the territory west of the Alleganies, and of establishing an independent empire there, of which New Orleans was to be the capital, and himself the chief. Towards the accomplishment of this scheme, which, it afterwards appeared, had been some time in contemplation, the skilful cunning and intrigue of Col. Burr were directed. Happily, however, government, being apprized of his designs, arrested him, while as yet he had few adherents, and before his standard was raised. He was brought to trial at Richmond, on a charge of treason committed within the district of Virginia; but, no overt act being proved against him in that state, he was released.

In addition to this project, Col. Burr had formed another, which, in case of failure in the first, might be carried on independently of it-this was an attack on Mexico, and the establishment of an empire there. A third object was provided, merely ostensible, to wit, the settlement of the pretended purchase of a tract of country on the Washita, claimed by a Baron Bastrop. This was to serve as a pretext for all his preparations, an allurement for such followers as really wished to acquire settlements in that country, and a cover under which to retreat, in the event of a final discomfiture of both branches of his real designs.

He found at once that the attachment of the western country to the present Union was not to be shaken; that its dissolution could not be effected with the consent of the inhabitants; and that his resources were inadequate, as yet, to effect it by force. He determined, therefore, to seize New Orleans, plunder the bank there, possess himself of the military and naval stores, and proceed on his expedition to Mexico.

He collected, therefore, from all quarters, where himself or his agents possessed influence, all the ardent, restless, desperate, disaffected persons, who were for an enterprise analogous to their characters. He also seduced good, well-meaning citizens, some by assurances that he possessed the confidence of the government, and was acting under its secret patronage; and others by offers of land in Bastrop's claim in the Washita.

10. 1806. To understand the subsequent political history of the United States, and those measures of government, which were taken in relation to foreign powers, it is necessary to glance at the state of the European nations, at this period-particularly that of England and France. These two countries were now at war with

each other, and in their controversies had involved most of the continental powers. Towards the belligerents, America was endeavoring to maintain a neutrality, and peaceably to continue a commerce with them. It was hardly to be expected, however, that jealousies would not arise, between the contending powers, in relation to the conduct of America, and that events would not occur, calculated to injure her commerce, and disturb her peace.

In addition to these circumstances, a controversy had long existed, and continued to exist, between the United States and Great Britain, in respect to the right of searching neutral ships and impressing seamen. Great Britain claimed it as among her prerogatives to take her native born subjects, wherever found, for her navy, and of searching American vessels for that purpose. As yet, no adjustment of this controversy had been effected. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of the American government, the officers of the British navy not unfrequently seized native born British subjects, who had voluntarily enlisted on board our vessels. They also impressed into the British service some thousands of American seamen.

11. May 16th, 1806, the British government issued an order in council, declaring the ports and rivers from the Elbe, a river in Germany, to Brest, a town of France, to be in a state of blockade. By this order, American vessels, trading to these and intervening ports, were liable to seizure and condemnation.

12. In the ensuing November, 1806, Bonaparte issued his celebrated decree at Berlin, called the "Berlin decree," by which all the British islands were declared to be in a state of blockade, and all intercourse with them was prohibited. This decree violated the treaty between the United States and France, and the law of nations.

The following are the principal articles of that decree, which related to the obstruction of American commerce:

1. The British islands are in a state of blockade.

2. All commerce and correspondence with them is prohibited. 3. No vessel coming directly from England, or her colonies,

or having been there since the publication of this decree, shall be admitted into any port.

13. This decree of Bonaparte, at Berlin, was in part retaliated by the British government, in an order of council, issued January 7th, 1807, by which all coasting trade with France was prohibited.

"Whereas the French government has issued certain orders, which purport to prohibit the commerce of all neutral nations with his majesty's dominions," &c.-" his majesty is pleased to order, that no vessels shall be permitted to trade from one port to another, both which ports shall belong to, or be in possession of, France or her allies, or shall be so far under their control as that British vessels may not freely trade thereat," &c., on pain of capture and condemnation.

14. While measures were thus taking by France and England, whose tendency was to injure American commerce, and to involve her in a controversy with both, an event occurred, which filled the American people with indignation, and called for immediate executive notice. This was an attack upon the American frigate Chesapeake, Commodore Barron, off the capes of Virginia, by the British frigate Leopard, of fifty guns. The attack was occasioned by the refusal of Commodore Barron to surrender several seamen, who had deserted from the British armed ship Melampus, a short time previous, and had voluntarily enlisted on board the Chesapeake. After crippling the American frigate, which made no resistance, the commander of the Leopard took from her the seamen in question, two of whom had been proved to be American citizens.

