of congress. Those on distilled spirits were proposed in order to render the burdens of the inhabitants beyond the Allegany mountains, where no other spirits were consumed, equal to those of the inhabitants on the sea coast, who consumed most of the articles on which an impost duty was paid. In the beginning of the year 1791, they were laid as proposed. A national bank, recommended also by the same officer, was in the same year incorporated. Both measures met a violent opposition from the republican party.

When the new government was first organized, but eleven states had ratified the constitution. Afterwards, North Carolina and Rhode Island, the two dissenting states, adopted it; the former in November, 1789, the latter in May, 1790. In 1791, Vermont adopted it, and applied to congress to be admitted into the union. The territory of this state, situated between New Hampshire and New York, was claimed by both, and both had made grants of land within its limits. In 1777, the inhabitants, refusing to submit to either, declared themselves independent. Although not represented in the continental congress, yet, during the war, they embraced the cause of their brethren in the other states, and to them their aid was often rendered, and was always efficient. Agreeably to their request, an act was now passed, constituting Vermont one of the members of the union.

An

act was also passed, declaring that the district of Kentucky, then a part of Virginia, should be admitted into the union on the first day of June, in the succeeding year.

In 1791, was completed the first census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States. They amounted to 3,921,326, of which number 695,655 were slaves. The revenue, according to the report of the secretary of the treasury, amounted to 4,771,000 dollars, the exports to about nineteen, and the imports to about twenty millions. A great improvement in the circumstances of the people began at this period to be visible. The establishment of a firm and regular government, and confidence in the men whom they had chosen to adminis

ter it, gave an impulse to their exertions, which bore them rapidly forward in the career of prosperity.

In 1790, a termination was put to the war, which, for several years, had raged between the Creek Indians and the State of Georgia. Pacific overtures were also made to the hostile tribes inhabiting the banks of the Scioto and the Wabash. These being rejected, an army of 1400 men, commanded by General Harmer, was despatched against them. Two battles were fought near Chilicothe, in Ohio, between successive detachments from this army and the Indians, in which the latter were victo

rious.

Emboldened by these successes, they made more vigorous attacks upon the frontier settlements, which suffered all the distressing calamities of an Indian war. Additional troops were raised, and the command of the whole was given to General St. Clair. With near 2000 men, he marched, in October, into the wilderness. By desertion and detachments, this force was reduced to fourteen hundred men. On the third of November, they encamped a few miles from the villages on the Miami, intending to remain there until joined by those who were absent.

But before sunrise, the next morning, just after the troops were dismissed from the parade, they were at tacked unexpectedly by the Indians. The new levies,

who were in front, rushed back in confusion upon the regulars. These, who had been hastily formed, were thrown into disorder. They, however, with great intrepidity, advanced into the midst of the enemy, who retired from covert to covert, keeping always beyond reach, and again returning as soon as the troops were recalled" from pursuit. In these charges, many brave and experienced officers were killed; the loss of men was also great, and no permament impression was made upon the ene

my.

At length, after a contest of three or four hours, St. Clair, whose ill health disabled him from performing the active duties of commander, determined to withdraw from the field the remnant of his troops. The instant that the directions to retire were given, a disorderly flight

Flattered by his reception, and presuming that the nation and the government were actuated by similar feelings, he assumed the authority of expediting privateers from that port to cruize against the vessels of nations who were enemies to France, but at peace with the United States, a procedure forbidden by the laws of nations, and derogatory to the government of the Country. Notwithstanding this illegal assumption of power, he received, on his journey to Philadelphia, extravagant marks of public attachment; and, on his arrival there, “crowds flocked from every avenue of the city, to meet the republican ambassador of an allied nation." Intoxicated by these continued and increased demonstrations of regard. he persisted in forming and executing schemes of hostility against the enemies of France

Mr. Hammond and the American cabinet disapproved of these proceedings, and laid them before the Pres.dent. who appealed to the French government, and they resolved that Genet should be succeeded by Mr. Fauchet. and Mr. Monroe was sent out to France to succeed Mr. Morris. The first day of January, 1794, Mr. Jefferson, the secretary, resigned, and was succeeded by Edmund Randolph.

Ever since the peace of 1783, the United States and Great Britain complained of each other as violating the stipulation contained in the treaty. The latter was accused of carrying away negroes, and the former for preventing the loyalists from regaining possession of their estates, and British subjects from recovering the debts contracted before the commencement of hostilities. Mr. John Jay was appointed envoy extraordinary to the court of Great Britain, and succeeded in negotiating a treaty with the court of St. James, in June, 1795.

Mr. Hamilton retired from the office of secretary, and was succeeded by Oliver Wolcott, of Connectient.

As the time for a new election of Pre

ed, Washington signified his intentio lic life, and published, at the same ↑ dress.

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commenced. Fortunately for the survivors, the victorious Indians were soon recalled from pursnit to the camp, by their avidity for plunder; and the vanquished continued their retreat unmolested to the frontier settlements.

In this battle, the numbers engaged on both sides were supposed to be equal. Of the whites, the slaughter was almost beyond example. Six hundred and thirty were killed and missing, and two hundred and sixty were wounded—a loss which proves at once the obstinacy of the defence, and the bravery of the assailants. On receiving information of this disaster, congress, resolving to prosecute the war with increased vigor, made provis ion for augmenting, by enlistment, the military force of the nation to 5000 men.

In the autumn of 1792, general Washington was again unanimously elected President of the American Republic, and in March, 1793, was inducted into office. Mr. Adams was re-elected vice-president, in opposition to George Clinton, of New-York. In the progress of these elections, but little party feeling was exhibited; the repose of society was not disturbed, but the citizens raised to posts of the highest honor those whom their judgments and affections designated as the most worthy.

Early in April, information was received of the declaration of war by France, against England and Holland. The United States were greatly interested for the success of France, which had assisted us during our Revolution.

The French people, at the same time, regarded the Americans as their brethren, bound to them by the ties of gratitude; and when the kings of Europe, dreading the establishment of republicanism in her borders, assembled in arms to restore monarchy to France, she looked across the Atlantic for sympathy and assistance. The new government, recalling the minister whom the King had appointed, despatched the citizen Genet, of ardent temper and a zealous Republican, to supply his place.— In April, 1793, he arrived at Charleston, in South Carolina, where he was received, by the governor and the citizens, in a manner expressive of their warm attachment to his country, and their cordial approbation of the change in her institutions.