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(See NAVAL OPERATIONS)-and a raid was made by a Federal force from the neighborhood of Pensacola to Pollard. The force consisting of two thousand cavalry, started on December 13th, and reached Pollard on the morning of the 16th. The railroad depot, eight cars loaded chiefly with grain, the railroad and Quartermaster's store-houses, in which were tents, boxes of haversacks, canteens, knapsacks, harnesses, and Quartermaster's property in abundance, the Commissary's store-houses, filled with meal, corn, a number of barrels of soft soap, some flour, etc., and the ordnance building, with some two thousand stand of arms, and a large stock of accoutrements, were destroyed. A trestle bridge, three miles from the town, and small crossings of numerous streams, were burned. Some skirmishing took place on the return of the expedition, causing a loss of seventy-five in killed, wounded, and missing.

AIKIN, Miss LUCY, an English author and poet, born at Warrington, Eng., Nov. 6, 1781; died at Hampstead, Eng., Jan. 29, 1864. Miss Aikin belonged to a gifted and highly intellectually family, her grandfather having been classical and afterwards Divinity tutor in the Warrington academy, her father, Dr. John Aikin, being the well-known author and poet, and, in conjunction with his sister, Mrs. Anna Lætitia Barbauld, the author of that excellent juvenile classic "Evenings at Home." Miss Aikin was educated under her father's direction, and her literary attainments were far beyond those of almost any woman of her time, embracing a very thorough familiarity with the principal French and Italian authors and the Latin classics, as well as a profound acquaintance with English history and literature. In 1810 she published her first poetical work, "Epistles on Women," though she had previously assisted her father and aunt in some of their books. The "Epistles" is character- The two most important cities in the State ized by a smooth and polished versification, are Selma and Mobile. The former is on the and terseness and compactness of language, west bank of the Alabama River, fifty-six miles and her style is evidently formed on the model west of Montgomery, the capital, and three of that of Pope, the master-spirit of the latter hundred and eight miles above Mobile by the part of the last century. In 1814 appeared river: as a shipping point for iron, coal, ammu"Lorimer, a Tale," a work of considerable nition and Commissary stores, it is of the ability; but Miss Aikin had been for some highest importance to the Confederacy. There years preparing for a higher flight in literature. are manufactories of shot, shell, torpedoes, After years of study and critical reading and cannon, powder, canteens, and clothing. Naval comparison, she published, in 1818, her "Me- foundries are located there, and a navy yard, moirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth," at which iron-clad batteries are constructed; comprehending in it the private life of the also private establishments for the manufac queen and the domestic life of the period, ture of cotton cards, wagons, ambulances, and anecdotes and biographies of the principal nitre. It is the terminus of the Alabama and members of her court, and notices of the Tennessee Railroad, over which is brought manners, opinions, and literature of the age. immense quantities of coal and iron. Ten miles The work received, as it merited, the hearty west are the saltworks of Alabama, which approbation of Professor Smythe, Sir Henry have furnished the largest portion of salt used Hallam, and other eminent historians. In in Alabama, Mississippi, and Western Georgia, 1822 this was followed by "Memoirs of the during the last two years. Court of James I.," a well-written work, but relating to a period inferior in interest to that of Elizabeth. In 1823 she published a memoir of her father, who had died the preceding year, and in 1825 one of her aunt, Mrs. Barbauld. She then resumed her historic studies, and in 1833 produced her "Memoirs of the Court and Reign of Charles I.," and ten years later, "Memoirs of Addison." This was her last important work. Her later years were spent in quiet enjoyment in the family of her niece at Wimbledon and Hampstead, where, amid a large circle of valued friends, she held a court of her own, her rare conversational powers and her high intellectual attainments making her the constant centre of attraction.

ALABAMA. The military operations of 1864 touched the State of Alabama only on its northern and southern border. On the north, these operations were confined to the line of railroad from Memphis to Chattanooga. On the south, the forts at the entrance of Mobile harbor were captured by the Navy

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An extra session of the Legislature was called by the Governor, in September, to devise measures for the defence of the State. body neither adopted the Governor's suggestions nor substituted any of their own. Some resolutions in favor of reconstruction on the plan proposed by the Chicago Convention, were introduced and discussed, but no public measure was adopted. After two weeks, an adjournment took place. At the regular session in November, the Governor, in his Message, discussed at much length the question of reconstruction through a convention, and denounced it as impracticable. With regard to reconstruction he said: "Who would desire a political union with those who have murdered our sons, outraged our women, and with demoniac malice wantonly destroyed our property, and now seek to make slaves of us? The voices from the graves of two hundred thousand fallen heroes would blanch the cheeks of the recreant who would propose it. hoarse shout of four hundred thousand living heroes now with arms in their hands, fighting