The persons who deserted from the Melampus, then lying in Hampton roads, were William Ware, Daniel Martin, John Strachan, John Little, and Ambrose Watts. Within a month from their escape from the Melampus, the first three of these deserters offered themselves for enlistment, and were received on board the Chesapeake, then at Norfolk, Virginia, preparing for sea.

The British consul at Norfolk, being apprized of this circumstance, wrote a letter to the American naval officer, requesting these men to be returned. With this request the officer refusing

In conse

to comply, the British agent lost no time in endeavoring to procure an order from government for their surrender. quence of this application, the secretary of the navy ordered an examination into the characters and claims of the men in question. The required examination resulted in proof that Ware, Martin, and Strachan, were natives of America. The two former had protections, or notarial certificates of their being American citizens. Strachan had no protection, but asserted that he lost it previously to his escape. Such being the circumstances of the men, the government refused to surrender them.

On the 22d of June, the Chesapeake weighed anchor, and proceeded to sea. She passed the British ships Bellona and Melampus, lying in Lynnhaven bay, whose appearance was friendly. There were two other ships that lay off Cape Henry, one of which, the Leopard, Capt. Humphreys, weighed anchor, and, in a few hours, came alongside the Chesapeake.

A British officer immediately came on board, and demanded the deserters. To this, Capt. Barron replied, that he did not know of any being there, and that his duty forbade him to allow of any muster of his crew except by their own officers.

During this interview, Barron noticed some proceedings of a hostile nature on board the adverse ship, but he could not be persuaded that any thing but menace was intended by them. After the British officer departed, he gave orders to clear his gundeck, and after some time, he directed his men to their quarters, secretly, and without beat of drum; still, however, without any serious apprehensions of an attack.

Before these orders could be executed, the Leopard commenced a heavy fire. This fire, unfortunately, was very destructive. In about thirty minutes, the hull, rigging, and spars of the Chesapeake, were greatly damaged, three men were killed and sixteen wounded; among the latter was the captain himself. Such was the previous disorder, that, during this time, the ut most exertions were insufficient to prepare the ship for action, and the captain thought proper to strike his colors.

The British captain refused to accept the surrender of the Chesapeake, but took from her crew, Ware, Martin, and Strachan, the three men formerly demanded as deserters, and a fourth, John Wilson, claimed as a runaway from a merchant ship.

15. Such was the agitation of the public mind, in consequence of this outrage committed on the Chesapeake, that the president, on the 2d of July, issued his proclamation, ordering all British armed vessels to leave the waters of the United States, and forbidding them to enter, until satisfaction for the attack on the Chesapeake should be made by the British government. About the

same time, instructions were forwarded to the American minister in England, Mr. Monroe, to demand reparation for the unauthorized attack upon the Chesapeake, and, as an essential part of that reparation, security against future impressments from American ships. The British minister, Mr. Canning, however, protested against conjoining the general question concerning the impressment of persons from neutral merchant ships, with the particular affray between the Leopard and the Chesapeake.

Mr. Monroe not being authorized to treat these subjects separately, further negotiation between these two ministers was suspended, and Mr. Rose was appointed, by the British government, as a special minister to the United States, empowered to treat concerning the particular injury complained of, but not to discuss the general question of impressing persons from merchant ships.

16. While such measures were taking in England, in relation to the affair of the Chesapeake, congress, which had been summoned by proclamation of the president, met on the 27th of October.

In his message to congress at this time, the president entered fully into the state of our relations with Great Britain-informed them of a treaty which had been negotiated with the British government, by Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney, but which he had rejected, principally because it made no sufficient provision on the subject of impressments--stated the affair of the attack on the Chesapeake his proclamation to British armed vessels to quit the waters of the United States-his instructions to the American minister at London, in relation to reparation expected from the British government, and his expectation of speedily hearing from England the result of the measures which had been taken.

17. On the 11th of November were issued, at London, the celebrated British Orders in Council, retaliatory upon the French government for the Berlin decree of November, 1806. By these orders in council, France and her allies, all nations at war with Great Britain, and all places from which the British flag is excluded, were declared to be under the same restrictions in point of