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tion of land as a settlement to every warrior of the Creeks who took an active part in favour of the United States in the late war. The Creeks are also required to abstain from all intercourse with any British or Spanish post or town; and other articles are added, denoting the separate condition to which they were reduced by the hostilities exercised against them.

The naval force of the United States which had been set free by the peace with Great Britain, was usefully and honourably employed in avenging the piracies of the Barbary States upon the commerce of the Americans, and compelling them to a future pacific conduct. A squadron commanded by Commodore Decatur sailed to the Mediterranean, and on June 20th engaged an Algerine fleet, two ships of which were taken, one being that of the admiral. After this victory he proceeded to Algiers, the Dey of which speedily entered into a treaty, by which the tribute demanded from the Americans was for ever relinquished. Decatur then, anchoring in the bay of Tunis, demanded satisfaction of the government for having suffered two prizes made by the Americans, and carried into that port, to be taken out by a British ship of war, and he obliged the bey to pay the damage into the hands of the American consul. Sailing thence to Tripoly he compelled by menaces the pashaw of that place to pay 25,000 dollars by way of indemnity. Commodore Bambridge, the American commander-in-chief, afterwards took precautionary measures for pre

venting any future depredations on the commerce of the United States by the Barbary corsairs.

The war with Great Britain having left the American warehouses exhausted of their store of many necessary articles, as soon as peace was restored, their ships came in numbers to the British ports and renewed their usual commercial transactions, to the benefit of both countries. The sense each entertained of the mutual advantages to be derived from an intimate correspondence, and their disposition to forget past animosities, were agreeably displayed by a "convention to regulate the commerce between the territories of the United States of America and those of his Britannic Majesty," agreed upon by the negociators on each part in London on July 3d, and ratified by the American president in December. Of its articles, the first stipulates generally a reciprocal liberty of commerce between the countries: 2. That no other duties on export or import on either side shall be imposed on the produce or manufactures of each country, than on the like goods to or from any other country; and that the duties on shipping and goods imported shall be the same, whether the vessels be British or American; the same principle also to apply to drawbacks and bounties: 3. American vessels are to be admitted to trade with the four principal British settlements in the East Indies, paying no higher duties than the most favoured nations; but they are not to carry their cargoes direct to any other port than in the United States, there to be un,

laden;

and also are not to engage in the British coasting trade of the East Indies 4. Consuls for the protection of trade are to reside freely in each country: 5. This convention is to continue in force during four years.

On December 5th President Madison transmitted to both houses of Congress a message in which a detailed account is given of the most important occurrences since their last meeting. It begins with relating the successful termination of the war which had been commenced by the regency of Algiers against the United States. It is next mentioned as a source of satisfaction, that the treaty of peace with Great Britain has been succeeded by a commercial convention, the disposition shown in which, it is hoped, will be improved into liberal arrangements on other subjects which might otherwise endanger future harmony. The existing relations between the States and the Indians on their frontiers are then adverted to; and it is said, that whilst treaties of amity have been entered into with the greater part of the tribes on the western and north-western borders, a restlessness has been manifested by those on the southern frontier, who had been chastised into peace, which has called for preparatory measures to repress it. Two following paragraphs relate to the act passed for the military peace establishment, respecting which, difficulties had occurred which still required legislative aid. The revival of the public credit is then spoken of with satisfaction, and a statement is given of the late receipts into the treasury. The na

tional debt, as ascertained in October last, is reckoned at 120 millions of dollars, to which some addition would probably occur on the liquidation of the public accounts; and it is observed that the improved condition of the revenue would not only afford the means of maintaining the faith of the government towards its creditors, but would justify an immediate alleviation of burdens imposed by the war. Various objects of internal improvement are then pointed out for the consideration of congress, among which is the establishment of a national seminary of learning within the district of Columbia. The message closes with a congratulatory view of the situation and prospects of the country. "Whilst other portions of mankind (says the President) are labouring under the distresses of war, or struggling with adversity in other forms, the United States are in the tranquil enjoyment of prosperous and honourable peace. In reviewing the scenes through which it has been attained, we can rejoice in the proofs given, that our political institutions, founded in human rights, and framed for their preservation, are equal to the severest trials of war, as well as adapted to the ordinary periods of repose."

