all reasonable success. sissippi was also this year explored under the sanction of government, and important surveys, and a vast mass of valuable information (not withstanding some unsuccessful attempts), were procured by the ingenuity and perseverance of the agents of government.

The surplus of revenue under the American government, which, unless some taxes were taken off, must have perpetually increased, was proposed to be applied to the internal prosperity of the country by improving its roads, canals, and rivers, which are the grand means of civilization and identity of interest; as also to provide for those national establishments of education, by which private efforts might be aided, and which, by the promotion of science, taste, individual honour, and patriotic feeling, are of the first consequence with all wise and liberal administrations.

Such however is the state of human affairs, that even America was not without its evils and complaints. Its trade had been annoyed by depredations from the states of Barbary; and with a view to check these ravages, a squadron had been sent into the Mediterranean, which, after long continuance on this station and considerable expense, it was still necessary to maintain. Nor was it only with these degraded and odious governments that America experienced the interruptions of pacific intercourse. With Spain, differences had existed for a considerable time. The commerce of the States in its passage along the river Mobile was obstructed by unauthorized searches and duties. The boundaries of Louisiana, since its cession by France, had not been settled, although propositions of

The coast of America, as well as its inland territory, was not secure from insult. Many vessels were fitted out for the annoyance of her trade by private adventurers ; and not only the vessels of countries with which America was at peace, but also those belonging to the United States, were captured by these uncommissioned depredators, and carried off under pretence of recurring for condemnation to regular maritime tribunals. Care however was taken to dismiss the crew in open boats to the nearest harbour; and the captured ships, after the cargoes had been transferred from them, were sunk, under the allegation of their being unable to proceed on their voyage, but solely with a view to secure that plunder which all regular courts would have disallowed. An armed force was fitted out to protect the commerce of the States on the coast, and bring to justice the perpetrators of these crimes, who were ordered to be tried and executed as pirates.

The disputes of America with, the

the English government were of no unimportant character, and at one period assumed a consequence alarming, at least, to those individuals whose interests are more especially involved in the preservation of peace between the two countries. One of the grounds of this contention existed in the impressing of seamen in American vessels by British ships of war. The difficulty of distinguishing Englishmen in this situation from native Americans was considerable. Language, manners, and physiognomy, all contributed to render the discrimination a matter of peculiar nicety; and it may easily be supposed, that while the pleas of some pretenders were admitted, those of truth and justice were in some, and indeed many instances urged without effect. In the beginning of the present year the grievance attained a very considerable height, and a bill was brought in, declaring this compulsion of American citizens to serve on board British ships of war, a violation of the treaty be tween the two nations, and that any person engaged in impressing seamen from on board vessels bearing the American flag should be deemed guilty of piracy and felony; authorizing every seaman to resist such violence, encouraging this resistance by reward, and enjoining complete retaliation on the subjects of any foreign powers for the infliction of death, or any other punishment, on American subjects who had been compelled into their service.

The seizure of American vessels by the British was another subject of grievance and irritation, and a commission was this year appointed by the legislature of the Union, to consider the depredations committed on its commerce. In

consequence of their report, resolutions were passed, that the condemnation by the British court of admiralty, of American vessels, under pretence of their being employed in a trade with the enemies of Great Britain, from which they were prohibited in time of peace, was an unprovoked aggression upon the property of the united citizens, and a violation of their neutral rights; and that the president should be requested immediately to demand the restoration of vessels thus captured and detained, and be authorized to enter into arrangements for amicable settle ment: but, that it was expedient, in the mean time, to prohibit the importation into the United States of the wares and merchandize of Great Britain from a certain period, till an equitable adjustment was acceded to. A bill for this purpose was accordingly brought in, and passed the senate and the house of representatives, and received, at length, the sanction of the president.

While the public mind was thus agitated, a circumstance occurred which gave new impulse to the general feeling, and indeed wrought it into a paroxysm of resentment, In exercise of the privilege of searching neutral vessels, several British ships had been cruising off the American harbours, and captain Whitby in the Leander of 50 guns, with two other ships of war, was appointed for this purpose off Sandy Hook. Many vessels were brought-to by them and boarded, and some of the seamen were impressed or recovered into the service of England. It was sworn, however, by Joseph Pierce, master of the sloop Richard, that about a quarter of a mile from the beach off Sandy Hook, two miles south

