nor by compulsion, but of choice, be governed by the same rules of justice as individuals. The bank charter, if a contract, was entered into freely on the part of government; and thereby imposed a moral obligation, to which government will adhere, whilst that obligation remains. But, when the conditions of the incorporating law are forfeited, and its fundamentals violated, by the party now demanding a performance, as has been done with re epect to this charter, I say the moral obligation has ceased to exist. The gentleman has informed us that king Charles the 2d wanted and received money for a new charter of incorporation of the city. And did the king receive money for a charter? And was this an evidence of corruption? Let the question be answered. The king received money for charter! and his conduct in this, it seems, we abominate, Now, sir, you may define, turn, examine, and reexamine this money, this price of the charter, as you please, and you will find that it was nothing more or less than a bonus, the very thing of which Gentlemen speak of our destitution of power to I had the honor to speak when addressing you on repeal the act, alleging that it is a contract; and Thursday, and only differs from the bonus the yet they are willing to pass a law so to modify the speculators of the United States' bank offered and charter as to prevent future abuses: but if we are paid to this government in this, that this govern yet bound by it as a contract, it cannot be modified ment agreed to receive a million and an half of by congress. How can congress, (if these gentle- dollars, as the price of its charter-whereas the men reason correctly,) being but one party, modify king was more moderate, and received a less sum ts contract without the consent of the other party? for his charter. Then, the merit or demerit of The gentlemen from Delaware and Pennsylvania, selling chartered privileges, exists not in the thing (Messrs. M'Lane and Sergeant,) who are both itself, but in the personages concerned; thus, it opposed to the resolution before us, seem to con- was honorable in this government to receive a bonus cur, and yet conflict most strangely, with regard to for a charter, but abominable in the English governthe same source of argument. The gentleman from ment to do 80. Pennsylvania, in answer to my colleague, (Mr. The gentleman from Pennsylvania insists that no Tyler,) travelled into the history of the ancient offence of the board of directors, in the manageEnglish decisions concerning the violation and forment of the bank, can be imputed as a violation of feiture of charters, for the purpose of shewing that charter, inasmuch as the directors are not the those decisions were made in evil times, and under corporation, for the subscribers are the corporathe influence of corrupt motives. The gentleman tion, and that the offence must be by them? But from Delaware, speaking also in opposition to our how is this? The board of directors are the auresolution, produced and read a modern elementary thorised agents and representatives of the subscrilaw book, which he affirmed contained correct prin bers, and the subscribers, like all other men, are ciples, and supported his position. Yet, sir, the accountable not only for their own conduct, but doctrine, with regard to corporations, found in the for the acts of their agents; hence, by the gentlemodern book of my friend from Delaware, and man's own principles, the board may violate the so highly extoled by him, consists of the same charter. The board of directors has the sole and identical principles of the old English decisions, exclusive control of the corporation and all its concondemned as wicked and corrupt by my friend cerns, and if the corporation is not accountable for from Pennsylvania. Not only so, but the old reports their actions, there can be no such thing as a violawhich are so corrupt and detestable, in the eyes tion of charter-the constitution itself could in of our opponents, are quoted by the modern writer no shape be reached, and would consequently be whom they applaud, as the authority on which he superior to all law, and not subject to the governadvances the very doctrine of corporations on which ment of the country. Is it possible that the subscrithey seem to rely. bers must receive all the advantages of the manage. The gentleman from Pennsylvania quotes a num-ment of the board, and abide by none of the disber of circumstances in support of his opinion, that the judgment of the king's bench, in the reign of The gentleman from South Carolina apprehends Charles the 24, which virtually revoked the char- that a dissolution of the bank will involve the ter of incorporation of the city of London, was treasury in embarrassments. I acknowledge the obtained by political intrigue, and to serve the treasury has found its operations in some measure king, who wanted money, and could get it for a facilitated by the bank; but these aids are not of new city charter, in case the old one was revoked. magnitude, and could be obtained from other I am unwilling and vexed to find such imputations sources-for instance: extend to the receiving cast on the ancient common law tribunals of our