit is an area of nearly 60 feet in diameter, in the middle of which is a regular concavity, the cubical cantent of which is about 3000 feet. Within a short distance of this large one, are five smaller ones, some of which are thirty feet in diameter. *' The ephithet Grave has been applied to the creek ^which runs by the large mound, and to another called Ltittle Grave creek, one mile north of the former, on account of the great number of tliese mounds which have been discovered in their vicinit}^ : which mounds^ both here and elsewhere, are pretty generally supposed to have been cemeteries for the dead. " One principal reason for this supposition, is the circumstance of human bones having been discovered m most of those which have been examined. Most of these bones pi-esently crumble in pieces or moulder in- to dust, shortly after being exposed to the air; except in some instances, wherein the teeth, jaw, scull, and sometimes a few other bones, by their peculiar solidit}^, resist tlie above described effects af a contact with the air, " Among those places, where are the greatest num- ber, and most prominent and entire of the earthen walls, which are commonly supposed to have been forts and military fortifications, are Granville and Circleville, in this state, and the land bordering on the Great Kanhawa river in Virginia, towards its mouth, and from thence down the Ohio 10 or 12 miles ; at the latter place in particular, the country is very thickly bestrown with them. And among these is a mound of similar magnitude with the largest at Grave creek.^ " The. fortifications thrmighout the western country ®HIO. 113 generally, consist of a circular wall composed of earth, and usually, as steep, on the sides, as the dirt could, conveniently, be made to lie. Sometimes, though rarely, their form is elliptical or ovjl, and a few of them are square. Their height is almost infinitely va- rious. Some of them are so low as to be scarcely per- ceptible : some are from 20 to 30 feet in perpendicular height ; while others again are of an intermediate ele- vation. " But the wall of the same fort is pretty uniformly of the same height all around. They are likewise equally various in the contents of ground which they enclose : some containing but a few perches of land : others again, containing nearly 100 acres. The number of their entrances or gateways, varies in different forts, from one to eight or more, in proportion to tile plan of construction and magnitude of the enclosure. The walls are mostly single ; but, in a few instances, the forts have been found consisting of two walls, parallel, and adjacent to each other. " As to their local situation, it may, perhaps, suffice to observe, that they are generally, situated on a com- paratively elevated site of ground, adjoining a river or stream of water. Some, even among the most learned men, have controverted the idea of their having been designed for forts ; but a strong argument in favour of the idea is, that tliey seem in a majority of instances to have been constructed in such advantageous and commanding ground as a skillful military engineer and tactician would have selected, for military posi- tions ; still numbers of them seem to be erected, with- out any regard to the choice of situation, as it respects eligibility, either for offence or defence. " One of the most remarkable collections of these for- tifications, is at Circleville, the chief town of Pickaway county. This town derives its name from the circum- stance of being laid out within one of the old circular forts, and with circular streets, corresponding with the external fortification. -The town plat, however, includes tlie area of a square fort, adjoining the circular one, on 114 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. tlie east, besides two streets circumscribing nearly the whole. '' The circular fort consists of two parallel walls,^ whose tops are, ?.pparently, about three rods asunder ; the inner one of which is forty-seven rods in diameter. Between these two walls is a fosse, excavated sufficient- ly broad and deep; and not more than sufficiently so, to have afforded earth enough for the construction of the external wall alone. Fi'om this circumstance, among others, the earth composing the inner wall, is supposed to have been transported from a distance. '" Another particular, corroborating this supposition, is there being a level foot way, of about four leet wide^ left on the original surface of the ground, between the interior bourn of the ditch, and the exterior base of the inner wall. Although this circumstance is far from be- ing conclusive upon the subject ; yet, the following fact almost infallibly proves this conjecture to be well found- ed. This is, that the interior wall is composed of clay, of which the inhabitants manufacture brick ;. whereas, the exterior circle is composed'of dirt aad gravel of a similar quality with that which composes the neighbour- ing ground. " There is but one original regular opening, or pas- sage, into the circular fort ; and that is in the east side from the square one. The latter has seven avenues leading into it, exclusively of that which communicates with the circle ; there is one at every corner, and one on each side equi-distant from the angular openings. These avenues are each 12 or 15 feet wide; and the walls on either hand, rise immediately to their usual height ; which is above 20 feet. " The trees, which are growing upon these, and all the other forts and mounds throughout the country, are, apparently, of equal age and size, and those which are down, are in equal stages of decay, with those, in like situations, in the surrounding forests. This circum- stance, incontestibly proves the great antiquity of these stupendous remains of former Igcbour and ingenuity. OHIO. 1|5 *' The following figure is a representation of the an- d^nt works about Circleville." North South. A traveller,* who has given a minute and correct de- scription of the ancient works at Marietta, after de- scribing the mounds, proceeds to speak of the forts, ramparts and covert way. " After leaving this little mound, I entered the south- ern extremity of what is called the Little Fort, being a. parallelogram of five hundred and thirty paces in length, and three hundred and seventy in breadth, its longest sides extending to the north-west, and lying parallel, ta the river. *' This fort has three entrances or gateways on each side ; one in the middle, and one at each corner ; each of the' corner passages, is covered or defended by a small elevated mound, and the middle gates by two. The walls or ramparts are generally from five to eight feet in height, and appear to be in a tolerable state of preservation. A small distance to the west end, and on the outside of this fort, towards the margin of what was formerly the river, is the IJDot which has been designat- ed as the burial ground of the ancients. *' From the Little Fort about one hundred and forty- five paces, still further towards the north-west, stands the Great Fort, which is in the form of an oblong square, about five hundred and fifty paces in length, and five hundred and ten in breadth, having three pas- sages or gateways on each side ; but that on the south- vTcst, or river side, is somewhat the largest. * Shultz. 116 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. *' The walls are, generally, from five to nine feet in height, and fourteen paces in thickness at the bottom. From the large gatewa}^ and at another on the river side of the wall, are two covert ways leading towards the river, about one hundred and forty-three paces in length. In the inside of the middle entrance of the south-west wall or rampart, is a singular and elevated square mound, extending parallel to the sides of the fort, sixty paces in length to the north-west, forty-eight in breadth to the north-east, and about eight and a half feet in height. *' It has likewise abutments at the centre of each side, forming gentle ascents to the top, excepting the side nearest to the wall, which has a covered way four paces wide, extending inward a few paces, when it likewise affords another passage to the summit. " At the easternmost corner, on the right, there is another mound of the same figure and form as the last, although not so large, being no more than fortj^-four paces in length, twenty-two in breadth, and about five feet in height. This mound, from some unknown cause or other, appears in a farless perfect state than the former. "At the southernmost corner, on the left, is a narrow, and something of a half-moon formed parapet, about the same height, and tighty paces in extent, with a mound at the centre, which evidently appears to have been intended to defend the gate at that corner. " At the westernmost corner, there is another of the afore-mentioned mounds, with abutments at each side, affording an easy passage to the summit; this one is about nine feet in height, seventy-six paces* in length, and fifty-four in breadth. " Exclusive of the works just mentioned, there are many smaller mounds and excavations, without the li- mits of the walls or ramparts, but in general so trifling and imperfect, when compared with what I have already described, as not to be deserving of notice. " There seems to be a considerable diversity of opi- nion among those who have examined these works, re- specting the origiu.al intention or design for which they OHIO. iir were erected by the founders; for, while some, and among those, several military characters, who ought to be able to form a competent judgment, have pronounced them places of warlike defence ; others have insisted that they were the mere towns of some peaceable peo- ple, and that the elevations which have been mistaken for forts and ramparts, were nothing more than the site of their temples,^ and the. walls of their gardens ; and the elevated mounds, the sepulchres of their dead, or ' high places of sacrifice !" " The passages or spaces in the sides or walls of the ramparts, were probably used as gateways, and guarded accordingly. The mean distance between these gate- ways is one hundred and sixty-five paces; consequently the guard stationed at one gate was within hail of him who kept watch at the next. " For what particular purpose the elevated mounds or platforms in the Great Fortwere intended I am un- able to determine, yet think it not unreasonable to sup- pose, that they may have been raised for the site of some warlike engines, to discharge stones or other mis- sile weapons upon a besieging enemy. " What strengthens this opinion is, that each of these mounds commands a principal passage to the fort, and the largest one overlooks that which opens to the Mus- kingum, from which the covert ways extended to the low grounds, where, as I have before observed, the river formerly flowed. *' If, therefore, these works, after a lapse of so many ages, still evince such evident signs of skill and design in their founders, it is but reasonable to suppose, that when they were first erected, they were even more per- fect, and that they may have been surrounded with pick- ets, palisades, and other temporary works, which being of a more perishable nature, have entirely disappeared." One of the small mounds at Marietta, was removed in 1819. In the centre, on a level with the surrounding earth, were found human bones in a stone enclosure ; and beside the bones, the remains of a sworf'd, or rather the hilt of a sword, which was of copper, plated with silver.- 118 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. These mounds and forts appear to have been con- structed ages since, by a race of men partially civil- ized ; and skilled in the arts very far indeed beyond the present Indians. By whom they were constructed is altogether a subject of conjecture. It is the opinion of many judicious persons^ that a number of Asiatics crossed Bheering's straits and pro- ceeded S. E. as far as to the Alleghany mountains ; and that these forts were constructed to defend them from the natives ; by whom the Asiatics were finally over- powered ', or with whom they eventually intermixed. LOUISIANA, Louisiana was first discovered in 1541, Tby Ferdinand de Soto. Monsieur de la Salle explored the Mississippi in 1682, and named tbe country, in honour of Louis the Fourteenth, Louisiana. A French setdement was begun, in 1699, by Ibberville. In consequence of the very extravagant accounts, circulated in Europe, of the country about the Missis- sippi, a large colony of labourers from Germany, France and Switzerland, (1719) settled on the island of Orleans; but so unhealthy was the district where they had plant- ed themselves, that they .perished in a short time by hundreds. The trade of the country, which was, however, mosdy nominal, had been for several years held by a company, till in 1731 it was relinquished into the hands of the French government : in whose quiet possession it re- mained till 1762, excepting frequent contests with the savages. 1720. The Spaniards of New-Mexico, with intention to overawe the French, diminish their trade with the Indians, and limit their boundaries, laid a plan for planting a large colony on the Missouri. A vast num- ber, to carry into effect this intention, left Santa Fe, and took up their march towards the Missouri, intend- ing to engage the Osage Indians, (a large and warlike uadon, several hundred miles above the confiuence of LOUISIANA. 119 the Mississippi anil Missouri,) to attack the Missouries in conjunction with them, for the purpose of taking pos- session, by force, of their lands. By some fatal mistake they took a wrong' direction ; and instead of going to the Osage nation, went to the Missouries. Supposing them Osages, the Spaniards immediately made them acquainted with their inten- tions; thus giving them full knowledgeof their perilous situation. The Missouri chief, pretending to be the Osage chief, readily agreed to the plan ; at the same fime informing the Spaniards that it would require forty-eight hours to assemble his warriors. When the time had elapsed, two thousand warriors fell upon the unsuspecting and unprepared Spaniards, and murdered the whole of them in their sleep ; the chaplain excepted, whose singular apparel saved his life. 1729. A considerable settlement having been made at what is now called Natchez, on account of a tribe of Indians of that iia-me who dwelt there, the Indians conspired under the mask of friendship, to destroy the whole French settlement. Ata given signal they fell upon them, killed two hundred Frenchmen, and made prison- ers of about five hundred women, children and negroes. The next year the governor -of Louisiana, with a small French force, and about sixteen hundred warriors of the Choctaw nation, undertoolian expedition against the Natchez. The Indians, under pretence of making conditional proposals of surrender, by gaining time, silently evacuated their fort in the night, with their bag- gage, and the spoils of the last year's massacre. Their retreat was some time after discovered on the west of the Mississippi. The Indians shut themselves in their fort, but could make no resistance against the French mortars. They were all made prisoners, sent to New-Orleans, thence to St. Domingo, where they were sold for slaves. Thus was this once very power- fid nation destroyed. *, 1736. The communication between Canada and Louisiana had Leen for some time cut olf by the Chick- 120 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. asaw Indians, who opposed the progress of the French up the Mississippi. A party from New-Orleans with a large party from Canada, determined to extirpate them. Thedetachment from New-Orleans not seasonably arriv- ing, the Canadians proceeded to the Chickasaw towns. The Chickasaws were prepared for them ; killed about sixty; took the rest prisoners, and soon after tied them to the stake, tortured them, and burnt them to death. Another expedition was made four j'^ears after against the Chickasaws, with a large army from New-Orleans and Canada; the sight of which made the Indians sue for peace ; which was granted ; and has ever since been preserved. In 1764 the inhabitants of Louisiana were informed by the French that their whole country haMeen ceded . to the Spanish by a secret treaty made in 1762. To this measure, considered by them as impolitic and un- just, they did not submit without great reluctance and great opposition ; so that complete possession was not obtained till the 17th of August, 1769. By the treaty of peace of 1763, to the British was yielded the whole territory east of the Mississippi to the Ibberville, thence through the middle of that river to the lakes Maurepas and Ponchartrain, to the gulf ol Mexico. The town and delta of New-Orleans were ex- cepted in the cession. During the American war Spain took the Floridas. By the treaty of 1783, Great Britain lost what had been before ceded to her, east of the Mis- sissippi, which fell into the hands of the United States. By the treaty of St. Ildefonso, the provi.ice waf ceded to France, with the same extent as when France before possessed it. It soon after passed into the hand; of France. Of France, it was purchased by the Unitec States in 1803, and in December of the same year, de- livered over in due form by the Spanish commissaries to the French commissioner, and by him to the United States. It was then divided into separate territorial governments. What is now the state of Louisiana, was admitted into the union in 1812. This state con- tains about 45,000 square miles. MISSISSIPPI, INDIANA, AND ILLINOIS. 121 MISSISSIPPI. Mississippi has been, for ages inhabited by the Creek Indians, the Choctaws, Cherokees and Chickasaw^. Of the extinction of the Natchez, once the most illus- trious of all the southern Indian nations, we have already spoken. — These Indians, but especially the Cherokee:?, are in a considerable degree accustomed to the habit$ of civilized life ; keeping cattle, horses, sheep, &:c. ; attending to all the labours of the dairy, the mill, the loom and the plough. Considerable settlements were made about the Nat- chez country, by emigrants from the northward, as early as 1779. The territory was erected into a separate government in 1800, like other territorial governments of the United States. By the census of 1810, it con- tained forty thousand whites and seventeen thousand slaves. In 1816, it contained 75,764, of whom 30,000 were slaves. It was admitted into the union as an in- dependent state, in 1817. INDIANA. Indiana was taken from what was called the North* western Territory, in 1801, and made a separate go- vernment. To a great part of the state the Indian title is not yet extinct. Its population, in 1810, was upwards of twenty-four thousand. It became a state in 1816. ILLINOIS. Illinois was settled in a few places by the French^ before the year 1756. It was taken from*^Indiana ter- ritory in 1 809, and made a separate territorial govern- ment. Its population Jn 1810, was upwards of twelve' thousand. It was admitted into the Union as an inde^- pendent state, in 1818. 122 HISTORY OF TPIE. UNITED STATES- ALABAMA. The territory, formerly a part of West Florida, to- gether with the east part of the Mississippi territory, was admitted into the Union as an independent state, in 1820. Mobile is the capital. MICHIGAN TERRITORY. The Huron tribe of Indians inhabited Michigan ter- ritory from remote -ages. About the year 1648, mis- sionaries from the Jesuits visited the country ; and not long after, built a chapel at the falls of St. Mary's; and another at the island of St. Joseph. Most of the Hurons were converted to Christianity ; but were wholly extir- pated, about twenty years after, by the Six Nations, who had long been irreconcilable enemies to them. The place of the Hurons was supplied by the Chippewas, Wyandots, he. The French built a fort at Detroit, and another at Michillimacinac, or Mackinaw, to pro- tect the fur trade. This territory fell, with Canada, into the hands of the British, and continued in a neg- lected state, until it was ceded to the United States, at the close of the American revolution. The fort at Detroit was not, however, giveir up by the British, till after the ratification of Jay's treaty, in 1795. It was made a separate territorial government in 1805, and General Hull was appointed by Mr. Jef- ferson its first governor. The MISSOURI TERRITORY is bounded E. by the Mississippi, S. by the 36th degree of N. latitude, W. by a meridian line passing through the mouth of the Kansas river, N. by the parallel of latitude which passes through the rapids of the river Des Moines, and along the said river to its mouth. This territory hav- ing the requisite number of inhabitants, made applica- tion to Congress in 1818 — 19, for authority to form a state constitution, previous to admission into the Union. The bill was lost, however, by the disagreement of the ARKANSAS, AND FLORIDA. 123 two houses, on the question whether slavery should be tolerated. In 1819 — 20, after a long and interesting debate, the bill passed both houses and became a ^aw, a compromise Iiaving been effected, by which slavery may be admitted into Missouri, but to be for ever prohi- bited north and west of that territory ; a compromise by which the slave-holding states obtain all the advan- tages they could expect or perhaps desire. In 1821, a prospective admission of. Missouri into the Union w as provided for upon certain conditions. The ARKANSAS TERRITORY comprises all the country between the state of Louisiana, west of the Mississippi, and the territory of Missouri. A territo- rial government was established in 1819, and General James Miller appointed governor. FLORIDA. — Since the first edition of this work was published, the whole of East, and the remaining part of West Florida have been ceded to the United States, by Spain. Pensacola, on the gulf of Mexico, and St. Au- gustine, on the Atlantic, are the principal tow ns. The wandering Creeks or Seminoles, possess much of the eastern part of the territory, and the white inhabitants do not probably exceed 15,000. This country was first discovered by Sebastian Cabot, in 1497. The first settlement was made in 1524. In 1562, John Ribault, a Frenchman, made settlements, but was driven off in 1565 by the Spaniards, who held it till 1763, when it was ceded to Great Britain; The Spaniards again took possession in 1781, and continued to hold it till ceded as above. General Andrew Jackson was appointed the first governor. CHAPTER V. UNITED STATES. French and Indiaii War. #hio Company; threat of the French Governor of Canada; encroach- ments of the French; Washington sent to the Ohio; military expe- dition under Washington ; plans of a campaign ; conquest of Aca- die; Braddock's defeat ; Crown Point ; Campaign of 1756 — of 3757 — of 1758; Surrender of Lotiisburg, fee,; and of Fort da Qnesne ; campaign of 1759 ; proceedings of Amherst ; fall of Nia- gara ; fall of Quebec ; death of Wolfe and Montcalm ; Levi's at- tempt to regain Quebec ; surrender of Montreal; complete conquest of Canada; Peace. .WE now return to a more general summary of the affairs of the United States. 1750. A number of noblemen, merchants and others, of London, together with some influential Vir- guiia planters, formed a society under the name of the Ohio company, and obtained from the crown a char- ter grant of six hundred thousand acres, on and near the river Ohio ; and soon after took means for com- mencing establishments on the Ohio, for the purpose of commerce with the Indians, as well as with a view to the settlement of the country. Information of their proceeding soon reached the French Governor in Canada; who immediately ap- prehended that, if the company should be uninterrupt- ed in the prosecution of their plan, a great part of their valuable fur trade would be destroyed, and all commu- nication cut off between Canada and Louisiana. France laid claim, by right of discovering the IVIis- sissippi, to ail the territory bordering on that river, and on its tributary streams. The claim of France, there- fore, on the eastern side of the Ohio, extended to the Al- leghany mountains. By the ancient charters of France also, the territories granted, extended from north to FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. ).2J^ south without limit; wiiile the English charters ex- tended, east and west, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The Canadian Governor immediately wrote to the governors of Pennsylvania and New-York, that iP these English traders on the Ohio did notimmediately stop their encroachments on the French territories, lie shoidd order their seizure wherever found. The Ca- nadian traders excited the fears of the Indians, by tell- ing them that the English were about to deprive them of their lands. The Pennsjdvanians also acted the same part, because the profits of the fur trade has been cliiefly theirs, and the Ohio company were opening a road to the Potomac to carry the trade to Virginia. As no notice was taken of the menace of the Gov- ernor of Canada, he soon executed his threat, and seized a number of the British traders, and carried them to the French fort on lake Erie. The Twight wees, with whom the English had been trading, imme- diately made reprisals by seizing some French traders and sending them to Philadelphia. Meanwhile the French governor opened a commu- nication from the fort at Presque Isle on lake Erie, to the Ohio. — The Ohio company, thus threatened with annihilation, complained to the lieutenant governor of A^irginia, Dinwiddie, that the French were encroaching on the territory of that State, a- granted by their charter. 1753. Dinwiddle laid the subject before the assem- bly, who determined to demand, in the name of the king, that the French should desist. George Wash- ington, then in his twenty-second year, was despatched with a letter to the commandant on the Ohio, who said he acted according to his orders; and transmitted the letter to the Governor. After receiving a written an- swer, Washington returned to Virginia; but not be- fore he had carefully surveyed the fort. The British ministr}^, being informed of the deter- mination of the French to claim and hold by force the country, and make prisoners of every Englishman found there, directed the Virginians to oppose them by force 126 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. of arms. A regiment was raised in Virginia, and an independent company arrived from South Carolina. Two other companies were ordered from New- York. Major Washington was raised to a Colonel, and com- manded the troops. Without waiting for the New-York companies he began his march. On his rout he learned from a friendl}^ Indian, that the English, who had been rrccting a fort at the confluence of the Allegany and Monongahela, had been attacked and defeated by the French, who were then finishing the fort for themselves ; and that a party of French were encamped at a short distance, being on their march to the Great Meadows. This party he surprised and wholly defeated. Here he erected a small stockade fort, and proceeded towards the French fort, Du Quesne, (now Pittsburg.) But, learning that the French commander was approaching with nine hundred men, besides Indians; having him- self not four hundred; he returned to his fort at Great Meadows. Here he and his little party defended them- selves so well, that an honourable capitulation was the result, and he returned with his troops to Virginia. Orders were sent from England to the Governors of the different provinces to take effectual measures to dis- lodge the French, and to act in concert. The latter or- der produced the congress at Albany, of which a relation was given in the account of New-Y'"ork. Not being able to a^ree on any plan of union, it was resolved to prose- cute the dislodgement of the enemy with the British troops, and such troops as each colony might be willing to furnish. On the arrival of General Braddock, early in tlie spring of 1755, with a few regiments of soldiers, a con- vention of the colonial governors was held in Virginia ; when several different enterprises were agreed to be un- dertaken ; the principal of which was the reduction of Fort Du Quesne, to be conducted by Braddock ; ano- ther V. ns an attack on Niagara and Fort Frontinac, to be conducted by Governor Shirley of Massachusetts ; the third was against Crown Point. While these plans were in agitation, the boundaries FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 127 of Nova-Scotia being unsettled, and the French having taken possession, and built forts on territory claimed by the British, an expedition was determined upon against those forts. The troops, about three thousand in number, most of them from Massachusetts, under command of General Monkton and General Winslow, sailed from Boston, the 20th of May. On the 2Sth, they arrived at Annapolis Royal, and soon after an- chored with forty-one vessels, near Fort St. Lavrrence. Here three hundred British troops, and a small train of artillery, were added. They immediately marched against Bean Sejour, the principal post held by the French. After five days the fort surrendered. The other forts soon after surrendered, and all the territory claimed by the English was abandoned by the French. In this eas}' conquest the English lost but three men. Lest the inhabitants should join the Canadians, they were dispersed about in different colonies, being first deprived of all their lands and other property, which were declared forfeited to the crown ; and, lest they should escape, their whole country was laid waste, aiid all their dwellinghouses burnt. The whole number thus dispersed exceeded nineteen hundred. General Braddock, with twelve hundred selected troops, Colonel Washington being his aid, left Virginia in June, and arrived at the Monongahela, the eighth of July. A part of his troops were to follow him with the heavy baggage ; his being only such as could be conveyed by horses, on account of the excessive rough- ness of the country : they \yere at this time about sixty miles behind Braddock. The next day Braddock pressed forward, intending to attack Fort Du Quesne. He had been cautioned against an ambush, and was earnestly entreated by Washington to let him go before, and scour the woods with his rangers. Though eminently courageous, he was too self-sufHcient and confident to listen to the voice of experience. About twelve o'clocii, seven milesfromFortDu Quesne, in an open wood thick set with high grass, unsuspicious X28 HISTORY OF THE UP^TED STATES. of peril, he was suddenly saluted with a vehement and deadly fire in front and along the whole of his left flank ; though scarcely an enemy was to be seen. The van was thrown into confusion, by the suddenness of the at- tack, the horrid yells of the Indians, and the havoc made by the first fire. Instead of retreating or scouring the woods, Brad- dock vainly endeavoured to form his men; and conti- imed with wanton bravery on the spot where he was first attacked, till three horses were shot under him ; when iie received a wound through the lungs and fell. The remains of the army immediately fled, bearing away, however, the body of the wounded commander. Every officer on horseback, except Washington, was either killed or wounded. Sixty-four, out of eighty- iive officers, and half of the privates, were killed. The artillery, ammunition, baggage, &jc. fell into the ene- my's hands. The French and Indians did not amount to five hundred; some assert three hundred and fifty. Washington displayed courage and coolness in bringing off those who escaped. The retreat was so rapid that no pause was made till the rear division was met. Both divisions retreated to Fort Cumberland. Colonel Dunbar, having the command, instead of making a stand, or returning to pursue the enemy, marched off to Philadelphia with fourteen hundred men, leaA^ng the wounded with the Virginians, at Fort Cum- berland. The frontier settlements were thus left expos- ed to the Indians and the French. Those whom the tomahawk and the scalping knife spared, of men, wo- men and children, returned to the interior. It was not till the latter part of August, that the ar- my intended for an attack on Crown Point, ari'ived at the south end of lake George. The delay occasioned by the want of united means under the direction of an efficient head, which had too often been the case among the colonies, gave the enemy time to prepare. Forces, that had escaped the vigilance of the British squadron lying at the mouth of St. Lawrence, had been sent from France, and had arrived in Canada. Baroo t FRENCH AND LNDIAN WAR. 129 Dieskau commanded the French and Indian forces. Johnson, who commanded the provincial and British troops, understanding that Dieskau was approaching, sent Colonel Williams to reconnoitre, with a detach- ment of one thousand. This detachment was surprised by an ambush; (the commander and many of his men slain ;) and was forced to retreat. A second detach- ment, sent for the relief of the first, was also obliged to retreat. Dieskau pursued, determined to attack the whole of the provincial forces, who had strengthened themselves to the best of their abilities, about thirty rods from John- son's breastwork. Dieskau commenced the attack. He was received with so much intrepidity, and the cannon and musketry did so much execution among the Cana- dian militia and the Indians, th>it they soon began to fly. The provincials pursued, routed the enemy, killing se- ven hundred ; and among them the French command- er. The provincials lost about two hundred. It was so late in the season before Shirley, who was to conduct the expedition against Niagara and Fort Frontinac, was ready to march, that the enemy had so well fortified the latter, that he determined, leaving a part of his troops at Oswego, to make an attempt on Niagara, But the rains had set in with so much vio- lence as to impede his progress : the troops were dis- tressed ; the Indians forsook him ; and the plan was at length, abandoned, and Shirley returned to Albany. Thus closed the campaign of 1755. 