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for liberty and independence, would forbid it! If attempted by those at home, away from the danger and carnage of battle, the consequence would be fearful. A civil war in fact would be inaugurated, and the red stream of eternal strife, swelling like the molten lava from some volcanic crater through every avenue of these States, would flow, annihilating, deluging with its burning avalanche, every landmark of civilization." He stated that a convention of the Governors of North Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, and Alabama was held at Augusta, Ga., on February 17th, at which several resolutions relating to public affairs were adopted. One urging the use of negroes in the army he recommended to the Legislature to repudiate, as & measure both unconstitutional and destructive to the interests of the States.

Other events besides the divided sentiment of the Legislature, and the arguments of the Governor, indicated not only a universal desire of the people for peace, but a disposition among a portion of them to return to the Union. Some public meetings were held in the northern part of the State early in the year, for this object, and addressed by distinguished citizens. But as the views of the authorities were opposed to such action, nothing could be accomplished.

Freedmen's camps were established on deserted plantations in the northern part of the State, and five thousand old men, women, and children collected in them. The able-bodied men were in the Federal army. About two thousand acres of land were thus put under cultivation. AMERICA. The American continent continued throughout the year 1864 to be the scene of grand and stirring events.

In the United States, the civil war was prosecuted with unabated vigor. At the Presidential election, on the 8th of November, President Lincoln was reelected for another term of four years, receiving the electoral votes of twenty-two out of the twenty-five States in which a full vote was taken. The States of Louisiana and Maryland adopted new State Constitutions, by which slavery is abolished, and Missouri elected, on the 8th of November, a convention pledged to pass an ordinance of immediate emancipation early in January, 1865. A motion in Congress so to amend the Constitution of the United States as to prohibit slavery, received the required two-thirds' majority in the Senate, but failed the House.

In Mexico, the war between the Republican Government and the French and their allies likewise continued throughout the year. With many delays the Archduke Maximilian finally accepted the proffered crown, abandoned his reversionary interests in the Empire of Austria, and sailed for Mexico in the month of April. President Juarez retired before the overwhelming numbers of his adversaries, who advanced in the northeast to the Rio Grande. Juarez found a refuge in the mountains of Chihuahua, while Gens. Perfirio Diaz and

Arteaga, at the close of the year, were still in command of considerable armies in the Pacific States of Central Mexico. Maximilian was recognized by most of the European States, but the House of Representatives of the United States Congress by a unanimous vote reasserted the Monroe doctrine. Maximilian appeared to be very anxious to conciliate the Liberal party, and toward the close of the year announced his intention to ratify the past sales of church property. (See MEXICO.)

A highly important project of federation was started in British America. A sectional conflict between Upper and Lower Canada was terminated by a coalition of parties under a ministry which undertook to form a great colonial federation. A scheme for the New Constitution was framed by a convention of delegates from all the provinces, and it was commonly expected that it would be acceptable to the people of the several provinces, and be ratified by the Home Government. The confederation is to embrace at first the two Canadas, New Brunswick, New Foundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward's Island, and gradually to take in the rest of the British dominions of North America. (See CANADA.)

In South America, upon the invitation of Peru, a congress of plenipotentiaries of the South American Republics assembled at Lima on the 14th of November. The congress, on opening, was composed of the plenipotentiaries of Chili, Peru, Bolivia, the Argentine Republic, Eucador, the United States of Colombia, and Venezuela. Later a plenipotentiary for Gautemala was added. The object of this congress is to effect a close alliance between all the republics of Spanish America; especially for the purpose of resisting the encroachments of European powers upon this continent. (See PERU.)

A new act of lawless aggression was committed by Spain, in seizing the Peruvian Chincha Islands. The alleged cause was the failure of the Peruvian Government to give full satisfaction for a wrong done to a citizen of Spain upon Peruvian territory. The aggressive act of Spain produced throughout South America the greatest excitement. The Governments and people of most of the republics declared their determination to aid Peru in case of a war. When the South American congress met its first resolution was to make the cause of Peru the common cause of all the republics. Before, however, declaring war against Spain, it was resolved first to try again the effect of negotiations. (See PERU.)

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The people of San Domingo heroically continued their war against Spain, to which power the republic had been treacherously sold in 1861 by the late President Santana. Spaniards made hardly any progress in the subjugation of the Island, and the murderous climate decimated the ranks of the Spanish army to a fearful extent. At the same time the drain of the war upon the Spanish finances was so heavy that at the close of the year the

cabinet of Marshal Narvaez insisted upon abandoning San Domingo. (See SPAIN and SAN DOMINGO.)