The other great portion of the American continent has continued to be the theatre of a sanguinary civil war, the occurrences in which have, as before, been so differently represented by the opposite parties, that it is difficult to form a distinct idea of the existing state of affairs, or a probable conjecture of the final issue.

The

The long-prepared expedition from Cadiz, designed for the reduction of the independents on the eastern coast of South America, sailed in the spring, and the arrival at Porto Cabello of two Spanish ships of the line, six frigates, and 70 transports, having on board upwards of 12,000 troops, under the command of Gen. Morillo, was announced in the month of April. Another expedition was said to have sailed in company, destined for the river la Plata.

Authentic intelligence was received in May at Buenos Ayres, that the royalists having abandoned the strong entrenchments of Cotagayta in consequence of the advance of General Rondeau, commander-in-chief of the army of Buenos Ayres, and afterwards evacuated Potosi, that city was entered by the advanced guard of the latter on the 5th, and was occupied by the rest of his troops on the 9th.

Further intelligence from Buenos Ayres to June 19th mentioned, that the royal army of Lima had sustained another defeat, in which Ramirez, the second in command, and two other generals, were killed. With respect to Buenos Ayres itself, it was said that the squadron for its defence under Admiral Brown was fully equipped and manned; that the land forces in the city and its environs amounted to 18,000, and that upwards of 200 pieces of artillery were mounted on its works. Also, that several districts in the interior had engaged, on the first appearance of the expedition from Spain, to march 23,000 men to its assistance.

The storm of war from Old Spain was, however, chiefiy directed against the independents who formed the confederation of Venezuela; and from a proclamation of Don Manuel del Castillo, general of the armies of New Granada and Carthagena, dated from the latter city on July 21st, we learn that their utmost efforts were required to resist the arms of the assailants. By subsequent accounts from Jamaica it would appear that Castillo was acting a treacherous part, and was probably in league with the Spanish commander. It is said to have been his plan to send out small expeditions for the purpose of falling into the hands of the enemy, that the patriots might be destroyed in detail, which so far succeeded, that Carthagena was brought into great danger; but his treachery, at length, becoming manifest, he was deprived of his command, which was conferred upon Don Bermudez. Morillo was afterwards repulsed at Carthagena, and was obliged, for want of provisions, to remove from the vicinity of that city. A further account mentions, that the general situation of Venezuela is much in favour of the independents, who possess all the savannas of Cumana and Barcelona; and that an army from New Granada had occupied the provinces of Merida, Truxillo, and Barinas, and had defeated the Spaniards in a decisive action.

Advices from Mexico mention that 2500 of the Spanish troops of the expedition were landed in that province as a reinforcement to the royalists, but that, being drawn into the interior by the Mexican

Mexican general, Anaya, a number of them were cut off, others joined the independents, and but a small number made good their retreat to Xalapa. The Mexican congress was to assemble, and a constitution had been drawn up for the province.

On the whole it appears certain, that the attempt from Old Spain to recover its authority in these parts has been unsuccessful; and the more the character and proceedings of the Spanish government at home become known in the colonies, the less probability will there be of a re-union of the latter to the mother country.