1756. Preparations were again made to achieve the object expected to be gained the last year. General Abercrombie was appointed commander in chief of all his majesty's forces in North America. But he was so tardy in his movements that he did not arrive in Albany till tfie first of July, This delay gave the enemy not only time to prepare for defence, but for offensive operations. An English fort in the country of thfe Five Nations was surprised, and the occupants massacred to a man. Colonel Brad- street, however, in three diffcx'ent engagements, com- F2. I 180 ^ HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. pletely routed the enemy, mostly Indians, killing above two hundred, and losing seventy. After the death ofDieskau, Montcalm, an enterpris- ing and able officer, received the command of the French forces. On the tenth of August, he approached Oswe- go, and two daj^s after opened the trenches ; having un- der his command upwards of five thousand troops. The next day Colonel Mercer, the commander, was killed. Finding no chance of being able long to hold out, the fort was surrendered, on the fourteenth, with four- teen hundred men. The fort was immediately destroy- ed. Discouraged by this loss, and the breaking out of the small pox in the army at Albany, all farther offen- sive operations were relinquished. 1757. This j^ear a large force, consisting of eleven ships of the line and fifty transports, with above six thou- sand troops, joined by above six thousand troops from tlie colonies, arrived at Halifax, in June, with a full ex- pectation of taking Louisburg. But so dilatory were tjiey, that the Brest fleet, consisting of seventeen sail of the line, besides frigates and transports, had been per- mitted to reinforce the place : so that the fort, above nine thousand strong, was considered unassailable with any iiope of success. Hence, after all these preparations, the expedition was abandoned. Monicalm, taking advantage of the absence of the troops at Halifax, resolved on attempting the capture of Fort William Henry. This fort was garrisoned with three thousand. Montcalm collected a force of about nine thousand, and laid siege to the fort. In six days, it was surrendered. Montcalm intended to follow up ihis victory with an attack on Fort Edward ; but, be- fore he was ready, the fort v/as so strongly reinforced, that he considered the attempt too hazardous and gave up the design. Defeat and disgrace had hitherto marked the proceed- ings of the British in America; much of which is at- tiibutable to the imbecile councils of England ; and much to the incompetency of the British commanders. The scen^ is now about to be changed. Mr. Pitt hav- / FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 131 ing been made prime minister, vigour, system and suc- cess, soon took the place of weakness, disunion and defeat. 1758. For the prosecution of the war this season, Massachusetts unanimously voted seven thousand men: Connecticut agreed to raise five, and New-Hampshire three thousand. These were all ready to take the field early in May. While the fleets of Great Britain blocked the enemy's ports, and thus intercepted supplies for Canada, a large armament was equipped ; and, under Admiral Boscaw- en, a formidable fleet arrived at Halifax, early in the spring, with twelve thousand troops under General Amherst. The command of the British and provincial forces was given to General Amherst. Three expeditions were planned : the first against Louisburg; the second against Crown Point, and the third against Fort Du Quesne. Fourteen thousand men under General Amherst, and a fleet of twenty ships of the line, under Admiral Bos- cawen, arrived before Louisburg on the second of June. The garrison consisted of but twenty-five hundred re- gulars, and six hundred militia ; and some of the works had gone to decay. Across the harbour's mouth, were five ships of the line, a fifty gun ship, and live frigates ; three of them sunk. After much difficulty in landing, on account of the surf, which ran high for many days, the army at length landed, in three different divisions, for the purpose ot distracting the enemy. The light house point, a situa- tion from which the French could be greatly annoyed, was taken by the gallant General Wolfe, on the tweiftli of June, with a detachment of two thousand. On the twenty-fifth the island battery was silenced. A bomb from the light house batter}^ having blown up one of the great ships, the fire of which destroyed two others, Boscawen sent a detachment to destroy the re- maining two; one of which was burnt, and the other brought off. The Briilsli now took possession of the harbour. 152 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. Several breaches were made in the works, and the Frencli commander despaired of being able much longer to sustain the siege. On the twenty-sixth of July the place surrendered with five thousand prisoners, one hundred and twenty cannon, ammunition, stores, &c. Island Royal, St. Johns, and their dependencies, with Cape Breton, feW into the hands of tlie British, About the same time Gjeneral Abercrombie, having been erroneously informed with regard to the strengtii of Ticonderoga, made an attack on that fort; but, af- ^r four hours, was repulsed and compelled to order a retreat, with the loss of nearly two thousand men, the enemy sustaining little injury, being almost completely covered by their works. Abercrombie soon after agreed with Colonel Brad- Street to make an attempt on Fort Frontinac. Brad- street took the command, proceeded down the Ontario with three thousand men ; landed within a mile of the fort ; opened his batteries so near the fort that few of liis shot were ineffectual ; and, after two days forced this important fortress to surrender. There were but few men in the garrison, but immense quantities of pro- vision and military stores, sixty cannon, and sixteen mortars. Nine armed vessels, with upwards of a hun- dred cannon, fell also into the hands of the British. General Forbes, to whom was entrusted the command of the expedition against Fort Du Quesne, left Phila- delphia in July. He was joined by the Virginia regu- lars commanded by Colonel Washington, atRaystown, about ninety miles from Fort Du Quesne y the whole army amounting to eight thousand. Major Grant was sent out to recomioitre, with a detachment of eight hun- dred. He was taken prisoner, with seventeen other officers, m an engagement, in which he lost, of killed and wounded, three hundred of his men. It was not till late in November, that Forbes arrived before Fort Du Quesne ; but the evening before his ar- rival the Indians deserted the fort, and the soldiers aban- doned it, escaping in boats down the Ohio. Forbes FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 133 look possession ; and, in honour of Mr. Pitt, called it Fort Pitt. The Ohio Indians, discovering the English flag, soon flocked to the fort, made their peace, and entered into treaties with General Forbes. After leaving some pro- vincials and having erected a block house, General Forbes took his departure for Philadelphia, but died, from long fatigue and exertion, before he reached that city. ! 1759. The plan for this year's campaign embraced the total subjugation of Canada. For this purpose the forces were to be separated into three divisions. The first, to be commanded by General Wolfe, who had so signalized himself the preceding year, was to ascend the St. Lawrence and lay siege to Quebec. The com- mander in chiefj Amherst, who had succeeded Aber- crombie, was to lead tlie main army against Ticonde- roga and Crown Point ; thence to the St. Lawrence, to join General Wolfe. General Prideaux, with the third division, was to march against Niagara, and thence, descending the Ontario, proceed to the attack of Mon- treal ; if successful there, previous to the surrender of Quebec,^he was to join the main afmy. The army of General Amherst was first in motion ; yet it was the twenty-second of July before he reached Ticonderoga. That fortress soon surrendered, the gar- rison fleeing to Crown Point. After strengthening Ti- conderoga, he marched to Crown Point. Before he an*ived there, the garrison had retired to Isle Aux Noix, at the northern extremity of lake Cham- plain. Tliis place he determined to invest, and took pains to acquire a naval superiorit}' : but a succession of violent storms and the late season of the year, in- duced l^m to forego the undertaking. He therefore re- turned to Crown Point. General Prideaux, with his division of the armj^, ad- vanced against Niagara, without loss or molestation^ About the middle of July, he invested the fort, with I great vigour on all sides. On the twentieth, he was ':< killed by the bursting of a cohorn. The command devolved on Sir William Johnson ; 134 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. who prosecuted the siege with ardour and alacrity. Large reinforcements of Canadians and Indians hav- ing come to the assistance of the garrison, the French determined to give Johnson battle. The battle began about nine o'clock ; and in less than an hour the French and Indians were completely routed. This decided the fate of the fort, which sur- rendered the next day. The prisoners, six hundred, were sent to New-York ; the women and children were allowed to be carried to Montreal. But the reduction of these forts, advantageous as they were, bore little weight in crushing Canada, so long as Quebec remained unconquered. Admiral Saunders-, as soon as the ice permitted, sailed up the St. Law- rence to Quebec, with an army of eight thousand men, under Wolfe. A landing was effected, in June, on the island of Or- leans a little below Quebec. He took possession of Point Levi, whence his heavy batteries much injured the town, but did no injury to the fortification. Wolfe then determined to cross the Montmorency, and attack the French commander,Montcalm, in his entrenchments^ An attack wa& made j but, on account of disobedi- ence to his orders, he was obliged to retreat, repass the river, and return to the island of Orleans. An attempt was made to destroy the French fleet. This proved abortive, on account of their secure situation. It was then determined to make good, if possible, a landing above the town.. The troops, for this purpose, embarked on board the vessels. Part were landed at Point Levi ; and; a part carried up the river. The part of tile city which faced the country was but slightly ibrtified. Montcalm was afraid to quit his situation, because the English troops, having the command of the river, might seize the ground where he was then encamped/ before ha could return, should he go to oppose their landing. The British troops, to a considerable amount, for the purpose of deception, ascended seven or eight miles FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 1S5 above where it was intended to land. Under cover of the night, the boats fell silently down with the tide, un- discovered by the sentinels; the ships arriving in season to protect them, if necessary. There was but one path up the precipice, and that narrow and cragged. By the assistance of branches of trees and craggy projections of which they could lay hold, at day light, on the thirteenth of September, the troops had all ascended^ and formed in good order on the heights of Abraham. Montcalm was immediately convinced that he could not avoid a battle ; and he accordingly prepared him- self for one. He crossed from the Beauport side, with his whole force, to meet his antagonist. Fifteen hundred Indians he stationed among the bushes. His regulars formed his left ; the troops of the colony and two regu- lar battalions formed his right. The rest of the Cana- dians and Indians he stretched on his right, in order to outflank the left wing of the English army. General Monkton commanded the right v/ing of the English ; General Murray the left. The Louisburg grenadiers covered the right flank; the hght infantry of Howe, covered the rear and left. The battle commenced. Inattentive to the irregular fire of the Indians, Wolfe ordered his troops to reserve themselves for the main body. The French advanced and began the action with the main troops. The Eng- lish did not fire till witliin forty yards; and the execu- tion was immense. Wolfe, leading his men, was wounded in the wrist ; round which he wrapped his handkerchief. Soon after, he received a shot in the groin, of which betook no no- tice. He next received a ball in the breast, and suffer- ed, himself, with reluctance, to be borne to the rear. Monkton then took the command. He immediately jvas mortally wounded ; and the command fell upon i^ownshend. About the same time, Montcalm was mor- Xally wounded ; and his second in command, Senezer- g«s, fell also. The centre of the French army began to give way^ 135 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. Tke broad swords of the Highlanders completed the confusion. The French fled to the city or over the St. Charles. The victory was complete. A thousand prisoners were taken j and a thousand killed in the bat- tle and pursuit. The remainder retired to Point au Tremble. The killed and wounded of the English were less than six hundred. Wolfe lived long enough to die with contentment. The cry of " they run," was heard. He eagerly in- quired " who run .^" The last agonies of the immor- tal hero were sweetened with the response of, " The French run." — " Then," said he, " I die contented :" and he immediately respired his last. Montcalm, less fortunate, but not less brave, expired with equal heroism. Informed that his wound was mor- tal, he expressed his satisfaction. When told he could live but a few hours : '' So much the better," said he, '' I shall not liv^e to see the surrender of Quebec." Five days after, the city capitulated ; the inhabitants to enjoy their civil and religious rights, and remain- neutral during the war. The city was garrisoned, un- der the command of Murray ; and the fleet sailed. An attempt was made by Monsieur Levi, to retake Quebec in the winter ; but it failed. In the SpHng of 1760, Monsieur Levi made another attempt, with six frigates and a large army. General Murray had more strongly fortified the city, during the winter, than it was before : but as many of his troops were diseased with the scurvy, as the inhabitants were unfriendly to him, and many hardships must be endured from a siege ; h^ resolved to give the enemy battle. On the twenty-eighth of April, he marched out against Levi, with all his ciieetive men, amounting to only three thousand. After an engagement of an hour and three quarters he was forced to retreat, with the loss of a thousand men: the French having lost more tlian double that number. Levi pursued his purpose of compelling the city to surrender before the arrival of an English fleet ; nor with less activity did Murray prepaie for defence. About FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 1S7 \he middle of May a fleet arrived, which immediately took, destroyed, or dispersed the French fleet. Another English fleet arriving soon after the siege was raised. The principal object Avas now the reduction of Mon- treal. For this purpose General Amherst, having col- lected a large army, proceeded down lake Ontario to that place ; and on the same day General Murray ar- rived by water, with all the forces he could command, excepting a sufficiency to garrison Quebec. Montreal was in no situation to resist. A capitulation took place ; and soon after all Canada was surrendered to Great Britain ; the troops to be transported to France, and the Canadians to enjoy their religious and civil rights. Thus ended a long, expensive, and bloody contest, in which it was for a great while doubtful, whether what are now the United States should continue the colbnies of Great Britain, or become subject to France. Great indeed was the diffusion of joy in Great Britain, from the pride of supposed superiority, and the presumed advantages of her conquest ; but far greater was that of the colonies, who expected now a release from the cu- lamities of war and from the massacres of the Indians. The Cherokees, however, carried on, for two years, a war with Georgia and South-Carolina, which finally ended in their defeat by Colonel Grant, in 17G1 ; when a treaty of peace was made. Peace between France and England took place in 1762 ; the definitive articles of the treaty were signed the next year. CHAPTER VI. The Revolution. Commencement of the causes which led to the Revolution — Colonial Congress — Opposition to the stamp act — Its repeal — Imposition of new dutiss by parliament — Opposition of the colonies — Repeal of the duties, excepting on tea — Affray of March 5th, 1770 — Destrtic- tion of tea in Boston — Boston port bill — Meeting of Congress — En- gagements at Lexington and Concord — Surrender of Ticonderoga and Crown Point — Battle of Bunker hill— Washington appointed commander in chief — He arrives at Cambridge — Surrender effort St. Johns, and Montreal — ^Unsuccessful attack of Quebec — ^Death of Montgomery — Burning of Norfolk, by lord Danmore — Boston evacu- ated — Declaration of Independence— Engagement on Long-IsIa.nd . — Retreat from the Island — Forts Washington and Lee surrendered to the British — General despondency — Capture of the Hessians at Trenton — Battle of Brandy wine- -Howe enters Philadelphia— Battle of German town — Battle of Bennington — Surrender of the British army under Burgoyne — ^Treaty of Alliance with France — Battle of Monmouth — Savannah surrendered to the British — Ineffectual at- tempt to recover Savannah — Stoney Point taken by Wayne — Penob- scot expedition — Defeat of the Five Nations — Surrender of Charles- ton to Clinton — Battle of Camden — and of King's Mountain — Trea- son, of Arnold — Fate of Andre — Predatoi-y warfare of Arnold iu Virgiiua — Battle of Cowpens — Battle of Guilford — Battle of Eutaw Springs — Surrender of the British array under Cornwallis — New- London burnt by Arnold — Naval engagement in the West Indies — Commissioners appointed to negotiate a peace — Peace concluded— Army disbanded — Washington's resignation. IN the year 1764, the parliament of England passed an act, the preamble to which begins thus : "Whereas it is just and necessary, that a revenue be raised in America, for defraying the expenses of defending, pro- tecting and securing the same, &z;c." The act then pro- ceeds to lay a duty on clayed sugar, indigo, coffee, silk, molasses, calicoes, ^c. being the produce of a colony not under the dominion of his majesty. To this the colonists submitted j though not without complaint and remonstrance. THE HE VOLUTION. ISO Instead of a repeal of the act, parliament, the next year, imposed a duty on stamps. Resolutions vver# passed by the popular branches of most of the colonial legislatures, against this duty. Massaclnisetts recom- mended a colonial congress, to consult for the general welfare. A congress from most of the colonies, con- sisting of twenty-eight members met at New- York; re- monstrated against the act of parliament ; petitioned for its repeal ; and made a declaration of the rights of the colonies ; declaring that taxation and representation were inseparable ; and that parliament had no right to take their money without their consent. The stamp act was to begin its operation on the first of November. On this day, in most of the colonies, the strongest opposition was made to the collection of the duty. Mobs, in many of the cities, attacked the property and persons of the collectors, of the distribu- tors of stamps, and other obnoxious persons. The co- lours of vessels in port were hoisted at half-mast high, belis were tolled, the effigies of offensive characters were hanged, and other expressions of resistance were exhi- bited throughout all the colonies. In some places the constituted distributors of stamps were compelled to resign, to save themselves from the vengeance of the people. Tlie stamps were refused a landing in some ports, and delivered up to the people in others. Business was conducted without stamped paper ; and the validity of obligations was established by the courts. Meanwhile the colonists entered into associations, not to import British goods, till the stamp act should be repealed. When information of the almost universal opposition of the Americans to the stamp act, reached the ears of parliament, a considerable agitation arose. Mr. Pitt said, " You have no right to tax America. I rejoice that America has resisted. Three millions of our fel- low-subjects so lost to every sense of .virtue, as tamely to give up their liberties, would be fit instruments to make slaves of the rest." Parliament had only the alternative j to compel the 140 HISTORY OF THE UMTED STATES. Americans to submit to the act, or to repeal it. After much debate and contention, the act was repealed : but the repealing act had this sweeping sentence. *' That the parliament had, and of right ought to have, power to bind the colonies in all cases ivhatsoever :" thus as- serting a right over persons, property, and every thing connected with civil and religious liberty, and human happiness. The Americans, however, considered this as merely a salvo for the honour of parliament ; and did not sup- pose they would ever again tax the colonies. Hence the repeal gave the greatest satisfaction ; commercial intercourse was renewed, and importations from Great Britain were larger than ever. 1767. The chancellor of the exchequer brought in- to parliament a bill for imposing a duty to be collected in the colonies, on glass, paper, painter's colours and tea. The bill soon passed both houses 5 and was the next year sent to the colonies. A bill was passed also for establishing at Boston a board of commissioners, to manage the revenue arising from the duties. An act was also passed to compel the colonies to provide iTor British troops, and support them at their own expense. These various acts of parliament resuscitated the flames of resentment and opposition, which had been almost extinguished^ Resolves, remonstrances, peti- tions and addresses, were the order of the day. Ano- ther association was formed, for discontinuing the im- portation of British manufactures. Massachusetts sent a circular address to the sister colonies, which was uni- versally approved by them ; they in most instances adopting a similar mode for obtaining redress of their grievances. The British ministry were'hi^hly offend- ed, more particularly against Massachusetts ; and sent word to the governor to call on the assembly to rescind their proceedings. The assembly refused, ninety-two to seventeen 5 and were, the next day, dissolved by the governor. ^ - At the instigation of the British custom house officers, two regiments from Halifax were landed in Boston, ^ THE REVOLUTION. 141 whose presence, but more, whose outrages, greatly ir- ritated the inhabitants. 1769. The proceedings of Massachusetts highly ex- asperated parliament. Both houses addressed the king, begging him to give orders to the governor of Massa- chusetts to take notice of all treasons and misprisons of treasons, and transmit the names of all who were active in the commission of offences, to one of the secretaries of state, that they might be arrested and brought to Eng- land for trial. The right claimed by parliament, to bring offenders to England for trial, excited high and universal indignation. On the receipt of the resolves of parliament, the house of burgesses in Virginia passed some spirited resolutions; denying the right of taxing the colonists, or the right of removing an offender from one of the colonies to Eng- land for trial. The governor immediately dissolved the assembly. The assembly of North Carolina fol- lowed the example of Virginia : for which they were dissolved by their governor. 1770. The non-importation resolutions had no in- considerable effect on the manufactures of Great Britain. They petitioned parliament for a repeal of the act lay- ing duties. The firm and persevering opposition of the Americans had assumed a threatening aspect. Par- liament repealed five sixths of the duties, leaving only a duty of threepence per pound on tea, still asserting her right, to " bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever ;" and the tax on tea contained the principle, by which no limitation would be put to taxation, except the possess- or's all. On the fifth of^ March, while some of the British troops in Boston were under arms, they were insulted and pelted by a mob having clubs, snow balls, stones, &;c. The soldiers were dared to fire. One, who had received a blow fired. Six others discharged their pie- ces ; by wiiich three of the citizens were killed, and five wounded. The town was immediately in an uproar ; and notliing but an engagement to remove the troops, 142 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. saved them from falling a sacrifice to the indignation of the people. The captain, Preston, who commanded, and eight soldiers, were tried, and acquitted ; two soldiers except- ed, who were brought in guilty of manslaughter. This aflray was represented in its worst light, and had no small influence in increasing the general indignation against the British, 1773. No tea of consequence having been imported into the colonies, parliament enjoyed her supposed right, without benefit ; and the Americans denied it, without injury. Affairs therefore remained in the same state, till the East India Company, who had on hand about seventeen million pounds of tea, were allowed by par- liament to export their tea into any part of the world, free of duty : hence to the colonists, tea, though with a duty of threepence, would be cheaper than before. The colonists were again up in arms. The corres- ponding committees, which had been forming through- out the colonies for the last two years, excited resist- ance, declaring such as directly or indirectly aided in these vialations of libert}?^, enemies to their country. The consequence was, that the cargoes of tea, sent to New- York and Philadelphia, were sent back : those sent to Charleston, (S. C.) were stored, but not offered for sale. The tea snips intended for the suppl}^ of Boston, after the inhabitants had tried in vain to have them returned, they being consigned to the relations of Governor -Hutchinson, were entered by about seventeen persons, dressed in the disguise of Indians ; and three hundred and forty-two chests of tea were thrown into the dock; no other damage being done. 1 774. Parliament, receiving information of the treat- ment of the East India Company with respect to their tea, were much exasperated. Though the opposition was general, the province of Massachusetts, and espe- cially the town of Boston, were considered the foment- ers of disobedience to their authority. Boston was therefore selected as the mark, against which to direct their vengeance. Hence a bill was pass- THE REVOLUTION. 143 «d, by which the port of Boston was precluded from the privilege of landing and discharging, or of lading and shipping, wares and merchandise. Another bill was also passed, essentially altering the charter of the province, making the appointment of the council, justices, judges, sherifl's, he. dependent on the crown, or its immediate agent. Another act directed the governor to send to another colony, or to Great Britain for trial, any person indicted for murder or any other capital offence. When these acts arrived in America, they were cir- culated with rapidity throughout the continent. But one sentiment of indignation and opposition governed the people ; a few exceptions only to be made. The town of Boston recommended a universal association to slop importations. ^ The house of burgesses in Virginia, which colony had ever been forward in seconding the spirit and measures of Massachusetts, ordered that the day on which the Boston port bill was to go into operation should be kept as a day of fasting and prayer. Pamphlets, newspaper discussions, addresses and essays, were multiplied with- out number, proving the wickedness of the acts of par- liament, and urging a union of the colonies for resistance. Massachusetts recommended a general convention of delegates from all the colonies, the assembly electing five for that purpose. On the fourth of September, the deputies of eleven colonies appeared at Philadelphia, organized themselves by choosing Peyton Randolph, President, and CharlesThompson, Secretary, and agreed to vote by states. A non-importation, and non-con- sumption agreement was made ; an address to the king, a memorial to the inhabitants of British America, and an address to the people of Great Britain, were also made. After a few weeks they dissolved ; recommend- ing the tenth of the succeeding May, if their grievances should remain unredressed, for another session of Con- gress. October 5. General Gage, the governor of Massa- chusetts, as well as commander in chief of all the royal 144 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. forces in North America, issued writs for holding a general assembly in Salem. He afterwards counter- manded the writs. Ninety members met ; formed themselves into a pro- vincial congress, adjourned to Concord, and chose John Hancock their President. They afterwards adjourned to Cambridge, and drew up a plan for placing the pro- vince in a posture of defence, by enlisting men, choos- ing general officers, Sic. 1775. January. The Earl of Chatham brought for- ward a conciliatory bill in the house of Peers, which was rejected, two to one. Lord North, the prime mi- nister, introduced a bill, which was carried, for restrain- ing the trade of the New-England States. Receiving information of the general opposition in the southern colonies, he introduced another bill, equally restraining their trade, excepting North Carolina, Delaware and New- York. No expected disunion, however, was pro- duced by these exceptions. The time had now come for testing the nerves of the colonists. Some military stores having been deposited at Concord, about eighteen miles from Boston, General Gage was anxious to obtain them ; and, if possible, v/ithout bloodshed. On the evening of the 18th of April, eight hundred grenadiers and light infantry were despatched by Gage, to secure the stores. After crossing Charles river, they began their march about twelve o'clock. Intelligence of their intentions had previously reach- ed the country ; and the alarm was given by the ring- ing of bells, by signal guns and vollies. Arriving at Lexington, where about seventy of the militia appear- ed under arms^ Major Pitcairn, who commanded, or- dered them to disperse. Not immediately obeying he discharged his pistol, and ordered his soldiers to fire. Eight Americans were killed, and several wounded. The fire was returned by the retreating militia. When the detachment arrived at Concord, a pai't of them proceeded to destroy the stores, and a part went THE REVOLUTION. 145 to the north bridge ; where the militia, headed by Ma- jor Buttrick, were drawn up on the western side. Ignorant of what had transpired at Lexington, the militia were ordered not to give the first fire. The Bri- tish fired, and killed a captain and a private. The fire was returned ; and the British retreated with some loss. They were pursued to Lexington ; the Americans firing on them from behind stone walls and ottier coverts. Here Lord Perc}', fortunately for them, arrived with a reinforcement of nine hundred. Still pursued by the Americans, about sunset they arrived at Bunker's Hill, in Charlestown, and the next morning went to Boston. Two hundred and seventy-three of the British were killed, wounded and taken prisoners. Of the Ameri- cans, eighty-eight were killed, wounded and missing. An army of twenty thousand men immediately sur- rounded Boston ; as the sword only could now decide the contest. The king's troops were blocked »tp. Ticonderoga and Crown Point were important pla- ces to be secured. Colonel Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold, (Ma\^ 10,) attacked Ticonderoga by^ surprise, at the dawn of day, the garrison being asleep. A skirmish ensued. The fort was detnanded. " By wl^-ose authority ?" said the commander. Allen re- plied : " I demand it in the name of the great Jehovah, and of the Continental Congress." The surrender was immediate. A small party under Colonel Seth Warner, soon after took Crown Point without difficulty. May 5. The provincial congress of Massachusetts renounced obedience to Governor Gage. Soon after Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, arrived at Boston with more troops. Pardon was offered to all the repentant, save Samuel Adams ancj John Hancock. The offered pardon strengthened opposition. On the evening of June 16th, a detachment of one thousand Americans were ordered to uiake an en- trenchment on Bunker's Hill, about a mile frtv.n Boston, A mistake having somehov. been ma skirmishing took place between the Americans and Bri- tish, but nothing decisive was the consequence. The siege of Newport was raised, and the Americans retired. Sir Henry Clinton, in November, sent a squadron, with about two thousand men, to Georgia. Savannah, the capital of that state, after an engagement, in which the British were victorious, with the fort, shipping, pro- visions, cannon and stores, fell into the possession of the conquerors. 