banks of the states, (and some of them are certainly ancestors. Such charges are not proved or probable. solvent,) the advantages that have been afforded But, let the decision, and the report of the case, to the United States bank, by leaving the public which is now in this house, speak for themselves. moneys in their vaults, as a capital to deal with, The charter empowered the corporation of the city until wanted by the treasury, which would afford only to make bye-laws, rules, &c. for the govern-a continual deposite, and would be what is affordment of itself, its officers, and its citizens; but the ed to this bank, and those banks would doubtless corporation usurped, and exercised the power of agree to pay the moneys in any part of the country; imposing taxes on all the subjects of England, and and, as the receiving banks would be in different indeed on aliens and all the inhabitants of the quarters of the union, it would not be always necesworld, who should visit the city; in truth, the sary for each of them to pay money at the most corporation thereby usurped sovereign authority, remote points. Besides this advantage to the na claiming, and actually enforcing, a power which tional bank, government pays it annually $350,000, could only be exercised by the king and parlia-the interest on the $7,000,000 subscribed to it. ment. Yet, the gentleman from Pennsylvania But this $350,000 per annum, or part of it, is exthinks this circumstance so trivial as to be almost innocent, and is so astonished at the decision of its being a violation of charter, that he can only account for it by the imputation of intrigue and corruption to the English government and judges. advantages of that management? pected to be refunded, in the shape of the govern ment bank dividends; and this government, discarding its own dignity and old fashioned simplicity, enters the counting house, and becomes a partner with a company of money changers and speculators, The advice given to the Charleston branch to purchase the notes of the state banks at a depreciation,-it had also been thought proper to pass by unnoticed. to save a penny to offset against the small wastage Jhibit some singular facts on that subject, where faof transmitting moneys from place to place, within voritism was manifest. its own limits. Gentlemen treat this important subject as an affair merely between the stockholders and the treasury, and as if the public were not to complain whilst these other two parties were content. It should, however, be remembered that The injustice of the resolutions authorising discongress, having acknowledged its own right to counts for the 2nd instalment, as they could neces grant bank charters for the public good, granted sarily operate only in Philadelphia and its vicinity, this charter to a few individuals, with many exclu and give facilities to some stockholders which sive privileges, and tied its own hands from grant- others could not enjoy,-had also been forgotten. ing, or shut the people's mouths from asking, any Nor had any allusion been made to the falsehood other charter, for 20 years, on the ground that this contained in the recital to the resolution of the 29th exclusive charter would enable its possessors to August 1817, which stated that the local institutions afford the country, as well as the treasury, facilities in New York, had discounted on stock at 120 doland comforts to which they had before been stran-lars per share-This had been proved to be incorgers. And now, when the people find themselves rect. And as to the prétence urged that it might disappointed, and enquire of their representatives have been done by the insurance offices, he denied for the recompence they were to receive for the grant of these exclusive privileges, at the expense of their common rights, they are to be informed that their importunities are idle; that they have no concern with the subject, and that none are to enquire of it but the treasury department, and the stockholders, bank directors, brokers, &c. MR. SPENCER, Occupied the floor for nearly five hours in vindication of the report of the committee and in answer to Mr. Sergeant, Mr. McLane, and Mr. Lowndes. It is wholly impossible even to give an outline of Mr. Spencer's speech. He disputed the ground of Mr.Sergeant, inch by inch, and left no part of the various and complicated subject untouched. He declared it to have been his wish to amend the charter, but since the friends and advocates of the bank rejected any attempt to modify it, he could not expect success in such a project, and he was constrained therefore to abandon all attempts of the kind, as he could not consistently with his views of the conduct of the directors of the bank, consent that it should remain in its present condition without correction, he was compelled to vote for the immediate issuing of a scire facias. the possibility of the event, for he contended that those offices were restrained by a special statute from any discounts. And all the banks in N. York had explicitly denied their having made the alleged discounts. The authority to the president and cashier to discount stock notes to the amount of two millions, and to renew them at