the manners of Chesterfield and the morals of Rochester. There are no good reasons for supposing that a trace of remorse ever visited his conscience. There is not a shadow of proof that among all the teeming projects of his brain there was one which had for its object the melioration of man. Finally, paralysis smote him, and for two years he could not move without assistance. Still propped up in bed, he plotted and wrote billets-doux! The curtain dropped on the scene on the 14th of September, 1836.

CHAPTER VI.

1807-1808.

Affair of the Chesapeake and Leopard-Popular and Official Movements thereon-President's Views-His Attitude in relation to Spanish Affairs-Indian Difficulties-Private Correspondence-Considers a Presidential Tour improper-The President and his Grandson-Anecdotes-Carrying a Kentuckian en croupe-The drunken Soldier-An Acquaintance made under unusual Circumstances-Our Relations with England-Was the rejection of the Treaty the Cause of English Hostility?-Canning's Intercourse with American Ministers-British Proclamation and Orders in Council-Effects on United States Meeting of Congress-President's Message-Embargo recommended-Was the President then apprised of last Orders in Council?-The Embargo Bill passes-President transmits to Congress Proceedings in Burr's Trials-Motion to expel Smith as an Accomplice of Burr-J. Q. Adams's Report thereon-Bayard's Opinion of Burr's Guilt -Vote in Smith's Case-Bills to amend the Laws of Treason-Pennsylvania Resolutions-Wilkinson's Conduct investigated-Supplementary Embargo Acts-Gardenier's Speech-Johnson's and Campbell's Replies-Duel between Gardenier and CampbellBills passed-Deaths-Adjournment-Arrival of English Minister-His Correspondence with Madison and Departure-President's Views of Objects and Effects of EmbargoHis View of our Foreign Relations-Legislative and other Addresses approving Embargo Eight Legislatures nominate the President for a Third Term-His decisive Refusal arrests further Nominations-Presidential Caucus-Clinton and Monroe's dissatisfaction-Correspondence between the President and Monroe-Claims of the latter compared with Madison's-The President's impartial Overtures to England and France Their Replies-Pinkney writes Home urging a full persistence in Embargo-Effects of Embargo on different Classes and Sections of our Country-Its comparative Effects in United States and England-England encouraged to persist by the Conduct of New England Federalists-Disingenuousness of their Appeals to Sectional and Class Interests Comparative Exports and Tonnage of different Sections of the Union-Infractions of Embargo in New York and New England-Revenue Officers forcibly resisted -Conduct of New York and New England Executives-President's Impartiality in granting Permits-General Armstrong's Dispatches in regard to Florida-President's Views Germ of the "Monroe Doctrine "-President's Views of English RelationsHis View of the proper Manner of executing Criminal Justice on Indian OffendersHistory of the "Batture Case."

BURR's trial attracted comparatively little general notice during its progress, in consequence of the occurrence of more important and exciting events.

On the 22d of June, 1807, the United States frigate Chesapeake, of thirty-eight guns, got under weigh from Hampton Roads for the Mediterranean, carrying Commodore Barron, who, his health being restored, was to resume the command on that station. Lying in Lynnhaven Bay were the British vessels of war Bellona, 74; Leopard, 50 (but carrying, it was said, 56); and the Melampus, 38. The Leopard lifted her anchor, and stood out of the Capes, ahead of the Chesapeake; but this was not a matter to attract any notice, as the British vessels were constantly cruising in the offing. In the afternoon the vessels were near together, and the Leopard hailed, saying she had dispatches for Commodore Barron. She soon sent a boat alongside the Chesapeake, and exhibited an order from Vice-Admiral Berkley to the captains under his command, that in case they fell in with the Chesapeake, out of the American waters, they were to "require to search for deserters" and "proceed and search for the same, and if a similar demand should be made by the American, he was permitted to search for deserters from their service,"1 etc.

Barron replied that he knew of no such deserters as were claimed that his recruiting officers had been particularly instructed by the Government not to enter British desertersthat his orders did not permit his crew to be mustered by any but their own officers. Observing an appearance of preparation on board the Leopard, he ordered his men to quarters without drum beat, and as quietly as possible. But not suspecting any difficulty, he had put to sea with decks incumbered, with nothing in its proper place, and with a crew that had not once exercised the guns. The rammers, wads, matches, locks, and powder-horns for the latter, were unprepared, so that practically the guns were wholly unserviceable.