1779. General Lincoln was appointed by Congress to the command of all the southern forces. Various skirmishes with various success took place, between him and the British, on the river Savannah, during the spring and early part of the summer. Prevost, who commanded the British, marched to Charlestown and demanded a surrender of the town: but the nearness of the army of Lincoln frustrated the wishes of the British commander. Sir Henry Clinton, in May, sent to Virginia a land and naval force, whose predatory excursions in the vi- cinity of Norfolk were considerable^ A similar force Avas sent to the seaboard of Connecticut. New-Haven was plundered ; East-Haven, Fairfield, Norwalk and Green's farms, were wantonly burnt. Count D'Estaing, after repairing his fleet at Boston, sailed to the West Indies. At the solicitation of General Lincoln he appeared before Savannah, the first of Sep- tember ; General Lincoln's army and some militia of South Carolina and Georgia, intending to co-operate with him in its reduction. Before Lincoln arrived, D'Estaing demanded a sur- render. A day's consideration was requested, and in- cautiously granted. Before tlw^ time expired, a rein- forcement of eight hundred men arrived. Prevost, the commander, then bid defiance to D'Estaing. An as- sault was afterwards made (Oct. 9,) by D'Estaing and Lincoln, which proved unsuccessful ; the French losing above seven, and the Americans above two hundred. D'Estaing then left the coast. General Wayne, (July 2Q^) attacked and took Stoney JO HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATED Poiiitj a fortress on North river, which had been taken from -the Americans, and strongly fortified by the Bri- tish. About six hundred men surrendered. Major Lee, three days after, surprised, at Paulus Hook, a garrison of one hundred and nine, whom he made prisoners. June. To counteract the estabUshment of a post by the British at Penobscot, a considerable fleet was fitted out ; but scarcely had the men made a landing before a much larger British fleet appeared. The Americans lost their vessels ; and the greater part of the men were obliged to wander home through a pathless desert, suf- fering great extremities. August. Five of the Six Nations, though all had proiiiised a strict neutrality, b?.d been seduced to take part vvitb the British. General Sullivan was sent against them. He marched inio their country. The Indians fortified themselves on a well chosen piece of ground ; but, after sustaining a cannonade above two hours, they fled. Their villages, habitations, cornfields, &;c. throughout their country, were indiscriminately laid waste. 1780. Sir Henry Clinton, hearing of the departure of D'Estaing from the coast, left the garrison at New- York under the command of General Kniphausen, and sailed for Charleston, with four flank battalions, twelve regimenis, a British, Hessian and provincial corps, a powerful train of artillery and two hundred and fifty cavalry. He opened his batteries (April 12,) against Charles- ton ; for the defence of which every exertion had been made by General Lincoln and Governor Rutledge. General Lincoln was summoned to surrender. He re- fused. A short time after, his communication with the country was altogether cut off. Clinton also received a reinforcement from New-York of three thousand men. The besiep;ers completed their second parallel, when terms of capituladon were offered by Lincoln. These were rejected by Clinton. Fort Moultrie surrendered to the ro3 al nav}' ; and the same day (May 6,) the third parallel was completed. At length, (May 12.) General THE REVOLUTION. 157 Lincoln was compelled to surrender ; and Major Gene- ral Leslie, took possession of the town. Five thousand prisoners, including the inhabitants, and four hundred- pieces of artillery, were surrendered. Clinton, a few days after, returned to New-York^ leaving about four thousand men for the southern ser- vice, under the command of Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis. Garrisons were posted in different parts of the state, to secure the subjection of the inhabitants. Colonel Sumpter, a brave and actii^e partisan, in seve- ral engagements with the British and lo3'alists, gained great advantages; in one instance reducing a regiment of nearly three hundred loyalists to only nine. Lord Rawdon had the principal command of the Bri- tish on the frontiers of Carolina, and concentrated his forces near Camden. Hearing of the approach of the army of General Gates, who had succeeded General Lincolp in the command of the southern department, Cornwallis hastened from Charleston to Camden to the support of Rawdon. Here a severe battle was fought between the two ar- mies. (August 16) which terminated greatly in favour of the British forces. Sumpter was pursued the next day, and lost his whole detachment, and his artillery. Many of the inhabitants of North Carolina had sub- mitted to the royal cause. To reduce the disaffected to submission, Major Ferguson marched with a considera- ble corps, and encamped on the top of King's moun- tain, on the confines of North and South Carolina. The Americans, mostly hardy mountain volunteers, ascend- ed the mountain in three separate divisions, each of which was compelled to give way to the bayonet in suc- cession. Ferguson was at length killed and his detach- ment surrendered. In this engagement the British lost three hundred killed and wounded, and eight hundred prisoners. June. Five thousand men, commanded by Knip- hausen, marched into New-Jersey; and, in addition to common predatory excursions, were guilty of barbarous and wanton depravity, in killing a clergyman's lady in 158 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. Elizabethtown, burning a Presbyterian meeting house, and twelve dwellinghouses there, and about fifty dvvell- ingbouses in Springfield. They were opposed, at Springfield, by General Greene, but the Americans were obliged to retreat with considerable loss. After the loss of Fort Montgomery, a fortress was built at West Point for the security of the North river. The American army occupied the strong holds of the high lands on each side of the river. General Arnold, whose imprudence and extravagance had involved him in disgrace and debt, though his courage was never doubted, and little fear was entertained of his patriotism, solicited and obtained the command of this fortress. He immediately entered into negociations with Sir Henry Clinton, to make such a disposition of the forces under his command, as that Clinton might readily take possession of the fort by surprise. Sir Henry's agent in this negociation was an elegant, brave, accomplished young English officer. Major Andre. Arnold met An- dre, (Sept. 21) for consultation, without the posts of either army ; Andre having landed from the British ship Vulture, lying in the river. Their consultation continued till morning, when it was too late for Andre to return. He remained con- cealed with Arnold the next day. The Vulture had changed her situation, and the boatmen refused to con- vey him on board. He was hence compelled to return to New-York by land. In disguise and under the name of John Anderson, with a passport from Arnold, he was stopped on the way by three of the New-York militia ; and in his boots were found papers that detected the treason of Arnold. Arnold made his escape. Andre was tried by a board of fourteen officers and condemned to be hung as a spy. Much as his fate was lamented by the Americans as well as British, his execution was warranted, or rather tlemanded by the usages of war. He had a trial and was treated with tenderness and indulgence ; though Captain Hale, perhaps not a less amiable or brave or accomplished man than Andre, taken as a spy on Long THE REVOLUTION. 159 Island, four years before, was hung by Sir William Howe immediately, without being allowed atrial, with- out the use of a Bible, or indulgence of a clergyman ; while the letters he had written to his mother and other relations were destroyed ; the provost Marshall declar- ing " the rebels should not know they had a man in their army who could die with so much firmness." Ar- nold was made a Brigadier General in the British ser- vice. January, 1781 . A mutiny, the consequences of which were at first greatly dreaded, took place among the whole of the Penns3dvania line, excepting three regi- ments. The soldiers turned out under arms, without their officers, insisting on a redress of grievances. Their complaints being founded in justice, after a few days they returned to duty, their requests being first granted. While the mutiny continued. Sir Henry Clinton sent confidential messengers to the mutineers, endeavouring to seduce them to the British cause. The disaffected, so far from listening to Clinton's proposals, delivered the messengers to General W^ayne. They were tried by a board of officers and executed as British spies. Arnold, with about sixteen hundred men and a num- ber of armed vessels, entered the Chesapeake, proceed- ed up James river, and in various predatory excursions, plundered and devastated the adjacent country. A French squadron from Rhode-Island, was sent to cut oft' his retreat. Ten of Arnold's vessels were destroy- ed, and a forty-four gun ship captured. After which a naval engagement took place, off the capes of Virginia, between the French and an English squadron ; which, though no victory was obtained on either side, prevent- ed the capture or defeat of Arnold. General Greene succeeded Gates in the command of the southern department. He sent a detachment, under the command of General Morgan, to the extremity of South Carolina ; marching himself with his main body to tjie Pedee. Cornwallis sent Colonel Tarleton to op- pose Morgan. A battle took place at the Cowpens, near Pacolet ri- 160 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ver, (January 17.) Tarleton surpassed Morgan in in- fantry in the proportion of five to four ; and in cavalry in tlie proportion of three to one ; and two-thirds of Morgan's troops were militia^ At the first onset the Americans in front, retreated, ^oon after, a successful attack was made by Lieutenant Colonel Washington. Colonel Howard rallied the continental troops, who made a charge with fixed bayonets. Their example was immediately followed by the militia. A complete victory ensued. Three hundred of the British were kill- ed or wounded, and above five hundred taken prisoners. Eight hundred stand of arms, thirty-five baggage wa- gons, and a hundred dragoon horses, fell to the victors ; who lost only twelve men killed, and sixty wounded. Cornwallis, instead of the expected tidings of the de- feat of Morgan, was informed of the complete overthrow of his favourite officer Tarleton, in whom he had placed live greatest confidence. He immediately began his march, in full expectation of overtaking Morgan, and recovering his prisoners. Greene, aware of his intentions, marched to join his- troops with those of Morgan. Cornwallis pursued with a far superior force ; and was within a few miles of the retreating army at the Catawba ; but a sudden freshet prevented his crossing. The freshet subsiding, Cornwallis continued the pur- suit to the Yadkin. The Americans had scarcely cross- ed, in flats and boats, and secured their boats on the north side of the river, before Cornwallis appeared on the opposite side ; but was unable to pass, for want of boats. He then proceeded to the upper fords, for the pur- pose of passing the river. Li the meantime, Greene's and Morgan's troops joined, at Guildford court-house. Soon after, Greene, with his troops and baggage, cross- ed the Dan, and entered Virginia ; narrowly escaping the van of the British troops, who were in close pursuit. Cornwallis repaired to Hillsborough ; erected the royal standard, and issued a proclamation inviting the loyalists to join him. Many flocked to his standard ; THE REVOLUTION. l6l and he sent Tarleton, with four hundred and fifty men, to encourage the loyalists between Deep and Haw rivers. Greene, apprehensive of Tarleton's success, recross- ed the Dan. Three hundred and fifty of the loyalists, mistaking Greene's troops for the British, were attack- ed to great advantage, and cut to pieces, while ex- claiming, " God save the King." Tarleton also killed many of the royalists, supposing them to be American militia under Greene. General Greene having re- ceived considerable reinforcements, was resolved on a general action. This took place at Guilford. After a severe engagement, in which the British lost far the greater number of men, Greene was compelled to re- treat before the veterans of Cornwallis. General Greene returned to South Carolina ; and marched to Camden. Here an action took place be- tween him and Lord Rawdon, in which the latter ob- tained the advantage. Numerous forts and garrisons soon surrendered to the troops of Greene, and he had full expectation of recovering all South Carolina in a short time. The immediate accomplishment of this hope was de- layed by a defeat at Ninety-Six. To this place Greene laid siege. Hearing of the approach of Lord Rawdon for its relief, Greene determined upon an assault. In this he failed, losing one hundred and fifty men. . On the eighth of September a severe battle was fought at Eutaw springs, in which the British lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, about eleven hundred. The American loss was five hundred and fifty-five. This battle nearly finished the revolutionary war in South Carolina. The British army moved down to their strong holds at Chai'leston. Cornwallis, after the battle of Guilford, leaving South Carolina to the charge of Lord Rawdon, marched to Wilmington, (N. C.) and thence to Petersburg, (Va.) which place he reached on the twentieth of May ; hav-^ ing been largely reinforced by troops from New-York, and the troops of General Phillips. To watchj harass, and oppose Cornwallis, Washing- 162 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ton sent Marquis de la Fayette, with about three thousand troops ; not half the number of those of the enemy. He reached Richmond just as Cornwaliis ar- rived at Manchester, on the other side of James river. The British army crossed the river, marched through Hanover county, and passed the Pamunkey. Fayette acted with the utmost caution on the defensive, making a judicious choice of posts, and impressing the enemy with a belief that his army was far greater than in fact it was. The plan of the campaign, on the part of the Ame- ricans and French, as resolved upon in the spring, was, to lay siege to New-York, in conjunction witii a French fleet that was to arrive in August. Letters were writ- ten to the several Governors of New-England and New-Jerse3% for their quota of six thousand troops. Washington encamped near King's Bridge with his army; where he was joined by the French troops from Rhode-Island. All things were prepared for a vigor- ous siege of New-York, when, about the middle of August, circumstances induced Washington totally to change the plan of the campaign. The states were very slow in filling their quotas ; the militia were but partially embodied ; Clinton had re- ceived from Europe a reinforcement of three thousand ; the garrison had been made exceedingly strong ; and, in addition, Washington received information that the expected French fleet, under Count de Grasse, was destined to the Chesapeake, instead of New-York. These circumstances induced the American com- mander to turn his attention to the situation of Corn- A^allis. The posts on Hudson.'s river were left to the charge of General Heath, Washington determining to lead the expedition in person against Cornwaliis. With much art and address Washington impressed Clinton with the firmest belief, that aii attempt would soon be made on New-York. What added to Clinton's belief was, the detection of a letter written by Wash- ington, detailing the plan of the campaign ; and thus confirming the British general, who had no cause either THE REVOLUTION. l63 to doubt the genuineness of the letter, or to suspect de- ception. Hence, till too late, all the fears of Clinton were for the safety of New-York ; thus withholding from Corn- wallis the succours for which he importuned. So con- fident was the British commander of an attack on New- York, that Washington was far on his way to Virginia before he suspected his march to the southward any other than a feint, to induce him to part with a portion of his troops to reinforce Cornwallis. As a place of permanent security of the army and navy, till the fate of ^New-York should be determined, Cornwallis had fixed upon Yorktown, near the mouth of York river ; having seven thousand troops under his command. There he applied himself with assiduity to fortify the place. While he was expecting an English fleet from the West-Indies to co-operate in the reduction of Virginia, the French fleet under De Grasse, consisting of twenty- eight sail of the line, entered the Chesapeake, and moored in Lynnhaven bay ; ships and frigates being at the same time sent to block up York river. On the fourteenth of September, Washington and Count Rochambeau reached Williamsburg, and imme- diately visited De Grasse on board of the Ville de Paris, to consult on future operations. Washington's army, amounting to twelve thousand, moved to the in- vestiture of Yorktown, (Sept. 30.) and the French fleet took a position at the mouth of York river, to prevent Cornwallis either from retreating or receiving assistance. The principal part of the British army were encamp- ed at Yorktown, on the high bank of York river. Gloucester point, on the other side, projects far into the river. Cornwallis occupied both posts. A letter about this time was received by Cornwallis from Clinton, informing him of a naval reinforcement having arrived from England, and of his^ determination to send, by the fifth of October, twenty-three sail of the line and five thousand troops for his relief. 164 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. On the ninth and tenth of October, the American and French armies opened their batteries ; the royal army exerting themselves to the utmost, to impede their progress by the steady employment of their artillery. The besiegers kept up a steady fire from their heavy cannon, their mortars and howitzers ; their shells reach- ing the shipping, and burning a forty-four gun ship and a transport. On the evening of the eleventh the second parallel was opened within a ,sixth part of a mile of the lines of the enemy. Two British redoubts greatly impeded the operations of the combined armies. The reduction of these was committed, the one to the French, the other to the Americans. The redoubts were assailed vrith unloaded arms, and both carried, Colonel Hamil- ton leading the advanced corps of the Americans, and Colonel Laurens turning the redoubt to intercept a re- treat. About forty were killed and wounded. The French, in carrying the redoubt assigned ta ' them, had about a hundred killed and wounded. Colo- nel Abercrombie, (Oct. 16,) with four hundred men, sallied out and forced two American redoubts ; spiking eleven cannon. No advantage, however, accrued, as the cannon were soon unspiked and fit for service. The besiegers had now nearly a hundred heavy guns constantly playing ; while the works of the be- sieged could hardly show a gun. To capitulate, or attempt an escape, were now the alternatives left to the British General. He determined on the latter ; design- ing to cross over to Gloucester Point, cut his way through the forces opposing there, and by rapid marches form a junction with the royal forces at New- York. One embarkation crossed, but the returning boats were scattered by a violent storm, so that his de- sign was entirely frustrated, and his strength weakened by the division. Several new batteries being opened, (Oct. 17,) Corn- wallis and his engineers were convinced that longer re- sistance would be but a useless waste of blood. In the morning, a cessation of arms for twenty-four hours- THE REVOLUTION. 165 was requested by the British commander, and the ap- pointment of commissioners to digest terms of capitu- lation. To this Washington consented; and commis- sioners were the next day a]Dpointed. Early the next morning the terms were sent to Corn- waUis, by General Washington, with the expression of an expectation that they would be signed by eleven o'clock, and that the garrison would march out by two in the afternoon. The Earl, from necessity, complied with the terms. By the terms of capitulation, the troops became pri- soners of war to Congress; the ships surrendered to France : the officers retained their private property. General liincohi received the submission of Cornwallis, in the same way in which his own had been received at ^Charleston, a year and a half before. Cornwallis endeavoured to obtain indemnity for the loyalists who had joined him ; but this was refused. He was, however, allowed a sloop of war to pass un- examined to New-York, in which many of the most obnoxious of the royalists found refuge from the re- sentment of their countrymen. About three hundred of the combined army were killed and wounded during the siege, and about five hundred of the British. The American and French forces, including about four thousand militia, amount- ed to nearly sixteen thousand. The British troops, of all sorts, who surrendered prisoners of war, amounted to seven thousand and seventy-three ; though the num- ber of sick and wounded was so great, that not four thousand were capable of bearing arms. Five days after the surrender, a British fleet and ar- my of seven thousand arrived off the capes of Virginia, but learning the fate of Cornwallis, they returned to Sandy Hook, and New-York. The fall of this second large British army may be considered as, substantially, closing the war. General Washington ordered divine service in the different di- visions and brigades. Congress went in solemn pro- cession to the Dutch Lutheran church in Philadelphia, 166 HISTORY OF THE UxMTED STATES. and returned thanks to Almighty God for the success of the combined armies ; and ordered a day of general thanksgiving and prayer throughout the United States. The rapture that was diffused throughout the Union by the capture of Cornwallis, no historian can express. "Well authenticated testimony asserts," says Dr. Ram- say, " that the nerves of some were so agitated as to produce convulsions ; and at least one man expired un- der the tide of pleasure which flowed in upon him, up- on hearing of his lordship's surrender : (the door-keep- er of Congress.) The people throughout the United States displayed a social triumph and exultation which no private prosperity is ever able fully to inspire." On the sixth of September, while the combined ar- mies were marching to the siege of Yorktown, Arnold conducted an expedition against New-London. On each side the river Thames, below New-London, was a fort. Each of these was attacked and compelled to surrender to Arnold. When Fort Trumbull was taken, one of the officers on entering, asked who commanded. " I did, but you do now," said Colonel Ledyard, presenting his sword. The officer immediately plunged the sword in his bosom. Though all resistance had ceased, the slaughter of the garrison continued, till the greater part were either kill- ed or wounded. The town was then reduced to ashes ; and Arnold returned to New-York. 1782. The American army, after the capture of .Cornwallis returned to the vicinity of New-York. A few skirmishes alone indicated the continuance of the war. Very similar was the situation of South Caroli- na : the British being confined to Charleston and its neighbourhood ; excepting som« occasional skirmishes and predatory excursions. The state of Georgia had long been a scene of plun- der, havoc and devastation. In June, General Wayne had an engagement with the British and Indians, and gained a considerable victory. The British ministry, sent a squadron under the com- maad of Lord Rodney,, for the protection of tlieir pos- THE REVOLUTIOxN. lb? sessions in the West Indies. Count de Grasse, with thirty-four sail of the line, intended to join the Spanish fleet at Hispaniola, and in concert, attack Jamaica. This was prevented by Rodney ; and a sanguinary naval engagement took plaoe between the French and English, in which de Grasse was defeated, (April 12,) with the loss of nine thousand men killed and wound- ed, while the British loss little exceeded eleven hundred. This defeat entirely frustrated the plans of France and Spain against the possessions of the English in the West Indies. Motion after motion had been mar^e in the British parliament, for putting an end to the American war, from the twelfth of December 1781, till the fourth of March 1782, when the commons resolved, " that the house would consider as enemies to his majesty and the countr}^, all those who should advise or attempt the further prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America." The royal army in North America, was entrusted to Sir Guy Carlton, who was directed to use his endea- vours to promote the wishes of Great Britain for an ac- commodation with the United States. A letter was directed by him, (May,) to General Washington, requesting a passport for his secretary to pay a visit to Congress. This was refused ; the object appearing to be to secure a peace with the United States, without including their allies. Failing in this wish, the stubbornness of the British ministry was forced to yield to the loud clamours for peace throughout the British dominions. For this pur- pose, commissioners were appointed : on the part of the United States, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and Henry Laurens ; Mr. Fitzherbert and Mr. Os- wald, on the part of Great Britain. Provisional arti- cles of peace were signed. Savannah was evacuated in July ; and Charleston in December. Holland acknowledged the independence of the United States in April ; Sweden in February, (1783) Denmark in the same month, Spain in March, 168 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. and Russia in July. The definitive treaty of peace be- tween Great Britain and tiie United States, was signed on the thirtieth of September. The third of November, was fixed by Congress for disbanding the army of the United States. The day previous, General Washington issued his affectionate and advisory farewell orders to the armies. About three weeks after, New-\ork was evacuated; and Ge- neral Washington entered the city. When about to take leave of his officers, the general, calling for a glass of wine, thus addressed them : " W^iih a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you : I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy, as your former ones have been glorious and honourable." The officers then ap- proached him in succession, and he affectionately bade adieu to each. They followed in silent procession to the barge which was to bear him across the Hudson ; on entering which he waved his hat, in mute adieu to the companions of his toils and his glory. He proceed- ed, amidst the demonstrations of affection and respect, of gratitude and joy, to Annapolis, where Congress was then sitting, and resigned the commission which he had so long held under their authority. Here the scene was so affecting, that neither he nor the President of Congress, were fully able to preserve the powers of utterance. After resigning, his commis- sion, he hastened to Mount Vernon; to the bosom of his family, and the delights of domestic retirement. Thus ended a long war, the cost of which to Great Britain was one hundred and eight millions of pounds sterling, the loss of above fifty thousand subjects, and the loss of her colonies ; w hile her gain was nothing : a war which enabled the colonies to escape injustice and slavery, assert and maintain independence, assume a station among the nations of the earth, and establish an empire, which, by the continuance of its unity, may, within a century and a half, look down from its high pre-eminence, on the proudest stale now existing. CHAPTER VII. Meio Constitution^ Its Administrations; JFar zvith Greai Britain^ Peace. Incompetency of the National Government — Meeting- of deputies at Annapolis — National Convention to foi-m a new constitution — Constitution adopted by the states — Washington elected President — Meeting of Congress at New-York — ^Government organized — Funding of the national, and assvimption of the state debts — Inter- nal taxes — National Bank — Cause of parties — Indian war — appor- tionment of Representatives — Defeat of St. Clair by the Indians — Forces raised — Washington rechosen President — War on the con- tinent of Europe — Proclamation of neutrality — Arrival of Genet — His deportment — Democratic societies — Commercial resolutions— Algerine captures — The building of frigates — Diflficultios with En- gland — Genet recalled — Wayne's victory — Pennsylvania insurrec- tion — Treaty with England — with Algiers — with tlie Indians — and with Spain — Ministers sent to France — Death of Washington — Mr. Jefferson's administration — Tripolitan war — Burr's conspiracy — Chesapeak and Leopard — French and British Edicts — Arrange- ment with ErskiBtti — Mr. Jackson's correspondence — Measures pre- paratory to a war with Great Britain — Declaration of \vap — Mob in Baltimore — Capture of the Guerriere — Hull's surrender — Battle of Queenston — Capture of the Frolic — the Macedonian — ^and Java — Battle at the Raisin — Capture of the Peacock — Battle and taking of York — Fort Meigs — Loss of the Chesapeak — Victory on Lake Erie — ^^Loss of the Essex — Capture of the Epervier — Battle of Chippe- wa — Possession of Washington by the British — Plunder of Alex- andria — Fort Erie defended — Naval victory on Lake Champlain — Defeat of the British at Plattsburg — Fleets on Lake Ontario — Hart- ford Convention — Loss of the President — Battle «f New-Orleans — Peace. THE debt of the United States, at the close of the war, was about forty millions of dollars. Congress had power to make war and to create debts, but no power to carry on the war, nor ability to pay debts, but hy appeals or recommendations to thirteen independent sovereignties, whose unanimity alone, seldom to be expected, could support public credit, or^ive efficacy to the proceedings of Congress. For the payment of the public debt, a proposal was made by congress to the several states to lay a duty of five per cent, on all goods imported from foreign countries, till the national debt should be paid> H 170 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. This plan failed: some states adopting it altogether , some agreeing to i^ hi part; and some totally rejecting it. Thus, no efficient funds being provided, the evi- dences of public debt began to decrease in value, till they were sold at length for two shillings on the pound. In January, 1786, the Legislature of Virginia adopt- ■ ed a proposition for the appointment of Commissioners, who were to meet, with such as might be appointed by the other states, to take into consideration the trade of the United States, and establish a uniform system of commercial relations ; reporting to the several states such an act as shall be a:greed upon, for their ratification. Annapolis was appointed for the place of meeting. The convention was attended by commissioners from five states only. So small a number of states being represented, the commissioners rose without coming to any specific resolutions on the subjects referred to them. They, however, before they adjourned, made a report to the several states, and recommended that deputies be appointed by the legislatures, to meet in Philadelphia the next May. 1787. On the nineteenth of May, agreeable to the recomendation of the deputies at Annapolis, the repre- sentatives of twelve states appeared in convention, at Philadelphia, the next May^ for the purpose of revising and enlarging the powers of Congress, he. Rhode- Island refused to send. General Washington w^as unanimously chosen Pre- sident ; and the coiivention proceeded to the important business before them with closed doors. On the 17th of September, the present Constitution of the U. States was laid before Congress, and sent to the different States. The convention recommended that conventions be call- ed in the different states to discuss its merits, and agree to its adoption or rejection ; the new constitution to go into operation provided it should be adopted by nine gtates. The friends and foes of the new constitution, were extremely active for its adoption and rejection. Con- ventions were successively called in the different states. THE REVOLUTION. " 171 the new system of pjovernment discussed, and eleven states agreed to it; North Carolina and Rhode-Island not at first adopting it. However discordant were the opinions of people in relation to the rejection or acceptance of the new con- stitution, there was but one sentiment with regard to the man who should be the first President. Washington was unanimously chosen President, and John Adams was chosen Vice-President. The senators and representatives being