pleasure, had not been noti.. ced-and the authority at some of the offices to purchase bills of exchange on time, which consent ed to a discount of such bills--had also been forgotten. The pretence contained in the resolution of 25th July 1817, that the loans on stock were to be temporary, which had been contradicted by every subsequent act of the offices-had also escaped attention. And the same indifference had been shewn to the bye-laws prohibiting the public directors from a knowledge of the concerns of the bank and from the exercise of those rights, without which they were useless appendages.. The illegal division of shares, and its ruinous con. sequences, had escaped animadversion. Mr. S. observed that the conduct of state banks had been urged; it was the first time he had ever heard one culprit excuse himself by the fact that there were fifty others of the same grade. He noticed what he learned of a deceptive statement made to the senate by the officers of the bank, under the resolution of the last session. To justify that proceeding Mr. S. went into an examination of the alleged violations of the charter. The 1st and 3d, regarding the purchase of 2 millions of public debt and the payment of dividends to stockholders who had not completed their instalments, he considered as clear violations; but on grounds of expediency, he could not for those alone wish to vacate the charter. With respect to the The bank was required to furnish a statement of 2nd violation, in substituting the credit of stockhol-its capital "specifying what proportion thereof is of ders for the actual payment of coin and funded debt gold and silver coin and what proportion of the fundin the 2nd and 3d instalments, and with respect to fed debt." A statement had been given, inwhich no the 4th violation in the division of shares, he con- gold or silver coin were included, because as stated tended that they were breaches of the fundamental by the cashier, the capital was in notes and speconditions of the charter, affecting the vital inte-cie, and the specie was applicable to the payment rests of the country and defeating the objects of the of the notes of the bank. This, Mr. S commented institution itself; and as, he urged, they were mani-on with some severity as an evasion of the resolufestly made out and established, he could not entertain a doubt but that they would in any court of justice produce a forfeiture. Mr. Spencer stated that the following subjects of examination against the bank, had been entirely overlooked and forgotten by the gentlemen who had been its advocates. The bank of the U. States having insisted on drafts being issued by its western offices upon those at the eastward, to prevent the remittance of their notes; by which the western debts were increased, the bank paper was swept off; a vacuum in the circulation was produced, and the state institutions were tempted and almost forced to increase their issues of paper. tion. He then examined the statement itself; which, after giving the funded debt, stated that the resi due of the capital was in endorsed notes or in notes secured by a pledge of public and corporate stocks, which residue amounted to 27,000,000. Mr. S. referred to the general statement for No. vember 1818, to prove that the amount of discounts at the time of the statement, on personal security was 26,989,000; on bank stock 8,934.000,øn furded debt 302,794, making more than 36 millions, instead of the 27 millions reported. Altho' the date of the statement was November 11, 1813, yet in the mar gin there was another date, 30th Sept. 1818. And to be sure to avoid mistakes he referred to the stateThe fluctuations in the prices of drafts, had not ment for that month; from which he said it apbeen noticed; a reference to the report would ex-peared that the discounts at that time on persona security were 27,841,000, on bank stock 10,335,000, on funded debt 445,000, making an aggregate of 38,621,000, instead of the 27 millions reported, He could not discover how that sum of 27,000,000, had been produced; it was not the amount of discounts on personal security, it was not the sum of those on stock, and it was not the total of both. If he understood it, it appeared to him, a willful deception. Mr. S. alluded to the recent election of directors in Philadelphia, when Mr. Jones and Mr. Williams had been chosen. Altho' it was well known that their nominations were then pending in the senate, and he commented on the recent curtailment in the city, as being an act to produce a clamor for the continuance of the bank; or to evince what would be the effects of its destruction. Mr. S. then stated his reasons for voting against the repeal of the charter, and for preferring to proceed in the manner it had stipulated. MR. WALKER, of Ky. addressed the chair as follows: ample fortunes on the American contest, unhesitat- Mr. Chairman-Like my friend from Virginia, last up on this question, I merely want to give brief. ly my reasons for my vote. I have heard much said about the correct and incorrect management 'of the bank, and of the expediency and inexpediency of its measures; but, sir, upon all occasions of this nature, my enquiries are directed