History of the late war between the United States and Great Britain:

Front matter

Glass.

Book.

1/ copy "^^

Preface

The work now presented to the public, after passing through five large editions, has been for many years entirely out of circulation, and it was with niijch difficulty that a copy of it could be procured by the publishers. At the time of its publication it was the only one calculated for general use, and none has yet appeared comprising in so small a compass so many details of the events of the last war between Great Britain and the United States. The frequent demands for the work have induced the publishers to prevail on the author to revise and prepare it for a new edition with great care. This is now offered to the public.

As to the merit of the work, the reader must judge for himself. Its general accuracy has received the approbation of those most capable of judging. It has been translated by a French writer, M. Dalmas, who speaks in high terms of the energy of the style, and the clearness of the narrative. It has also been translated by an Italian writer of celebrit}^

The design of the work was not a history of the times, embracing the legislative, diplomatic and statistical subjects connected wit^i the war. These are occasionally glanced at. But it was the intention of the author to bring within one narrative, as far as it was practicable, all the campaigns, battles, skirmishes and incidents which may properly be considered as constituting the events of the war. In a popular government like that of the United States, where every individual occupies an important station in society, a war necessarily assumes a certain cast iv PREFACE.

of individuality; hence the necessity of introducing the names of so great a number of persons as we find in this work.

It was difficult, if not impossible, to weave all these materials into one connected story, especially when we consider that the war was carried on at so many different points having no connection with each other. There was the war of the south, that of the north-west, that on the Niagara, that along the seabord at various points; and there was the maritime contest, which was entirely distinct from that on the land. On the Niagara frontier there was much hard fighting; but every campaign opened under a new general, and sometimes before its close that general was superseded. After the fall of general Pike, the war in that quarter was carried on without any settled plan or object, and it ended without accomplishing any thing, except to afford opportunity to a number of officers to distinguish themselves for their military talents and intrepidity : of these, generals Brown, Scott, Jesup, Miller, Ripley, Towson, are among those most deservedly eminent. To the north-west our military affairs were conducted on a different plan, and under a commander who was completely successful in what he undertook : in the south, the war was also confided to a single individual, who was found fully competent to the duties assigned him. Harrison and Jackson are therefore the only generals who can be said to have conducted entire plans of operation to a successful issue ; and their names are decidedly the most conspicuous in the history of the war.

CHAPTER I. Causes of the War with Great Britain. .13

Rule of 1756 14

Attack on the Chesapeake 19

Differences with France 21

Frencli Decrees 21

Embargo .' S2

Nonintercourse 22

Indian Hostilities 23

Tecumseh 23

General Harrison 24

Battle of Tippecanoe 24

War with Great Britain inevitable 27

CHAPTER II, Declaration of War 28

General Hull reaches Detroit 31

Crosses into Canada 32

Successful Skirmishes on the River Aux Canards 33

Taking of Michilimackinac 34

Battle of Brownstown 35

Battle of Magagua 36

Taking of Chicago 37

CHAPTER III. Naval Events 43

Cruise of Commodore Rodgers 43

The President chases the Belvidera 44

Cruise of Captain Hull 44

The Constitution captures the Guerriere.45 Commodore Porter captures the Alert.. .47 Cruise of the President and Congress.. .48

Cruise of tlie Argus 48

The United States captures the Macedonian 49

The Wasp captures the Frolic 49

Exploits of American Privateers 51

Results of the Naval Warfare 52

Sensations excited in England 53

CHAPTER IV. Military Enthusiasm in the West 53

General Harrison takes command of the Northwestern Army 55

The Army advances under General Winchester 56

Expedition to the Rapids under General Tupper 57

Failure of the Expedition to the Rapids 58

Second Expedition to the Rapids under

General Tupper 59

Foray under General Hopkins 60

Second Expedition under General Hopkins 61

Defence of Fort Harrison 62

Expedition under Colonel Russell 63

Expedition under Colonel Campbell... .63 Security of the Frontier established 64

CHAPTER V. Troops on the Canada Frontier 64 Abortive attempt of General Smyth 71

Capture of the Caledonia 65 Northern Army 73

Battle of Q,ueenstown 66 Incursion of Forsyth — of Colonel Pike. .74

Death of General Brock 68 War on the Lakes 75

British bombard Fort Niagara 70 First Cruise of Commodore Chauncey . .75

A*

VI

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI. Meeting of Congress 76 War with the Southern Indians 80