The political storm by which France was agitated in this year extended its effects to the West Indies. In Martinique, the troops in possession of the forts displayed such a disposition to mount the tri-coloured cockade, and declare for Buonaparte, that the Count de Vaugirard, governor of the island, found it necessary to anticipate an open revolt by assembling the soldiery, and releasing from their obligations such of the officers as desired it, at the same time informing them that they must quit Martinique, and that an attempt to raise the standard of rebellion would be resisted by force. A revolutionary movement, however, in all probability, could not have been prevented, if Sir James Leith, commander of the British military force in the Leeward islands, had not sent over from St. Lucie an auxiliary body of troops, which, landing in the island on June 5th, occupied all the strong positions, and kept the disaffected under

controul. The whole of the French troops, with the exception of part of a regiment, were afterwards permitted to depart from the island unarmed. The terms on which this succour was afforded by the British commander were perfectly liberal. The sovereignty of the island was to remain entire in the King of France; the British troops, which were to act as auxiliaries to the governor,

were to be maintained at the expense of the English government, and to preserve strict discipline, and the persons and properties of the inhabitants were to be fully respected by them.

In the island of Guadaloupe the revolutionary cause obtained a temporary triumph. A vessel having arrived after a short passage from France, on June 18th, an insurrection broke out, in which both the military and citizens declared for Buonaparte. The governor, Admiral Count de Linois, was placed under arrest, doubtless by way of mere form, since on the next day he was set at liberty, and issued a proclamation, acquainting the soldiers and inhabitants that Napoleon had been received in France without resistance; that the tri-coloured flag was every where waving, and that the colonists were expected to concur in this change of government. He concluded with Vive l'Empereur! On the same day Buonaparte was prociaimed in grand ceremony at Point-a-Petre, under the direction of the commandant Fromentin, acting for General Boyer, and with every display of enthusiastic joy. It was not, however, by a sudden effervescence of this kind that a durable revolution

was

was to be effected; and as soon as the affairs of Martinique were settled, preparations were making by the British commanders to wrest Guadaloupe from the imperial usurper. Sir James Leith, having collected troops from the Windward islands and the continent of America, and made arrangements with Rear-adm. Sir Charles Durham, sailed on July 31st from Carlisle Bay in Barbadoes, whilst the land force from St. Lucie, Martinique, and Dominica, was ordered to rendezvous at the Saintes. On the 7th Aug. the whole force being assembled at the Saintes, it was resolved to lose no time in making the attack, expedition being rendered necessary as well by the approach of the hurricane season, as by the internal state of Guadaloupe, in which the sanguinary scenes of the French revolution were about to be renewed. The 15th of the month, being Buonaparte's birthday, was, according to report, to have been solemnized by the execution of a number of royalists already condemned to death; and their rescue was an object of interest to the British commander. The troops of the line and armed militia in the island amounted to about 6000 men, posted in Grandterre and Basseterre, and it was the plan of Sir J. Leith to land his principal force so as to prevent the intended junction of the enemy. This was successfully effected on the 8th, and the troops were moved forward, driving the enemy from the position they had

At the time of landing, the General and Admiral circulated a proclamation of which they had VOL. LVII.

previously sent a copy to Linois with notice of their intention. Its substance was an information to the inhabitants of the events which had taken place in France since Buonaparte's landing, namely, his entire defeat at Waterloo, the march of Wellington and Blucher to Paris, and the advance of all the allied armies to the French frontiers. They also announced their arrival with a powerful force to place Guadaloupe under the protection of his Britannic Majesty, and stated the terms on which they proposed to receive the colony.

Early on the 9th the troops advanced in columns with all possible rapidity, and a series of actions ensued (see Gazette) by which the enemy were completely cut off from making their intended junction. On that night an officer came to propose a capitulation on the part of Linois; but the answer returned was, that no other conditions would be accepted than those mentioned in the proclamation. On the next morning, preparations being made for an attack on Morne Houel, a white flag was hung out as a signal that the troops in it had surrendered as prisoners of war, and that all the forts in the colony had yielded to the British arms. This conquest was obtained with a small loss, and by it an end was put to revolutionary attempts in the French West Indies. By the articles of capitulation it was agreed that the Count de Linois, Baron Boyer, the French troops of the line, with the military administration, should be sent to France to the Duke of Wellington as prisoners [K]

of

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