to the constiI never shall forget the feelings I had when a tutionality or unconstitutionality of the institution-poor, unprotected orphan boy; and, therefore, hope of its moral or immoral tendency. And, sir, I do the vote that we may give upon this occasion may think that the president and directors of the United keep the patriot soldier's son from wishing his States' bank deserve my thanks, not for their cor- gallant father had been a tape seller, or stockjobrect management of the public funds; no, sir, but ber, instead of a meritorious soldier. We cannot for their prompt and decisive manner of giving to stop this overwhelming influence of money. Capt. their country, at one view, almost their tether's Henry, who got $50,000 for betraying his master's length of venality and corruption, to which their secrets, will stand as high in public estimation as measures must inevitably tend, and thereby ena- Thomas Nelson, or old Benjamin Harrison (4) who bling me decisively to determine the side I ought to spent each of them at least $50,000 in their countake upon the question now before us. I can no try's cause, without a hope of remuneration. longer doubt that the United States' bank is an engine of favoritism—of stock-jobbing-of creating and attaching additional consequence to cash, already too powerful-of depressing merit, and giving to money virtue's true reward; and, what I hate, if possible, worse than that of coupling the destiny of this fair republic to a detested monarchy-of binding in adamantine chains the blessed, innocent lambs of America, to accursed, corrupt European tigers. Yes, sir, the president and directors of the bank of the United States, have convinced me that all banking systems have a direct tendency to depress the indigent and necessitous, and to add to wealth affluence-to affluence, power and domination; and this tendency, being in direct hostility to the principles of equality, and in support of those principles we know that the bland bosom of the land of our fathers has been bathed in our fathers' blood. You know, sir, that our fathers-nay, some of us, have fought and bled to make our country free, and permanently establish the principles of impartial equality. With this view of the subject how can I hesitate? Much, to be sure, has been said about commerce. Is commerce to be seriously affected by a revocation ofthe charter? If so, I am sorry for it. Fair and honorable commerce is useful to the nation. But, sir, shall we refrain from the curtailment of a commerce which is well known to press hard upon the sacred plant of liberty? What said our fathers, in our revolutionary war, of the comparative value of wealth to equality? I remember to have heard the fathers of three honorable Virginia gentlemen, now of this house, when advised by what is called a prudent, cautious, mercantile man, not to lavish their I will now say a little to my Virginia friends about state rights. It was but the other day that the whole country, from the extreme south line of Pennsylvania to the Ohio river, down that river to its mouth, up the Mississippi to its head, and all the country south and west of those boundaries, was in a blaze, about the destiny of negroes that may be hereafter born. And why? Because the south and west members thought, and I think rightfully too, indeed I know it—that the east and north members were infringing on their state rights, and wished to legislate upon property exclusively beWhere is now fled longing to the south and west, our flaming zeal for sacred state rights? It cannot be smothered in bank paper. Here is a proper occasion to bring it forth. What are we about to do Notes. (1.) General Thomas Nelson, of York town, Virginia, sacrificed a large fortune in furnishing soldiers with equipments necessary for their active service. (2.) The marquis de la Fayette, when following the British army from Richmond, Virginia, to York, encamped some days in Massay's old field, with expectation that the enemy might give him battle. He there requested general Robert Lawson to send him an officer to execute a secret order. Upon that occasion the conversation passed between the young soldier and his general. The small pox was in Richmond. (3.) See Wirt's life of Patrick Henry. Hook, a tory, brought suit against Venable, for impressing beef. Cowan his attorney. Henry for defendant, (4.) Governor Harrison spent an ample fortune in the cause. this day? Can we say our state rights are not en- given, and it was equally clear to him that the bankdangered by the United States' bank? Have we noting power is not expressly granted. Was it to be got reasons to believe, from the known complexion found among the implied powers; that is to say, miof a majority of the members of the United States' plied powers, necessary and proper to carry express supreme court, that that court will determine that powers into full effect and operation? He had the U. States' bank have a right to extend her pondered, he said, upon this subject not a little. branches over every individual state in the union, He had attempted again, and again, to locate this and that the states have no right to prune them? implied banking power upon some