The American regulars, at the same time, laboured incessantly to extend and strengthen their works. During this time, a handsome affair was achieved by Captain M'Glassin, who, crossing the river in the night, assailed the British regulars, more than three times his number, stationed at a masked battery, which had been for some days preparing, drove them from their posts, and demolished their works.

The principal cause of delay, which was fortunate for the Americans, was the momentary expectation of the fleet, which was intended to co-operate. On the morning of the eleventh, at eight o'clock, the look out boat of Commodore M'Donough announced its approach. It consisted of the Confiance, carrying thirty-nine guns, twenty-seven of which were twenty-four pounders; the brig Linnet, of sixteen guns; the sloops Chub and Finch, each carrying eleven guns; thirteen galleys, five of which carried two, and the remainder one gun. The commodore at this moment lay at anchor in Plattsburgh bay, and intended in that situation to receive the enemy. His fleet consisted of the Saratoga, carrying twenty-six guns, eight of which were long twenty-four pounders; the Eagle, of twenty guns; the Ticonderoga, of seventeen, the Preble, seven; and ten galleys, six of which carried two, and the remainder one gun. Besides the advantage which the enemy possessed, in being able to choose their position, their force was much superior. The number of guns in the British fleet amounted to ninety-five, and of men to upwards of a thousand; while that of the Americans was eighty-six, and the number of men less by two hundred. One of the American vessels had been built with despatch almost incredible. Eighteen days before, the trees of which it was constructed, were actually growing on the shores of the lake.

The American vessels were moored in line, with five gunboats and gallies on each flank. At nine o'clock, Captain Downie, the British commander, anchored in line, abreast of the American squadron, at about three hundred yards distance, the Confiance opposed to the Saratoga; the Linnet to the Eagle; the British galleys, and one of the sloops to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and the left divi

sion of the American galleys; the other sloop to the right division.

The importance of the contest which was now impending, will justify us in a particular description.

In this situation the whole force on both sides became engaged; and at the same moment, as if this had been the signal, the contest commenced between General Macomb and Sir George Prevost. One of the British sloops was soon thrown out of the engagement, by running on a reef of rocks, whence she could not be extricated, while one division of the enemy's galleys, was so roughly handled, as to be compelled to pull out of the way. But the fate of this interesting day, on which the two rivals for naval superiority were for the second time matched in squadron, depended chiefly on the result of the engagement between the two largest ships.

'The American commodore maintained the unequal contest for two hours; but the greater weight of the ene my's battery seemed to incline the scale of victory, although he suffered prodigiously. The chances against the Saratoga were accidentally increased by the commander of the Eagle, who not being able to bring his guns to bear as he wished, cut his cable, and anchored between the Ticonderoga and Saratoga, by which this vessel was exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's brig. The guns on the starboard side had, by this time, been either dismounted or become unmanageable; the situation of the enemy was but little better; to both, the fortune of the day depended on the execution of one of the most difficult naval manœuvres-to wind their vessel round, and bring a new broadside to bear.

The Confiance assayed it in vain, but the efforts of the Saratoga were successful; a stern anchor was let go, the bower cable cut, and the ship winded with a fresh broadside on the frigate, which soon after surrendered. A broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which surrendered in fifteen minutes after. The sloop opposed to the Eagle had struck to Captain Henley sometime before, and drifted down the line. Three of the galleys were sunk, the others escaped; all the rest of the fleet fell into the hands of Commodore M'Donough. By the

time this bloody contest was over, there was scarcely a mast in either squadron capable of bearing a sail, and the greater part of the vessels in a sinking state. There were fifty round shot in the hull of the Saratoga, and in the Confiance one hundred and five. The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot.

The action lasted two hours and twenty minutes. The commander of the Confiance was killed, with forty-nine of his men, and sixty wounded. On board the Saratoga there were twenty-eight killed, and twenty-nine wounded. Of the first was Lieutenant Gamble; and on board the Ticonderoga, Lieutenant Stanbury, (son of General Stanbury, of Maryland.) Among the wounded were Lieutenant Smith, acting Lieutenant Spencer, and midshipman Baldwin. The total loss in the American squadron amounted to fifty-two killed, and fifty-eight wounded. The loss of the enemy was eighty-four killed, one hundred and ten wounded, and eight hundred and fifty-six prisoners, which actually exceeded the number of their captors.

