ing sixteen new judges; and an enlargement of the rights of naturalization. The debates on these several topics, in both houses of congress, were extended to great length, and displayed much eloquence, argument, and warinth. The recommendation of the president, notwithstanding the opposition, prevailed, and bills in accordance therewith were passed.

The internal taxes, from the time of their establishment, had been extremely unpopular with the party which had elevated Mr. Jefferson to the presidency. It was a favorite measure, therefore, of his, to procure their abolition.

The national judicial establishment originally consisted of a supreme court, with six judges, who twice a year made a tour of the United States in three circuits. Under this arrangement, great inconveniences were experienced by the court, the bar, and the suitors. The new arrangement in the judicial system, and the increase of judges at the close of Mr. Adams' term, had excited, in a large portion of the citizens, the hope of a more prompt and impartial adminis tration of justice. To that portion of the community, the repealing act was a painful disappointinent.

Sec. 4. In 1802, ОнIо was admitted, by act of congress, as an independent state, into the union. The state of Ohio derived its name from the river Ohio, which sweeps the southeastern border of the state.

Until 1787, it was inhabited only by Indians, a few Mo ravians, and trespassers on lands belonging to the public. By virtue of her charter, the territory was claimed by Virginia, and held by her, although the original charter of Connecticut, extending west to the Pacific Ocean, include☛ a great part of it.

In 1781, the legislature of Virginia ceded to the United States all her rights to the territory northwest of the river Ohio, excepting some few military tracts. In 1788, the first settlement was begun at Marietta, under Gen. Rufus Putnam, from New-England. It had been, the year before erected into one district, including the present territories of Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.

Until 1795, the settlement of Ohio was retarded by constant wars with the Indians. But at that time, a general peace with the different tribes being effected by Gen. Wayne,

under Washington, the population of the territory rapidly increased by emigrations from Europe, and still more from New-England.

Sec. 5. In July, 1804, occurred the death of Gen. Alexander Hamilton, who fell in a duel fought with Aaron Burr, vice-president of the United States.

Col. Burr had addressed a letter to Gen. Hamilton, in which he demanded a denial or acknowledgment, on the part of the latter, of certain offensive expressions, contained in a public paper. Hamilton, declining to give either, was challenged by Burr. Although averse, from principle, to this mode of settling personal controversies, in an evil moment, Hamilton, actuated by a false sense of honor, accepted the challenge, and on meeting his enemy, fell by means of his first fire. Among his personal and political friends, his death caused a deep sensation. The people of New-York city, in which he resided, paid him extraordinary honors. Few men have shone with greater brilliancy in our country; few have been gifted with a more powerful eloquence, or have been more justly respected for their talents or attainments.

Sec. 6. Mr. Jefferson's first term of office ending this year, a new election took place, at which he was re-chosen president, and on the 4th of March again took the oath of office. George Clinton, of New-York, was elected vice-president.

Sec. 7. During the year which commenced the second of Mr. Jefferson's presidency, a war which had been continued for several years between the United States and Tripoli, was concluded, and a treaty of peace negotiated by Colonel Lear, between the two countries, by which the Tripolitan and American prisoners were exchanged, and the sum of sixty thousand dollars given to the pacha.

The history of this war deserves a place is these pages. The commerce of the United States had been long annoyed by the Tripolitan cruisers-many merchantmen had been taken, and their crews imprisoned and cruelly treated.

As early as 1803, a squadron under Com. Preble had been sent to the Mediterranean, to protect the American commerce, and to bring the corsairs to submission. During the same year, Capt. Bainbridge, in the Philadelphia, joined Com. Preble, and in chasing a cruiser into the harbor of Tripoli, grounded his vessel, and he and his crew were taken prisoners.

Shortly after the surrender of the Philadelphia, the Tripolitans got her afloat, and warped her into the outward harbor. In this situation, Lieutenant, afterwards Commodore, Decatur, conceived the bold plan of attempting to set her on fire. He had the day before captured a small xebec, laden with fruit and oil, which was bound to Tripoli; and having on board the Enterprise, which he commanded, an old pilot, who understood the Tripolitan language, he suggested his plan to Commodore Preble, who approved of it. He would accept of only twenty men, although a much greater number volunteered, and but one officer, Mr. Morris, a midshipman. With these men, concealed in the bottom of the xebec, on the approach of night, he sailed for the Philadelphia, taking with him the old pilot. On approaching the frigate, the xebec was hailed, when the pilot answered, that he had lost his cable and anchor, and begged permission to make fast to the frigate, until the morning. This the crew refused, but said he might make fast to their stern hawser, until they sent a boat to the admiral for leave.

