galleys were sunk, and a few others escaped. The loss of the Americans was fifty-two killed, and fifty-eight wounded; of the British, eighty-four killed, and one hundred and ten wounded. Previously to this eventful day, Sir George Prevost, with his army, arrived in the vicinity of Plattsburg. In anticipation of this event, Gen. Macomb made every preparation, which time and means allowed, and called in to his assistance considerable numbers of the militia.

In the sight of these two armies, the rival squadrons commenced their contest. And, as if their engagement had been a preconcerted signal, and as if to raise still higher the solemn grandeur of the scene, Sir George Prevost now led up his forces against the American works, and began throwing upon them shells, balls, and rockets.

At the same time, the Americans opened a severe and destructive fire from their forts. Before sunset, the temporary batteries of Sir George Prevost were all silenced, and every attempt of the enemy to cross from Plattsburg to the American works was repelled. At nine o'clock, perceiving the attainment of his object impracticable, the British general hastily withdrew his forces, diminished by killed, wounded, and deserted, two thousand five hundred. At the same time, he abandoned vast quantities of military stores, and left the inhabitants of Plattsburg to take care of the sick and wounded of his army, and the

"star-spangled banner" to wave in triumph over the waters of Champlain.

52. The opposition of the New England representatives in congress to the declaration of war has been noticed. (Sec. 12.) In this opposition, a great majority of their constituents coincided; and, during the progress of the war, that opposition became confirmed, and apprehensions were indulged that, in consequence of the illmanagement of the general government, a crisis was forming, which might involve the country in ruin.

Under these apprehensions, in October, 1814, the legislature of Massachusetts recommended the meeting of a convention from the New England states. This measure, though strongly opposed, was adopted by that body. Delegates were accordingly chosen. This example was followed by Rhode Island and Connecticut. Vermont refused, and New Hampshire neglected to send.

On the 15th of December, these delegates, together with two elected by counties in New Hampshire, and one similarly elected in Vermont, met at Hartford. After a session of near three weeks, they published a report, in which, after dwelling upon the public grievances felt by the New England states particularly, and by the country at large, in no small degree, they proceeded to suggest several alterations of the federal constitution, with a view to their adoption by the respective states of the Union.

These alterations consisted of seven articles:-first, that representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned to the number of free persons;-secondly, that no new state shall be admitted into the Union, without the concurrence of two thirds of both houses;-thirdly, that congress shall not have power to lay an embargo for more than sixty days;-fourthly, that congress shall not interdict commercial intercourse, without the concurrence of two thirds of both houses;-fifthly, that war shall not be declared without the concurrence of a similar majority;-sixthly, that no person, who shall be hereafter naturalized, shall be eligible as a member of the senate or house of representatives, or hold any civil office under the authority of the United States; and, seventhly, that no person shall be elected twice to the presidency

nor the president be elected from the same state two terms in succession.

The conclusion of a treaty of peace with Great Britain, not long after, being announced, another convention was not called; and, on the submission of the above amendments of the constitution to the several states, they were rejected.

53. In the month of December, a British fleet of six. ty sail, having arrived on the coast east of the Mississippi, landed fifteen thousand troops. These, on the 8th of January, 1815, under command of Sir Edward Packenham, attacked the Americans, amounting to about six thousand, chiefly militia, in their intrenchments, before New Orleans. After an engagement of more than an hour, the enemy, having lost their commander-in-chief, and Maj. Gen. Gibbs, and having been cut to pieces in an almost unexampled degree, fled in confusion, leaving their dead and wounded on the field of battle.

During several preliminary engagements, Gen. Jackson, now commanding at New Orleans, had been diligently employed in preparations to defend the place. His front was a straight line of one thousand yards, defended by upwards of three thousand nfantry and artillerists. The ditch contained five feet of water, and his front, from having been flooded by opening the levees, and by frequent rains, was rendered slippery and muddy. Eight distinct batteries were judiciously disposed, mounting in all twelve guns of different calibers. On the opposite side of the river was a strong battery of fifteen guns.

On the morning of the 8th of January, General Packenham brought up his forces, amounting to twelve thousand men, to the attack. The British deliberately advanced in solid columns, over an even plain, in front of the American intrenchments, the men carrying, besides their muskets, fascines, and some of them ladders.