The war which existed at the beginning of the year between the United States of Colombia and Eucador was soon after terminated by a compromise. A revolution in Ecuador against the Conservative Government of Gen. Moreno was promptly suppressed and the leaders executed. In Venezuela the civil war was brought to a close.

The civil war in the republic of Uruguay continued throughout the whole year. Toward the close of the year the Government of Brazil, on the ground that the Government of Uruguay refused to give satisfaction for some grievances, threatened the latter republic with a declaration of war and even with annexation to Brazil. These reported intentions of Brazil produced a great excitement in the upper provinces of the Argentine Republic and in Paraguay, both of which feel deeply interested in withholding from Brazil the control of the mouth of the river La Plata. Both seemed to be determined to aid Uruguay. (See BRAZIL and URUGUAY.) Chili, the Argentine Republic, Bolivia, and the republics of Central America, enjoyed an undisturbed peace, and made considerable progress in material prosperity. The cultivation of cotton, in particular, is increasing in all the republics of Central and South America, and largely adding to their exports and their wealth. In all parts of the American continent the question of Inter-Oceanic Railroads, connecting the Pacific with the Atlantic, is exciting a great interest. The most important of these roads, the Union Pacific Railway, in the United States, is rapidly approaching completion.

In British America, the plan of an interoceanic railway, connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific provinces of the British dominions, has gained new importance in view of the projected confederation of all the provinces. În Chili, a passage through the Andes was discovered, which will greatly facilitate a connection, by railway, of the two oceans. The Imperial Government of Mexico is again inviting the attention of capitalists to the importance of the transit of Tehuantepec. It was also found that the Amazon is navigable nearly as far as its source, thus affording another transit route between the two oceans.

President Geffrard, of Hayti, in December, issued a proclamation to his people in which he tells them that though three insurrections had broken out within the past six months, they were all quelled and order completely restored. The condition of this republic, both politically and materially, is favorable. A treaty of amity, commerce, navigation, and extradition, was concluded between the United States and Hayti on the 3d of November. A similar treaty was concluded between Hayti and Liberia, which provides that slave trade shall be assimilated to piracy, and the vessels of the two States which may be engaged in the traffic

shall be judged and punished according to the laws in force in their respective countries against piracy.

AMPERE, JEAN JACQUES ANTOINE, & French author, born in Lyons, Aug. 12th, 1800; died March 27, 1864. He was the son of the celebrated mathematician André Marie Ampère, under whose direction his education was conducted, and who permitted, if he did not encourage him, to gratify an ardent taste for belles lettres and poetry, to which his own studies and inclinations were rather hostile. Of a natural independence of character, young Ampère early left the beaten tracks of literature, and associated himself with those new ideas about philosophy, literature, and history, which formed so remarkable a feature in the intellectual history of the early part of the 19th century. He evinced, in particular, a lively enthusiasm for the master-pieces of foreign literature, and before the age of 20 had acquired a considerable knowledge of the English, German, and Italian languages, beside acquainting himself with the best productions of French authors. Thrown from boyhood into the companionship of the scholars and men of letters who frequented his father's house, he gained the esteem of Balzac and Chateaubriand, by whom he was introduced to the polished circle which assembled at the saloon of Madame Recamier. To the influence which this association produced may be traced the refined judgment and artistic spirit which characterize the productions of his pen.

He commenced his literary career as a writer in the Globe and the Revue Française, established by Guizot to oppose the reactionary ministry of Charles X., and in 1830 commenced a course of lectures on literary history at the Athenæum in Marseilles. The first of these discourses appeared in 1831, under the title of "Essay on the History of Poetry." After the July revolution of 1830 he returned to Paris, lectured for a year or two at the Sorbonne, and in 1833 succeeded Andrieux in the chair of History and French Literature at the College of France, which he filled with great reputation for many years. Among the fruits of his labors in this field are his "Literary History of France previous to the 12th Century" (3 vols.,1839-40), an introduction to the

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History of French Literature in the Middle Ages" (1841), and "Formation of the French Language" (3 vols., 1841). He was also a frequent contributor to the Revue des DeuxMondes and the National. In 1842 he succeeded Gérando at the Academy of Inscriptions, and in 1847 Guiraud at the French Academy. An irresistible love of travel led him at various times to visit many parts of the Old and of the New World, of which accounts appeared from time to time in the columns of the Revue des Deux-Mondes. Archæologist, philosopher, and poet, as well as tourist, he endeavored, whether in Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Nubia, or North America, to see

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