was great difference in the size of the ships. The United States measured 176 feet deck, and forty-two feet beam, her gun-deck six feet six inches high, she had fifteen portholes on a side, and carried 24-pounders on her main deck. The Macedonian had 166 feet deck, forty-two feet eight inches beam, her gun-deck six feet ten inches high, fifteen port-holes on a side, and carried 18-pounders on her main deck.

The news of this engagement had scarce time to subside, when intelligence of another was received, fought with the same desperate resolution on both sides; the Wasp sloop of war, captain Jones, had returned from France, after carrying over Mr. Crawford, the American ambassador. On the 13th of October, he again put to sea, and on the 17th descried six British merchant ships, under convoy of a brig and two ships of sixteen guns each. The brig, which proved to be the Frolic, captain Whinyates, dropped behind, while the others made sail. The Wasp then prepared for action, which was commenced by the Frolic's cannon and musketry, and both ships soon became closely engaged. In five minutes the Wasp's main-topmast was shot away, and in two minutes more, her gaft and mizzen top-gallant-mast followed; by these means her yards were rendered unmanageable during the action.

The sea running very high, the muzzles of the Wasp's guns were sometimes under water, but were always fired while the vessel was descending: on the contrary, the Frolic's guns were discharged as she rose. By these means the shot of the former scarcely ever missed the enemy, while that of the latter was either thrown away, or went through the rigging of her antagonist. At length, the ships approached so close, that in the last broadside the rammers touched the opposite vessel. An opportunity now offering, the Wasp swept the decks of the Frolic by a raking fire, and then boarded her; but to the astonishment of the boarders, no person was found on the quarter-deck except three officers and the man at the wheel! The deck was quite skippery with blood, and presented a scene of havoc and ruin not often witnessed. The colours were still flying, there being no seaman to pull them down. Lieutenant Biddle, of the Wasp, hauled them down himself, and received the sword of the brave officer who commanded her. The Frolic was taken possession of in fortythree minutes, after one of the most bloody conflicts recorded in naval history. The condition of this unfortunate vessel was inexpressibly shocking; the birth-deck being covered with the dead, the dying, and the wounded;

and the masts, which soon after fell, covering them and every thing else on deck, left her a most melancholy wreck. The loss on board the Frolic was never properly ascertained; but has been stated at thirty killed and above forty wounded: that of the Wasp was five killed and five wounded. Both ships were captured the same day by a British seventy-four, the Poictiers, captain Beresford.

Northwestern and northern armies, Canada frontier, military movements, &c.-The public mind having recovered from the distress occasioned by the surrender of general Hull, was now carried to the contrary extreme. To the westward and to the southward, volunteer corps were forming in every quarter, and tendering their services for any enterprise. This patriotic spirit was conspicuous in the western parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia, but it was in the states of Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee, where it prevailed in the highest degree. Civil pursuits were almost forsaken, and this ardour was confined to no sex. The ladies set themselves to work in preparing military clothing for their friends,, and they cheerfully contributed from their household stock, such articles as were wanted. Companies were equipped in a single day, and were ready to march the next. Thus, in a few weeks, upwards of 4,000 men were drawn from their homes, embodied, and ready for the field. The command of this army was given to major-general Harrison, who was appointed by the president commander in chief of the northwestern army.

In consequence of the war with Great Britain, vast numbers of Indians had taken up arms, and commenced their usual barbarities against the people of the United States. General Harrison's first object, therefore, was to relieve the frontier posts, principally fort Harrison, situated on the river Wabash, and fort Wayne, on the Miami-of-thelakes. He arrived at the former place on the 12th of September, with about 2,500 men, while it was invested by a large body of Indians, who all disappeared at his approach. Not thinking it advisable to proceed further without reinforcements, he resolved to occupy the intermediate time in laying waste the Indian territory. Accordingly, two detachments were sent out on that service, who succeeded in destroying nine villages, with all the property of the inhabitants. General Harrison then proceeded to fort Wayne, where he arrived on the 18th, and

found general Winchester, with considerable reinforcements from the states of Ohio and Kentucky. On the 23d, general Winchester, with about 2,000 men, set out for fort Defiance, on his way to the Rapids, the place of ultimate destination. After a most distressing march through a wilderness, highly favourable to Indian warfare, on the 1st of October, he took possession of fort Defiance, which had been previously evacuated by the British and Indians. On the 4th, general Harrison left the fort and returned to the settlements, with a view of organizing, and bringing up the remainder of the army; leaving orders with general Tupper to proceed with 1,000 men, to the Rapids, and drive the enemy from that place. From this period to the 13th of December, Tupper made three attempts to execute his orders, all of which proved abortive, from the total insubordination of the militia under his command.

