the 5th of September in the persons of two porters, who were taken ill and died within a few hours of each other. New cases soon occurring, it was declared contagious by proclamation, and proper means were adopted to prevent the infection from spreading. All strangers were removed from the garrison, and many of the resident families quitted it. A lazaretto was formed on the neutral ground, quarantines were established in the houses where it had appeared, and the town was divided into districts under proper inspectors. The contagion was not confined to the town's-people, but reached the military, and several officers fell victims to it. The mortality of the disease was considerable in proportion to the number affected, but happily its ravages were not of long duration. On December 23d, the port was opened, and the communication by land was restored, and clean bills of health were issued. At the time of the prevalence of this epidemic, the fever at Cadiz which has been already mentioned, and which was apparently of the same nature, was in a progressive state, and caused all vessels arriving from that port to be placed under quarantine. CHAPTER American War.-Re-election of Mr. Madison.-Repulse of the American General Smyth.-Retreat of Dearborn from Champlain.Report of Committee of Foreign Relations.-Additional Blockade of the Coast-President's Message and Close of Congress.-General Winchester's Defeat and Capture.-American Post at Ogdenburgh forced. York taken by the Americans.-Capture of Mobile.-Congress re-assembled, and President's Message.-Affair on the Miami. -Fort George taken.-Attack on Sackett's Harbour,-Action on the Ontario, and at Burlington Heights.-Capture of the Corps under Boestler-Landings in the Chesapeake. - Torpedoes and exploding Machines employed.-Conclusion of the Session of Congress, and new Taxes.-Occurrences on Lake Ontario and Champlain.-Failure of Attack on Sanduski.--Reconnoissance on Fort George.-British Force on Lake-Erie captured.-General Proctor's Defeat.-Actions on Lake Ontario-Invasion of Lower Canada by Hampton repulsed.-Wilkinson's Advance by the River St. Lawrence frustrated, and a Corps of his Army defeated-Conclusion of the Campaign.-American System of Retaliation. TE must now turn our eyes occasioned a new trial of strength scenes of which afford none of that ers. Before the expiration of the last year, an election for President and Vice-president of the United States VOL. LV. war peace which was decided by the re-election of Mr. Madison as President on December 2d, the votes in his favour being 128, against 89 for his competitor Mr. Clinton. The election of Mr. Gerry for Vicepresident was carried by nearly the same majority. In this election, as in the war question, the voters on the successful side were generally of the states from Pennsylvania southwards, and on the other, of those from New York northwards. Some changes in the Ame rican ministry succeeded, which, however, made no change in the state of parties. A partial action, in which the [N] main It was mentioned in the history of the last year, that the American General Dearborn had advanced to Champlain, near the Canada line, for the purpose of crossing the frontier, and penetrating to Montreal. His troops made several reconnoissances beyond the line; but the vigorous preparations of General Provost to receive them disconcerted their plans; and on November 22d, General Dearborn commenced a retreat with his whole army, which he conducted upon Plattsburgh, Burlington, and Albany, where he took up his winter quarters. A report from the Committee of foreign relations laid before the House of Representatives in Congress on January 29th, merits attention, as stating the grounds of the existing war with Great Britain, and the cuses which produced the failure of the attempts for its extinction. Having noticed the refusal of the President to concur in the proposal for an armistice made by Admiral Warren, because nothing was said in it on the subject of impressment, the committee express their entire approbation of his conduct, observing, that "to appeal to arms in defence of a right, and to lay them down without securing it, would be considered in no other light than a relinquishment of it" They then proceed to consider the precise nature of that cause which has hi therto prevented an accommodation. Great Britain, they say, claims a right to impress her own seamen, and to exercise it in American vessels. It insists that every American seaman should carry with him the evidence of his citizenship, and that all those who are unprovided with such evidence should be impressed. Not to object that such a document may be lost or destroyed, on what principle does the British government require from the United States such a degradation? Ought the free citizens of an independent power to carry an evidence of their freedom on the main ocean, and in their own vessels, and are all to be considered as British subjects who do not bear with them that badge? Would Great Britain her self submit to such an usurpation of authority? After some more observations on this point, they go on to say, "Let it be distinctly understood, in case of an arrangement between the two nations, whereby each should exclude from its service the citizens and subjects of the other, that this House will be prepared, so far as depends on it, to give it effect; and for that purpose to enact laws, with such regulations and penalties as will be adequate." They consider it as the duty of the House to declare, in the most decisive terms, that should the British government decline such an arrangement, and persist in the practice of impressment from American vessels, the United States will resist it unceasingly with all their force. The report dwells with a good deal of prolixity on this topic, touching upon no other point of difference between the two nations; and it concludes by by recommending the passing of a bill" for the regulation of seamen on board the public vessels, and