elected, though the time appointed for the first meeting was the 4th of iMarch, the house of representatives was not formed till the first, nor the senate till the sixth of April. On the 14th, Washington was officially informed of his ap- pointment; and two days after he left Mount Vernon for New-York, where Congress first convened. On the 30th of April he took the oath prescribed by the constitution, in presence of an immense number of spectators ; after which he made his first speech_to both houses of Congress. Business of high importance was now before Con- gress ; provision to be made for funding the public debt, a revenue system to be digested, departments to be or- ganized, a judiciary to be established, he. After much discussion, at length the government was completely organized. It now became the duty of the President to select proper persons to fill the various of- fices that had been created. In performing this impor- tant duty, he was influenced neither by consanguinity nor undue attachments. For so many, and many of them offices of emolument and honour, the number of candidates was great, and the disappointments of course numerous. Mr. Jefferson was selected for the Deportment of State; Colonel Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Treasury; General Knox Secretary at War, and Mr. Edmund Randolph Attorney General of the Unit- ed States. Such was the first cabinet counsel of the President. John Jay, Esq. was made Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States ; John Rutr 172 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ledge, James Wilson, William dishing, Robert Harri- son and John Blair, were nominated Associate Judges. On the 29th of September, the first session closed ; the Secretary of the Treasury being previously direct- ed to prepare a plan for providing adequate support of the public credit, and to report the same at the next meeting of Congress. The second session of Congress was to be held on the first Monday in January. During this recess, the President made the tour of the eastern stales, through Connecticut and Masssachu- setts as far as Portsmouth, N. H. In this rout it is im- possible to describe the emotions of joy and gratitude on the part of the citizens, wherever the President went. He returned to New-York, by a different rout from that in which he went, on the 13th of November. A second convention of Nortli Carolina, (Nov.) agreed to adopt the constitution by a large majority. The second session of the first Congress, began the 8th of January, 1790. On the 9th, Mr. Hamilton made hi& report with respect to the maintenance of public credit. With regard to the foreign debt, he remarked that no difference of opinion existed ; all agreed that provision should be made for its discharge according to the terms of contract. With regard to the do^nestic debt, opi- nions were entirely opposite ; some advocating a dis- crimination between the present holders of public secu- rities, and those to whom the debt was originally due. Mr. Hamilton himself, w as opposed to any discrimi- nation ; considering such distinction as unjust and im- politic, ruinous to public credit, and injurious even to original holders of public securities. He proposed se- veral terms for funding the public debt, to be left at the option of the creditors. The sulyect was delayed till February, when a long and most animated discussion took place ; in which the interest of a large portion of the community, and of course their feelings, were strongly engaged. The principle was of this amount : — Shall the present hold- ers of pnlilic securities, who have given but two or three shillings on the pound, receive the full value of WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 173 what appears on the face of the obligations, or only the amount iliey gave ? After much debate, Mr. Madison proposed that the present holder of assignable paper, should receive the bigliest price such paper had borne in the market, and the original holder receive the residue ; the original creditor having never parted with his claim, to receive the whole. After a long and animated argument, these propositions were rejected by a large majority. During the war the states had frequently exerted their resources, under their own authority, independent of Congress. Some had funded their debts, some had paid the interest ; some had done neither. All looked forward to the new Congress to assume the state debts : and this was a measure recommended by the Secretary of the Treasur}'. After a warm debate of many days, a resolution for this purpose was carried in the house by a small majo- rity. The delegates tVom North Carolina soon after taking their seats, the resolution waS recommitted, and subsequently negatived. Much dispute had taken place with respect to the temporary as well as permanent seat of government. The dispute at length was principally confined to the Delaware and the Potomac. A bill was at this time passed, fixing the temporary seat of government, for ten years, at Philadelphia, after which the permanent seat of government was to be established on the Poto- mac. This bill had an effect on some members from the Potomac, who now changed their votes in relation to the assumption of the state debts. A bill having come from the Senate for that purpose, and for funding the national debt, was carried in the house by a small majority. On the 12th of August, Congress adjourn- ed, to meet in Philadelphia the first Monday iixthe fol- lowing December. Soon after the commencement of the third session of ■ongress, a bill was introduced in the house for laying a tax on domestic distilled spirits, agreeably to the re- 174 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. port of the Secretary of the Treasury, for paying the interest of the assumed debt of the states. A tax on domestic distilled spirits was violently opposed by the members from the south and the west. Their consti- tuents, being little effected by the impost on foreign merchandise, were not averse to an increase of the im- post; but they considered a tax on their home-made spirits as unnecessary and unequal. The members who opposed the bill, preferred a tax on salaries, pensions, lawyers, a stamp act, a direct tax, or an increased duty on molasses. The bill, after much debate, was at length carried, thirty-five to twenty-one. Soon after, agreeably to a particular report on the subject by the Secretary of the Treasury, a bill was sent from the Senate for the establishment of a national bank. It passed to the third reading in the house with- out opposition. On the final question it was vehement- ly opposed. The opposition considered all banking systems useless ; the present bill 'defective ; and the J power of establishing a bank not granted to Congress hy the constitution. ) The supporters of the bill considered it as constitu- tional ; and a national bank not only useful, but neces- sary for the operations of the government The bill, after a long and ardent discussion, in which great abi- lities were displayed on both sides, was at length car- ried by a majority of nineteen votes. Previous to its sanction by tlie President, he requir-j^ ed, in writing, the opinions of the dabinet. Mr. Jef- ferson and Mr. Randolph were opposed, and Mr. Ha- , milton supported the bill. After deliberate investiga- ' tion the President was convinced of its constitutionality and utility, and gave it his signature. This bill, in addition to the assumption of the state , debts, the funding of the national debt, disappointments of office, and the tax on domestic distilled spirits, tend- ed greatly to produce that distinction of parties, which ' afterwards so fully and injuriously agitated all ranks in the United States. Having organized the government, exalted the cha ■Mnd WASHINGTON'S ADIMIMSTRATION. 17 j racter of the nation, established ihc departments and a revenne system, and created public credit, (he first (.'on- gress closed its last session on the third of March, 1701. Already had the two houses, as well as the people, be- come in a degree divided into parties ; the one sup- porting, the other denouncing the principal proceed- ings of the government. The Secretary of the Trea- SiUT, and the northern members generally, had become obnoxious to a large portion of the people. The Indians beyond the Ohio, having long committed depredations on the Irontiei-s, and all attempts at recon- ciliations having failed, General Harmar was sent, with a considerable force, to reduce them to terms. He was successful in destroying some of their villages and their grain; but, in an engagement with them, near Chili- cothe, met with a considerable loss. General St. Clair was appointed to succeed Harmar. One of the first bills of the next Congress, (Dec. 1791,) was that for apportioning the number of repre- sentatives according to ti.e census. The first bill fell, from a disagreement between the two houses. Tlie second bill provided one representative to every thirty thousand ; the fractions making enough for eight more representatives; these were divided among those states that had the greatest fractions. This bill was returned by the President to the house whence it originated ; he considering it unconstitutional ; as by it eight states would send more than their population allowed. The bill was rejected ; and a third bill fixed the ratio at one for G\cry thirty-three thousand. In a battle with the Indians, (Nov. 4,) General St. Clair was completely defeated, losing about six hunched killed and above two hundred and fifty wounded, out of about fifteen hundred. The battle was fotinju near the Miami. In this engagement, fell the gallant General Butler, and several other officers who had served with distinction during the American revolution. . In consequence of this defeat, the President caused estimates to be made of the forces necessary to be sent against the Indians. A bill was introduced, conforma- 176 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. bly to a report of the Secretary at War, for raising three additional regiments of infantry and a squadron of cavalry. The bill was warmly opposed, on the grounds that the war itself was not just; that the mili- tia was preferable to regular troops ; the expense would be enormous 5 there were no funds in the treasury, for the support of such a force; and, if regiments after regiments were thus to be raised, it was impossible to foresee where there would be a stop. On the other side it was said, that the war was un- dertaken to defend our citizens on the frontiers, who were settled on lands purchased of the Indians ; that it had been proved that above fifteen hundred persons had been massacred, between the years 1783 and 1790, and there was reason to believe this number was not half the amount of the whole ; that the government had made repeated efforts to obtain peace ; that a treaty was pro- posed in 1790, at the Miami villages, when the Indians requested thirty days for consideration, and in the in- terim, though the whites were strictly inoffensive, they killed and captured above one hundred and twenty, roasting many of the prisoners alive ; that if war ceas- ed on our part, it would be continued on theirs ; that a regular force was superior to the militia, &;c. Sic. The bill passed. Subsequently, to meet the expenses of the Indian war, the duties on imposts were augment- ed, after strong opposition to the bill for that purpose. On the 8th of May, Congress adjourned to November. In the western district of Pennsylvania, beyond the Alleghany mountains, much opposition had been made, from the beginning, to the tax on domestic spirits. The opposition increased till the opposers of the tax met at Pittsburg, and entered into resolutions to persist in every legal measure to obstruct the execution of law, by withholding all the comforts of life, which as men and fellow-citizens they owed to each other, and treat- ing with perfect contempt, all who held offices for the collection of the duty. Some atrocities were com- mitted, and the laws w^re obstructed by force. The WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 177 President issued his proclamation exhorting obedience ; but without effect. The clamour against the Indian war continued, and the administration was charged with wishing to hasten a monarchial form of government, by establishing a large standing army. However unjust were these as- persions, the President, previously to an excursion among the Indians, determined once more to offer terms of peace. Colonel Harden and Major Trueman, were severally despatched for this purpose, and both of them murder- ed by the Indians. General Wayne was appointed to the command of the army, but recruits weve so tardy that no offensive operations ^^ere undertaken this year. Soon after the opening of the next session of Con- gress, a motion was mad§ and debated for reducing the army. The motion was lost. During this session the opposition in the house brought forward some resolu- tions accusing the Secretary of the Treasury of miscon- duct in office, and requiring of him certain explanations relative to some loans negociated under his direction. Mr. Hamilton made three distinct reports, fully ac- quitting himseK The head of the Treasury depart- ment was still, however, extremely obnoxious to the opposition; (for parties were now divided by the terms federal or administration party, and democratic or opposition party.) The character of the President was not yet openly implicated as inclining to either party, though frequent hints were given, especially in the National Gazette, of the fondness of the executive for monarehial trappings and monarehial inclinations. The session closed on the third of March, (1793) with much political irritation on both sides. General Wash- ington, though he had once determined to withdraw fron? public life at the close of the four years, had yielded to the earnest solicitations of many friends, and was again unanimously elected President. John Adams again had a plurality of votes for the Vice-Presidency, over George Clinton. H 2 178 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. A treaty was made with the Wabash Indians ; and, some prospect appearing of an accommodation with the Miamis, the army was not yet marched into their territories. In April, information vyas received of the declaration of war by France, against Great Britain and Hollands A large majority of the people of the United States were extremely devoted to the cause of France, and unfriend- ]y to Great Britain, reviving all the feelings by which they had been actuated daring the revolution. The few who expressed doubts of the permanency of the re- public of France, were held up as the friends of monar- chy, and the toolsl5f~4*;:£.at Britain. General Washington was at Mount Vernon when he received information of the declaration of war. He immediately returned to Phifadelphia, and consulted with the cabinet with regard to the part it behoved the American government to take. It was unanimously agreed, that the citizens of the United States ought to be forbidden to take part in any hostilities on the seas, or carry to any of the powers at war, contraband ar- ticles. The President was also advised to receive a minister, should one be sent. On some other points the cabinet was divided. A proclamation of neutrality was issued on the 22d of April, 1793. The proclamation being without legislative sanction, and in opposition to the feelings and prejudices of a great portion of the people, an opportunity was pre- sented for an open attack on the character of the Pre- sident. The French minister appointed by the king, was re- called ; and on the 8th of April Mr. Genet, appointed by the republic, landed, not at the seat of government but at Charleston, (S. C.) The flattering reception he here met with, induced him to believe that he could ea- sily pursuade the American people to embark in the cause of France, whatever might be tlie determination^ of the government. He here undertook to authorize the fitting and arm- ing of vessels, and enlisting men, and issuing comrais- WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 179 Sions to commit hostilities against nations at peace with the United States. Captured vessels were brought into port, condemned by the French consuls, and the sale of them authorized. When he arrived at Philadelphia, he was welcomed by the people with extravagant demon- strations of joy. Mr. Hammond, the British minister, complained of these outrages^ The cabinet unanimously condemned the proceedings, and determined to try the force of the laws against those citizens who had committed the of- fence^ On this point it was impossible to doubt : on others, connected with the subject of the duty of this government towards France, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Randolph were opposed to Mr. Hamilton and General Knox. The decision of the American government highly offended Genet; by whom the most insolent complaints were made to the department of state • and in a tone of supercihous invective, the executiv^e was charged with acting in perfect opposition to the wishes of the people. The opposition party, through their presses, called the proclamation of neutrality a royal edict, an assump- tion of power, and a proof of the monarehial inclina- tions of the President. Societies, supposed to be at the instigation of Genet, were formed in Philadelphia and many other places, with the ostensible intention of pre- serving liberty, now endangered by a European con- piracy against her, and " by the pride of wealth and arrogance of power" displayed against her in the United States. These societies cheered Genet with the hope that he could bend the administration to his wishes. Genet continued his insulting language towards the administration, till he at length even threatened an ap- peal from the President to the people. This insulting, threat began to open the eyes of many, who had before been his advocates. When Congress met, in Decem- ber, the proclamation of neutrality was approved ; as well as the conduct of the administration towards the French minister. 1794. Mr. Jefferson resigned his office on the firit of 180 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. January, and was succeeded by Mr. Randolph. The attorney general's office was filled by Mr. Wm. Brad- ford. The British government had, in June, issued an or- der, forbidding the exportation of corn to France. In consequence of this order, many American vessels were captured on their way there. There were several oth- er causes of dissatisfaction on the part of Congress to- wards G. Britain, especially the non-execution of the treaty of peace, in not delivering up the western posts. This neglect, however, England endeavoured to jus- tify, by charging the American government with simi- lar neglect in not making provision for the recovery of debts due to British creditors before the revolution. Mr. Madison brought forward sundry resolutions in the House of Representatives, the purport of which was to impose an additional duty on the manufactures and tonnage of nations having no commercial treaty with the United States ; and to reduce the duty already im- posed b}^ law, on the tonnage of vessels belonging to nations having such commercial treaties. The defenders of these resolutions acknov/ledged that the object in view was not so much the increase of American agriculture, manufactures or navigation, as the humihty of Great Britain, and exaltation of France. A long and earnest debate ensued ; after which the sub- ject was postponed till March. The Algerines having captured eleven American vessels, and made above one hundred captives; and be- ing then preparing for further captures ; while the pros- pect of peace with the Dey of Algiers was extremely faint; a resolution was agreed to for providing a na- val force for the? protection of American commerce a- gainst their corsairs. The bill for this purpose contemplated six frigates. It was opposed with vehemence by the opposition, as the commencement of an unnecessary naval establish- ment. The bill was at length carried by a majority of eleven. Great Britain having issued new orders, injurious to hlttflbi^dKB WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 181 American commerce, and having captured a large num- ber of American merchantmen, and a war with tliat na- tion not appearing an improbable event, bills were pass- ed for laying an embargo ; for fortifications ; for rais- ing a corps of artillerists and engineers ; and for or- ganizing the militia, A motion was made for the sequestration of British debts. Another was made to prohibit all intercourse with Great Britain, till compensation should be made for spoliations on the commerce of the United States. While these several subjects remained under consi- deration, advices were received from England, discov- ering on the part of Great Britain a wish to remain in peace, and showing that a great part of the vessels car- ried into port for adjudication, were not to be condemn- ed. Meanwhile a report was made by the Secretary of State, showing that the French had violated the treaty with the United States, and had not committed less de- predations on American commerce than had been com- mitted by Great Britain. While a chance of preserving peace remained, the President felt it his duty to try the effect of negociation. For this purpose he nominated Chief Justice Jay, to be envoy extraordinary at the court of St. James, for the purpose of adjusting subsisting difficulties, and making commercial arrangements. To the opposers of the administration, this was a most unwelcome step : but the President was guided, not by the love of popularitj^, but the love of his country. The resolution for cutting off all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, was^ converted into a bill for that purpose, and passed the house ; but was lost in the senate by the casting vote of the Vice-President. To meet the naval and other unavoidable expendi- tures, after obstinate debates, bills were carried for tax- ing licenses to sell wines and spirituous liquors, pleasure carriages, snuff, and refined sugar. Genet was recalled ; and his successor. Monsieur Fau- chet, arrived, bringing assurances that his government totally disapproved the conduct of his predecessor. 182 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. A decisive battle was fought by General Wayne, and the Indians, on the 20th of August, near the Miami of the lakes. The Indians were totally routed and a vast number killed. Their whole country was laid waste.^ This seasonable victory over the Miamis prevented a general war with the- Six Nations, and all the tribes north-west of the Ohia. An insurrection of the western counties in Pennsyl- vania took place this season, which was quelled by a large military force raised by the President, after all other endeavours to silence it had failed. The insur- rection commenced with the avowed purpose of prevent- ing by force the collection of internal taxes ; but after- wards its object seemed not less to be the overthrow of the national government. Two persons were convicted of treason, but were af- terwards pardoned. The insurrection was attributed in a great measure to the instigation and encouragement of the democratic societies. Of these societies notice was taken at the opening of the session of Congress ia November. Though denounced by Congress, they continued their meetings and their opposition to the administration, till the fall of Robespierre in Paris, when political club& were suppressed there ; which sup- pression was followed by the natural death of similar institutions in the United States*. Jan. 1, 1795. Mr. Hamilton resigned the office of Secretary of the Treasury, and was succeeded by Mr. Wolcott. At the close of the session General Knox re- signed the office of Secretary at War. Mr. Jay succeeded in forming a treaty with the Bri- tish, which was received by the President in March, and laid before the senate, who had been summoned for that purpose, in June. , While the treaty was in debate, with closed doors, a member from Virginia gave a copy of it to a printer; and it was dispersed with rapidity throughoutthe Union. There was on one side a predetermination to condemn it ; and the other side were not immediately prepared WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATlOxN. 183 for the defence, of what required much time and inves- tigation, to afford a correct judgment. The Senate, twenty to ten, advised the ratification of the treaty. Addresses, not only from the principal towns, but from almost all parts of the United States, were sent to the President, entreating him to withhold his signature. General Washington well laiew the ob- loquy he sjiould encounter ; but was not deterred from the discharge of his duty. He signed the treaty ; a treaty which settled all difficulties ; which prevented a war, and which proved of incalculable advantage to the United States. A treaty was made this season with Algiers, and with the Miamis : thus the American captives were restored, and the commerce of the Mediterranean opened ; and the fi'antiers of the United States secured from savage invasions. A treaty was also made with Spain, in which the United States obtained all her claims with regard to boundary and the navigation of the Mississippi. 1796. Resolutions for carrying into effect the differ- ent treaties made the last year, met with no opposition in Congress, except that with Great Britain. After the most ardent and obstinate debating of several weeks continuance, during which addresses from all quarters in support of the treaty were received by the house, the bill making the necessary provisions passed the house, by a majority of three;. Having determined, at the close of his second presi- dential term, to withdraw from public life, General Washington, previously to the time of election, mad© known his intentions, and addressed to the people of the United States a valedictory discourse ; impressive and affectionate, replete with political truths and salutary counsel. In his speech at the opening of the session In Decem- ber, among %ther objects of national importance, the President strongly recommended the gradual creation of a navy. In February, (1797,) the votes for President and Vice-President were opened in the Senate chamber ; by 184 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. which it appeared that John Adams was elected Presi- dent, and Thomas Jefferson Vice-President, for the ensuing four years. On the 4th of March, they were inducted to office, attended by General Washington.^ Soon after which,^ the late President retired to his seat at Mount Vernon. General C. C. Pinekney, had been appointed minister to France, but the directory refused to receive him as such. The French cruisers began to seize and condemn American vessels, under pretexts the most unjustifiable. To prevent war, Mr. Adams appointed three envoys extraordinary to the French republic, General Pinek- ney, Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Gerry. Before the envoys could be acknowledged by the di- rectory, money was demanded of them as a tribute. This demand was repelled. The great strength of the republic was then stated : it was said that Austria was humbled, Great Britain would soon be conquered, and safety for Anferica would soon depend altogether on France. It was also declared that they, the French, possessed in the United States, the means of rendering odious the envoys and the American government. The conversations and proceedings of the envoys were soon after despatched to America. Their publi- cation excited general indignation against the French directory. The envoys returned Meanwhile the French cruisers captured every American vessel that could be found, bearing the flag of the United States. 1798. Measures were adopted in Congress for reta- liation and defence. A regular provisional army was established, and the President authorised to appoint officers. General Washington was appointed, by the unani- mous consent of the Senate, Lieutenant-General and commander of ail the armies raised, or to be raised, in the United States. The navy was incTetised, and re- prisals made on the water. 1799. The President had declared his determination not again to make overtures or send a minister to France till he was assured of their proper reception j but over- ADAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 185 tures being indirectly made by the French government for a renewal of negotiations, three envoys were sent to Paris ; where they found the government in the hands of Bonaparte, who had not partaken of the transactions which had embroiled the two countries. A peace was the consequence. In the night of the 13th of December, General Wash- ington was seized with an inflammatory affection of the windpipe, occasioned by an exposure to a slight rain the day before. A cough, difficult deglutition, pain, fever, and laborious respiration, ensued. Physicians were sent for in the morning; but medi- cal skill was unavailing. He breathed his last at half past eleven, Saturday evening. His body was depo- sited in the family vault the next Wednesday, attended by military honours. The information of his death reached Philadelphia on Monda}^ Congress immediately adjourned. The next day, resolutions were adopted expressive of the grief of the members ; and a committee was appointed to devise a mode by which the national feelings should be expressed. The committee recommended the erection of a mar- ble monument at the city of Washington, under which to deposite his body ; that an oration be delivered at the German Lutheran Church before both houses ; that it be recommended to the people of the United States to wear crape on the left arm thirty days, and that the President write a letter of condolence to Mrs. Washing- ton, and request her consent to the removal of the body of her departed husband. The resolutions were passed unanimously. General Henry Lee delivered a solemn and eloquent oration. The whole nation appeared in sorrow. Eulogies and funeral processions were almost universal through the country. — " The monument, .however, has never been erected. That the great events of the political as well as military life of General Washington should be commemorated, could not be pleasing to those who 186 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. had condemned, and who continued to condemn the whole course of his administration."* 1 800. Agreeable to the law passed for that purpose, the seat of government was transferred from Philadel- phia to the city of Washington. Parties being nearly equally divided,! the election- eering campaign for President and Vice-President com- menced, and was continued with much warmth, and much bitterness, on both sides. At the close, a small majority appeared in favour of Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The constitution providing that the per- son having the greatest number of votes should be Pre- sident, and Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr, having an equal number, it became the duty of the House of Represen- tatives, voting by states, to decide who should be Pre- sident. The ballot was taken, for several days in succession, (Feb. ISOl,) before a decision was had; the federal party generally voting for Mr. Burr ; the democratic party for Mr. Jefferson. After much heat and animos- ity, both in the house and abroad, Mr. Jeffei'son was at length elected President. During the session previous to the retirement of Mr. Adams, an act was passed amending the judiciary sys- tem, and appointing sixteen new judges. On the 4th of March Mr. Jefferson was inaugurated ; and deliver- ed a speech expressive of his political opinions, and de- claring the principles on which he intended to adminis- ter the government. He commenced his administration by removing from office a great part of thos'e whose political sentiments were opposite to his own ; and the honours and emolu- ments of whose offices were tlie greatest ; justifying the measure on the ground that offices had almost exclu- sively been bestowed on the adherents of one party. * Marshall. t The law authorishig the President to send aliens out of the coun- try, and the law to punish the abuse of speeclrand the press, common- ly called the sedition law ; together with the acts for raising- a small army, and imposing a direct tax and internal duties — all served to |tt» erease the oppositioa to the administration of Mr. Adara^-. JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION. 18? Two important subjects occupied the attention of the first session of Congress under Mi-. Jefferson's Presi- dency • the abolition of the internal taxes, and the re- neal of the act altering the United States' courts, and creating sixteen new judges. Both these subjects were debated a great length of time in both houses, with S eloquence, argument and warmth. The repeal- ine act was carried, and the internal taxes abohslied. Mq3 The intendant at New-Orleans .n violation of our treaty with Spain, denied to the United States the use of that port as a place of deposite. A propo- htonwas brought forward in the Senate for seizuig and holding tha? place by force. After an animated difcuss on this measure was abandoned : and, by fhe dtrect on of Mr. Jefferson, the whole country of LouSwas purchased of the French government, to ihom it had been transferred by Spain, for the sum of «ntof ''oracSnr-of some political altercation Genera! Hamilton was challenged to a duel by Aaroi Bar Vice President of the United States General H. Hilton fell. He was one of the ablest of men, and nM dliite ested of patriots. His death was the mo.t 'l'^;"^ //'r 3^,„.o,; to his personal and po it.ca MsfardTa/cel^lesstoa^epartof his political i:^^:£^i tried b( the Seiia., sit^ as a ttctrSi^LTorgrStonice- ^f w^had been carried on between *e United St t and Tripoli, f-^-^^^-SpWr ,1 b'een' Side- srpr-ofppS'^^n,^^^^^ 188 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES five'had laLrpkcf ' ^'"^««''^. bu, „othi.,g deci- s«ratS:;"ri'° St'^^^^ for several .ears con- 1804, in search oflheeli^ PPu' '" *''^ «»""nn of bashaw of Tdp^lV the rShtfuf^ °' ""^u "'^ning who had- been forced froSiiTbv".h'' ""''"'^' Eaton having found thp pv Liu ^ ''^ ^e usurper, and a smalf detachment of rr'-P"''"'^'^'' «'«b hi>„ through the desert of Barca and'T'^r^' ^r^^'' ^^■ a sharp conflict, got possession „f f *'■ 'P""*^' ^'"'^^ the capital of a lafge D.ovh cl h 1 "^^ "'^ °^ ^<^'-"^. Tripoli. " P'o^^'ce belonging to the king of His forces were hpr^ cr» ;«^ i the ex-bashaw Tad become sn'"'"^' r^ "'^ '^"^-^ °f ' every prospect of beW able wlJh''.?''"'' *"* '"« '"d 'he navy, to%educe Tfi.y of T to1;''^"-H''P^T'''" °' captives without ransom. ^ Mr L°'' "V'^! ^'■'^ '"'« been authorised to treat with .f • ^ b^'^' however, hearing of the succe ofhif bt'll.T'X^'^''''" ' ""^^ to terms of adjustment A *'"^ ^''o"' agreed hostilities ceasid ^ P'"'*' ""^^ concluded,^ and anXn'Tf grXoir t?"