Proposal for an Armistice 77 Tecumseh's Visit to the Creeks 81

Reverses of Napoleon 78 War with the Seminoles 82

Measures for carrying on the War 79 Third Victory over a British Frigate. . . .84

Blockade of our Coasts 79 Disasters of our Arms to the West 86

CHAPTER VII. Harrison returns to Ohio 86

General Winchester sends a Detachment to the rel ief of Fre nchtown ... 87

Defeat of the British and Indians 88

Winchester arrives with Reinforcements 68

Surrender at the River Raisin 89

Cruelty of the British and Indians 90

Humane Conduct of the People of Detroit 93

March of General Harrison 94

Siege of Fort Meigs 95

Defeat of Colonel Dudley 97

Sortie under Colonel Miller 97

Siege of Fort Meigs raised 98

Exploit of Major Ball 100

CHAPTER VIII. British Preparations in Canada 100

Incursion of Forsyth 101

Attack on Ogdensburgh 101

General Pike 102

Explosion of a Magazine 105

Death of Pike 105

Taking of Forts George and Erie 108

Battle of Stony Creek 112

Capture of Generals Cliandler and

Winder 114

British attack Sackett's Harbour 116

Repulsed by General Brown 1 17

Resignation of General Dearborne 119

Town of Sodus attacked 119

Affair at Beaver Dams 119

Lieutenant Eldridge 120

Indians enter the American Service. ..120

British attack Black Rock 120

Second Taking of York 121

British devastate the Borders of Lake

Cham plain 121

Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on

Lake Ontario 122

CHAPTER IX. War on the Coast 123

British attack Lewistown 124

Gun Boats attack some British Vessels

of War 125

Exploits of Admiral Cockburn 125

Attack on Frenchtown 126

Plundering and Burning of Havre de

Grace 126

Plundering and Burning of Georgetown and Fredericktown 128

Arrival of Admiral Warren and Sir Sydney Beckwlth 128

Southern Cities threatened 129

Attack on Craney Island — gallantly

repulsed 129

Hampton assaulted and plundered 131

Enormities committed there 131

Correspondence between General Taylor and Sir Sydney Beckwith 132

Cockburn plunders the Coast of North

Carolina 133

Blockade of the American Squadron at

New London by Commodore Hardy 134 Torpedo System 134

CHAPTER X. Naval Affairs 135

The Hornet captures the Peacock 130

Humane and generous Conduct of Captain Lawrence and the Crew of the Hornet 137

Captain Lawrence appointed to the Chesapeake 137

The Shannon challenges the Chesapeake 138

The Shannon captures the Chesapeake. 139

CONTENTS.

Death of Captain Lawrence 139 Cruise of the Congress 143

The Pelican captures the Argus 141

Cruise of Commodore Porter in the

South Seas 142

The Enterprize captures the Boxer. . . .142 Cruise of Commodore Rodgers 143

Conduct of American Privateers — of the Comet — of the General Armstrong 144

The Privateer Decatur captures the Dominica 144

CHAPTER XI. Affairs of the West 145

Patriotic Enthusiasm of Ohio and Kentucky 145

Governor Shelby 146

Character of the Kentuckians 146

Gallant Defence of Fort Sandusky by

Major Croghan 147

Humane Conduct of the Besieged 148

Tecumseh raises the Siege of Fort

Meigs 149

Naval Preparations on Lake Erie 149

Commodore Perry sails vk^ith his Fleet. .149

Battle of Lake Erie 150

Gallant Behaviour of Perry 150

Capture of the Enemy's Squadron 151

Northwestern Army reinforced 151

Capture of Maiden 152

Skirmish at Chatham 152

Battle of the Thames 153

Capture of the British Regulars 154

Colonel Johnson wounded 154

Death of Tecumseh > 154

Character of Tecumseh 155

Escape of General Proctor 156

Public Testimonials of Respect to General Harrison 156

Generous Treatment of the British

Prisoners — of the Savages 157

Correspondence between General Harrison and General Vincent 157

CHAPTER XII. Preparations for invading Canada 158

General Armstrong appointed Secretary of War 158

General Wilkinson takes command of the Troops on the Niagara, and General Hampton of those at

