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EFFECTS OF THE TREATY.

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for conquest, but to maintain our just rights and national dignity, as fully convinced the negotiators, that we did not ask, but grant, peace!*

To General Eaton the treaty gave great dissatisfaction, as he was fully persuaded that the advantages which his gallant little army had gained, might have been made instrumental in restoring the exiled Bashaw to his just rights, and insuring a peace on terms far more honourable to the United States.

Among the most auspicious consequences of this treaty was the release of Commodore Bainbridge, and his brave officers and crew. After a painful captivity of upwards of nineteen months, they were restored to liberty, and if not at once to their country, at least to a theatre, the decks of United States men of war, where their nation's honour had always been gallantly sustained. The government of the United States, although not so attentive to the interests of the ExBashaw as might have been expected, were not wholly unmindful of them during the negotiation. A complete amnesty, and a suitable provision for life, were insisted on, and obtained from the reigning Bashaw.

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URING the year 1804, the administration acquired an extensive territory, east of the Mississippi, from the tribe of Delaware Indians. Situated between the Wabash and Ohio, and commanding the navigation of the latter river for three

hundred miles, this formed one of the most valuable tracts in possession of the Indians. Formerly, all the western produce had to pass a very large Indian border on the Ohio; but this tract, with that previously acquired from the Kaskaskias, put the government in possession of almost the whole boundary of that stream, from Lake Erie to the Mississippi. In addition to the advantages of position, this region was celebrated for being one of the most fertile in the west; and by a fair purchase, the Piankeshaws relinquished

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DEATH OF GENERAL HAMILTON.

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a claim they had upon the land, and the United States were fully confirmed in the possession.

In the course of this year, the President, in conformity to an act of Congress, erected into one district, called the district of Mobile, all the shores, waters, and inlets of the bay and river of Mobile, and of the other waters emptying into the Gulf of Mexico, east of the river Mobile, and west of it to the Pascaguala, inclusive, for the collection of duties on imposts and tonnage, and Fort Stoddert was established as the port of entry and delivery for the district.

In July of the year 1804, occurred the memorable duel between General Hamilton and the Vice President, Aaron Burr. Certain offensive publications having appeared in one of the journals of the day, Colonel Burr suspected Hamilton of being the author, and in a letter addressed to him, required his denial or acknowledgment of the fact. Hamilton refused to give either, and Burr challenged him. The challenge was accepted, and Hamilton fell at the first fire. Of great talents, powerful eloquence, and gentlemanly conduct, Hamilton had acquired the universal respect of all the people of the States; he was the idol of one of the political parties, and his sudden death caused a great sensation throughout the United States, New York city paying extraordinary honours to his memory.

On the 4th of March, 1805, Mr. Jefferson entered upon his second term of office, he having received one hundred and sixty-two electoral votes out of the whole number, one hundred and seventy-six. Burr was succeeded in the Vice-Presidency by George Clinton of New York. Napoleon had at this time laid most of the European powers at the feet of France. England still maintained a superiority upon the ocean, and the vessels of every hostile nation were soon expelled therefrom. The advantages of American neutrality here became apparent. The whole carrying trade from France and her dependencies to the ports of the British Empire, and from the latter to the French possessions, was in American bottoms, and the flags of England and the United States were alone seen upon the ocean.

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AGGRESSIONS ON AMERICAN COMMERCE.

Such advantages as these were too great to be unexposed to British envy. In the early part of the war, American vessels, carrying the produce of French colonies, were captured and condemned by the British as lawful prizes; and in May, 1806, several of the largest French ports were declared to be in a state of blockade, though not actually invested by British cruisers; and thus the Americans were again exposed to capture. By the famous Berlin decree of November, 1806, the British islands were declared by Napoleon to be in a state of blockade, and in consequence, all neutral vessels attempting to trade with them, were exposed to capture.

In addition to these restrictions, which excited the loud complaints of the American merchants, for the protection of their government, Great Britain claimed a right to search for and seize English sailors, even on board of neutral vessels, on the high seas. Under this pretence, many American citizens were taken from their friends, and forced to do duty in British vessels, in various parts of the world. Ever since the recognition of independence, Great Britain had exercised this pretended right, and every year added to the aggravation of the abuse, against which Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, had in vain remonstrated.

June, 1807, marked the occurrence of one of these outrages, which excited the most lively indignation in America, and led to the most important consequences. On the 6th of March, a letter had been sent to Captain Decatur, by the British consul at Norfolk, requiring him to deliver up three seamen who had entered the United States' service after deserting from the British ship Melampus. Upon inquiring into the circumstances, Commodore Barron, on board whose ship, the Chesapeake, the men then were, found them all to be native American citizens. On the 22d of the ensuing month, the Chesapeake left the Capes for the Mediterranean, and passed through the British squadron, anchored in Hampton Roads, without molestation. Some hours after, however, the British ship Leopard of fifty guns, overtook her, when her captain informed Commodore Barron that he had a despatch to deliver

OUTRAGE ON THE CHESAPEAKE.

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from the admiral, Berkeley. The Chesapeake was hove-to, her commander supposing it was a despatch for Europe, whereupon Captain Humphries sent an officer on board with a letter, inclosing an order from the admiral to take out of the Chesapeake three men, said to be deserters from H. B. M. vessel Melampus. Barron replied by letter that he knew nothing of such men being on board his ship, and that he could not allow his crew to be mustered by any one but her own officers.

On the return of the officer to the Leopard, that vessel ranged alongside, and commenced a heavy fire, which the Chesapeake was totally unprepared to return, from the circumstance of her guns and decks being lumbered with sails and spars, and her men being away from their quarters when the attack commenced. After the lapse of thirty minutes, during which the Leopard continued firing incessantly, Commodore Barron struck his flag, and the firing ceased. A boat from the Leopard came on board, and four men were taken out of the Chesapeake, which vessel was much cut up in her hull, rigging, and spars. Three of her men were killed, and eighteen wounded. After this occurrence, she returned to Hampton Roads.

The feeble resistance of the Chesapeake added to the indignation which was naturally felt at this outrage on the rights of nations, and town-meetings were held all over the country. The keen resentment excited by the occurrence was thus expressed, and the President was assured of their support in all retributive measures. The inhabitants of Norfolk and Portsmouth passed unanimous resolutions, discontinuing all communication between the shore and the British ships, and two hundred hogsheads of water, which were on board a schooner for the use of the squadron, were destroyed by the people of Hampton.

The English Captain Douglas was disposed to retaliate these measures, and wrote to the Mayor of Norfolk to state that if their resolution of the 29th of June, prohibiting the communication of the British consul with the squadron, was

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