^^ ^^ '^^^^^ - western states from the Union ' f fP^ration of the New-Orleans. Thl p]a,;haH / ^" V"" ^."bJ"gation of lion, and his utmost exertion T-^ *'"'" '" eontempia- wanting to its a'clpSment"' "'"^'" ''=''' »°' t-'*" • wefe^Svt:ran'd''",;tt^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^'^ P'-s were altogether thwarted. Burr wn, S"^^!;"™^'". -rd, then lyingT.tlvnnh?vA*' P''""^'' ^''■P ^eo- 'd that sevei^l desertm wert t''^' }'^^'"'S ascerlain- .' Norfolk, con^-dXh; Co^ittert^ JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION. 189 quested a surrender of them, or liberty to search the ship. This being refused, he applied to the Adminis- tration, and subsequently, to the mayor of Norfolk : but without success. The Chesapeake having proceeded to sea, and being just without the Capes of Virginia, the Leopard,- ac- cording to orders from Admiral Berkley, gave the Chesapeake two broadsides, when she struck her co- lours ; five men being killed and twenty-one wounded. Four deserters were taken from the Chesapeake, one only of the number demanded, when she was set at liberty. This affair occasioned a great sensibility throughout the Union ; and was deemed by a large portion of the people, in conjunction with other causes of complaint, sufficient to justify the President in calling an extra session of Congress, for the purpose of declaring war against Great Britain. The President issued a proclamation, ordering all British ships of war to quit the waters of the United States, and forbidding intercourse between them and the inhabitants. The British government expressed a deep regret at the encounter ; and promised, if on investigation the officers should be proved culpable, to make a prompt and eflectual reparation. A British mission to our go- vernment for the purpose of adjusting the affair was unsuccessful, A large number of American merchantmen were captured and condemned in the British courts, on the pretext that they were trading from the ports of one belligerent to those of another ; and from the colonies to the mother country of the belligerent, although the cargoes were first landed in the United States : nor were those rules of procedure promulgated till the de- cision of the admiralty courts. Remonstrances against these proceedings were forwarded to Congress from the merchants of the principal seaports in the Union. In the spring of 1806, Congress passed an act for- bidding the importation into the United States of sun- 190 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. dry British articles ; the operation of which was con- ditionally suspended. In November, of the same year, Bonaparte issued a decree at Berlin, declaring all the British islands in a state of blockade, and prohibiting all intercourse with them.* This decree was in ex- press violation of the treaty between the United States and France, and of the laws of nations. The British government informed our minister at London, that if the American government submitted to this edict, a retaliation on her part would be the con- sequence. Orders in council were issued by the Bri- tish, in November, 1807, declaring France and her dependent powers in a state of blockade. Before, however, Congress had received notice of these orders in council, the non-importation act was put in force, and an indefinite embargo was laid on all American vessels, the 22d of December. Bonaparte, receiving information of the orders in coimcil, issued, at Milan, a decree, declaring every vessel denationali- zed which shall have submitted to a search by a British ship ; and every vessel a good prize, which shall sail to or from Great Britain, or any of its colonies, or coun- tries occupied by British troops. 1809. James Madison was chosen President, and George Clinton was rechosen Vice-President. The embargo was repealed on the first of March, and an act passed interdicting commercial intercourse both with Great Britain and France. Should, however, either of the powers revoke their edicts, the President was authorised to renew the intercourse. An arrangement was made in April, with Mr. Er- skine, the British minister, in consequence of which the President proclaimed that commercial intercourse would be renewed on the 10th of June, The utmost satisfac- tion was felt throughout the Union ; which was, how- ever, succeeded by as great a disappointment. The British government declared that Mr. Erskine was not * The British government had issued an Order in Council, in the preceding May, declaring the ports and rivers from the Elbe to Brest, in a.state of blockade. MADISOx\'S ADMINISTRATION. 191 authorised to enter into such stipulation, and refused its ratification. The non-intercourse with Great Britain, was of course renewed. Mr. Erskine was succeeded, as British minister, by Mr. Jackson ; who arrived at Washington early in September. A discussion immediately commenced be- tween him and the Secretary of State. After continu- ing sev^eral w^eks, it was suddenly closed, the Presi- dent refusing a continuance, on account of an alleged insult on the part of Mr. Jackson. In the course of correspondence, Mr. Jackson had said, that the executive could not but know, from the powers exhibited by Mr. Erskine, that he acted in some things without authority from his government. This was construed, on the part of the administration, into a declaration that the executive did know Mr. Erskine was acting without authority. Mr. Jackson denied the j ustice of such construction. All further correspondence, however, ceased ; and Mr. Jackson was recalled, but without censure on the part of his government. 1810. Pretendedly to retaliate for interdicting from the harbours of the United States, vessels of war, be- longing to France, Bonaparte issued a decree at Ram- bouillet, by which all American vessels and cargoes, arriving in any ports of France, or of countries occu- pied by French troops, were ordered to be seized and condemned. In August, the French minister at Paris, informed the American minister, Mr. Armstrong, that the de- crees of Berlin and Milan were revoked, and would cease to operate on the first of November ensuing. To this positive declaration conditions were annexed, that rendered the revocation doubtful. The President, however, issued a proclamation, Nov. 2d, declaring that the decrees were revoked, and that the non-inter- course should cease between^ the United States and France. May, 1811. An unhappy engagement took place between the President, commanded by Capt. Rodgers, and a British sloop of war, the Litde Belt, command- 192 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ed by Captain Bingham. It appeared that the Little Beit gave the first fire : her rigging was greatly dama- ged ; and she lost many men. Congress inet in November. The message of the President indicated the expectation of hostilities with Great Britain, should no change in our foreign rela- tions take place during the session. The committee of foreign relations, in the House of Representatives, brought forward, November 29, sun- dry resolutions for placing the country in a better state of defence. Information was received in Congress, of a severe battle, fought on the 7th of November, near a branch of the Wabash, called Tippacanoe, between an army under General Harrison, Governor of Indiana territo- ry, and a large body of hostile Indians ; in which the Indians were defeated, but with loss of nearly seventy killed, while upwards of a hundred were wounded. On Thursday evening, December 26, a most dis- ^tressing calamity befel the city of Richmond. The theatre, which was, that evening, uncommonly full, suddenly took fire in the scenery ; and the flames spread with such rapidity, that before the audience were able to escape, about seventy persons were burnt to death, suffocated with smoke, or trodden to death in their endeavours to escape. Among the deceased were the governor of the state, the president of the bank, and other principal characters of the city. The resolutions of the committee of foreign relations were principally agreed to. The number of troops to be raised was a subject of much discussion. A bill from the Senate, was at length agreed to in the house, for raising twenty-five thousand. Other bills were passed, naval and military, preparatory to a state of hostilities. Most of the states, excepting those of New- England, passed legislative resolutions, or addressed the President or Congress, encouraging a war with Great Britain. February 18, 1812. The first object of the expect- ed war being the reduction of Canada and Nova-Sco- MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION. 193 tia, the chairman of the committee of foreign relations, Mr. P. B. Porter, offered a I'csolutioii for raising, iu addition to the regular army, twenty thousand volmi- teers. He stated that the regular forces of Canada, amounted to six thousand, and the militia, neither well organized, armed nor disciplined, were about twenty thousand. He was confident, with the regular force, and the vo- lunteers, that Canada might be taken in a few weeks, excepting Quebec : that in a little time, they " could proceed at their leisure to the siege and reduction of Quebec :" — " a part of the forces could return to New- England, and with other forces proceed into the eastei-n provinces, and to Halifax, for the purpose of taking possession of them." The resolution was lost, forty- nine to fifty-seven. March 9. The President communicated to Congress the correspondence of a Captain John Henry, a British spy, with the governor of Canada, which had taken place three years before. Henry, at that time, resided in Boston, Suspicions were, for a short time, entertain- ed by some, that the spy was connected with some cha- racters of influence, in a plot to dismember the Union ; but not the least evidence appearing, the subject, after causing much sensation, in a short time died away. An act was passed, April 3d, for laying an embargo for ninety days. June 1. The President sent a message to both houses, recommending a war with Great Britain. The princi- pal grounds for war, as stated in the message, were r the impressmeiit of American seamen by the British; the blockading of the ports of their enemies, without an adequate forc€ ; the ordei^ iii council, and a suspicion that the Indians had been instigated to acts of hostility, hy British agents; The bill for declaring war passed the House of Re- presentatives, seven ty-nirje to forty-nine, on the fourth of June, and the Senate nineteen 4o thirteen, on the se- venteenth ; the next day it was signed by ihe President. Four days after, the de<:rees of Berlin and Milan hav- I 194 HISTORY OF THE UxMTED STATES. ing been officially revoked in April, the orders in coun- cil were repealed. The minority in the House of Representatives enter- ed a long protest against the declaration of war. The subject of impressments, they declared, had once been satisfactorily adjusted between the British court and Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney, and though the treaty made by them was not ratified, the same terms might be obtained : official notice being given of the repeal of the French decrees, they entertained no doubt of the revocation of the orders in council : the blockading of enemies' ports, without an adequate force, was but a re- taliation for the same conduct on the part of the French : the French government was considered the first and the greater aggressor on neutral rights. The war, by the minority generally, was considered as impolitic, unnecessary^, and unjust, and produced, in a great measure, by the influence of France. By its supporters, it was pronounced unavoidable and just ; and undertaken without the least influence of the French government. The editors of the Federal Republican, of Baltimore, Messrs. Wagner and Hanson, having published som* severe strictures on the declaration of war, a mob assem- bled at night, tore down their office, destroyed the printing materials, and committed other outrages. The paper was some time after re-established at Georgetown, adjoining the city of Washington. A house was en- gaged in the city of Baltimore, from which to distribute the papers. The junior editor, A. C Hanson, with General H. Lee, General Lingan, revolutionary officers, and many others, having provided arms and ammunition, deter- mined, if attacked, to defend themselves in the exercise of their undoubted rights. In the evening of July 27th, a mob collected, and made an attack on the house, principally with stones. While forcing the door, seve- ral muskets were fired, by which two persons were kill- ed and several wounded. The military arriving, a compromise took place; WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. lyb and the persons in the h.ouse surrendered, on a promise of security and safety in the prison. The next night the mob re-assembled ; broke open the gaol, killed Ge- neral Lingan, mangled and bruised eleven others, eight of whom were thrown in a iieap in front of the gaol, supposed to be dead. Some of the ringleaders were afterwards tried, but escaped punishment. Aug. 20. Captain Isaac Hull, of the United States frigate Constitution, after an action of thirty minutes, captured the British frigate Guerricre, commanded b}' Captain Dacres. The loss of the Guerriere was fifteen killed, sixty-four wounded, ^nd twenty-one missing. On board the Constitution, seven were killed and seven wounded. General Hull,-with an army of about two thousand, (Aug. 15th) surrendered to a British, Canadian and In- dian force. General Hull was afterwards tried by a court-martial, for treason, cowardice, Sic. He was cleared from the charge of treason, but condemned to be shot on other charges. The sentence was approved, but the punishment remitted. About one thousand troops, commanded by General Van Rensselaer, crossed the river near Niagara, in No- vember, and attacked the British at Queenstown. They were at first successful, but, not being reinforced, they were, after a long and obstinate engagement, com- pelled to surrender. Sixty were killed, and about one hundred wounded. The British commander, General Brock, was killed. In November, the British sloop of war the Frolic, was captured, after a severe engagement, by the Wasp, commanded by Captain Jacob Jones. About thirty were killed, and fifty wounded, on board the Frolic : the American loss was five killed : five were wounded, but not dangerously. The W^asp was afterwards cap- tured by the Poictiers, a British seventy-four. Commodore Stephen Decaiur, of the United States, fell in with the British frigate Macedonian, off the West- ejfn Islands, and after an action of an hour and a half captured Iter. Her commander was Ca^ptaln John C«r- 196 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. den. On board the Macedonian, thirty-six were killed and sixty-eight wounded : on board the United States, seven were killed and five wounded. In December, the Constitution, Commodore Bain- bridge, off the coast of Brazils, after an action of almost two hours, captured the British frigate the Java. The American loss was nine killed and twenty-five wounded : the British loss was sixty killed and one hundred and one wounded. 1813. An action was fought at the river Raisin be- iwcen a detachment of the north-western army, com- manded by General Winchester, and a British and In- dian force, commanded by Colonel Proctor. A large number of Americans were killed and wounded ; and above five hundred made prisoners. The greatest part of the prisoners were inhumanly massacred by the In- dians, Proctor being unable, or unwilling to protect them, as he had expressly stipulated ! February 24. Captain James Lawrence, of the Hor- net, fell in with and captured the British sloop of war, the Peacock, commanded by Captain William Peak. Tiie action lasted but eight minutes. The British cap- tain and several others were killed, and twenty-nine wounded. On boai'd the Hornet, three were w^ounded.- The Peacock sunk soon after the action, carrying down thirteen of her own crew, and three Americans, who were assisting in removing prisoners and baggage. April. Messrs. Albert Gallatin and James A. Bay- ard, were appointed commissioners to proceed to Rus- sia, and, in conjunction with John Q. Adams, minister resident at St. Petersburg, meet such commissioners as should be sent by the British court, for the purpose of concluding a peace, through the mediation of Alexan- der, the emperor of Russia. York, the seat of government for Upper Canada, was taken possession of, by troops under command of General Dearborn, April 27. * When within sixiy rods of the main works of the British, an explosion took place from a magazine, previously prepared for tlie Durposc, by which about oue hundred xVnaericans were WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 197 killed; among whom was the commander of the de- tachment, General Pike. The British lost about six hundred, killed, wounded, and prisoners. The Chesapeake was Blockaded by the British dur- ing the spring, and several predatory excursions by their troops^ were made, at Havre de Grace, George- town, in Kent county, and Fredericktown, in Cecil county, (Md.) the villages being burnt, and much pro- perty plundered and destroyed. May 5. Several sorties v/ere made from fort Meigs against the British, in which the American loss was two hundred and sixty-six, killed and wounded. The fort was maintained. Four days after, the siege was raised. An attack was macre,May 29th, on Sacket's Harbour, by about one thousand British. The enemy was re- pulsed with considerable loss. General Brown com- manded the American, and Sir George Prevost th# British troops^ June 1. Captain Lawrence, who had recently been appointed to the command of the Chesapeake, thenl^^ing in Boston hai'bour, and pri^pared for sea, left the port in pursuit of the British frigate Shannon, commanded by Captain Broke, which had been for some time in the bay seeking an engagement vi^ith an American frigate. The action commenced about a quarter before six, P. M. By the first broadside the sailing master was killed, and Captain Lawrence niortall}^ wounded. In twelve minutes the Chesapeake was boarded and taken. The Shannon lost twenty-three killed, and fifty-six wounded. On board the Chesapeake the Captain and first Lieutenant were mortally wounded ; the fourth Lieutenant was killed and about fift}^ others : one hun- dred and four were wounded. Captain Lawrence surviv- ed four days, and was interred with naval and military honours at Halifax. His body was afterwards taken up, and brought to Salem, and carried thence to New-York where it was buried with much solemnity. ^ort George, commanded by General Vincent, was taken by the American forces under General Boyd and Colonel Miller, (May 27th,) after a sharp conflict, in 198 HISTOKY OF THE UNITED STATES. v» Inch the loss of the enemy was far greater than that of the United States' troops. An attack was made on Craney Island, near Norfolk, by the British, in which they were defeated with con- siderable loss. An engagement soon after took place at Hampton, of which the British, under Admiral Cock- burn, obtained possession for some time; and where it is said, the British troops were guilty of much wanton barbarii}^ A very gallant naval engagement took place, Sep- tember 10th on Lake Erie, between the British and American forces. The British force consisted of five vessels, having sixty-three guns. The American force consisted of nine vessels having fifty-four guns. The cnem}? commenced firing a little before twelve o'clock ; h) a few minutes the fire was returned. The long guns of tlie enemy were very destructive to the Lawrence, a brig of twenty guns, on board of which was Captain Perry, the commander of the squadron. Every brace and bowline of the Lawrence were soon cut away, and she became unmanageable. The Lawrence, in this situation, continued the action for two hours, till every gun was useless and the great- er part of the crew were killed or wounded. The wind rising, a little after two o'clock, enabled the Niagara (of 20 guns) to come into close action. Perry left the Lawrence, and in an open boat went on board the Ni- agara. Soon after, the Lawrence lowered her flag, but the enemy were unable to take possession. About three o'clock the Niagara, which had been but little injured, passed through the enemy's line, bore up and passed ahead of their two ships and a brig, giv- ing a raking fire from the starboard guns to them, and from the larboard side to a large schooner, and sloop. In a short time the whole force surrendered. The loss on tlie part of the American squadron, was one hiin- (h-ed and twenty-three killed and wounded : the British loss was much greater. Information of this victory was thus given to Gene- ral Harrison. WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 199 "Dear General. — We have met the enemy and they are ours. — Two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. Yours with great respect and esteem, " O. H. PERRY.'^ The American brig Argus, commanded by Captain Allen, was captured, xVugust 14th, in tiie British chan- nel, by the Pelican, after a sharp conflict, in which the American commander was mortally wounded. October. , Detroit was abandoned by the enemy, on the approach of a large army under General Harrison ; who soon after, with a superior force, defeated the ene- my under the command of General Proctor. The northern campaign for this season, ended with- out any thing very effective towards the conquest of Canada. Great preparations were made for subduing Upper Canada, and taking Montreal. This object was to be effected by the union of two divisions: one of about five tliousand, under the command of General Hampton, then in the vicinity of Plattsburg; the other, with about ^ight thousand, under the command of Ge- neral Wilkinson. General Hampton made a short incursion into Cana- da; but soon after retreated to this side the boundary line. A misunderstanding, or disagreement, arising between the two generals, the troops under Hampton did not join those under W^iikinson. The latter ge^ neral descended the St. Lawrence, in November, san- guine in his expectations of subduing Montreal. An engagement took place between a part of Wilkin- son's troops, about three thousand, under General Boyd and a detachment of the British under Lieut. Colonel Morrison, in which the Americans were repulsed, with the loss of upwards of three hundred in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The design of attacking Montreal was then relinquished, and the army wentinto winter quarters. The remaining forces were withdrawn from the Nia- gara frontier, the town of Newark being burnt, at the order of the commanding general. In retaliation for which, the British soon after crossed the river, burnt Buffaloe and some other villages, and laid waste the whole frontier. 2Q0 HISTORY OF THE UxMTED STATES. The Creek Indians, who had for some time been in open hostilities with th« United States, were completely subdued this season and the succeeding spring, princi- pally by troops under the command of General Andrew Jackson. January, 1814. Jonathan Russel, Esq. and Henry Clay, Esq. were appointed commissioners, to join Messrs. Adams, Bayard and Gallatin, for the purpose of meeting such as might be appointed by the British government. Lord Gambier, Henry Goulbourn, and William Adams, were appointed by the court of St, James to meet them. The place for their assembling was first fixed at Gottenburg ; but afterwards changed to Ghent, in Flanders ; where they convened in August. The frigate Essex, commanded by Captain David Por- ter, after having captured a great number of the vessels of the enemy, mostly employed in the whale fishery, was herself captured, March 28th, in the bay of Val- parf»?so, by the British frigate Phebe, and sloop Cherub. The British force was vastly superior to the American j the defence was gallant and obstinate. April 29. After an action of forty-two minutes, the British brig Epervier surrendered to the Peacock. On board the Peacock two were wounded : the Epervier lost eight killed, and thirteen wounded. In the beginning of July, fort Erie was taken, with considerable loss to the British. A battle was fought at Chippewa, July 5, in which the American forces obtained a brilliant victory. A very sanguinary battle was fought, July 25th, at Bridgewater, by the Ameri- cans, under General Brown and General Scott, and the British, under General Drummond and General B-iall. The Battle lasted from four o'clock, P. M. till midnight. The British lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, nearly nine hundred. The American loss was less, and the American forces maintained their ground ; while the British retired. The town of Eastport, on one of the islands in the bay of Passamaquoddy, was taken by a large British naval force, From the 16th to the 20th of August, about sixty MW WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 201 sail of the British arrived in the Chesapeake. Above fifty of them lauded at Benedict, on the Patuxent, about forty miles from the city of Washington. Several ves- sels at the same time entered the Potomac. On the 22dj the British flankers reached tiie Woodyard, tv/elve miles from Washington. A large flotilla of gunboats, commanded by Commodore Barnej^, were here blown up, to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. On the 23d, the British forces, estimated at about six thousand, reached Bladensburg, about six miies from Washington. Here a short engagement took place ; but the greater part of the American miiitia fled. Arrived at the city, Commodore Barney, with a few eighteen pounders and about four hundred men, made a gallant resistance ; bat he was compelled to yield to numbers ; he was wounded and taken prisoner. The navy-yard was destroyed by order of the Secretary of the Navy. The British troops under General Ross, destro^^d the capitol, the President's house, and executive offices. In the night of the 2oth, tiie British retired, gained their shipping by rapid marciies, and re-embarked. The British loss, in killed, wounded and prisoners, was supposed to be nearly five hundred : the American, less than one hundred. Private property was gene- rally respected ; but the order to burn the public build- ings, reflects upon the commanding oflicer nothing but disgrace. The vessels that ascended the Potomac, under the command of Captain Gordon, arrived at Alexandria, and took from the defenceless inhabitants a vast quan- tity of flour and other plunder ; and escaped down the river with little molestation. Fort Erie was attacked by the British, August 14th, Lieut. General Drummond having the command. Af- ter a severe conflict, he was repulsed with the loss of five hundred and eighty-two, in killed, wounded and prisoners ; two hundred and twenty-one being killed. The American loss in killed and wounded was two hundred and forty-five. The British took peaceable possession of Castine, on I 2 202 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. the Penobscot, September 1st, with a large naval force. The next d?iy they proceeded to Hampden, about thirty-five miles up the river. The Corvette Adams, ly- ing here, was destroyed by her commander, Capt. Mor- ris, to prevent her falling into the enemy's hands. The sea-ports on the New-England coast being considered in danger, the militia were called out, and fortifications erected for their defence. After the capture of Washington, an attack was ex- pected upon Baltimore ; for which preparation was made. On Sunday, September I Itb, between forty and fifty ships were seen near the moittb of the Petapsco^ about twelve miles from the city. The larger vessels landed, at North Point, about seven tboiis^ind troopSj. under Major General Ross and Admiral Cockburn. An engagement took place, on Monday about one o'clock, ill whieh the Americans were repulsed by su- perior numbers. The engagement afterwards became ]Dore general, though tlie British force was superior.. Oil Tuesday evening the enemy advanced to within twa miles of the American entreiiehments. So strong how- over was the American force, and so valiantly had they foaght the preceding day, that the attempt to gain pos- session o^f the city was abandoned, and the troops re- treated before mormng and hastily re-embarked» Ma- jor General Ross was killed. Early on the morning of Tuesday, a grand attack was made on fort McHenry, from frigates, bomb and rocket vessels, which continued through the day and the greater part of the night,, doing however but very little damage. In the night about a thousand o£ the British landed between the fort and the city, but were soon repulsed with great loss. In the fort, four were killed and twenty wounded. !Xhe loss of tiie enemy in the attack on the fort is not known. The whole American loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, was two hundred and thirteen. The British official account makes their loss in killed, wounded, missing and prisoners, two hundred and rJoety ; bat there is good reason for believing it to be WAft With great britaix. 