Plattsburg 159

Rendezvous of the American Forces

at Grenadier Island 160

General Wilkinson descends the St

Lawrence 161

British harass the American Army ....162

Battle of Chrystler's Field 164

General Hampton descends the Cha-

teaugay River 166

Is attacked by the British 166

Repulses them and retreats 166

His Inability or Unwillingness to co-operate with General Wilkinson . .167 Both American Armies go into Winter

Quarters 167

Failure of the Expedition against Montreal 167

Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on

Lake Ontario 168

He captures five armed British Schooners 169

Burning of Newark by the Americans . . 170

British Retaliation 170

Fort Niagara surprised 171

Destruction of Lewistown, Buffalo and other places 171

CHAPTER XIII. Meeting of Congress 172

Violence of Party Spirit 172

Unfriendly Deportment of the New

England States 173

Measures for carrying on tlie War 174

Recourse to Taxation 174

Adoption of means for recruiting the

Army 175

Interesting case of twenty-three American Prisoners 175

Arrogance of the British Government.. 176 Debates in Congress on tlie subject. . . .176

Result of the Debates 177

Inquiry by Congress into the manner in which the War had been carried

on by the Enemy 178

American Commissioners of Peace

sent to Gottenburg 179

The War gains ground in Public Opinion 179

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV. War with the Creek Indians 180

Massacre by the Creeks at Fort Mims. .180 Expedition under Generals Jackson

and Cocke against Tallushatches. .182

Battle of Talladega 182

General Cocke surprises the Indians

on the Tallapoosa River 183

General Floyd's Expedition against

the Autossee Towns 183

Claiborne's Expedition against the

Towns of Eccanachaca 183

General Jackson marches to the relief

of Fort Armstrong 184

His Critical Situation, and Retreat . . . .184

Defeats an Indian Ambuscade 185

Indians attack General Floyd at Camp

Defiance, and are repulsed 185

General Jackson gains the sanguinary

Victory of Horse-Shoe-Bend 186

Terminates the War with the Creeks, and dictates Peace to them on Severe Terms 188

CHAPTER XV. Plans of Operations against Canada

proposed 189

General Brown marches to Sackett's

Harbour 189

General Wilkinson retires to Platts-

burg 190

Attacks the British at La CoUe and is

repulsed 190

Suspended from the command 191

Discouraging diiftculties in the Economy of the Army 191

Smuggling 192

Unsuccessful Attack by the British at

Otter Creek 192

British Fleet enters Lake Champlain..l93 Lake Ontario — Contest for Superiority . 193

Gallant Defence of Oswego 194

British land at Pulteneyville 194

Blockade of Sackett's Harbour 194

Engagement at Sandy Creek and Capture of the British there 195

Death of Colonel Forsythe — of Captain Malloux, in a Skirmish 196

Colonel Campbell's Expedition against

Dover, Canada 196

Affairs to the Westward 197

Colonel Baubee taken Prisoner 197

Gallant Defence by Captain Holmes. . .197

Serious Crisis in our Affairs 198

Napoleon overthrown 199

Great Britain directs her undivided

Energies against the United States. 200 Northern Sea Coast invaded by Commodore Hardy 200