in the merchant's service of the United States." A public notification was issued by the Prince Regent on March 30th, that necessary measures had been taken for blockading the ports and harbours of New York, Charleston, Port Royal, Savannah, and the river Mississippi. These were additional to the blockades of the Chesapeake and Delaware. to consider as prisoners of war na turalized emigrants, and the employment of savages. Upon the whole, the address breathed a keen spirit of resentment against this nation; and we have to lament that the continuance of the war during this year has unliappily exasperated the feelings on both sides, and produced situations, hereafter to be mentioned, scarcely compatible with civilized hostility. The Congress closed its session on March 5th, without passing the prohibitory bills recommended by the President. A proclamation issued by the governor of Bermuda, reciting a British order of council providing The attempts of the American for the supply of the West India army against Canada, in the meanislands by a trade under special li- time,. produced nothing but discences from the ports of the United appointment and defeat. General States, but confining such licences Winchester, with a division of the to those of the Eastern states ex- American forces consisting of more clusively, produced a message from than 1000 men, advanced in Jathe President to the House of Re-nuary to the attack of Fort Depresentatives on February 24th, troit, and obtained possession of couched in terms of indignation French town, twenty-six miles from and reproach which denoted the that place. Intelligence of this acuteness of his feelings with re- circumstance being conveyed to spect to any attempt for separating Col. Proctor, he hastily assembled the interests of different parts of all the force within his reach, the union, and particularly when amounting to no more than 500 favouring that part in which he regulars and militia, and about 600 was conscious of being unpopular. Indians, and marching to the ene He concluded with suggesting to my, attacked them on the mornCongress the expediency of a pro- ing of Jan. 22d. Being posted in hibition of any trade whatever by houses and enclosures, they made the citizens of the United States a desperate, resistance, chiefly under special licences, and also a through dread of falling into the prohibition of all exportation from hands of the savages, but at length the United States in foreign bot- about 500 of them surrendered at toms. This matter was also touched discretion, and the remainder, atupon in Mr. Madison's inaugural tempting to retreat, were almost speech at the Capitol, on occasion all cut off by the Indians. General of taking his oath of office, on Winchester was among the capMarch 4th. The other topics were tives, being taken by a Wyandot the practice of imprisonment, the chief, who delivered him to the refusal by the British government British commander. The loss of [N2] the the King's troops was 24 killed, and 158 wounded. men, and the approach to the shore of the remainder of the assailants, induced the British to retreat to their works. When the Americans had advanced within 60 rods of the main work of the town, an explosion took place from a maga The Americans posted at Ogdenburgh, near the river St. Laurence, having availed themselves of the frozen state of that river to make frequent predatory incursions upon the inhabitants on the Cana-zine, the effect of which was to dian border, Sir G. Prevost, arriv- injure or destroy about 100 of the ing on February 21st at Prescot, assailants, and 40 of the defenders. opposite the enemy, directed an General Pike lost his life on this attack of his position at Ogden occasion, and was much regretted, burgh, which took place on the as a brave and skilful officer. following day under the command Commodore Chauncey in the meanof Major Macdonnel, of the Glen- time had worked into the harbour garry light infantry fencibles, at with his flotilla, and opened a fire the head of about 480 regulars and upon the British batteries. General militia. After a brisk action of an Sheaffe, after the explosion, hour's continuance against 500 of marched out of the place with the the Americans, in which the bra- regulars, and left the commander very of the assailants in making of the militia to capitulate. All way through deep snow under a resistance now ceased, and the galling fire was conspicuous, the terms of surrender were agreed post was carried, with the capture upon, by which all the military of 11 pieces of cannon, all the and naval men and officers (about ammunition and stores, and 74 300 in number) were made priprisoners, and the destruction of soners of war, and the public two armed schooners, two gun- stores were delivered up to the vicboats, and the barracks. tor. A large ship on the stocks, and much naval stores, had been set fire to before the surrender, but a considerable quantity of military stores and provisions remained undamaged. About this time, the Americans becoming fully sensible of the importance of gaining a naval superiority upon the lakes in their attempts on Canada, invited a number of the seamen of their ports whom the stagnation of trade bad thrown out of employment, to man the small craft building on the shores of those great waters. A success to the Americans much more than counterbalancing this loss, was the capture of York, the capital of Upper Canada, seated on Lake Ontario. General Dearborn, in a letter to the secretary at war, relates that arriving by water at the place in the morning of April 27th, he began landing the troops under a heavy fire. The British commander in York was General Sheaffe, whose force is stated at 700 regulars and militia, and 100 Indians. These he had stationed in the woods near the landing place, and a spirited resistance was kept up, till the landing of General Pike with 7 or 800 We may notice among the American successes, whatever be its future consequences, the capture of |