As soon as the Leopard's officer returned, that vessel again hailed, now lying on the weather-quarter of the Chesapeake, and within pistol-shot. Commodore Barron answered he did

The British minister at Washington had informed our Government that three British deserters were on board the Chesapeake, and he requested that they be delivered up. The Navy department referred the matter to Barron, and he to Captain Gordon, the commander of the vessel. The latter fairly investigated the facts, and found that the men were deserters, but that two of them certainly, and it was supposed the third, were impressed Americans. The facts were reported to the British minister, and he appeared satisfied. Nothing more was heard on the subject until the attack on the Chesapeake. The men taken from the Chesapeake were not those who had been the subjects of the correspondence.

not understand the hail. The Leopard immediately fired a shot ahead, and a few seconds afterwards poured a full broadside into the American vessel. She continued steadily firing from twelve to eighteen minutes, until Barron, after repeatedly desiring that at least one gun be discharged, ordered his colors to be struck, and as they reached the taffrail, a gun was discharged by an officer, who applied with his fingers a coal brought from the galley. Captain Humphreys, of the Leopard, refused to accept the surrender of the ship twice tendered, but he took away four deserters found on board. The Chesapeake returned to Hampton Roads. She was considerably damaged, especially in her spars and rigging. Three of her men were killed, and eighteen wounded. Among the latter were Commodore Barron and his aid, Mr. Broom.'

The four men taken from the Chesapeake were tried at Halifax and condemned to be hung. Three who were Americans were subsequently pardoned, on condition of returning to service in the British fleet; but on the British deserter the sentence was executed.

On the return of the Chesapeake, an intense excitement broke out among the American people. The inhabitants of Norfolk and Portsmouth unanimously passed resolutions to hold no further intercourse with the British vessels until the pleasure of the Government should be known. Douglas, the commander of the squadron, wrote the Mayor of Norfolk an insolent letter, July 3d, saying the inhabitants could have war or peace as they desired. Governor Cabell at once ordered out bodies of militia to cover these towns. It would seem that at about the same time, a vessel, on her way to New York, and on board of which were Vice-President Clinton and his daughter, was either endangered or insulted by a British cruiser."

The President immediately dispatched a vessel to England to instruct our ministers to demand reparation for the insult we had received, and on the 2d of July he issued a proclamation forbidding the waters of the United States to all British vessels of war, unless in distress or bearing dispatches. Captain

1 Courts martial were held on Barron, Captain Gordon, Captain Hall of the marines, and the gunner. The first was entirely acquitted of cowardice, but found guilty of neg ligence, and was suspended from rank and pay for five years. Gordon and Hall were reprimanded, and the gunner cashiered.

See Jefferson to Clinton, July 6, 1807.

VOL. III.-15

Douglas, however, remained in the neighborhood of Norfolk, and even took soundings of the passage to the town, as if intending an attack on it or on the Chesapeake, Cybele, and some gunboats lying there. These facts flew through the United States, increasing the public indignation; and the nation, as one man, called for instant war. The President wrote General Lafayette soon afterwards:

"I inclose you a proclamation, which will show you the critical footing on which we stand at present with England. Never, since the battle of Lexington, have I seen this country in such a state of exasperation as at present. And even that did not produce such unanimity. The Federalists themselves coalesce with us as to the object, although they will return to their old trade of condemning every step we take towards obtaining it. Reparation for the past, and security for the future,' is our motto. Whether these will be yielded freely, or will require resort to non-intercourse, or to war, is yet to be seen. We have actually near two thousand men in the field, covering the exposed parts of the coast, and cutting off supplies from the British vessels."

The following hitherto unpublished letter to Mr. Eppes gives the President's views as to the proper course to be pursued by the Government as well as any of the numerous published ones of the same period; and it alludes to another domestic bereavement-the death of the second child of his deceased daughter, Mrs. Eppes:

DEAR SIR:

To JOHN W. EPPES.

WASHINGTON, July 12, '07.

Yours of the 3d is received. At that time, I presume, you had not got mine of June 19th, asking the favor of you to procure me a horse. I have lost three since you left this place; however, I can get along with the three I have remaining, so as to give time for looking up a fourth, suitable in as many points as can be obtained. My happiness at Monticello (if I am able to go there) will be lessened by not having yourself and Francis there; but the circumstance which prevents it is among the most painful that have happened to me in life. Thus comfort after comfort drops off from us, till nothing is left but what is proper food for the grave. I trust, however, we shall have yourself and Francis the ensuing winter, and the one following that, and we must let the aftertime provide for itself. He will ever be to me one of the dearest objects in life.

The affair of the Chesapeake seems to have come in as an interlude during the suspension of Burr's trial. I suspect it will turn out that the order Berkley received from his Government was in equivocal terms, implying force or not as should suit them, to say; and the construction would be governed by Bonaparte's successes or misfortunes. I know that Berkley's order to the ships under him was of that character. However, their orders are to be nothing in our eyes. The fact is what they have to settle with us. Reason and the usage of civilized nations require that we should give them an opportunity of disavowal and reparation. Our own interest, too, the very means of making war, requires that we should give time to our mer