Attack on Saybrook and Brockway's

Ferry 200

Engagement in Longlsland Sound. . . .201

Ravages at Wareham and Scituate 201

Attack on Booth Bay repelled 201

Occupation of all the Islands in Passamaquoddy Bay by the British. . . .202

Gallant defence of Stonington 202

Territory east of the Penobscot River claimed and occupied by the British 203

Destruction of the Frigate John Adams .203

CHAPTER XVI. Naval Events 204

The Plantagenet Seventy-Four declines a Contest with Commodore Rodgers 204

Captain Stewart chases a British Frigate of equal force 204

Cruise of Commodore Porter in the Essex 205

He captures twelve armed British Whale Ships 205

Arrives at the Island of Nooaheevah. . .205

Takes possession in the name of the American Government 205

HisDifficulties with the Savages there.. 205

He burns the Typee Villages 206

British Abuse 206

Commodore Porter arrives at Valparaiso 207

Is attacked by the Phoebe and Cherub. .208

His Desperate Resistance 209

Capture of the Essex and Essex Junior. .210 The Peacock captures the British Brig

Epervier 211

The Wasp captures the Reindeer 212

The Wasp sinks the Avon 212

Mysterious Loss of the Wasp 213

CONTENTS.

Cruise of the President, the Peacock The Hornet, Captain Biddle, captures

and the Hornet 213 the Penguin 216

The President captured by a British Exploits of Privateers 217

Squadron 214 Capture of the American Privateer

The Constitution engages and captures Armstrong, after a dreadful Carthe Cyane and the Levant 215 nage of the Knemy 217

CHAPTER XVII. Plan of Campaign on the Canada

Frontier 218

General Brown collects an Army at

Black Rock and Buffalo 219

Captures Fort Erie 219

Battle of Chippewa 220

Gallantry of Major Jesup 221

British retreat 222

American Army advances 222

Death of General Swift 223

Movement on Fort George 223

General Brown retreats to the Chippewa 223

Battle of Niagara 224

General Riall taken Prisoner 225

Colonel Jesup 226

Colonel Miller 226

British Cannon charged upon and

taken 227

Desperate Efforts of the British to regain their Cannon 228

Generals Scott and Brown wounded.. .228

British retire from the Field 230

British advance again the following

Morning 231

Americans retreat to Fort Erie 231

Defences of Fort Erie enlarged and extended 231

Siege of Fort Erie 232

Projected Attack on Buffalo repulsed.. 232 General Gaines assumes the Command

at Fort Erie 232

Assault upon Fort Erie 233

Death of Colonel Drummond 234

Tremendous Explosion 235

The Besiegers driven back to their

Works 235

Renewal of the Cannonade 235

Sortie from Fort Erie 236

Destruction of the Enemy's Works. . . .237 British raise the Siege and retreat to

Fort George 238

Arrival of General Izard at Fort Erie. .238 Americans advance along the Niagara. .239

Engagement at Lyon's Creek 239

Destruction of Fort Erie by the Americans 239

Evacuation of Upper Canada 239

The Army retires into Winter Quarters 240

Important Results of the Campaign.... 240

Affairs of the West 241 -

Unsuccessful Expedition against Mi-

chilimackinac 241

Capture of two United States Schooners 241

General M'Arthur's Expedition into Canada 241

CHAPTER XVIII. War on the Sea Coast 242

Engagements between the Enemy and Barney's flotilla in Chesapeake

Bay 242

Plunderings of the British 243

Washington and Baltimore threatened.. 243

Preparations for Defence 244

General Winder appointed to command the Troops to be assembled . .245 Impracticability of collecting a sufficient Force 245

Arrival of Reinforcements to the British 246

Landing of the British Army under

General Ross 246

Advance of the British on Washington. 247

American Army takes post at Bladens-

burg 248

Battle of Bladensburg 249

Defeat of the Americans 250

Washington abandoned to the Enemy . .251

British burn the Public Buildings 252

Retreat of the British to their Shipping. .252

Plunder of Alexandria 253

Repulse of the British at Moors Fields,

and Death of Sir Peter Parker 254

Resignation of the Secretary of War... 254 Trial and Acquittal of General Winder. 254 Letter of Admiral Cochrane to the

American Secretary of State 255

His Reply 255

Reflections 256

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIX

Sensations produced by the Capture of British fleet retires to the West Indies. .965