This engagement, so deeply interesting to the two rival nations, took place in sight of the hostile armies. But they were by no means quiet spectators of the scene; a hot engagement was kept up during the whole time; the air was filled with bombs, rockets, sharpnels, and hot balls. Three desperate efforts were made by the British to cross over and storm the American works, in which they were as often repulsed, with considerable loss. attempt to force the bridge was bravely defeated by a detachment of regulars, and Captain Grosvenor's riflemen. They attempted a ford about three miles above, but were so briskly assailed by a body of volunteers and militia posted in a wood, that the greater part of the detachment was cut to pieces.

An

The efforts of the enemy naturally relaxed, after witnessing the painful sight, so little expected, of the entire capture of their fleet. The firing was, however, kept up until night; at night the enemy withdrew their artillery, and raised the siege. The plans of Sir George Prevost were completely frustrated, since the Americans had now the command of the lake; even if he were to possess

himself of the American works, it would not serve him any further design; in the meantime, he would be exposed to great danger from the hourly augmentation of the American forces.

Under the cover of the night, he, therefore, sent off all his baggage and artillery, for which he found means of transportation; and, before day the next morning, his whole force precipitately retreated, leaving behind their sick and wounded. Vast quantities of military stores, and munitions of war, were abandoned by them, and still greater quantities were afterwards found hid in marshes, or buried in the ground. They were hotly pursued, a number of stragglers were picked up, and upwards of five hundred deserters came in.

Those of the British army and navy who fell, were interred with the honours of war. The humane attention of the Americans to the wounded, and the politeness and generous attention to the prisoners, were acknowledged in grateful terms by Captain Pryng, (who succeeded Captain Downie,) in his official despatch to the admiralty.

Thus was this portentous invasion most happily repelled, and another of our inland seas made glorious by the victories of free Americans. The "star spangled banner" waved in triumph on the waters of Champlain, as it did on Erie and Ontario. These noble features in our great empire will henceforth be viewed with a very different interest from what they heretofore excited.

The effect of this victory tended to allay party spirit, and produce unanimity in the national legislature. The great cause of bitter complaint against the administration, French influence, was at an end, and the recent conduct of Great Britain towards this country, rendered it impossible for any one to say that she was not wantonly pursuing hostilities, when these causes no longer existed. No one could now be the advocate of Britain,

But, in addition to other circumstances, the neglect experienced by our ministers in Europe, and the shuffling policy of Great Britain, which procrastinated a final adjustment of differences, were well understood, and had their proper effect on our citizens. Our sincere desire for peace was met by the demand for a surrender of a

large portion of territory, and a total relinquishment of the lake shores, a sine qua non. To these conditions it is evident our government could not accede, and few were so weak as to believe that the proposition was made with any other view than to prolong the negotiations, and take advantage of circumstances which might intervene.

This

About this epoch, a convention, composed of delegates from several of the New-England states, met at Hartford, the members of which were opposed to the war. step occasioned much excitement, and was the subject of many speculations. It was charged with the design of sundering the union of the states; but after a brief session, terminated in an address and remonstrance, or petition to congress, enumerating several objections to the federal constitution. It was presented to several states for approbation, but was uniformly rejected. As to the constitutional right of assembling for the purpose of discussing national subjects, we can have but one voice, unless we abandon republican principles; but whether the motives, the time, and the expected results of this convention, were correct and judicious, is problematical. In the legislature of Pennsylvania, in which the memorial was discussed, the conduct of the memorialists was severely censured.

Our finance now appeared to revive, under the indefatigable industry and great abilities of Mr. Dallas, whom the president selected at this critical moment to fill the office of secretary of the treasury. His plans were characterized by the greatest boldness, but were unfolded in so luminous a manner, as to carry conviction to every mind. He may be said to have plucked up the sinking credit of the nation by the locks. The duties of the secretary at war were, at the same time, discharged by Colonel Monroe, in addition to his other avocations; in which undertaking he exhibited no small courage, for it had become a forlorn hope of popularity; he was happily rewarded by the most fortunate success in all his measures, and by the universal applause of his country.

While the American congress was thus occupied, the public attention was awakened by a most alarming state of affairs to the southward. The Creek war was renew