United States, at the close of Mr. Jefferson's administration, was about seven millions. Sec. 29. EDUCATION. The enlightened views respecting the importance of general information, entertained before, continued to prevail. New literary and scientific publications were commenced; more enlightened methods of instruction were adopted; academies were multiplied; colleges founded; and theological seminaries liberally endowed. A theological seminary was founded at Andover, Massachusetts, in 1808. The amount, which has been contributed for its permanent use, and which was given by six families, is more than three hundred thousand dollars. This sum includes the permanent fund, library, and public buildings. In 1822, the officers were four professors, and the number of students, one hundred and thirty-two. The library contains about five thousand volumes. A majority of the students are supported, in whole or in part, by charity. 34 UNITED STATES. PERIOD X. DISTINGUISHED FOR MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION, Extending from the inauguration of President Sec. 1. On the 4th of March, 1809, Mr. Madison was inducted into the office of president of the United States, according to the form prescribed by the constitution. The situation of the United States, on the accession of Mr. Madison to the presidency, was in several respects gloomy and critical. The two great powers of Europe, France and England, were still at war, and were continuing to array against each other the most violent commercial edicts, both in contravention of the laws of nations, and of their own solemn treaties; and calculated to injure and destroy the commerce of na tions, desirous of preserving a neutrality. America was also farther suffering under the restrictions of commerce, imposed by her own government. Every effort to secure the due observance of her rights, from the contending powers, had hitherto failed, and the sad alternative was presenting itself to the American people, either to suffer the evils growing out of foreign and do 4 mestic restrictions, or to take up arms, and risk the consequence of a war with the belligerents. Sec. 2. Previously to the adjournment of the last congress, under Mr. Jefferson, an act passed, as already noticed, 1st of March, repealing the then existing embargo, and interdicting commercial intercourse with France and Great Britain. Should either of these powers, however, revoke their edicts, the president was authorized to renew the intercourse. April 18th, the British minister, Mr. Erskine, informed the secretary of state, Mr. Smith, that his majesty's government, considering the nonintercourse act, passed March 1st, as having produced an equality in the relations of the two belligerent powers with respect to the United States, would be willing to rescind the orders in council of January and November, 1807, sc far as it respected the United States, provided the president would issue a proclamation for the renewal of intercourse with Great Britain. This proposal was readily accepted. The British minister, in consequence of this acceptance, stated himself authorized to declare that the above orders in council would be withdrawn, as it respected the United States, on the succeeding 10th of June. A proclamation by the president soon after followed, renewing the intercourse with Great Britain, from and after that time. This event produced the highest satisfaction throughout the country; but was speedily followed by a disappointment as great. The British government denied the authority of Mr. Erskine to enter into any such stipulations, and refused its ratification. On learning this refusal, the president issued his proclamation, August 10th, renewing the non-intercourse with Great Britain. Sec. 3. Early in September, Mr. Jackson arrived at Washington, as successor of Mr. Erskine. A correspondence was soon commenced between this minister and the secretary of state, which, after continuing several weeks, without adjusting any differences between the two countries, was suddenly closed, by the president, on account of an alledged insult on the part of Mr. Jackson. In the course of correspondence with the secretary, Mr. Jackson had repeatedly asserted that the American executive could not but know, from the powers exhibited by Mr. Erskine, that in the above stipulations he had transcended those powers, and was therefore acting without the authority of his government. This was deemed by the executive equivalent to a declaration, that the American government did know that Mr. Erskine was exceeding his powers. The British minister denied the legitimacy of such an inference but the executive, regarding his language as reflecting upon the honor and integrity of the American government, closed the correspondence-soon after which, Mr. Jackson was recalled, but without the censure of his government. Sec. 4. 1810. On the 23d of March, Bonaparte issued a decree, usually called the "Rambouillet decree," designed to retaliate the act of congress, passed March 1st, 1809, which forbade French vessels entering the ports of the United States. By the above decree, all American vessels and cargoes, arriving in any of the ports of France, or of countries occupied by French troops, were ordered to be seized and condemned. Sec. 5. On the 1st of May, congress passed an act, excluding British and French armed vessels from the waters of the United States; but, at the same time, providing, that in case either of the above nations should modify its edicts before. the third of March, 1811, so that they should cease to violate neutral commerce, of which fact the president was to give notice by proclamation, and the other nation should not, within three months after, pursue a similar step, commercial intercourse with the former might be renewed, but not with the latter. Sec. 6. In consequence of this act of the American government, the French minister, the Duke of Cadore, at Paris, informed the American minister, Mr. Armstrong, then in France, that the Berlin and Milan decrees were revoked, and that, from and after the 1st of November, they would cease to have effect. But, at the same time, it was subjoined, that it was derstood, that, in consequence of this declaration, the English shall revoke their orders in council," &c. About the same time, it was announced that the Rambouillet decree had also been rescinded. “un Although the condition subjoined to the Duke of Cadore's declaration rendered it doubtful whether the Berlin and Milan decrees would in fact cease to take effect, after the 1st of November, the president issued his proclamation on the 2d of that month, declaring that those decrees were revoked, and that intercourse between the United States and France might be renewed. Sec. 7. While the affairs of America, in relation to the belligerents, were in this posture, an unhappy engagement took place, May, 1811, between the American frigate President, commanded by Captain Rodgers, and a British sloop of war, the Little Belt, commanded by Captain Bingham. The attack was commenced by the |