cause.

The event has proved, that with such reliances, a nation has nothing to fear. Our country has again thrown itself upon the protection of the Lord of Hosts; we need but prove faithful to him and to ourselves. Victory will again crown our efforts, and peace and plenty reward us for our toils. Who, that is truly an American, will despair of the success of his country; who will dare to believe we can be otherwise than CONQUERORS? We had imagined this impossible, except with the agents of the enemy; yet in a crisis so important, not only to us, but to posterity, we have found that the spirit of treason has dared to stalk abroad, even at noonday, amongst Is the enemy so strong in the camp-so confident of support, as to hazard a fearless defiance? We are, it is true, proud to exist in a land of freedom-but when men threaten us with giving the assistance of their pens to the cause of our adversaries, who will hesitate to say that such freedom becomes traitorous ?"

us.

The state of the regular army was, at this time, such as scarcely to deserve the name.The militia, with the exception of a few uniform companies in the cities, consisted of a yeomanry and others accustomed to parade for a few hours each year, some with bad arms, others without any. The preparations for war on the land, was confined to an expedition under the command of General Hull, of which notice will be taken in the proper place. The navy consisted of the following vessels.

List of American Vessels, and their force.

Com. Rodgers.

Captain Hull.

Decatur.

Commodore Rodgers, being at New-York, on receiving the President's proclamation, announcing war, addressed his men on the occasion, offering their wages and a discharge to such as were unwilling to risk their lives with him. A general huzza preceded the declaration of every individual to "stand or fall with the Commodore." The anchor was heaved, and, before night, the Commodore passed the light-house of Sandy Hook, and proceeded to sea, having under his command, the frigates President, United

States, and Congress, and the sloops of war Hornet and Argus. The Commodore returned to Boston after a cruise of 72 days, during which he passed within one day's sail of the British channel, passed near the island of Madeira, and the Azores, and returned by the banks of Newfoundland and Cape-Sable. He made 7 captures and 1 re-capture; and chased two British frigates, one of them the Belvidera. This cruise was of great benefit, as it compelled the enemy to concentrate his force, by which a vast quantity of property was saved from falling into the enemy's hands.

The President, while chasing the Belvidera, received a considerable number of shot in her sails and rigging, but was not materially injured, One of the President's guns bursted, by which 3 men were killed, and ninteen wounded. By this accident, the Commodore's leg was fractured. The chase lasted from 6, A. м. on the 23d June, until midnight.

On the day after the Commodore sailed, the following appeared in the New-York Columbian, and accounts for the escape of his Britannic Majesty's vessels of war, Belvidera and Tartarus, which had been for some days off SandyHook.

But

"It is undoubtedly a fact, that dispatch-boats with information have been sent off to the British vessels which were cruising off the harbour, since the declaration of war. By whom they were sent off, it is not necessary at present to mention. this much may, and ought to be said that if it was done by an American citizen, he has committed treason by the laws of the United States, and deserves, and may receive a hanging for it. There is no suspicion, however, entertained, that such an infamous

act has been done by any American. As it has therefore been the act of the subjects of the king of England, whether they are in or out of office, the act is a violation of the hospitality which tolerates their residence in our city, and calls loudly upon the constituted authorities to put the laws immediately in force against alien enemies, and to rid the city of spies, or at least of such as disgrace their character by acting in so infamous a capacity."

It is however a lamentable fact, that the enemy had his adherents within the United States, consisting of native citizens, as well as of foreigners. The public were apprised of the infamous and cowardly means used by the British to corrupt the citizens, by the agency of hired incendiaries among whom the notorious John Henry was conspicuous. The first effusions of the press were watched with care, and the citi zens indignant at the conduct of the British government; which rendered war not only necessary, but unavoidable, were ready to construe every opposition to government, into an act of adhesion to the enemy. The spirit of 1776 seemed to revive, and the terms "Whig" and "Tory," were again coming into use. The party, which designated itself as Federal," was long opposed to the officers of the general government and were in the practice of condemning, opposing, and thwarting all its measures. This party, to be consistent, also opposed the war. There was another party opposed to war, merely because it must prove injurious to England; this was properly a British tory party, and should be distinguished from those federalists, who, notwithstanding their opposition to men, were yet Americans. The tory endeavoured to screen himself beneath the semblance of

federalism; and the federalist, who could weakly lend the mask, should not complain, if both should be taken for tories.

There were several editors of federal politics who deserved and received the applause of their political opponents, for conduct pursued immediately subsequent to the declaration of war. The following extract from a federal paper, deserves particular notice :

From the United States' Gazette, printed at Philadelphia.

"The people of this country, whatever may be their opinions of this incomprehensible war, demand, and will insist that it now be carried on with the vigour necessary to accomplish the object of all war, honour while it lasts, and real peace and security.. when it ends."

A paragraph of a seemingly different complexion, appeared immediately after the declaration of war, in the Federal Republican," printed at Baltimore, and edited by Mr. Wagner. It was in the following words:

"We mean to represent in as strong colours as we are capable, that the war is unnecessary, inexpedient, and entered into from partial, personal, and as we believe, motives bearing upon their front, marks of undisguised foreign influence, which cannot be mistak

en.

We mean to use every means of constitutional argument, and every legal means, to render as odious and suspicious to the American people, as they deserve to be, the patrons and contrivers of this highly impolitic and destructive war, in the fullest persua sion, that we shall be supported, and ultimately ap plauded by nine-tenths of our countrymen, and that our silence would be treason to them."

The citizens, in a state of high irritation, pro ceeded in the evening of the 22d June, to Mr.