203 mnth more. The enemy thus discomfitted, moved down the bay. The Governor-General of Canada, Su' George Pre- vostj v^ith from twelve to fourteen thousand men, made an attack on Plattsburg, September 11. At the same time a naval engagement, on Lake Champlam, took place in sight of the land forces. The American naval force, having eighty-six guns and eight hundred and twenty-six men, was commanded by Mc Donough : the British naval force, consisting of ninety-iive guns and one thousand and fifty men, was commanded by Commodore Downie. The action began about nine o'clock, A. M. and continued two hours and twenty minutes, with obsti- nate gallantry on both sides. It ended in the surren- der of the British vessels, viz. one frigate, one brig, and two sloops of war. Some of their gallies were sunk ; others escaped. Of the Americans, fifty-two were killed , and fifty-eight wounded. Of the British, eighty-foui were killed, and one hundred and ten wounded. At the same time that the fleets were engaged, tlie British attacked the forts at Plattsburg, throwing shelh. balls and rockets. They attempted to cross the river Saranac, to assault the American works, but were re- pulsed in three different places, where the attempt was made. The fire of the enemy was returned with so much effect, that, before sunset, the batteries he had erected were all silenced ; and at nine o'clock, his whole army began a rapid retreat, leaving many of his wounded and much ammunition, provision and baggage^ The Ame- rican loss, in the engagement of this day,, and in skir- mishes previous, was thirty-nine killed, sixty-two wounded, and twenty missing. The toss of the British, in killed, wounded and desertions, was estimated \t two thousand five hundred. The American land forces were commanded by General Alex. Macomb. Soon after the declaration of war, measures were ta- ken to secure an ascendency on Lake Ontario, where the American force consisted of only a single vessel. This disposition at the principal port(Sacket*s Harbour) 204 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, produced corresponding efforts by the enemy at Kings- ton, until several large ships were built in both ports, carrying from 20 to 60 guns. The American fleet was commanded by Commodore Ghauncey, and the British by Commodore Yeo. As each force became predominant, the command of the lake was surrendered to such force ; and such was the skill and sagacity of the commanders, that the in- ferior force could never be brought into a general ac- tion. A partial engagement once took place, but with little effect, as the Brjtish commander felt unwilling to hazard such a stake, and took advantage of circum- stances to make his port. One of the British vessels, ready for sea at the close of the war, mounted nearly one hundred guns ; and two of the largest class of ves- sels in the world, are now on the stocks at Sacket's Harbour. In a sortie from fort Erie, under the command of General Jacob Brown, after a severe engagement, the British were defeated, with the loss of nearly a thou- sand, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The Ameri- can loss, in killed and wounded was upwards of five- hundred. October 8. A committee to whom was referred, in the legislature of Massachusetts, the speech of the go- vernor, Mr. Strong, made a report, recommending the organization of ten thousand troops, for the defence of the sea-board ; and the appointment of delegates, to meet such delegates as may be appointed by other states, to confer " on the subjects of their public griev- ances, and upon the best means of preserving their resources, and of defence against the enemy; and to 4evise and suggest for adoption, by those respective states, such measures, as they may deem expedient; and also to take measures, if they shall think proper, for procuring a convention of delegates from all the United States, in order to revise the constitution thereof, &ic." In consequence of these resolutions, which were adopted, delegates were chosen in Massachusetts, Con- necticut and Rhode-Island. Vermont refused, and New- WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 205 Hampshire neglected to send. Two delegates were, however, elected by counties in the latter State, and one in the former. On the 15th of December the dele- gates met at Hartford. On the fourth of January they made a long report, concluding with the recommenda- tion of several resolutions for altering the constitution ; so that Representatives and direct taxes should be in proportion to the number of free persons ; that no new state be admitted into the union, without the concur- rence of two thirds of both houses of Congress; that no embargo be laid for more tl^n sixty days ; that commercial intercourse shall not be interdicted, nor war declared, without the concurrence of two-thirds of both houses of Congress ; that no person hereafter na- turalized shall be eligible as Senator or Representative ; that no President shall be twice elected, nor a Presi- dent twice chosen from the same state in succession. Provision was also made for calling another conven- tion, should the government of the United States refuse permission to the New-England states, separately or in concert, to assume upon themselves the defence of their territory, holding for the expense a reasonable proportion of the public taxes ; or should peace not take place ; or should the defence of the New-England states be neglected by Congi^ess as since the war. Peace soon after taking place, another convention was not called. The resolutions for amending the con- stitution were submitted to the Legislatures of the seve- ral states, and rejected with general unanimity. January 15, 1815. The frigate President, Commo- dore Decatur, sailed from N«w-l^ork on the 14th, and was the next day pursued by four frigates and a brig of the enemy. An engagement took place between the foremost of the pursuing vessels, the Endymion and the President. The Endym.ion, after a severe batde of two hours, was silenced and beat off. The Pomone and Teoedos, in three hours came up with the President, the other British vessels being close astern, and the Pre- sident was obliged to surrender. About this period the Constitution, commanded by Commodore^tuart, fell in with the Cyane and Levant, 206 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. two British sloops of war, on the coast of Africa, and captured both in succession. The Levant was, how- ever, retaken before arriving in port. A very large British force entered Lake Ponchar- train, near New-Orleans, early in December, defeating after an obstinate conflict, the small American naval force' stationed there. The British forces were under the command of General Packeoham ; the American under that of Major General Andrew Jackson. Several skirmishes took place, in which the British were the far greater sufferers. On Sunday morning early, January 8, a grand attack was made by the British on the American troops in their entrenchments^ After an engagement of npwards of an hour, the enemy were cut to pieces to a degree almost beyond example, and fled in confusion, leaving on the field of batde their dead and wounded. The loss of the British was, killed seven hundred, wounded fourteen hundred, prisoners five hundred^ making twenty-iix hundred in the total. The Ameri- can loss in the engagement was seven only killed, and six wounded ! Sir Edward Packenham and Major General Gibbs, were among the slain. The attack was not renewed, and in a short time after the British left the coast. February 11. An English sloop of war, the Favour- ite, arrived at New-York, bringing the joyful intelli- gence that a treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent^ between the American and British commissioners, oa the twenty-fourth of December. On the 17th the treaty was ratified by the President and Senate.. To those who from the beginning had opposed the war, and to those who had been its strenuous supporters, tlie news of peace was received with equal, and with the highest satisfaction. None of the subjects for which, the war was avowed- ly declared were mentioned in the treaty ; which, be- sides the common expressions of peace and amity, only provided for tli^e adjustment of disputed or uncertain boundaries, and the restoration of territories and pos- sessions obtained by the contending powers. A BRIEF COMPENDIUM OF SOME OP THE PRINCIPAL EMPIRES AND STATES IN THE ■•;^i4^4m<^ Notwithstanding the pretensions of the Chinese, with regard to their antiquity as a nation, and to the great antiquity of some of their books, there is scarcely a learned man, who does not believe the Pentateuch, or five first books of the Old Testament, to be the old- est writing in existence. From Moses we have the account of the creation of ilie world, (about 4000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ,) the transgression of Adam and Eve, the death of Abel, the deluge [B. C* 2348] the tower of Babel, the confusion of tongues, and consequent dispersion of the descendants of Noah, and other particulars, as re- corded in sacred history. These descendants scattered themselves throughout the neighbouring countries. Some settled Egypt, others the different kingdoms of Greece. Nimrod laid t\ie foundation of Babylon, the capital of the Chaldean Empire ; and Ninus of Nineveh, the capital of the As- syrian. Abraham [B. C. 1&31] was directed by the Almighty to proceed westward frofry the plains of Sliinar, and settle on the eastern borders of the Mediterranean, (the Holy land afterwards called:) and here this terri- tory was promised to him and bis offspring for ever, after the lapse of several centuries ofservitudein Egypt. The seiling of Joseph into Egypt, occasioned tlie re- moval of the Israelites to that country. The Israelites, [B. C. about 1500] left Egypt; and, after many years wandering, arrived at Jordan, the eastern boundary of the promised land. Here Moses and Aaron died. Jo- * These letters, B. C. mean— Befcro (he birth of Christ. A. D. Anno Doiniui, m the- year after his birth, 2Qa A BRIEF COMPENDIUM sbua subdued the country; and the twelve tribes divi- ded and settled it. Here they continued, and were go- verned, upwards of three hundred years, by their mO" ral laws and those of the priesthood. Saul was their first king : [B. C. about 1 100.] Da- vid and Solomon succeeded. Soon after which, the tribes were divided. Those of Benjamin and Judah had their kings : the other ten tribes theirs. Nebuchad- nezzar carried into captivity, [B. C. 600] the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah ; the other ten tribes having long before, [B. C 720] been conquered by Psalma- nazer, king of Assyria, who overran their cities, spread- ing destruction every where, and carried his captives to Nineveh. These mingling with the Assyrians, were never more known or distinguished as the descendants of Jacob. After remaining in captivity about 70 years, the two tribes returned to Jerusalem. Here they, continued, of- ten greatly distressed, and engaged in many wars ; till they became subject to the Romans. Jesus Christ ap- pearing, they denied his Messiahship, and put hitn to death. Titus, the Roman general, [A. D. 70] destroy- ed the city of Jerusalem, and levelled it with the dust. From this period to the present moment, the Jews have been scattered amongst all nations of the globe, a distinct people, adhering to the laws of Moses, and the Jewish ritual ; having never a government of their own, but subject to the caprices, cruelties, and deprivations, of every government where they reside, or haveresided. ASSYRIA AND SYRIA. Tliese names^ by many ancient authors, have been often confounded. Syria has beeo more generally used for the countries between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates, Assyria, for that which lies between Me- dia, Mesopotamia, Armenia and Babylon. The Assy- rian was probably the oldest empire in the world. It is supposed to have flourished about 1200 years. Its founder was Ninus, or Belus ; the queen Semiramis was one of its greatest rulers. Babylon, the capital, OF EMPIRES AND STATES. 209 situated on the banks of the Euphrates, was perhaps the largest city in the world. Cyrus, king of Persia, [B. C. 538] laid siege to it : Belshazzar, the king, hav- ing retired within its walls with twenty years' provision. The night, however, in which the hand writing appear- ed on the wall, Cyrus entered the city ; having dug a new channel, by which the Euphrates was turned into the Tigris, and the channel of the former river became dry. The kingdom was conquered, and united to that of Persia under Cyrus. In Babylon, died Alexander the Great. By Seleu- cus, one of his generals, it was made the capital of his kingdom, and continued among his descendants, the head of the Syrian empire, till the last of those de- scendants was dethroned by Pompey the Great, [B. C. 65] when it was made a Roman province. EGYPT. By whom Egypt was first settled is uncertain ; more ^ generally its settlement is attributed to Misraim ; but some authors contend that its first inhabitants were from Ethiopia. Among some learned writers, it is still a subject of dispute, whether its ancient inhabitants were white or black, or copper coloured. Though this renowned kingdom was for so many centuries the first in civilization and in the cultivation of the arts,, and so long maintained its high character, in extent of territory it scarcely surpassed the state of New-York. The Nile was the great source of its wealth, its populousness, and its power. This great river over- flowed annually its banks, to the height of about 25 feet for several months, and left, on retiring, a richness of mud that rendered the land exceedingly fertile. So ancient is this country, that no historian knows when or by whom were built the vast pyramids, which remain, almost unchanged, to the present day : having stood, probably, nearly four thousand years. Egypt is said once to have contained 20,000 cities ; the chief of which was Thebes, Memphis and Alexandria. Carabyses, king of Persia, conquered Egypt : [B. 210 A BRIEF COMPENDIUM C 525] the Egyptians, however, revolted, and were go- verned hy then' own kings, till the conquest by Alexan- der the Great. After which, Ptolemy and his succes- sors governed it, till Augustus [B. C. 30] made it a Roman province : the beautiful and the dissolute Cleo- patra, being the last of the race of the Ptolemies. Egypt continued a Roman province several centu- ries. It was conquered [A. D. 640] by Amrou. Tu- lais, Algiers, Tripoli, and the empire of Morocco, were made separate governments. The ancient boundaries of Egypt contain Jews, Christians, and Musselmen, or followers of Mahomet. The country is under nominal subjection to the Ottoman Porte, or, Mahometan Court of Constantinople. PERSIA. Under Cyrus, were united the Babylonian, Median, and Persian empires, [B. C. 536.] This country be- came subject to the Romans, and afterwards to the Ara- bians. The famous Genghis Khan, [A. D. 1190] from the north of Persia, subdued Persia, and the hither In- dia, to the borders of China : the Mogul's empire was established on his victories. Tamerlane, another Tartar prince, extended the Mo- gul's empire, [A. D. HOO.] KouliKhan, [A. D. 1732] a Persian prince, diminished the strength of the Mogul's empire, and established his own power in Persia. Ci- vil wars, from this time, have been common in Persia, which is at present governed by several independent sovereignties. GREECE. This territory is now called " Turkey in Europe." It is generally supposed to have been settled by emi- grants from Egypt and Phoenicia. Athens and Sparta were considered the eyes of this empire. Solon was the principal lawgiver to Athens, and Lycurgus to Sparta. The laws of Solon Were generally wise and merciful. Those of Lycurgus were arbitrary. In Spar- ta, the government established by Lycurgus was con- r«»:i.»uiii. ■i.ii.ai.imnfiy^j OF EMPIRES AND STATES. 211 tiiMied about five centuries. It was impossible in Spar- ta for any man to be rich ; their current coin being iron, a bushel of wheat demanded a stout pair of oxen to carry to the vender the amount of sale. Literature, voluptuousness, dissipation, philosophy and folly, were the alternate and concomitant rulers of Athens for many centuries. Greece was divided into many states. Union among them was often sought ; and wise provisions made for its preservation. Local and political jealousies disunited these states. Probably the first instance of a general union of the Grecian States, for warlike or political purposes, was that which occasioned the famous Trojan war. The critical Bryant has introduced much learning and much argument to prove this war the issue of Homer's brain : but the literary world denounce his theorj^ The son of Priam, king of Troy, is supposed to have corrupted the beautiful Helen, wife of Menelaus, and carried her to Troy. By her husband's instigation and authorit}', all the states of Greece became his par- tizans. After a siege often years on the part of Greece against the city of Troy, by stratagem it was at length subdued. Xerxes, king of Persia, attempted the conquest of Greece, with an army, by different historians calcu- lated at two, and from thence to five millions of soldiers. He passed the Hellespont by a bridge of boats, and en- tered the plains of Greece. Leonidas, a Spartan prince, at the mountainous straight of Thermopylce, perform- ed wonders of valour. A naval action subsequently took place between the Persian and Grecian fleets, at Sala- mis, near Athens, in which the Persian fleet was defeat- ed ; and Xerxes returned to Persia with the fragment of an army, and the fullness of defeat and disgrace. The different states of Greece had frequent civil ivars, till they were defeated by Alexander the Great ; and they afterwards became subject to the government of the Romans. At present what was ancient Greece, is under the control of the Ottoman Porte of Constantinople, 212 A BRIEF COMPENDIUM ROME. The Roman Empire extended, at and subsequent to the birth of Jegiis Christ, over the whole world as then known, excepting the eastern part of Asia. The city of Rome was founded by Romulus, 753 3^ears before the birth of Christ. Men only were its first inhabitants > The men and women of a neighbouring territory, the Sabines, were invited to a feast in this new, rude city, when the Romans seized on the Sabine women and each took to himself a wife by force.. After the death of Romulus, the city and then little Roman empire, was governed by kings about 250 years. The last king, Tarquin the Proud, so called, overcom- ing by force the conjugal chastity ef Lucretia, a Ro- man matron of the Patrician, or noble order, caused a rebellion which ended regal government. Instead of a king, two officers, called Consuls, were annually elect- ed, under whose authority the government was admi- nistered about 500 years, when Julius Caesar was made Dictator ; another name for King. The Romans for several centuries anterior to the dictatorship of Julius Caesar, were remarkable for the plainness of their habits, their military spirit, their con- quests, their civil dissentions, and the extension of their dominions. Carthage, a eity of much commerce and great opu- lence, was long the rival of Rome. After several long and bloody wars, this city, situated near where Tunis now stands, was destroyed by the Romans, B. C. 146. About this period, literature, with the arts and sciences, was introduced into Rome, from Greece, and generally cultivated. Fifty years before the Saviour's birth, Julius Caesai' and Pompey the Great, were Roman Consuls. Caesar after having gained many battles in France and Spain, discovered and partially subdued Great Britain, and re- turning from the west, made war on Pompey. A bat- tle was fought at Pharsalia, in which the arms of Caesar were victorious. After enjoying the supreme command about five years, he was murdered in the Capitok OF EMPIRES AND STATES. 2i3 The murderers of Caesar, the principal of whom were Briitas and Cassias, engaged in a civil war with Mark Anthony, ^\^o was victorious at Phillippi. Subse- quently Octavius, a relation of Julius Csesar, after- wards the Emperor Augustus, defeated Anthony in a naval action, and became the first Emperor of Rome, To him succeeded many emperors ; most of them of the most dissolute character ; till A. D. 331, when the Emperor Constantine established the christian religion, destroying all the heathen temples, and removed the seat of government from Rome to Byzantium, then call- ed Constantinople, in honour of the emperor. Constantinople continued the capital of the Eastern Empire, so called in distinction from the Western Em- pire, the capital of which was Rome. The Eastern Empire continued till 1453, when it was conquered by Mahomet II. and has since been the seat of govern- ment of the Turidsh empire. About the year 800, Charlemagne, then Emperor of the West, delivered Rome and all Italy to the jurisdic- tion of the Bishop of Rome, who had long sustained the appellation of the pope; and by his successors, much of Italy has ever since been held, under the name of the Ecclesiastical States. CARTHAGE. The exact time when commenced the foundation of Carthage, the capital of the Carthaginian state, is not known. It is generally supposed to have been built by Dido, or Elisa, a Tyriau princess, 869 years before Christ. The husband of this princess is supposed to have been murdered by her broth§r-in-law, Pygmalion. Dido, however, contrived to escape from Tyre, and set- tled on the coast of Africa. The Carthaginians, as theji^iicreased in power, had many engagements with the ndghbouring states, all of which they subdued ; and at length extended their con- quests to Spain, Sicily and Sardinia; and became, and long continued the rivals of Rome. The Romans having beheld with jealousy the growth 214 A BRIEF COMPENDIUM of Carthage, for almost three centuries, sought an op- portunity for the declaration of war, commonly called the first Punic war, B. C 264, which conthiued twenty- three years, and ended in a peace much to the advan- tage of the Romans. The second Punic war began, B. C. 218. The fa- mous Hannibal, with an army of 90,000 foot and 12,- 000 horse, crossed the Rhone, the Alps and Appenines, with a determination to pursue his march to Rome. He was victorious in the battle at Cannae, in which 45,000 Romans were slain : but the wines of Italy ener- vated his army ; the prudence of Fabius and the mili- tary skill of Scipio, prevailed over the diminished forces of Hannibal ; and after ] 7 years of war, a peace was concluded, most debasing on the part of Carthage and which greatly diminished her power, and destroyed the means of her increase. During fifty years of peace, the Carthaginians en- deavoured to repair their losses, and prepare for anoth- er encounter with their rivals. The third Punic war. commenced, B. C. 149. It was the determination of the Roman Senate, if possible, entirely to destroy the city of Carthage. This was effected, partly by force and partly by treachery. After offering terms of peace, (the principal of which was, that the Carthaginians should deliver up all their arms,) the Romans informed them that it was the decree of the Roman Senate, that their city should be destroyed. The Carthaginians were astonished at this treachery, and held out a long time ; but at length the city, 23 miles in circumference, was set on fire, and burned 17 days, and the Carthaginian power was completely de- stroyed, B. C. 147. Thus this city, long the seat of commerce, of wealth, and strength, the model of mag- nificence, and tlie storehouse of the riches of the world, was razed to its foundations, so that scarcely a trace of existence can be discerned. mMBna—MTOB— — 1 OF EMPIRES AND STATES. 215 CHINA. iVhatever may be the pretensions of the Chhiese/ nothing authentic respecting their history can be traced beyond the dynasty ofTu, before Christ about 2,000 years. To defend themselves from the Tartars, the Chinese built a wall, 1500 miles in length. The Tar- tars passed the wall, A. D. 1635, and subdued China. The present emperor, is a descendant of the Tartar conquerors ; the ancient laws, habits and government of the Chinese, being embraced by the Tartar victors. A. D. 1692, the Pope sent missionaries to China, to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. They had much success, till suspected of interfering with the administration of government. The conse- quence of this suspicion was, A. D. 1742, the demoli- tion of all christian churches, and the total expulsion of the Jesuit missionaries from the country. The Chinese have no navy, nor merchant vessels. Their produce is sold to foreigners, who are their car- riers. Attempts have heen made, twice within thirty years, on the part of Great Britain, to establish a com- mercial treaty with the Emperor of China, but without success. Probably there is no other country in which every foot of ground is cultivated as in this. Our teas, of herbs equalling or excelling which there is an abun- dance in America, are brought from this country. The ware called Chinaj is or may be nearly equalled in Eu- rope or America. TARTARY. This country includes a vast extent of territory to the north. The inhabitants are descendants from the ancient Scythians. Their mode of life has ever been, as now, wandering. There imve been, and are, many cities of wealth and importaiftj ; but literature and the refinements of civilized society, are strangers to them. The horse is their companion, their servant, their wealth and their food. The whole country is now, and has long been, subject to the Emperor of Russia : 216 A BRIEF COMPENDIUM and the present Emperor Alexander, is pursuing all the measures of wisdom, policy and goodness, to render this portion of his subjects useful, happy and honourable. HINDOSTAN. Five years after the discovery of America by Colum- bus, the Portuguese passed the Cape of Good Hope, and discovered the peninsula called India within the Ganges. Nine years after was made the settlement of Goa, on the Malabar coast. The first curse to civil and religious liberty was the establishment of the inquisition to this day there remaining, a monument of folly, bi- gotry and cruelty. In the year 1600 was first establish- ed, by the government of Great Britain, The East In- dia Company. Under this company, supported by the wealth, authority and arras of the British govern- ment, an immense empire has been added to the Bri- tish crown. FRANCE. It is generally agreed that, towards the close of the 5th century, the Franks, with some Goths, Vandals, &;c. crossed the Rhine, from Germany, and settled in France under Faramond their leader. Their first king was Clovis. The Sai'acens invaded France in 751 ; but were repulsed by Charles Martel, one of the French kings. Charlemagne, in the beginning of the 9th cen- tury, got possession of France, Germany, part of Hun- gary, part of Spain, the low countries and most of Italy. Hugh Capet, a French nobleman, drove the reigning monarch from the throne, 987, which he transmitted to his descendants, in whose possession it has ever since continued, the usurpation of Bonaparte excepted. Henry IV. in the 16th century was one of the greatest mo- narchs of France Tbis king was stabbed by a bigot named Ravaillac, The reign of Louis XIV. which began in 1643, and ended 1715, was the longest and most splendid. During this long reign, the arts and sciences, the belles lettres and general literature, asto- OF EMPIRES ANt) STATES. ~u iJishingly increased. Louis XV. reigned from 1715 to ] 774 ; when Louis XVL was crowned, who w^as be- headed in 1793. The French revolution commenced in 1789, in which 3^ear the Bastile, a famous state prison, was destroyed. The National Assembly pssuraed the government, 1790 • great mobs and massacres took place in 1791 and 1792. Jan. 21, Louis was beheaded, haviug been condemned by a majority of 13, out of 721 : and his queen was be- headed the next month. The Dauphin, or king's old- est son, is supposed to have been poisolied in 1795. The next year Bonaparte became general in chief of the army of Italy. He continued successful in various engagements with the neighbouring powers, till 1799, when he established a Consular government, himself at tiie head. In 1804 he was made emperor ; and in 1810 divorced his wife, and married a daughter of tlie Em- peror of Germany. Till 1812, success the most astonishing attended the arms of Napoleon. Ambilious to master all Euiope, in the summer of this year he marched into Poland, and thence to Russia, with an army of 6 or 700,000 men, to overcome Alexander, Emperor of Russia, who had opposed his views of universal empire. With con- siderable loss he effected his passage to Moscow, the former capital of the Russian empire. This ancient city was burnt by the Russians, to prevent giving the French any succour. The Russian winter commenced, with unusual severity, and the French were obliged to attempt a retreat. Before this once vast army had reached Smolensk, about 200 miles, most of them w^ere destroyed by the arms of the Russians, and the severi- ty of the season ; so that not 100,000 ever returned to their homes. Napoleon, who had run aw'ay from, his army, persuaded the French government to aiford hini another army, with which he took the Held in the spring of 1813. He was defeated at the battle of L'ejpsicj,/ pursued by the allies to Paris,' compelled to resign the imperial crown, and retire to Elba, a small island in K 218 A BRIEF COMPENDIUM the Mediterranean; and Louis XVIII. a brother of Louis XVI. was placed on the throne of France. Early in thej ear 1815, Bonaparte escaped from Elba, and got possession of Paris, the king flying before him. The allies, English, Russian, German, Prussian, &c. were soon in arms to oppose him. At the memorable battle of Waterloo, on the confines of France, Bona- parte was overcome by the troops of the allies, com- manded by the immortal Duke of Wellington. He lied to Paris, and subsequently surrendered to the English, Louis XVIII. resumed the sceptre. After due consultation, it was resolved to send the ex-emperor to St. Helena, a small island in the Atlantic, about halfway between America and Africa, where he has ever since remained, a stupendous example of de- feated ambition. SPAIN. Spain was known to the Carthaginians several cen- turies before Christ. It became subject to the Romans at the end of the second Punic war, 200 years before Christ, and so continued till the downfall of the Roman empire in the fifth ccnturj'. The kingdom of Spain was founded by the Visi Goths, 467. For three hundred years after, it was a scene of butchery, superstition and division. In the eighth century, it was in a great measure conquered by the Moors, from the opposite coast of the Mediterra- nean, in Africa; and was divided into petty kingdoms, till united under Ferdinand tlie Great, 1027. The Moors were expelled in the fifteenth century; at the latter end of which Columbus succeeded in persuading Ferdinand and Isabella to patronise his projected voy- age over the Atlantic, westward ; by which he was ena- bled to discover a new world. ' The discovery of America induced adventurers to ex- plore the country. Silver and gold were found in abundance, which at first enriched, and subsequently enervated Spain. Lender Charles I. (Emperor of Ger- Ill iWIMI 1 1 ■*■— OF EMPIRES AND STATES. 219 many afterwards) and Philip II. in the sixteenth centu- ry, no kingdom in Europe possessed equal resources. Spain, from the abundance of its wealth, gradually lost its strength, and became, from one of the first, one of the secondary, and that a weak, power of Europe. Bonaparte, 1808, entrapped their king, Ferdinand VII. and kept him long in confinement. He declared war against the Spanish, and endeavoured to place his bro- ther Joseph, on the Spanish throne. The Spaniards resisted, and the contest continued, (the British, with troops under the command of Wellington, assisting the Spaniards,) till Bonaparte was defeated at the battle of Leipsic in 1813. Ferdinand VII. was restored to his throne, which he continued to disgrace by bis weakness, bigotry, and ingratitude, to those through whose means he was restored. In January, (1820) a revolt commenced in the army ; and in March, the king was obliged to order the convo- cation of the assembly of the Cortes, as in 1812; the abolition of the Inquisition ; and to accede to a consti- tutional government ; guaranteeing the freedom of the press, the rights of the people, and defining the power of the monarch. GERMANY. This country was known to the Romans long before the birth of Christ ; and Tacitus, a Roman historian, has described the manners, customs and superstitions of the people. It was rightly afterwards denominated the Northern Hive ; as thence issued those swarms of bar- barians that at length overthrew the Roman empire, in the fifth century. Charlemagne may be said to have founded the German empire, A. D. 800. In about a century after, the descendants of Charlemagne ceased to rule, and Conrad I. became emperor. From that time to the present, Germany has been divided into a great number of principalities, '&c. though under a general head, and has been engaged in various wars with the Turks and different christian powers. Tfce present emperor, Francis II. sided with the allies, 220 A BFvIEF COMPENDIUM in 1813, against his soii-iii-law Bonaparte: by doing which, he perhaps turned the scale against him, and certainly acted well his part in producing a permanent peace ia Europe. RUSSIA. This vast empire, now exceeding in extent three times that of the Roman empire in its highest state of territorial authority, was little known till the time of Pe- lev the Great. This monarch, at the close of the seven- teenth, and beginning of the eighteenth century, per- formed more than any other monarch for the civilization, prosperity and happiness of his country. He built the city of Petersburg ; he introduced the arts and sciences, and invited learned men into his empire ; he commenced a navy and improved his army. In brief, in the field and in the cabinet, he has had kw equals. His descendant, Catharine H. from 1763 to 1796, notwithstanding her many foibles, rendered immense service to Russia. Alexander, now on the throne, has been well stiled the Deliverer of Europe ; for, by his opposition to the lawless ambition of Bonaparte, his arms, courage, fortitude and energy, the forces of the imperial ruler of France were destroyed, and the bless- ings of universal quiet ensured.* ENGLAND. Julius Caesar passed from France, then called Gaul, to the island of Great Britain, about fifty years before Christ. He could not be said to have conquered the island ; but shortly after, it was subdued by the Ro- mans, and continued under their government till A. D. 450, when the Roman legions were withdrawn, to de- fend Rome against the incursions of the northern bar- barians. These being withdrawn, the Scots and Picts made incursions into England, laid waste the country, and drove the inhabitants in every direction before their victorious arms. " 1821 — These blessings, late events show us, are ensured only by crushing- every revohuioa fivourablc to the i-ights of man. OF EMPIRES AND STATES. 