A solemn silence now prevailed through the American lines, until the enemy approached within reach of the batteries, which at that moment opened an incessant and destructive cannonade. The enemy, notwithstanding, continued to advance, closing up their ranks as fast as they were opened by the fire of the Americans.

At length, they came within reach of the musketry and rifles. The extended American line now unitedly presented one sheet of fire, and poured in upon the British columns an unceasing tide of death. Hundreds fell at every discharge, and by columns were swept away.

Being unable to stand the shock, the British became disorder ed and fled. In an attempt to rally them, Gen. Packenham was killed. Generals Gibbs and Kean succeeded in pushing forward their columns a second time, but the second approach was still more fatal than the first. The fires again rolled from the American batteries, and from thousands of muskets. The advancing columns again broke and fled; a few platoons only reached the edge of the ditch, there to meet a more certain destruction. In a third but unavailing attempt to lead up their troops, Generals Gibbs and Kean were severely wounded, the former mortally.

The field of battle now exhibited a scene of extended carnage. Seven hundred brave soldiers were sleeping in death, and one thousand four hundred were wounded. Five hundred were made prisoners-making a loss to the British, on this memorable day, of near three thousand men. The Americans lost in the engagement only seven killed, and six wounded.

The enemy now sullenly retired, and, on the night of the 18th, evacuated their camp, and, with great secrecy, embarked on board their shipping.

54. The news of the victory at New Orleans spread with haste through the United States, and soon after was followed by the still more welcome tidings of a treaty of peace, which was signed at Ghent, on the 24th of December, 1814. On the 17th of February, this treaty was ratified by the president and senate.

Upon the subjects for which the war had been professedly declared, the treaty, thus concluded, was silent. It provided only for the suspension of hostilities-the exchange of prisoners-the restoration of territories and possessions obtained by the contending powers, during the war-the adjustment of unsettled boundaries-and for a combined effort to effect the entire abolition of traffic in slaves.

But whatever diversity of opinion had prevailed about the justice or policy of the war-or now prevailed about the merits of the treaty-all parties welcomed the return of peace. The soldier gladly exchanged the toils of the camp for the rest of his home; the mariner once more spread his canvass to the wind, and, fearless of molestation, joyfully stretched his way on the ocean; and the yeomanry of the land, unaccustomed to the din of arms, gladly returned to their wonted care of the field and the flock.

55. The treaty with England was followed, on the 30th of June, 1815, by a treaty with the dey of Algiers, concluded at Algiers, at that time, by William Shaler

and Commodore Stephen Decatur, agents for the United States.

The war, which thus ended by treaty, was commenced by the dey himself, as early as the year 1812. At that time, the Ameri can consul, Mr. Lear, was suddenly ordered to depart from AIgiers, on account of the arrival of a cargo of naval and military stores, for the regency of Algiers, in fulfilment of treaty stipulations, which, the dey alleged, were not such, in quantity or quality, as he expected. At the same time, depredations were commenced upon our commerce. Several American vessels were captured and condemned, and their crews subjected to slavery.

Upon a representation of the case, by the president, to congress, that body formally declared war against the dey in March. Soon after, an American squadron sailed for the Mediterranean, captured an Algerine brig, and a forty-four gun frigate; and, at length, appeared before Algiers.

The respectability of the American force, added to the two im portant victories already achieved, had prepared the way for the American commissioners to dictate a treaty, upon such a basis as they pleased. Accordingly, the model of a treaty was sent to the dey, who signed it. By this treaty, the United States were exempted from paying tribute in future; captured property was to be restored by the dey; prisoners to be delivered without ransom, &c. &e.

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56. The treaty with Great Britain, which ended the war, left the subject of commercial intercourse between the two nations to future negotiation. In the summer following the close of the war, plenipotentiaries, respectively appointed by the two countries for that purpose, met at London, and, on the 3d of July, signed a convention, by which to regulate the commerce between the territories of the United States and of his Britannic majesty."

This convention provided for a reciprocal liberty of commerce between the two countries-for an equalization of duties on importations and exportations from either country to the other-and for the admission of American vessels to the principal settlements of the British dominions in the East Indies, viz. Madras, Calcutta, Bombay, &c. Of this convention, the president spoke in terms of approbation, in his message to congress; but by a large portion of the community it was received with coldness, from an apprehension that it would operate unfavorably to America, and would seriously abridge her commerce. vention was to be binding only for four years.

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