Washington in Europe and in Affairs on tlie Northern Frontier 266

England 257 Invasion of New York State by tlie

Eflect of it in the United States 257 British under Sii- George Prevost. .266

Preparations for defending Baltimore.. 258 Progress of the British impeded by

Admiral Cochrane appears at the General Macomb 267

mouth of the Patapsco 259 British Army occupies Plattsburg op- Debarkation of the British Troops at posite the American Works 268

North Point 260 Gallant Enterprise of Captain M'Glas-

General Strieker marches from Balti- sin 269

more to meet them 260 British and American Fleets on Lake

Battle of North Point 261 Champlain 269

Death of General Ross 261 Battle of Lake Champlain 270

Retreat of the American Army 262 Defeat of the British Squadron, and

British Army appears before Baltimore. .263 Capture of its principal Vessels. . . .271

Bombardment of Fort M'Henrj- 264 Retreat of the British Army from the

Attack on Bjiltimore abandoned 265 American Territory 272

CHAPTER XX. Unanimity of Sentiment in Congress 273

Negotiations with Great Britain 273

British Sine Qua Non 274

Hartford Convention 275

Mr Biddle's Report in the Legislature

of Pennsylvania 275

Removal of the Seat of Government

from Washington agitated 275

Mr Dallas appointed Secretary of the

Treasury 975

Improvement in our Finances 276

Aflairs to the Southward 276

Attack on Fort Bowyer most gallantly

repulsed 277

Inroad into Florida, and Capture of

Pensacola by General Jackson . . . .277 Invasion of Louisiana meditated by

the British 278

Preparations for Resistance 279

Arrival of General Jackson at New

Orleans 280

His Presence inspires Confidence 280

British Fleet arrives ofl'the Coast 280

Capture of the American Gun-Boats.. .280 Martial Law declared by General Jackson 281

British Forces land within seven Miles

of New Orleans 282

Battle of the 23d of December 282

Results of the Battle 283

General Jackson encamps, and fortifies

himself 283

Affairs of the 28th of December, and of

the 1st of January 1815 284

Position of the American Troops 285

British prepare to storm tlie American Works on both sides of the Mississippi 285

Memorable Battle of the 8th January . .285

Death of General Packenham 286

Defeat and Terrible Carnage of the British on the Left Bank of the

River 286

Americans driven from their Intrench-

ments on the Right Bank 286

Louisiana evacuated by the British. . . .287 Unsuccessful Bombardment of Fort St

Philip by the British 287

Depredations of Admiral Cockburn

along the Southern Coast 288

Peace with Great Britain 288

Terms of the Treaty 288

Conclusion 289

ERRATUM. — M line 3 of page 43, and line 1 of jyage ^4, for captures read chases

Chapter I

Causes of the War with Great Britain — Rule of 1756— British Impressment of American Seamen — Attack on the Ciiesapeake — Differences with France — French Decrees — Embargo — Non-Intercourse — Indian Hostilities — Tecumseh — General Harrison — Battle of Tippecanoe — War with Great Britain inevitable.

The perseverance of the British nation in attempting to exercise a power without right, over her American brethren, first broke the ties of dependence, which it was so much her interest to preserve ; and her subsequent illiberal policy tended to weaken the influence of afiinity, which a true wisdom would have taught her to cherish. Why is it that the enmity of those, between whom there are by nature the most numerous bonds of friendship, is the most bitter ? It is because each of these is a distinct cord which may vibrate to the feelings of hatred, as well as of love. With China, with Turkey, with France, we may be governed by temporary and varying policy ; but towards England we can never feel indifference. There always have been, and there still are numerous ties to attach us to Britain, which nothing but an ungenerous and unnatural policy can weaken or destroy.

With the acknowledgement of our independence, Great Britain did not renounce her designs of subjugation. Force had been found unvailing, she next resolved to try what might be done by insidious means. For many years after the peace of 1783, our affairs wore no promising appearance. The confederation which bound the states during their struggle against a common enemy, was too feeble to hold them together in a time of peace. The cement of our union being thus eaten

B

Causes of the War with Great Britain Rule of 1756.

away, England foresaw what we had to encounter, and prophesying according to her wishes, solaced herself with the hope of seeing us divided, and engaged in civil broils. The seeds of dissension had been abundantly sown ; our state of finance was deplorably defective ; it might almost be said, that the nation was at an end, for so many jarring interests discovered themselves in the states, as almost to preclude the hope of reducing these discordant elements to harmony and order. A state of anarchy and civil war might restore us to Great Britain. Happily for America, she possessed at this moment, a galaxy of sages and patriots, who maintained a powerful influence over the minds of their fellow-citizens. By their exertions, a spirit of compromise and accommodation was introduced, which terminated in our present glorious compact — a second revolution which secured to us the benefits of the first.