221 Thus distressed, the Britons invited to their assistance the Saxons, from Germany. These conquered the Scots and Picts, and, after long contest with the natives, or Britons, finally subdued them, A. D. 584. The coun- try was then divided by them into seven separate king- doms, called the Saxon Heptarchy. Egbert, king of Wessex, united the seven kingdoms under his own authority, 827. The Norman^ and Danes, however, continually harassed the country. Al- fred, than whom a greater or better monarch never swayed the sceptre of England, witli great military skill, foresight, fortitude and courage, at length succeed- ed in ridding the kingdom of all his enemies, the Danes being completely subdued. He died, 901 , having fought fifty-six pitched battles; founded the University of Ox- ford and other seminaries, established wise laws, and laid the foundation of the trial by jury and the present British Parliament. J? After a long contest between the Danes and the kings of England, the Danes were at length victorious, and Canute the Dane obtained the kingdom, 1017. Under Harold, his successor, England was invaded by William of Normandy, commonly called William the Conquer- or, 1066, and was completely subdued, Harold being slain in the famous battle of Hastings. The desceixl- ants of William have ever since held the throne of Eng- land. William H. succeeded his father, built the Tov/-' er, London Bridge and Westminster Hall, and ge- nerally pursued the path of his father in his government, till 1100, when he was accidentally shot by an arrow. Henry I. his brother, succeeded, and reigned with great ability thirtj^-seven years. Stephen, grand- son of the Conqueror, succeeded, and after a (ew years was expelled by Henry H. who reigned with great talents, and great misfortunes, defeating the Irish and the Scotch, but unhappy in a quarrel with his prin- cipal ecclesiastic, Thomas a Becket, and in the unduti- ful rebellion of his sons. Richard I. succeeded his father. This prince eTi- 222 A BRIEF COMPENDIUM gaged in the crusades to recover the Holy Land from the hands of infidels ; was courageous but unsuccessful ; and was seized in Austria, on his return ; but afterwards ransomed by bis subjects for 300,000?. sterling, and .subsequently mortally wounded in an engagement. His brother John succeeded ; who had frequent contentiohs with his barons ; to whom he was obliged to grant the famous Magna Charta, by the English considered as the foundation of their liberties. Henry III. suc- ceeded his weak and unprincipled father. In a contest with his subjects he was dethroned by Leicester ; but afierwards restored. His son, Prince Edward, after an expedition to the Holy Land, returned and succeeded his father, 127 L He subdued Wales, and added it to his crovvn. Twice he subdued the Scotch; who as of- ten revolted, under Wallace and Bruce ; and in his third attempt on Scotland he died. Much was done by this great monarch in favour of the; laws and liberties of his subjects. His son, the Prince of Wales, (so called because born in Wales, and whence has descended the title to the king's oldest son,) succeeded his father, 1307. This weak monarch, instead of continuing the war against Scotland, sufiered the Scotch to invade England. He was deposed and put to death in a barbarous manner. His son, Edward III. invaded France, and fought the famous battle of Cressy, in which he was victorious, *.vith the assistance of the young Prince of Wales. Can- non were here first used. Some years after, France was again invaded by the English, under the command of a gallant and virtuous Prince of Wales, who subdued the French at the batde of Poictiers ; took their king prisoner, and brought him to London 1356. This best of princes died 1376, and his father the next year. Richard II. the late king's second son, now mounted the throne. He quelled some insurrections ; and while he was engaged in war in Ireland, his cousin, afterwards Henry IV. whom he had previously banish' ed, returned and obtained possession of the crown : OF EMPIRES AND STATES. 223 Richard as is generally supposed, was murdered in Pomfret Castle. Henry IV. after living in the midst Ox^ disaffection, civil wars and misery, died, 1413. His son, Henry V. invaded France ; gained the famous battle of Agin- court ; married the daughter of the French king', at whose death he was to receive the crown of Fra^ice ; returned to England, and died, 1420, leaving one son, afterw^ards Henry VI. then nine months old. During the reign of this weak prince, commenced the long continued contest between the houses of York and Lancaster. Henry was deposed, and Edward IV. a descendant from Edward HI. through the house of York, reigned six years ; when Henry recovered his throne ; but died, or was privately nuudered the next year, 1471. Three years after, died Edward IV. leav- ing the throne to his son, Edward V. who died young. The infamous Duke of Gloucester, afterwards the ac- cursed Richard IH. was chosen regent. The Earl of Richmond, of the house of Lancaster, descendant from the widow of Henry V., who had married Sir Owen Tudor, invaded England, from France, defeated Ri- chard, at the famous battle of Boswortb ; was crown- ed ; married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV. of the house of York ; and thus, by uniting the two houses, put an end to the civil wars. During the reign of Henry VII. Christopher Colum- bus discovered America. His son, Henry VIH. wrote against Luther, and received from the Pope the title of Defender of the Faith. This monarch was capricious and cruel ; yet, by throwing off papal authority, he ren- dered great service to the protestants. He had six wives, two of whom he beheaded, and two he divorced, and left three children, 1547. His son, Edward VI. came to the throne at nine years of age, and reigned but a few years ; when his daughter, the bloody Mm y, so called, in whose reign John Rogers was burnt, held the sceptre above five years ; and was succeeded by his other daughter, Elizabeth. This famous princess reigned with great ability and 224 A BRIEF COMPENDIUM, &c. splendour, till 1601 ; when after having beheaded Ma- i'y> Q'Jeen of Scots, and established the protestant reli- gion, she was succeeded bv James VI. of Scotland, and First of England, a descendant by marriage from the royal farriliy of England. He was succeeded, 1825, hy his son, Charles I. Charles had great'contentions with his parliament, and was at length, after much civil war, beheaded, 1649. Oliver Cromwell, under the name of Protector, was at the head of the British government ^bout ten 3'ears. Charles 11. 1660, succeeded his father, and died in 1685. His brother, James II. reigned a few years, and then abdicated the throne. William of Orange, who had married Mary, daughter of James II. was called to the tbrone. ¥/iliiam III. died 1702, and was succeeded by Anne, another daughter of James 11. In 1714, on the death of Queen Anne, parliament invited to the throne George,Electorof Hanover, who had married a descend- ant of Charles 1. the nearest protestant heir. He reign- ed till 1727, when his son, George II. succeeded : who held the sceptre till 1761 ; when he was succeeded by his grandson, George III. who died in 1820. Soon after his accession to the throne, commenced the disputes with America, which led to the American revolution. The threatening aspect of the French re- volution, induced the British to take up arms against the French. This war continued, with little intermis- sion, about twenty years ; when it was finally closed, 1815, by the total discomfiture of Bonaparte, at the battle of Waterloo : and though it greatly increased the national debt, while it established, in a great measure, the peace and the liberties of Europe, it added splen- dour to the arm}^ and navy, from their numerous and important achievements. George IV. the present monarch, is the oldest son of the late king. He had been regent since 1811, OF EMPIRES ANt) STATES. 225 SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND. 880 910 925 The union of the Heptarchy, under Alfred the Great, who may be fairly styled the first English monarch, and laid the foundation of the govern- ment, . Alfred was succeeded by his son, Edward the Elder, Athelstan, Edmund, Edred, . Edwy, . Et'lgar, Edward, the Martyr, Etheldred, Edmond Ironside, . Canute the Dane, Danish, line, 1017 James I. Harold Harefoot, Danish line, 1035 Charles I- Henry III. Edward I. Edward II. Edward III. Richai-d II. Henry IV. Henry V. Henry VI. Edward IV. 941 1 Edward V. 948 Richard III. 955 Henry VII. 959 Henry VIII. 975 Edward VI. 978 Mary 1016;Elizabeth, Hardicanute, Vanish line, Edward the confessor, Harold, . . • • William the Conqueror, Dan ish line, William Rufus Henry I. Stephen, Henry II. Richard I. John, 1039 1 Charles II. . 104l!JamesII. 1066 1 William and Mary, ^ Ann, 1066jCTeorge I. 1087 George II. 1100 ^George III. . 1135 Regency of the Prince 1154 1 Wales, 11 89: George IV. . 1199 of SOVEREIGNS OF FRANCE. Pharamond led his Franks over the Rhine, in the fifth century ; from wliom de- scended Ciovis — who com- menced his reign ^ The next sovereign worthy of notice was Clotair I. • Clotair 11. Dagobert, Ciovis 11. Pepin Heristel, Charles Mart el, Pepin son of Charles, E7id of the first race of kings Charlemagne, Lewis, Debonnaire, Lothario, Lewis II. Charles the Bald, K2 486 511 613 632 644 690 714 751 771 814 S40 855 875 Lewis the Stammerer, Lewis IV. Charles the Fat, Charles III. . Robert, " . Rodolph, Lewis the Stranger Lothario II. Lewis V. End rf the second race of Hugh Capet, Robert, Henry I. Philip, . Lewis VI. Lewis VIL Philip II— styled August, Lewis VIII. . Lewis IX. » > 1216 1273 1307 1326 1377 139tf 1413 1442 1460 1483 1463 1485 1509 1546 155cJ 155S 1602 1625 1648 1685 1688 1703 1714 1727 1760 ISll 1820 877 S79 884 898 923 923 93G 954 966 kings. 987 996 1031 1059 1106 1137 1180 1223 1226 226 A BRIEF COxMPENDIUM, &c. Phihp III— styled Hardy, 1271 Lewis XII. Phihp iy_styled the Fair, 1285, Francis I. Lewis X. . . . 1314 Francis IL i^^"'- • • . 33ir,:CliarlcsIX. rhilip\ —surnamedtheLon^, 1316] Henry HI. Charles IV— styled the Fair, 1322 .'Henry IV Philip VL . . . 1328 Lewis XIII. •'°^""- ■ 13501 Lewis XIV. ten Edward III. of England— by consanguinity, and by con- quest, Charles V. Charles VI. Charles VII. Henry VI. of England, Lewis XI. Charles VIII. . 1357 1364 1380 1422 1430 1461 1483 Crowned, Lewis XV. yeai of age, 1498 1515 1559 1560 1574 1589 1610 1643 1654 1715 Lewis XVL— Guillotined in the revolution. . . 1774 Lewis XVII. aged eleven years — Poisoned in the revolution. 1795 Napoleon Bonaparte, Empe- ^or, .... 1804 Lewis XVIII. crowned, . 1814 Peter I. Catherine I. Peter II. Anne, John the Infant, Elizabeth, SOVEREIGNS OF RUSSIA. 1682! Peter HI. 1725 Catherine IL 1727 Paul, 1730 1740 17411 Alexander, now on the throne, 1762 1763 1796 1800 1822 PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS THE U. STATES OF AMERICA. Presidents. George Washington, . 1789 re-elected, 1793 1797 1801 1805 1809 1813 1817 18211 OF Joha Adams, Jhon3«s Jefferson, . re-elected, Jan^es Mudison, re-elected, JaEpe^ Monroe, . re-elected, Vice-Presidents. John Adams, . 1789 re-elected, 1793 Thomas Jefferson, . 1797 Aaron Burr, . 1801 George Clinton, 1805 re-elected. 1809 Elbridge Gerry, 1813 Daniel D. Tompkins, 1817 re-elected, 1821 -«— ^ll^-L.—..,.,. .|p!l, ■Ili,1|,| CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF REMARKABLE EVEKTS, DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS. Before Chris! . The creation of the world, and Adam and Eve, . . . 4004 The birth of Cain, 4003 The old world is destroyed by a deluge, continuing 377 days, 2348 The tower of Babel is built by Noah'^s posterity, about 2247 Ninus, th€ son of Belus, founds the kingdom of Assyria, which lasted above 1000 years, and out of its mins were formed the Assyrians of Babylon, those of ISineveh, and the kingdom of the Medes, 205& Joseph dies in Egypt, which concludes the book of Genesis, containing a period of 2369 years, ICSfi Aaron born in Egypt,^ 1574 Cecrops brings a colony of Saites from Egypt into Attica, and begins the kingdom of Athens, ...... 1556 Cadmus carried the Phognician letters into Greece, and built the Citadel of Tliebes,. . . . . . 1493 IMoses performs a number of miracles in Egypt, and departs from that kingdonr, together with 600,000 Israelites, besides children; which completed the 430 years of sojourning, . 1491 The Olympic games celebrated at Olympia in Greece, . . 1463 The Pentateuch, or five first books of Moses, are written in the land of Moab, where he died the year following, aged 1 10, . 1452 Tlie Israelites, after sojourning in the wilderness forty years, are led under Joshua into the land of Canaan, and the period of the sabbatical year commence.?, 14G1 The rape of H^len by Paris, which gave rise to the Trojan war, 1 193 David is sole king of Israel,^ 1048 The temple is solemnly dedicated by Solomon, . . . 1004 Elijah, the prophet, is^ translated to heaven, . , . 89G Money first made of gold and silver at Argos, . . . 894 The city of Carthage, in Africa, founded by queen Dido, . 8G9 The kingdom of Mace Jon begins, . . . . . 814 Era of the building of Rome in Italy, by Romulus, first king of the Romans, . . . ... . . 753 Samaria taken, after three years siege, and the kingdom of Is- rael finished by Salmanasar, king of Assyria, who carries the ten tribes into captivity, 720 The city of Jerusalem taken after a siege of 18 months, . 687 Gyrus the first king of Persia, 559 The kingdom of Babylon terminates, 538 ; that city being taken by Cyrus, who issues an edict for the return of the Jews, .. 636 jsasmimm 228 A CPIRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Xerxes the Great, king of Persia, begins his expedition, against Greece, ,. . . 4S1 The histoiy of the Old Testament finishes about . . . 430 Alexander the Great, king- of Macedon, conquers Darius king of Persia, and other nations of Asia, 331. Dies at Babylon, and his empire is divided by his generals into four kingdoms, Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, employs seventy-two in- terpreters to translate the Old Testament into the Greek lan- g-aage, which is called the Septaagint 284 The fust Punic war begins, and continues 23 years. The chrono- logy of the Arundelian marbles composed, . . . 264 Carthage, the rival of Rome, is razed to the ground by the Romans, 146 The Alexandrian library, consisting of 400,000 valuable books, burnt by accident, 52 Ca!?ar,thc greatest of the Roman conquerors, after having fought fifty pitched battles, and slain 1,192,000 men, and overturned the liberties of his country, is killed in the senate-house, 44 The battle of Actium fought, in which Mark Antony and Cle- opatra arc totally defeated by Octavius, nephew to Julius Ctesar, .......... 35 Alexandria, in Egypt, is taken bj/ Octavius, upon which Antony and Cleopatra put themselves to death, and Egypt is reduced to a Roman province, . . . . . . . 30 The temple of Janus is shut by Augustus as an emblem of uni- versal peace, ......... ib. JESUS CHRIST, is born Jfter Christ. JESUS CHRIST is baptized in the wilderness by John, 27 " is crucifled, and rises again on the third day, 33 Rome set on fire, and burned for six days ; upon which began (under Nero) the first persecution against the Christians, . 64 Constantine the Great begins his reign, .... 308 The tenth persecution ends by an edict of Constantine, who fa- voiu's the Christians, and gives fidl liberty to their religion 313 The first general council at Nice, when 318 fatliers attended, against Arius, where was composed the famous Nicene creed, which we attribute to them, ...... 825 Constantine orders all the heathen temples to be destroyed, 331- Romc taken and pkindered by Alaric, king of the Vi^i-Goths, 410 The Romans reduced to extremities at home, withdraw their troops from Britain, and never return, .... 426 Attila (surnamed the scourge of God) with his Huns, ravages the Roman empire, . , \ . . . 447 Clovis, king of France, baptized, a«d Christijniity begins in that kingdom, , . 496 'J'he power of the Popes, by the concessions of Phocas, empe- ror of the East, begins, ... .... 606 iVIahomet, the false prophet, flies from Mecca to Medina, . 622 Jerusalem is taken by the Saraxens, . . . . . 637 Charlemagne, king of France, begins the empire of German}^, afterwards called the western empire ; and gives the present names to thp ^vinds and the mcnth?. ..... 800 A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE, 229 The Danes begin their ravages in England, . , . 867 Alfred the Great, after subduing the Danish invaders, founds the university of Oxford, about . . , , . . ggj) The university of Cambridge founded, ' . . . . t)i5 Paper made of cotton rags was in use, 1000 ; that of jinen, 11^0 Leo IX. the first pope that kept up an army, . . . . 1054 The Tvirks take Jerusalem from the Saracens, . . . 1065 Musical notes invented, ....... 1070 Glass windows began to be used in houses in England, . 1180 Pope Alexander III. compelled the kings of England and France to hold the stirrups of his saddle when he mounted his horse, 1181 The battle of Ascalon, in Judaea, in which Richard, king of En- gland, defeats Saladin's army, consisting of 300,000 men, 1192 Chimneys were not known in England, . . . . 1200 Magna Chartais signed by king John and the barons of England, 1215 The Tartars, a new race of heroes, under Gingis-Khan, emerge from the northern parts of Asia, and oveiTun all the Saracen empire, 1227 The houses of London, and other cities in England, France and Germany still thatched with straw, 1233 The mai'iner's compass invented, or improved, by Gioia, . 1302 Gunpowder and guns first invented by Swarts, a monk of Co- logn, 1340; Edward III. had four pieces of cannon, which con- tributed to gain him the battle of Cressy, 1346 ; bombs and mortars were invented the same year. Johii WickliiTe, an Englishman, begins to oppose the errors of the church of Rome with great acuteness and spirit. — His fol- lowers are called Lollards, 1362 The Vatican Library founded at Rome, .... 1446 Constantinople taken by the Turks, which ends the eastern em- pire, 1123 years from its erection by Constantine the Great, and 2206 years from the foundation of Rome, . . . 1453 America first discovered by Columbus, a Gienoese, in the service of Spain, • • 1492 Martin Luther began the Reformation, . . • • ^oii Pius first used in England, (before which time the ladies used skewers,) . ~^- . . • • • ]'?^^ First law in England, establishing mtcrest at ten per cent. lo46 The great massacre of Protestants at Paris, .... 1572 Mary queen of Scots is beheaded by orderof Elizabeth, . loiu The Spanish Armada destroyed by the English, . . . lo88 Watches first iK-oui^ht into England from Germany, . . io^l The massacre of 40,000 English Protestants, in Ireland . 1640 Charles I. (aged 49) beheaded at Whitehall, January ,50, . IMy Cromwell assumes the protectorship, • _^ • •_ • • ]'l^: ^ The Plague rages in London, and carries ofi" ^>S 000 persons . i^o The great fire of London, which destroyed 18,000 houses, . j W.6 Tea first used in England, .^^^.^ The habeas corpus act passed, . • ' ^, ' ■ v \ -.„'*. i(;^(^ A comet appeared so near our earth a^ to aiarm^l^ :nhab,la..t., ..0 Bayonets first used bv the French in the battle ox x tirni, . 1*^- '^ Russia, formerly a diikedom, is established as an empuv, . - • -^ I- ouli Khan usurps the Persian throne, .J.ij- Geo)-'^e Washington born February Z'^, .... 230 A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Westminster bridge, which cost 389 ,000^ finished . . 1750 146 Englishmen are confined in the black hole at Calcutta, East- Indies, by the Nabob, and 123 found dead next morning, 1756 General Wolfe is killed in taking Quebec from the French, 1759 First Congress of the American colonies, at Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1773 First Petition of Congress to the King, November, , , 1773 Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775 George Washington appointed General and Commander in Chief of the Amei'ican Armies, June 15, ..... 1775 Battle at Bunker's Hill, June 17, . . , . . . 1775 Declaration of Independence by the colonies, July 4, . . 1776 General Burgoyne surrendered October 17, .... 1777 Earl Cornwallis surrendered at York-town, Vir. October 19, . 1781 Admiral Rodney gains a victory over the French fleet, April 12, 1782 American colonies are acknowledged by his Britannic majesty, free, sovereign, and independent states, Nov. 30, . . 1782 Washington proclaimed first President of the U. S. A. April 30, 1789 Revolution in France — capture of the Bastile, July 14, . , 1789 The French declare war against England and Holland, Feb. 1, 1792 Louis XVIth of France, beheaded, same year. The glorious victory of the Nile, achieved by Nelson, Aug. 1, 1798 General George Washington died, December 14, aged 68, . 1799 Treaty of Peace between Germany and France, Feb. 9, . 1801 War commenced between France and Great Britain, July, . 1803 Unexampled tempest, began September 1, . . . . 1804 Bonaparte crowned emperor by his holiness the Pope, . 1804 Great victory over the French fleet by Nelson, October 21, 1805 Surrender of the Danish fleet to Lord Nelson, . . . 1,807 Attack upon U. S. frigate Chesapeak — same year. War declared by U. S. against Great Britain, . . . 1812 Surrender of General Hull's army — capture of the Guerriere — Macedonian and Java — Battle of Queenston, same year. Loss of the Chesapeak — Capture of the British fleet on Lake Erie — Burning of Moscow — Destruction of the French army, in Russia, ......... 1813 Paris surrenders to the allies — Bonapai-te abdicates and retires to Elba — Battle of Bridgewater — Washington captured — Sur- render of the British fleet on Lake Champlain, . . 1614 Battle of New-Orleans — Peace with Gteat Britain — return of Bonaparte to Paris — Battle of Waterloo — Louis XVIIIth re- istorcd— Bonaparte sent to St. Helena, .... 1815 fe m^ CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES. 231 •J? CO s .2 '5 O O :3 o s o o c *- S fi Ijs cs cd . 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C-J yciooi?rco'^ 2 ~ lo rjTv-o cTcTcT C(^ q'j>-o^ — ^co'co" 03^ t-^ •^ M cl to -tt< '-' to -^ r^ to ,-, CO '-' '-' cc '. Ci '73 CO t3 01 ;.< rt 3 ;.•) r. a> CO "%; "C c (S rn ^ U3 ^ Sh o m S 4) 2i -a- o (^ O - fee y OS uo R *i 3 0) tS ■m CONSTITUTION OF THE wmm uwA' % j.AS PROPOSED BY THE CONVENTION, HELD AT PHILADELPHIA 17tH SEPTEMBER, 1787? AND SINCE RATIFIED BY THE SE- VERAL STATES, WITH THE SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THERHTO. WE, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our p osier ity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America, ARTICLE I. Sect. 1. ALL legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives. Sect, 2. The house of representatives shall be com- posed of members chosen every second year, by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned amon^ the several states which maybe included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three- fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every 234 CONSTITUTIOxN OF THE subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty-thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative ; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of JS'eW' Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three — Massachu" sets eight — Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one — Connecticut five — A''ew-York six — New- Jersey four — Pennsylvania eight — Delaware one — Maryland six — Virginia ten — North- Carolina five — South-Ca- rolina five — and Georgia three. When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. The bouse of representatives shall choose their speak- er and other officers ; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. Sect, 3. The senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years ', and each senator shall have one Vote. Immediately after they shall be assembled in conse- quence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expir- ation of the second year, of the second class at the ex- piration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the legis- lature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. No person shall be a senator who shall not have at* tained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. The Vice-President of the United States shall be pre- UNITED STATES. 235 sident oi tne senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided The senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president protempore, in the absence of the Vice-Pre- sident, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States. The senate shall have the sole power to try all im- peachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall preside ; and no person shall be convicted without the concur- rence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, trust or profit under the United States ; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. Sect. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives, shall be pre- scribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators. The congress shall assemble atleastoncein every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in De- cember, unless they shall by law appoint a diflerent day. Sect. 5. Each hoflse shall bethe judge of the elec- tions, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and maybe authorised to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and imder sucU penalties as each house may provide. Each house may determine the rules of its proceed- ings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgments require secrecy, and tl^e yeas and nays of the members of either house on 236 CONSTITUTION OF THE any question, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present be entered on the journal. Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, tvithout the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. Sect. 6. The senators and representatives shall re- ceive a compensation for their services, to be ascertain- ed by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases except treason, felon)'^, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest dur- ing their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any other place. No senator or representatis'^ shall, during the time for v.'hich he was elected, be appointed to any civil of- fice under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no person hold- ing any oiSce under the United States, shall be a mem- ber of either house during his continuance in office. Sect.l. Ail bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of representatives ; but the senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills. Every bill which shall have passed the house of re- presentatives and the senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States : if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If af- ter such reconsideration two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall like- wise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each UNITED STATES. 23? house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. Every order, resolution, or vote to which the con- currence of the senate and house of representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shalLbe presented to the President of the United States; and before the same shall take eil'ect, shall be approved by him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two-thirds of the senate and house of representa- tives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. Sect. 8. The congress shall have power — To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all du- ties, imposts, and excises, shall be uniform throughout the United States ; To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes; To establish an uniform rule of naturalizing, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies through- out the United States ; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and mea- sures 1 0:3 , To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States ; To establish post-offices and post-roads ; To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited'^times to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and dis- coveries ; To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court; To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations ; 238 CONSTITUTION OF THE To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years ; To provide and maintain a navy ; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces ; To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and re- pel invasions : To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserv- ing to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia ac- cording to the discipline prescribed by congress ; To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases what- soever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of congress, become the seat of government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over ^11 places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards and other needful buildings ; — And To make all laws which shall be necessary and pro- per for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof. Sect. 9. The migration or importation of such per- sons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eiglit, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion oi' in- vasion, the public safely may require it. TJNITED STATES. 239 Nobill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. No capitation, or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein be- before directed to be taken. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one state over those of another ; nor shall vessels bound to, or from one state, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law ; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and ex- penditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States : — and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the con- gress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or fo- reign state. Sect. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alli- ance, or confederation ; grant letters of marque and re- prisal ; coin money ; emit bills of credit ; make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. No state shall, without the consent of the congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws; and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United States; and all such laws >sliall be subject to the revision and control of the con- gress. No state shall, without the consent of congress, lav any duty of tonnage, keep tropps, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or v»'ith a foreign power, or engage 240 CONSTITUTIOxN OF THE in war, unless actually invaded, or in such eminent danger as will not admit of delay. ARTICLE II. Sect. 1. The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, to- gether with the Vice-President, chosen for the same term, be elected as follows : Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the le- gislature thereof may direct,a number of electors, equal to the whole number of senators and representatives to wliich the state may be entitled in the congress, but no senator or representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be ap- pointed an elector. The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with them- selves. And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of government of the United States, directed to the president of the senate. The president of the senate shall, in the presence of the senate and house of representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the house of representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a majori- ty, then from the five highest on the list, the said house shall in like manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall betaken by states, the representation from each state having one vote ; a quorum for thi« purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of ail the states shall be necessary to a choice. In Q.\QYy case after the ciioice of the President, the person ^^_illi UNITED STATES. 24i ^ having the greatest number of votes of the electors shall be the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-President.* The congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same throughout the Unit- ed States. No person, except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not hav^* attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall de- volve on the Vice-President ; and the congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected. The President shall, at stated times, receive for his ser- vices, a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished, during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States, or any of them. Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation : — " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my abilit3^, preserve, protect and defend the constitution ef the United States." Sect. 2, The President shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States j and of the * See 2,2th amendment J p. 24r. L 242 CONSTITUTION OF THE iTiilitia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States ; he may require the opi- nion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have pow- er to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. He shall have power, by and with the advice and con- sent of the senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the supreme court, and all other of- ficers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be esta- blished by law. But the congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as the}^ think pro- per, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. The President shall have power to fill up all vacan- cies, that may happen duriiigthe recess of the senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. Sect. 3. He shall from time to time give to the con- gress information of the state of the Union, and recom- mend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient: he may on extraordi- nary occasions, convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive am- bassadors and otlier public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commis- sion all the officers of the United States. Sect, 4. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from of- fice on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. UNITED STATES 243 ARTICLE III. Sect. 1. The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such infe- rior courts as the congress may from time to time or- dain and establish. The judges both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their ofBces during good behaviour, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished dating their continuance in office. Sect. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases in law and equity, arising under this constitution,- the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made under their authority ; to all cases affect- ing ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls ; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United States shall be a par- ty ; to controversies between two or more states, between a state and citizens of another state, between citizens of different states, between citizens of fhe same state claim- ing lands under grants of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public mi- nisters and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the supreme court shall have original jurisdic- tion. In all the other cases before-mentioned, the su- preme court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such re- gulations as the congress shall make. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeach- ment, shall be by jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been commit- ted ; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the congress may by law have directed. Sect. 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adheriag to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the tes- 244 CONSTITUTION OF THE timoiiy of two witnessies to the same overt act, or oh QOiifession in open court. The congress shall have power to declare the punish- ment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted. ARTICLE IV. Sect. 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceed- ings of every other state. And the congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. Sect. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states. A person charged in any state with treason, felony or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another state, shall on demand of the executive autho- rity of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime. No person held to service or labour in one state, un- * der the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall in con- sequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharg- ed from such service or labour, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or la- bour may be due. Sect. 3. New states may be admitted by the con- gress into this Union : but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state ; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states without the consent of the le- gislatures of the states concerned, as well as of the con- gress. The congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules, and regylations respecting the territory and other property belonging to the United States ; and nothing in this constitution, shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular state. HHH UNITED STATES. 24^ Sect. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union, a republican form of government ; and shall protect each of them against invasion ; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against do- mestic violence. ARTICLE V. The congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a conven- tion for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three- fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three- fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi- cation may be proposed by the congress ; Provided, That no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suf- frage in the senate. ARTICLE VI. All debts contracted, and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this constitution, shall be as va- lid against the United States under this constitution, as under the confederation. This constitution, and the laws of the U. States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made or which shall be made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land ; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the constitution or laws of any state to the cori- trary notwithstanding. The senators and representatives before-mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this constitution : But no 246 CONSTITUTION OF THE lUltT '""' '^1 r '^'' ^'' ^^^"^^^d as a qualification te any office or public trust under the United States , ARTICLE Vll. I he ratification of the conventions of nine states chill be sufficient for the establishment of this cmmitudon between the states so ratifying the same '^"'^^^"^^^" AMENDMENTS. " *nf r- -^fv-, ^«"g^ess shall make no law re- specting an establishment of religion, orprohibitfnl he free exercise thereof or abridging the' freelm of p^eed a selw^^'"'.'. ^^'^^^-.^'^S'^^tof the people peaceab^ly t orSnc"^^ ^'"""^ '''' governmentVor a red.ess iieclLtttnT''''^*. A well regulated militia being peon le n 1 '^'" ZT^ ^^ " ^^^^ ^^^^^' '^'' ^^^^^'^ ^^^'^^^e ^ X.- 7 r^.'"? ^^^/ ^'"^^ ^^^^" "«t be infringed. ^r^^cZe ^Ae ^/r.rd No soldier shall in time of'p^ace be quartered m any house without the consent of the s~i bTL^.'"^ ^'^^^'' ^- - ^ '^— ^^ ^- P- seirf in t •^''''^- ^^^ '^'^'^^^ "^ '^' P^^P^- ^- be «ecu.e m their persons, houses, papers and effect. against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be V oJated ; and no warrants shall issue but upon proba- t^le cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and parti- cularly describing the place to besearched, and the per- sons or things to be seized. ^^rtich the fifth. No person shall be held to answer lor a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising m the land or naval forces, or in the miii- tia when in actual service in time of war or public dan- ger ; nor shall any person be subject to the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall be compelled m any criminal case, to be witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. Article the sixth. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public tri- iHtti UNITED STATES. " 247 al, by an impartlai jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be in- formed of the nature and cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witness against him ; to have com- pulsory^ process for obtaining witnesses in his favour, and to have the assistance of coiiEsel for his defence. tflrticle the seventh. In suits at common law, where the value in contro'% ersy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of common law. Article the eighth. Excessive bail shall not be re- quired, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unu- sual punishments inflicted. Article the ninth. The enumeration in the constitu- tion of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Article the tenth. The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or 10 the people. Article the eleventh. The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law, or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of tlie United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. " Article the twelfth. ^ (In lieu of the third paragrapli of the first section of the second article, p. 242.) The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President ; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons vote(l for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the go- 24Sr OONSTITUTION, &c. Vernment of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate : the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the senate and house of representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted ; the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed •: and if no person have such majority, then from the per- sons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the house of i^epresentatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall ponsist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be ne- cessary to a choice. And if the house of representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death, or other constitji- iional disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the senate shall choose the Vicfe-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the wholenumber of sena- tors, and a majority of the whole number shall be neces- sary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligi- ble to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. This twelfth article was ratified in ISO^k ^ ADAPTED TO THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. CHf AFTER L— Pagr 13. First Settlement of Virginia and Neio-England. WHAT have generally been the consequences of the greatest victories ? What has impeded the progress of refinement, &c. ia South America ? To what may the gradual increase of population in many places, be attributed ? When was Philadelphia founded, and what has been its increase ? Has the U. S. at large increased with the same rapidity ? What was its population in 1790 ? 1800 ? and 1810 ? At this computation, how often does it double ? At this rate what will be the population in 150 years ? When, and by whom was America discovered ? Undet! whose patronage ? Relate the circumstances of Colnmbus' voyage* From whom did America receive its name ? For what was South America settled ? * How long after its discovery before North America was settled ? Who first explored the shores of North America ? When, and by whom was the first attempt made to form a settlement in Virginia? When was a second attempt made ? Relate the circumstances of an attempt by Bartholomew Gosnoldto effect a settlement in the north part of Virginia ? When and where was the first British settlement made that was not abandoned ? To whom was the success of the es^ tablishment mostly indebted ? Relate the circumstances at- tending his capture by the Indians. What plot was laid by the Indians in 1609 1 How was il rendered abortive ? 250 QUESTIONS. Why did the colonists resolve to return to England ? What prevented them ? How did the company prosper under the administration of Delaware? Relate the history of Pocahontas. When, and for what was Capt. Argal sent from Virginia to New- York ? How were the first women sent to Virginia disposed of? Who explored New-England ? When ? When werp attempts made to form settlements in New England ? Were they successful ? What were the principal motives which led the congrega- tion of Mr. Robinson to turn tlieir attention to the new world ? When did a part of the congregation leave Europe? Wlien did they arrive at Cape Cod ? What did they do previous to landing ? Who was chosen Governor ? When and where did they land ? W hat occasioned their sufferings ? How many died before the next spring? When and where were articles of submission and friendly intercourse agreed upon with the Indians ? W^hen were settlements made at Portsmouth, and Dover, (N. H. ?) Under whose orders ? What laid the foundation for the union of the settlements under one colony ? What agreement was made at Cambridge in 1629 ? How many adventurers timbarked the next spring ? Where did they plant themselves ? Where was the first General Court held ? What articles of faith were agreed upon ? What is ob- served of ihis intolerance ? Was it general throughout Europe, as well as America ? What was done by Virginia long after ? " How far had settlements extended from Boston, in 1634? How was the constitution altered ? How long did this form of legislation remain ? WHiat important transaction in 1637? For what was this year famous ? What was the consequence ? What was the result of their deliberations ? What public school was founded this year ? Under what appellation ? When and where was the first printing office established in QUESTIONS. 2jI North America? V/hat body of laws was established ia 1640 ? What is observed of these laws ? What is said of Powhatan ? Who succeeded him ? What is observed of this chief ? What is said of the peace and tranquillity of the colonists ? Relate the circumstances of the Indian massacre ? What limited it ? How did this war terminate ? When was the company dissolved^ and the colony taken in- to the hands of the king ? Who was appointed Governor ? What is said of him ? What is observed of his successor, Sir Wm. Berkely ? CHAPTER II.— Page 34. Maine. Relate the circumstances of the first attempt to form a settlement in Maine. Why did they determine to leave the country ? When did the Plymouth colonists obtain a patent for Ken- nebeck ? What charter was granted to SirF. Gorges, in 1639 ? When and where was the first general court held ? When was the province taken under the government of Massachusetts ? Were the settlers of this province long distressed by the Indians ? When was a treaty made with them ? When was Maine incorporated with Massachusetts ? When were attempts made to separate ? When were a ma- jority in favour of separation ? When did Maine become an Independent State ? 'New-Hampshire When Avas a settlement begun at Piscataqua ? What grant was made by the Plymouth Company to Ma- son (in 1629 ?) What was this tract called ? What towns were laid out in 1633 ? What did the patent holders agree to, soon after ? How long did New-Hampshire continue under the jurisdic- tion of Massachusetts ? What government was then formed ? When and where did the first assembly meet ? What commission was issued to Joseph Dudley, in l685 ? Who succeeded him ? 2^2 ' QUESTIONS. When commenced a war with the Indians ; and how long did it continue ? What was the character of the war on the part of the In- dians ? Relate the circumstances of the attack on, and defence of the Fort at Number Four. What was undertaken during the administration of Ben- ning Wentworth ** When and where was Dartmouth College founded ? When did Governor Wentworth quit the Province ? — What did the Provincial Congress of N. H. do, on receiving infor- lanation of the battle of Lexington ? What is observed of the courage and patriotism of the state during the revolutionary war? What Constitution was formed in 1784? When was President Wheelock removed from Dartmouth College ? Who succeeded him ?- What does Dr. Belknap observe of the inhabitants of this ,State. Massachusetts. What distressing war commenced in 1675 ? What plan had this warrior concerted ? What treaty was concluded with the Narraganset tribe ? When was there a general rising of the Indians in NetV'- England ? What towns suffered most severely ? Were New-Hampshire and Maine attacked at the same time ? Relate the circumstances and result of the attack on the principle town of the Narragansets. How did the war continue during the winter? How did the war finally terminate ? Whei), and why was the charter of the governoi* and com- pany declared forfeited ? Who was appointed to the go- vernment of New-England? What powers was he invested with ? What new charter arrived in 1692 ? How long did this charter continue ? Relate the circumstances of the Salem Witchcraft.' What was the first newspaper established in America? When ? What plan did Governor Shirley lay before the general .<:ourt in 1745 ? QUESTIONS. 253 What states raised the troops ? Relate the circurastances attending the seige and surrender of Louisburg. What has the success, by many, been attributed to ? What did the French court resolve on ? What measures were taken for this purpose ? Why were these intentions relinquished ? When was the present constitution of the state formed ? What occasioned an insurrection in this state, in 1780 ? How was this insurrection quelled ? Vermont. When and by whom was Fort Dummer built ? Who built the fort at Crown Point ? What was the consequence of the territory west of Connec- ticut River's being annexed to New- York ? What law was passed by New- York, in 1774 ? V/hen was Vermont declared independent ? From what did the state receive its name ? When was Vermont admitted into the Union ? When was the present constitution established ? What has been the increase of population in Vermont ? Connecticut, When was Connecticut settled ? What important events in 1635 ? Relate the circumstances of the war with the Pequod In- dians. When and by whom was New-Haven settled ? What did the colonists determine, on finding themselves out of the jurisdiction of Massachusetts ? What was the constitution of New-Haven ? What charter did Charles the Second grant to Connecticut, in 1662 ? Who attempted to wrest it from them t How was the charter preserved ? Who assumed the government, on the seizure of Andros ? How did his government begin ? What is observed of it ? When and wh^'e was Yale College founded ? What is said of the government of Connecticut from its earliest settlement 1 Rhode-Island, When and why was Mr. Williams banished from Massa- chusetts ? Where did he begin a plantation ? * 254 QUESTIONS. Who first began a settlement on Rhode-Island ? From what did it receive its name ? What occasioned Rhode-Island and Providence to be ex- tensively settled ? What form of government was adopted ? When was the first general assembly held ? When was a royal charter granted ? What did it appoint ? Has much alteration since taken place in the form of go- vernment ? What act was passed by the Legislature, in 1663 ? What was done soon after the accession of James the Se- cond, in 1685 ? When and where was Brown University founded ? CHAPTER III.— Page 63. New-York. Who settled New- York ? When was it taken from them by the English ? What transactions in l6l4? Relate the circumstances of a battle between the Dutch and Indians, in 1646. How was the controversy between the Dutch and English, respecting the lands on Connecticut river, settled ? What grant did Charles the Second make to the Duke of York, in 1664 ? To make the patent valid, what was necessary ? Give the particulars of the expedition of Col. Nichols.rsjv>-» What were the terms of surrender ? What did Nichols do previous to his departure, in 1665 ? When did Holland yield New-Netherlands to the English ? When vvas New-York again taken by the Dutch ? What transaction by the court of assizes, &c. of New- York, in 1683 ? Did James refuse to confirm these privi- leges ? What increased the disaffection ? Who seized upon the fort ? What declaration did they sign ? Relate the circumstances attending Leisler's assumption of the supreme authority. Did this revolution bring about great advantages to New- York ? What was the consequence ? Wliat did the province do m an attempt to conquer Cana- da, in 1709 ? QUESTIONS. 255 Relate the circumstances of another expedition against Ca- nada, in 1 71 1 . How did this expedition end ? For what purpose was a convention of delegates held at Al- bany, in 1754? What plan of general government was adopted ? When was this plan approved and signed ? Why was this system rejected by the colonial assemblies ? Why by the king ? When, and under what title was a college in New- York in- corporated ? Where and when was Union College incorporated ? NeW'Jersei/. From what did New-Jersey receive its name ? When and where was the first settlement made ? How was the province divided in 1676 ? When and by whom was Burhngton settled ? How did West- Jersey continue to be held ? When were the proprietors' rights, restored them ? By whom was East-Jersey purchased, in 1682 ? Wlio was made governor ? When were the Jerseys annexed to New-England ? How long did they continue so ? What induced the proprietors to surrender the government to the crown ? Who was appointed governor ? When had New-Jersey a governor separate from New- York ? What college was founded at Princeton the same year ? When was the present constitution of N. Jersey adopted ? What is said of the sufferings of this state during the Re- volution ? Delaware. When and by whom was Delaware settled 1 Who laid claim to the territory ? W^hat became of the Swedes ? • ' How long did the Dutch maintain their authority? What was done by Wm. Penn, l682 ? What did these deeds embrace ? When did the crown assume the government of Pennsylva- nia and the lower counties ? W^hat authority were they sub- jected to ? What occasioned uneasiness in Delaware at this time ? — What was the consequence ? ' Did Delaware send representatives to attend the congress at New- York, in 1765 ? From what did Delaware receive its name ? • VYhen was the present constitution adopted ? 256 QUESTIONS, "Pennsylvania, \ To whom was a grant made of Pennsylvania t When did a patent pass the seals ? What territories did this grant encroach upon ? What did the patent provide for ? What frame of government did Penn publish in l682 ? What else was agreed between the proprietary and colonists? What obliged him to alter the form of government ? Where was the city of Philadelphia laid out, and how far did it extend ? What was previously done ? What causes are assigned for the rapid settlement of Penn- sylvania ? What new charter was granted by Penn, in 1683 ? What was the consequence, to Fenn, of the Assembly's re- fusing to acknowledge the successor of King James ? What was the 3d charter given by Penn to the colonists ? How long did this constitution continue ? What treaty was made by the Indians of the Six Nations in 1742 ? What other transaction the same year ? When was the American Philosophical Society instituted ? When incorporated ? How much was given by the state, for the quit rent due the proprietors ? When was the constitution of the state established ? Where was the seat of government removed to, in 1799 ? When did Congress remove from Philadelphia ? Maryland. Who made the first settlement in Maryland ? What patent was issued to Cecil, Lord Baltimore, in 1632 ? Why was the province called Maryland ? By the patent, what were the proprietors authorised to do ? Who was appointed governor ? When and were did he be- gin a settlement ? What made emigrants flock to the province ? What did the Indians do on the first arrival of the English ? What act was passed in l639? Who intrigued with the savages to commence a war against the colonists, 1642 ? How was the war ended ? Give the particulars of an insurrection, in 1 645. What did parliament do after the death of Charles I. ? What was the consequence of the colony's being divided m sentiment ? Relate the particulars of an insurrection, in 1656. Whett was the former order of things restored ? How were the court- QUESTIONS. 257 ties divided, in l692? Under whose superintendence were they? When was the present constitution of Maryland formed ? When and where was Washington College instituted? What college was instituted, io 1784 ? What grant was made to the U. States, in 1790 ? CHAPTER IV.— PAGE 85. Virginia. What was this colony first to do ? What did Governor Berkley inform the assembly, l66l ? What was done on the restoration of the old constitution ? What is said of the sufferings of this colony from the despot- ism of a royal government ? What was done in violation of chartered rights ? Did the people grow unquiet ? What added to their misfortune ? Relate the circumstances attending the rise, progress and conclusion of the rebellion of Col. Nathaniel Bacon. W^hat does this rebellion form ? How long were its effects felt, and what was done during its continuance ? Who succeeded Sir William Berkley, as governor of Virgi- nia ? What was the return Virginia received for its attachment to Charles II. ? When were William and Mary proclaimed in Virginia ? What charter was granted, in l692 ? How was Virginia divided in I7l2 ? Who first discover- ed a passage over the Apalachian mountains ? What is the most important epoch in the history of Virgi- nia ? What happened on that day ? When was the constitu- tion of this state adopted ? North and South Carolina. Where was the first settlement in the limits of the U. States, made ? Was it permanent ? How were the English treated by the Indians on their first arrival ? What says the journal of the voyage ? When and by whom was a settlement formed in Albemarle county ? What territory was granted to lords Clarendon and Craven, in 1663 ? >Vho was appointed commander of the planters settled about Cape Fear, 1665 ? What did the people of Albemarle petition for ? What did the general assembly granted them, consist of? When and by whom was the first assembly convoked under this constitution ? What, among other acts, was enacted I 258 2? Of what was the Chairman confident ? What did the President comniuaicate ta Congress, March ninth ? What act was passed April 3d}: '' W^hat message did the President send to Congress, June 1st ? What were the principal grounds for war, as stated in the message ? What was done by the minority in the House of Represent- atives ? What did they declare ? Relate the circumstances of the several mobs at Baltimore. Give an accoimt of tiie capture cf the British frigate Guer- riere. To whom did General Hull surrender, August 15th ? Relate the circumstances of an attack on the British at Queenstown, By General Van< Rensselaer. Give the particulars of the capture of the British sloop of war, Frolic. Of the capture of the frigate Macedonian. Of the Java. What action was fought at the River Raisin, 1813 ? How were the prisoners treated ? Give an; account of the capture of the British sloop of war, Peacock. For what purpose were commissioners sent to Russia ? ., Relate the circumstances of the capture of York. What important transactions, May 5ih ? Wliat was the result of an attack on Sackett's Harbour ? Relate the circumstances of the action between the Chesa* peake and British frigate Shannon-, 272 QUESTIONS. By whom, and when was fort George taken ? Give the particulars of the engagement on Lake Erie, Sep« tember 10th. How was information of this victory given to Gen. Har- , rison ? How did the northern campaign for this season, end ? What was the plan for taking Montreal ? Why was the design re- linquished ? W^hat took place on the Niagara frontier ? By whom were the Creek Indians subdued ? Where and when, did the commissioners appointed by the American and British governments, meet ? Give the particulars of the capture of the Essex. When was fort Erie taken ? Give an account of the bat- tles of Chippewa and Bridgewater. ' Relate the circumstances of the invasion and capture of Washington; and of the plunder of Alexandria. Give an account of an attack on fort Erie, by the British. Relate the particulars of an attack on Baltimorej and fort McHenry. By whom, and when was an attack made on Plattsburg ? How did the naval engagement on Lake Champlain end? Give an account of the attack on the forts at Plattsburg. What was the result of a sortie from fort Erie ? Was there any general engagement on Lake Ontario? What did the report of the committee of the legislature of Mnssachusetts recommend ? What was done in consequence of these resolutions ? What was the report made by the con- vention ? Relate the circumstances of the capture of the frigate Presi- dent. Of the Cyane and Levant* What force entered Lake Ponchartrain, near New-Orleans, in December ? What was the result of an engagement, Janu- ary 8th ? What intelligence was brought by the English sloop of war, Favourite, at New- York, February 11th? How was the news of peace received? What did the treaty provide for ? QUESTIONS ON THE ^ssr^iTfu^ WHAT is believed to be the oldest writing in existence ? What account have we from Moses ? Where did these de- scendants settle ? Who laid the foundation of Babylon ? Who of Nineveh ? What v\^as Abraham directed by the Al- mighty, B. C. 1931 ? What did the selling of Joseph into Egypt occasion ? What did the Israelites do, B. C. 1500 ? Who subdued the country? How long did they continue here, and by what were they governed ? Who was their first king ? When ? Who succeeded ? What became of the diiferent tribes ? What did they do on the appearing of Je- sus Christ ? By whom, and when was the city of Jerusalem destroyed ? What is said of the Jews, from this period to the present moment ? ASSYRIA AND SYRIA.— What has Syria been more generally used for ? What Assyria : How long is this em- pire supposed to have flourished ? What is said of Babylon, the capital ? When and by what means did Cyrus conquer this city ? Where died Alexander the Great ? What was done by Seleucus ? How did it continue ? EGYPT. — By whom was Egypt settled ? What is still a subject of dispute, among some learned writers ? W^hat was its extent of territory ? What is said of the Nile ? What is observed of the antiquity of this country ? How many cities is it said once to have contained ? What were the chief? By whom and when, was Egypt conquered ? When and by ■whom, was it made a Roman Province ? What do the an- cient boundaries of Egypt contain ? What is the country under 1 ^4 QUESTIONS. PERSIA. — What empires were united under Cyru? ? What did this country become subject to ? What was done by Genghis Khan, 1190? What was done by Tamerlane, 1400? By Kouli Khan, 1732 ? Since his time, what have been common in Persia ? How is it at present governed ? GREECE. — What is this territory now called ? By whom is it supposed to have been settled ? What were Athens and Sparta considered ? What is observed of the laws of Lycur- gus and Solon ? Why was it impossible to be rich in Sparta ? What were the alternate rulers of Athens, for many centuries ? How was Greece divided ? What disunited these states ? W^hat was the first instance of union among them ? Relate the circumstances of the siege of Troy. How was it at length subdued ? Give the particulars of an attempt, by Xerxes, king of Persia, to conquer Greece. How did he return to Persia ? What is ancient Greece, at present, under the con- trol of ? ROME. — By whom and when, was the city of Rome founded ? How was the city and empire governed, after the death of Romulus '? What ended regal government ? Instead of a king, what government had they ? For what were the Romans remarkable, anterior to the dictatorship of Juhus Csesar ? Give an account of the war between the consuls, Julius Caesar, and Pompey the Great, fifty years before Christ. What is observed of the emperors who succeeded Augustus ? How long did the Eastern Empire continue ? What was done by Charlemagne, about the year 800 ? CARTHAGE. — By whom and when, is Carthage gene- rally supposed to have been built ? Relate the circumstances of the first Punic war, B. C. 264. When did the second Punic war commence ? Give an account of the invasion of Rome, by Hannibal. How long did the war continue : and on what terms was peace concluded ? When commenced the third Punic war ? Wfeat was the determination of the Roman Se- nate ? How was this effected 1 CHINA. — How far back can the history of the Chinese be traced ? What did the Chinese do, to defend themselves against the Tartars ? When did the Tartars pass the wall, and subdue China ? When were missionaries sent to China by the Pope? With what success did they meet ? What was the consequence of this suspicion ? What success in attempts %!0 form commercial treaties with the Chinese ? QUESTIONS. 275 TART ARY.--W hat does this country include ? Who are the inliabitants descendants from ; and what is said of them ? To whom is the country subject ? HINDOSTJK— When, and by what nation, was India, within the Ganges, discovered ? What was the first curse to civil and religious liberty there ? When was the East India Company established ? FRANCE. — When and by whom, was France settled ? Who was their first king ? What was done by Charlemagne in the beginning of the ninth century ? In whose possessiou has the throne of France remained, since 987 ? Who was one of the greatest monarchs of France ? What is said of the reign of Louis XIV ? Relate the most important circum- stances of the French Revolution. Who was made emperor, in 1804? Give an account of the expedition of Bonaparte to Russia, in 1812 ? How did the expedition of 1813, termi- nate ? Who was placed on the throne of France ? What did Bonaparte do, in 1815 ? Where and by whom was he overcome ? What was done with him ? SPAIN. — By whom and when, was the kingdom of Spain founded ? When was it conquered by the Moors ? How was it divided ? When were the Moors expelled ? What did Spain become, from the abundance of its wealth ? What did Bonaparte do, in 1 808 ? Relate the circumstances of his war with the Spaniards. What was the king obliged to order in consequence of a revolt in the army, 1820 ? GERMANY. — By whom and when, was the German em- pire founded? Who became emperor, about a century af- ter ? From that time to the present, how has Germany been divided ? RUSSIA.— What was done by Peter the Great, at the close of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century? Why has Alexander, now on the throne, been styled the Deliverer of Europe ? ENGLAND. — In what year did Julius Caesar pass from France to the island of Great Britain ? By whom was it subdued soon after ; and how long did it continue under their government? What did the Scots and Picts do? What Avas done by the Britons ? What did these finally do ? How was the country then divided ? Under whose authority were the seven kingdoms united, 827 ? What did Alfred at length succeed in ? When did he die, and what is observed of him ? Who obtained the kingdom, 1017 ? By whom was England invaded and subdued, lo<36 ? Wh