POPULAR HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER I. War with the United States-Federal government-States composing the Federal Union-The Democratic Party-War declared-Remonstrance of Massachusetts-Popular violenceExtravagant hopes-Effects of the War upon American commerce-Cotton-Two invasions of Canada defeated-Employment of Indians by the British-Naval successes of the Americans-Larger build of the American frigates-The single combat of the Shannon and the Chesapeake Campaigns in Canada-Barbarous system of warfare-American difficulties-Threats of secession by New England States-Prophetic fears of JeffersonPeninsular troops sent to America-Attack upon Washington-Non-warlike buildings destroyed-Failure of sir John Prevost at Plattsburg-Sir Edward Pakenham's attack on New Orleans-His defeat and death-Retreat of the British-The War ended by the news of the Peace of Ghent. THE Diary of Mr. Abbot, the Speaker, for the month of March, 1815, contains brief but remarkable entries which may suggest some notion of the agitation of the public mind when the news came of two most unexpected and untoward events. "March 8th.-News arrived this day of the failure of the attack on New Orleans; and the loss of general Pakenham, general Gibbs, and 2500 men killed and wounded." "March 10th.-News arrived of Bonaparte having escaped from Elba, and landing at Antibes, with 1000 men." The second startling piece of intelligence, following so close upon the announcement of a great defeat of the British army in America, might have suggested to many a belief that the treaty of peace and amity between Great Britain and the United States, signed at Ghent on the 24th of December, had not been ratified; that the escape of Bonaparte had been anticipated by his democratic friends in America; and that a war in both hemispheres would make the peace as perishable as "The Temple of Concord," splendid with lamps and fireworks for a few hours, upon which the people had gazed in the Green Park on the night of the 1st of August. The Peace of Ghent had nevertheless been duly ratified. In the days before steam communication, news from Europe did not reach the United States in less than seven or eight weeks. Fort Mobile, at one of the mouths of the Mississippi, had been surrendered to the British on the 11th of February. The news of the conclusion of peace between the plenipotentiaries at Ghent was received in the States on the 14th of February. VOL. VIII. B |