As the boat put off for the shore, Lieutenant Decatur, with his brave companions, leaped on board the frigate, and in a few minutes swept the deck of every Tripolitan. Of fifty, not one reached the shore. The frigate was now set on fire, and while the flames rose, to spread consternation among the Tripolitans, they served to lighten the heroic Decatur and his band back in safety to the American squadron. Of the party, not one was killed, and but one wounded. This was a seaman, who saved the life of his commander. In the first desperate struggle on board the Philadelphia, Decatur was disarmed, and fell. A sabre was already lifted to strike the fatal blow, when this seaman, observing the perilous situation of his officer, reached forward, and received the blow of the sabre on his arm.

In consequence of the burning of the Philadelphia, the sufferings of Commodore Bainbridge and his crew, as well as those of other Americans in captivity at Tripoli, were greatly increased. The accounts of their sufferings, transmitted to the United States, excited the sympathy of all

classes, and a general cry for exertions to effect their deliverance was heard from all parts of the union.

It happened, that some time before this, the then reigning bashaw of Tripoli, Jussuf, third son of the late bashaw, had murdered his father and eldest brother, and proposed to murder the second, in order to possess himself of the throne. But the latter, Hamet Caramelli, made his escape, and Jussuf, without farther opposition, usurped the govern

ment.

Hamet took refuge in Egypt, where he was kindly treated by the beys. Here he was, on the arrival of an accredited agent of the United States, General Eaton, who revived his almost expiring hopes of regaining his rightful kingdom.

General Eaton had been consul for the United States up the Mediterranean, and was returning home when he heard of the situation of Hamet. Conceiving a plan of liberating the Americans in captivity at Tripoli, by means of the assistance of Hamet, and, at the same time, of restoring this exile to his throne, he advised with Hamet, who readily listened to the project, and gave his co-operation.

A convention was accordingly entered into between Gen. Eaton, on the part of the United States, and Hamet, by which the latter stipulated much in favor of the Americans, and was promised to be restored to his throne.

With a small force, consisting of seamen from the American squadron, the followers of Hamet, and some Egyptian troops, Gen. Eaton and Hamet, with incredible toil and suffering, passed the desert of Barca, and took possession of Derne, the capital of a large province belonging to the kingdom of Tripoli. The forces of Eaton were now so much increased, and the cause of Hamnet had become so popular, that the prospect was flattering of his being able to reduce the city of Tripoli, and of effecting the liberation of the captives without ransom.

The success of Eaton struck the usurper Jussuf with terror. Trembling for his fate in this juncture, he proposed to Mr. Lear, the consul-general of America, then in the Mediterranean, to enter into negotiation. Mr. Lear, who was authorized to enter into negotiation, accepted the proposal, although he knew of the success of Eaton and Hamet, and a treaty ensued. Eaton and Hamet were consequently arrested in the prosecution of their purpose, and the unfortunate exile failed of his promised restoration to the throne.

In 1805, Hamet visited the United States, with the expectation of obtaining some remuneration for his services from America, and for her failure in fulfilling her stipulations to him by Gen. Eaton. A proposition to this effect was brought before congress, but after much discussion was rejected.

Sec. 8. During this year, 1805, MICHIGAN became a distinct territorial government of the United States.

The Michigan territory, when first discovered by the whites, was inhabited by the Hurons, a tribe of Indians, many of whom were converted to Christianity by the Jesuit missionaries in 1648. About the year 1670, the Hurons were defeated and dispersed by the Six Nations, about which time, the French took possession of the territory, and built a fort at Detroit, and another at Michillimackinac. Little, however, was done by the French to settle the country.

At the peace of 1763, the territory was ceded by the French to Great Britain, and by the latter to the United States in 1783. Until 1787, it remained in the same state of nature, without a government, or any considerable settlements; but at this time, the several states which had claims upon it, ceded them to the United States, and a territorial government was instituted over all the territory, northwest of the Ohio.

This territory remained under one government until 1800, when the present state of Ohio was detached, and made a distinct government. This was followed, in 1801, by a farther separation of Indiana and Illinois; and, in 1805, Michigan was also detached, and was erected into a distinct territorial government. Gen. Hull was appointed by Mr. Jefferson the first governor.

Sec. 9. In the autumn of 1806, a project was detected, at the head of which was Col. Burr, for revolutionizing the territory west of the Alleganies, and of establishing an independent empire there, of which New-Orleans was to be the capital, and himself the chief. Towards the

accomplishment of this scheme, which, it afterwards appeared, had been some time in contemplation, the skilful cunning and intrigue of Col