By this event Great Britain lost, for a time, the opportunity of tampering with the individual states, of fomenting jealousies, and of governing by division. Her policy was changed ; it became a favourite idea, that our growth should be repressed, and so many impediments thrown in our way, as to convince us, that we had gained nothing in becoming free. We soon experienced the effects of her disappointment. Contrary to express stipulation, she refused to surrender the military posts on our western frontier, and, at the same time, secretly instigated the savages to murder the frontier settlers. Spain was, at tliis very moment, practising her intrigues to draw off the western states from the confederacy ; of which there is little doubt England would soon have taken advantage.

But we also came in contact with Britain on the ocean : our commerce began to flourish ; and on the breaking out of the French war, she found in us formidable rivals. In order to put a stop to our competition, she called into life the odious, and almost obsolete rule of 1756, which is in palpable violation of the law of nations. The spirit of this rule is to prevent the neutral from enjoying any commerce, which would not, at the same time, be open to the belligerent ; in other words, to permit no neutral. In practice it was carried to the full extent. The orders in council of the 8th of January 1793, became the source of a thousand vexations to American commerce ; and yet they were in a manner tolerable, compared to those of the 6th of November, which were secretly circulated among the British cruisers, authorising them to capture *' all vessels laden with the produce of any of the colonies of France, or carrying provisions or supplies to the said colony." The greater part of our commerce was at once swept from the ocean. On this

British Impressment of American Seamen.

occasion, our mercantile communities came forward, unbiassed by party divisions. They expressed themselves in the strongest terms against this treacherous and wicked procedure. The war of the revolution had not been forgotten ; that with the savages still raged : it was not by such acts, we could be induced to entertain a friendly feeling towards England. There prevailed a universal clamour for war, among the merchants particularly, and which it required all the firmness of Washington to withstand. This great man had marked out to himself the wise policy, of keeping aloof from European politics, and of avoiding all entanglements in their wars. Mr Jay was despatched as a special messenger, with orders to remonstrate in a manly tone. This mission terminated in the celebrated treaty of 1794 ; which was sanctioned by the nation, although not without great reluctance. It appeared in the sequel, that Ave had merely evaded a war, in order to recommence disputes concerning the same causes.

The British did little more than modify their orders in council, by those issued in 1795 and 1798. In fact, down to the peace of Amiens, the same vexations and abuses furnished a constant theme of remonstrance. Neither General Washington, nor Mr Adams, was able to arrange our differences with England, or induce her to consult her own true interests, by a just and liberal policy towards us. From this we may fairly infer, that no administration of our government could have succeeded in accommodating our differences upon just and equitable principles.

Another cause of complaint accompanied with equal step the violations of our commercial and maritime rights, and was of a nature still more vexatious. It is one upon which American feeling has always been much alive. Great Britain is the only modern nation, within the pale of civilization, at least of those who recognise the general maritime law, who does not consider the flag as protecting the person who sails under it ; and we are the only people who, during peace, have been dragged from our ships on the high seas, by Christian nations, and condemned to servitude. This intolerable outrage grew up from a small beginning, by imprudent acquiescence on our part ; perhaps not conceiving it possible, that it could ever assume so hideous a front. At first, it was a claim to search our merchant vessels for deserters from the public service of Britain ; next, it became aright to impress English seamen, who had engaged themselves in American ships ; finally, every person who could not prove on the spot, to the satisfaction of the boarding officer, that he was an American, was carried away into a most hate-

16 BRACKENRIDGB'S

British Impressment of American Seamen.