of

of the light-house, three shots were fired from a British ship of war, the last of which struck and killed a man at the helm of his sloop, the brother of the deponent, the Leander being at the time only a mile distant. The ferment occasioned by this circumstance was extreme. The body of the deceased was brought on shore and exposed to innumerable spectators, whose rage against the British commander, and government, found no language too strong for its expression. An indictment was found for wilful murder against the captain of the Leander. A reward was offered for his siezure, by a proclamation from the president. Private vessels were immediately dispatched to retake those which had been recently captured by the British, and were supposed on their way to Halifax. Provisions which had been purchased in the public market of New York, and paid for by the crew of the Leander, were detained by the people and paraded through the town, and afterwards sold for the benefit of the poor. Meetings were held of seamen and of fœderal republicans, and of various other descriptions of citizens, and resolutions in the highest degree reflecting on the American as well as the British government were passed. The fœderal party thought to avail themselves of this circumstance, to promote their success in the new elections which were at this period about to commence, and attributed to the executive power,, in the strongest terms, the most culpable negligence and meanness. It was observed in their resolutions, that the money expended in purchasing the wild lands of Louisiana should have been employed in building

ships of the line, to repel insult and aggression. Peace had been obtained by the executive government from foreign powers, not by the manly and formidable attitude of resistance, but by degrading and infamous purchase. An embargo should be laid on all provision ships destined for the West Indies. A total prohibition of all trade with Great Britain, if this measure proved ineffectual, should succeed it; and, if that should fail, the confiscation of ail British property must inevitably terminate the arrogance and madness of the British government. It was their duty to seek a president who would abhor tribute and protect his country; who, instead of devoting his time to the stuffing of racoon skins, and the dissection of wild animals, would assert the rights, protect the flag and maintain the honour of his country.

In these circumstances, it was thought expedient for the adherents of the government to enter most fully from policy, if they could not from feeling, into the general impulse of resentment against Great Britain, and, if possible, in pointed remark and menaces of vengeance to exceed the fœderalists themselves. This policy may ac count sufficiently for the violence exhibited by them on this occasion, and which was found effectually to answer its purpose of counter, action. The elections passed over without any diminution of their influence. The popular ferment gradually was permitted to subside, and Messieurs Monro and Pinkney were nominated commissioners and plenipotentiaries to the British court, to settle "the dif ferences relative to wrongs committed on the high seas and other waters;"

waters; "men of abilities and conciliating manners, who at length, after many communications with the English government, completed on the subject a treaty, which, about the close of the year, they carried over for the sanction of their government.

During the course of this year an enterprise was formed against the Spanish settlements of America, which attracted the attention of that continent in an extraordinary degree, General Miranda, a native of the Caraccas, who had distinguished himself in the revolutionary wars of Europe, a man of an ardent mind and great resources, conceived the project of liberating his countrymen from the yoke of Spain; and comprehended, probably, in his ultimate view, the emancipation of those immense districts of the southern continent attached to that country, but by no ties of affection, and wanting only an opportunity to shake off its severe and rapacious domination. He sailed from Trinidad on the 24th of July with nine ships of war, and arrived on the 2d of August off the city of Coro, where his troops were landed under cover of the vessels, and with very slight resistance. Coro was taken by assault, speedily after the landing, after which the general attacked with success the towns of Marycabo and Venezuella. The governor of the Caraccas immediately dispatched an account of these successes to the commandants of Cumana and Marguerita, stating the weakness of his means to resist this dangerous invader, who was disseminating his revolutionary principles with equal zeal and effect. These commandants were enjoined to send all the assistance in their power in so critical an

emergency, and without a moment's loss of time; the fine province of Carthagena was open to the depredations of Miranda; and indeed, unless the most decisive succours were instantly furnished, the whole country would be for ever lost to Spain. These dispatches fell into the hands of the commander of the Osprey sloop of war, instead of arriving at their destination, and excited, on their communication to the inhabitants and British at Trinidad, all that satisfaction which might be expected, and a more general disposition than ever to assist in a project which had opened with such brilliant success. Of the further

progress of this active, persevering and intrepid general, no further accounts were received during the remainder of the year. The suc cess of his arms, however, continued to be an object of the earnest wish of the friends to civilization, science, and freedom.

The British West Indies during some part of this year were in con siderable agitation from the apprehension of the enemy, and the British force upon the station was not, for some time, of that strength which gave it a decided superiority. Indeed, unless that superiority were extreme, it seemed impossible to prevent constant alarm and danger, from an adversary who was frequently dispatching his squadrons from his ports in Europe, not in the hope of their return with victory, but that, during the rapid and trembling career which must prove fatal to themselves, they would be able at least to give some annoyance to their opponents. By the victory of admiral Duckworth, those fears were considerably al. layed and the knowledge, that the remaining vessels of the French in

that