While these things were taking place in the northwestern army, other occurrences deserving attention were transpiring further to the westward. The spirit of volunteering had been so highly excited, that the people could not rest contented without doing something. Nearly 4,000 men, chiefly mounted riflemen, under general Hopkins, assembled at Vincennes, in the beginning of October, on an expedition into the Indian country. Before they had proceeded a week on their march, a mutiny arose among them for the want of military subordination, and they returned in confusion without achieving their object. Several other expeditions were undertaken about this time, against the Indians upon the Wabash and Illinois rivers; in which many lives were sacrificed on both sides, and little injury done to the enemy, except the burning of a few villages, and the destruction of a quantity of corn.

It is now time to turn our attention to the northern frontier, from Niagara down the St. Lawrence. In the fall of the year, an American force, amounting to 4,000 men, had been assembled near Lewistown, on lake Ontario ; another body of troops was stationed at Plattsburgh, on lake Champlain the former under general Vanranselaer, the latter under the commander in chief, general Dearborne. At several other places on the frontiers, detachments had been stationed, and military stores collected at different points. Skilful naval officers were appointed to arm vessels on lakes Erie, Ontario, and Champlain; and it was expected that before October, every thing would be ready for a formidable invasion of Canada. Considerable disappointment, however, was experienced, in consequence of

the governors of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, refusing to permit the militia of those states to march, notwithstanding the orders of the president! Nevertheless, between eight and 10,000 men were collected along the extensive frontier, the troops commanded by Vanranselaer were called the army of the centre, to distinguish it from Harrison's army; and those under the immediate orders of general Dearborne, the army of the north.

About this time an occurrence took place on lake Erie, which, though at first flattering to the American arms, occasioned most disastrous consequences in the end. On the 8th of October, lieutenant Elliot, one of the officers conducting the naval eqipments, captured the British brigs Detroit and Caledonia, the latter loaded with fur, to the amount of 150,000 dollars: the vessels were carried by boarding, with the loss of only two men killed and four wounded. This affair having kindled the ardour of the American army of the centre, they demanded to be led to the invasion of Canada; and some of the volunteers threatened to return home, unless their wishes were complied with. After a couference with the officers, general Vanranselaer resolved to make an attack upon Queenstown, seven miles below the falls of Niagara. Accordingly, at four o'clock, in the morning of the 11th of October, in the midst of a dreadful storm, and heavy rain, an attempt was made to pass the river; which, from darkness, and various accidents, could not be effected.

The failure of this enterprise only served to increase the impatience of the troops. Orders were therefore issued to prepare for another attempt; and early on the morning of the 13th, the troops embarked, under cover of the batteries. At day-light, as soon as the American boats could. be discovered, a shower of musketry and grape opened from the whole line on the Canada shore; which compelled two divisions of the invaders to re-cross the river. The rest succeeded in gaining the heights, when a severe coutest ensued, in which the British commander, general Brock, fell, mortally wounded, and with him fell the post of Queenstown, which was taken possession of by the. American troops. But they were not long suffered to retain it; for reinforcements having arrived to the British from fort George, and a large body of their Indian allies being advantageously posted near the scene of action, they were enabled to continue the engagement with great advantage. At two o'clock, the American general Wadsworth, crossed over and joined his countrymen, and gene

ral Vanranselaer also passed the river, for the purpose of fortifying a camp; but perceiving that the men on the opposite side embarked but slowly, he returned to expedite them. But what was his astonishment, on reaching the American side, when he found that they positively refused to embark! More than 1,200 men under arms were drawn up on the bank, where they remained idle spectators of the scene, and neither commands nor entreaties could prevail on them to move! The Americans were finally defeated, with a loss of nearly 200 killed and wounded, and 900 prisoners, among whom was their commander, general Wadsworth.

Shortly after the unfortunate battle of Queenstown, general Vanranselaer resigned his command, which devolved on brigadier-general Smith. The new commander immediately announced his intention of retrieving the honour of the American arms, by another attack upon Canada. The necessary preparations having been made, on the 27th of November above 4,500 volunteers were ready to embark; but the advanced guard having been vigorously opposed on their landing, and the main body not coming to their support, they were obliged to return, and the attempt was for that time abandoned. A few days afterwards, the whole body, with the exception of about 200 men, embarked at four o'clock in the morning, with every hope of success. Nothing was wanting but the word to move, when, after some delay, orders were suddenly given for the troops to be re-landed, as the invasion of Canada was relinquished for that season. One universal expression of indignation burst forth; the greater part of the militia threw down their arms, and returned to their homes, and those who remained threatened the life of the general.-From the declaration of war to this period, the Americans had suffered the effects of total want of experience, and insubordination; and in nothing more than in their different attempts against Canada. This last affair had a most unfavourable aspect, both at home and abroad.

It is now time to revert to the northern army, for which few troops had been collected before late in the autumn; it being confidently calculated that the upper part of Canada would fall an easy conquest to the northwestern and center armies. But the unexpected surrender of Hull, produced a total change in the situation of affairs, and was the cause that nothing of importance was attempted by the army of the north. Skirmishes, however, were frequent, even during the winter, and incursions