ful bondage. England had gone far, in asserting the right to search a neutral vessel, for enemy's goods ; but this pretended exception to the general rule that a ship on the high seas is as inviolable as the territory of the nation at peace, had been opposed by every power in Europe, excepting the one which happened for the time to be mistress of the seas ; a strong proof that it was not a right, but an abuse. The claim set up of a right to search neutral ships for men, is unsupported by any writer on the public law, or by one sound reason. She had no more right to claim her subjects from our ships, than from our territory. Whatever right she might have, to prevent them from quitting their country, at times when their services were required ; or of punishing them for doing so : she had no right to pursue them into our country, or demand them from us, unless sustained in doing so by express stipulation. But what she had no right to demand, she had a right to take by force ! When closely pressed, she deigned at last to give some reasons in support of her practice : — she must have men to man her thousand ships — she was contending for her existence — -we had no right to employ her seamen — our flag had no regard to her interests — our employment of foreign seamen was not regulated— our suft'erings were the consequences of our own imprudence.— These were the only arguments that could be used in support of such a practice. If England said she must have men, we answered that we must have men also. We also were contending for our existence, but did not think it justifiable on that account to plunder our neighbours, or make them slaves. She said that we had no right to employ her seamen — we could answer that she had no right to employ ours. We were no more bound to consult her interest, than she considered herself bound to consult ours. The fact is, that no nation in the world employs a greater number of foreign seamen than Great Britain, in her immense commerce, and in her immense navy ; and she has a right to employ them, not for the reason she then assigned, to wit, that she was contending for her existence, or fighting the battles of the world, but because the thing was lawful in itself. So far from restricting herself, or regulatmg the practice, or consulting the interests of others, she consulted only her own interests, and held out enticements to foreign seamen, which no other nation did. Here, then, was a simple question ; how came that to be unlawful in America, which was lawful in Britain ? Would not Great Britain protect an American seaman, who has been made an Englishman by being two years in her service ? But were we to blame because her seamen preferred our service ? There was, in fact, nothing in

British Impressment of American Seamen.

the American practice to justify reprisals. The employment of English seamen, who voluntarily tendered their services, was lawful, however disagreeable it might be to England. How far a friendly feeling towards that country, might induce us to consult her convenience and interests, or how far our own weakness, or interest, might require us to waive our rights, was another matter.

This is placing the subject in the least reprehensible view, as respects England. But when we come to examine the manner in which this pretended right was exercised by her, it cannot be doubted for a moment, that the whole was a mere pretext to vex our commerce, and recruit for her navy, from American ships. This is evident, from the uniform practice of impressing men of all nations, found in them : Spaniards, Portuguese, Danes, Russians, Hollanders, and even Negroes. It was, in fact, an insult to every nation in the civilized world. Tros Tyriusque mdlo, was the motto, although not in the friendly sense in which it was used by tlie Queen of Carthage. The British practice amounted to subjecting the crew of every American vessel, to be drawn up before a lieutenant of the navy, that he might choose out sucli as suited his purpose. The good sailor was uniformly an Englisliman, and the lubber an American. It has been said, tliat the number of impressed Americans was exaggerated ; was there no exaggeration as io the number of Englishmen in the American service ? Was it then of more importance, that Great Britain should prevent a few of her seamen from escaping into a foreign service, than it was to us, that free Americans should be doomed to the worst of slavery ?

England has never known the full extent of the sensations produced in America, by her practice of impressment. The influence of party spirit has contributed to deceive her. The great body of Americans have ahvay.s felt this outrage to their persons, with the keenest indignation ; no American administration would ever express a different sentiment. She was much mistaken, if she supposed, that tlie outcry against her conduct was a mere party trick : it was deeply felt as an egregious insult. She did not know that the American seamen were, in general, of a class superior to her own ; that is, more decently brought up, of more reputable connexions, of better morals and education, and many of them looking forward, after the expiration of their apprenticeships, to be mates and captains of vessels; or rather she knew it well, and therefore gave them her baleful preference. But mark the retribution which follows the steps of injustice. When any of these men were so fortunate as to escape from seven or ten years servitude on board a