dear to man-but you surpass my hopes. I have found in you, united to those qualities, that noble enthusiasm which impels to great deeds."

The moments were precious. Since his arrival in New Orleans, Jackson had not failed to make the most of his time. Never was a more wonderful activity displayed; and never, within so short a period, was order seen to succeed to confusion, confidence to despondency. The resources which incapacity never finds because it neither knows how to seek them where they already exist, nor to draw them forth where they may lie latent-discovered and created by the combined power of genius and perseverance, rose from all sides at the bidding of the will which summoned them. The Tennessee militia under General Carroll, the mounted riflemen commanded by General Coffee, both generals of militia, had at last arrived. The latter came in a single march from Baton Rouge. to within two leagues of New Orleans, a distance of thirty leagues! These troops had made the campaign. against the Creeks, and had driven out the English from Pensacola. They were volunteers-men of family and substance. Patriotism had led them to the field; honour alone kept them there; for no law had summoned them. Jackson left them encamped only a few miles from the city. He did not wish these detachments to be counted; it was a part of his policy to exaggerate his forces, to deceive the spies, and to impose upon the enemy. Besides, he did not wish, before the battles, to exhibit to a population accustomed to see no other soldiers than those equipped in military costume, these warriors of the west, with

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their strange accoutrements and their peculiar discipline, suitable to their fashion of warfare, but so little in accordance with the regularity of permanent troops. Without, however, collecting his forces together, Jackson took care to distribute them in such a manner as to be readily able to bring them in a single mass upon New Orleans; and to attack the enemy with his whole assembled force immediately on his disembarkation.

The Legislature of the state were at this time in session. In order to prevent communications with the enemy, and the protection of spies and traitors, with whom the country was filled, Jackson applied to them to grant a suspension of the habeas corpus act. After an animated discussion, the proposition was rejected. This determination to leave undisturbed this popular remedy, so noble in itself, but susceptible of so dangerous a use in the hands of feeble or disaffected magistrates, disturbed General Jackson. He looked on the presence of a deliberative assembly in a besieged city as dangerous; especially when that assembly had not been elected with a special charge to meet the crisis now existing or anticipated. It weakens the energy of power by dividing it. If events should take an unfavourable direction, it would serve as a means of action to the evil-disposed. The demagogues of disorder would make use of it as a pedestal on which to raise themselves, and to scatter from a higher elevation over the people at large the puerile alarms which agitated them. While, if the issue hung long in suspense, it would harass itself with the torture of an inactive expectation. Envy would take

possession of little minds, which would be annoyed to find no longer fixed on them the attention which the nation always extends to him who fights, in preference to him who merely speaks in its cause. Besides, the more manly portion of that assembly had felt the ridicule of the part they were there made to play. The more generous spirits were unwilling to remain in seats of inglorious security, while Jackson was holding open the lists to all who felt their hearts thrill to the sound of arms. Several senators, musket in hand, had taken their places in the ranks as privates; others, who had served in Europe, took the command of the guns, or posts of inferior service in artillery. Such a division between the men of action and their colleagues could not but degrade the latter in the opinion of the public. Besides, this same legislature had before, at a moment of expected danger, supported the militia who refused to defend their country at the call of General Flournoy; and now refusing to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, General Jackson, fearing that they might defeat the means which he saw necessary to the defence of the state and city, suspended their councils, on the 16th of December, by declaring the city and environs of New Orleans under martial law.

Every person entering the city was required immediately to report himself to the adjutant-general; and on failing to do so, he was arrested and held for examination. None were to depart from it, or be suffered to pass beyond the chain of sentinels, but by permission from the commanding general, or one of the staff. Nor was any vessel or craft to be permitted