one of the express This fact I do know, that, if an unwelcome guest powers; he had put in requisition all the auxiliary was palmed upon me, I should think my individual principles usually employed in expounding the conrights a little trespassed upon if I could not at least stitution, and had passed a strict and rigid inquest charge him for his accommodation. When we upon all its sections, and had been totally unable to were borrowing money from old England, to put find any section, clause, or article, upon which he our mammoth bank in motion, strange to me that could anchor this banking power. He had finally we did not think of the condition of the thousands concluded that it was not to be found in the family of poor miserable British slaves, who, long before of implied powers, and under that conclusion he had this, would have broke their chains had they not just voted to revoke the charter, and would now have been rivetted by the baneful influence of the vote for the resolution to order a scire facias. La banks. I wished to have said more upon this sub-boring as he did under those convictions, it was imject; but, knowing that in historical and bank know- posible for him to vote in favor of the bank, and ledge I am far beneath those gentlemen who have therefore it was unnecessary for to make up or exgone before me, or may follow after, I shall sub-press any opinion upon the questions of forfeiture. missively decline all further observations. [After the proposition to repeal the bank charter had passed in the negative, the chair announeed the scire facias as the next subject in order before the committee.] He had no doubt of the power of congress to repeal an unconstitutional law, and he believed this to be such a law. The object he had in view would be attained if the supreme court should decree a forfeiture and dissolve the corporation. Mr.TRIMBLE said, that he had only risen to ask the He did not intend, he said, to delay the committee question to be taken. As he had offered this reso-one moment to hear remarks from him upon the valution directing a scire facias to issue, it was per-rious points which had been debated. The states, haps a duty hich he owed to himself, to explain his the union itself, might be considered a corporation; views, and discuss the whole subject at large. He was prepared, he said, to do so; but at this late day of the session, and late hour of the day, and exhausted as the committee must be with the debate, it would be unpardonable in him to intrude upon their patience, more especially too when it is manifest that the house is anxious to get forward and dispatch business in relation to the public service, which could not be pretermitted. and it is manifest that the great interests of the community are paramount to all banking interests. Banks are a kind of labor-saving machines, that should cease to exist the moment they cease to be useful. How far the United States bank has performed the great objects and purposes which have been assigned to it, is known to all of us-how far it will be able to perform them in future, time will determine. If it shall fail in attaining its objects, and that failure shall be traced to the mismanage ment of the directors, there will always exist a dis This, he said, was the first time it had become his duty to vote upon the banking power; and as the Constitutional question is involved in the proposi-position to correct abuses and restore confidence; tions, he onght, in justice to himself, state distinctly the opinion which would govern his vote, and for that purpose only he would crave from the committee a momentary indulgence. but if the bank itself has been incurably crippled and maimed, the sooner it is voted out of the country the better. It was created to assist the fiscal operations of the treasury, and to restore specie He had just voted, he said, to repeal the charter, payments; and the gentleman from South Carolina because it was his fixed and settled opinion that says that it has effected these objects: and so it has. there was no power in the constitution under which But, it is under an engagement with the public to congress could create the corporation. The distinc-continue those services to the end of the charter tion between express and implied powers was well un- and a promise had been given that it would equalize derstood, and the principle used as auxiliaries to exchange, and check the issues of local paper. Can assist in expounding the instrument had been it do this? Has it retained the ability to meet the agreed on on all sides. He had searched, he said, in public expectation? If it has not, will its disability vain for an express banking power in the constitu- originate in its waiver of the second instalment? tion-it was not to be found. Many explorers had Will it languish for years as the bank of England preceded him in quest of that power, but no one had did, because it pretermitted the specie payment of returned with the discovery. The express powers the second quota of stock? Is it a salvo for all the are well defind, and yet doubts had arisen as to the evils of excessive banking, or will it only protract extent of some of them. For instance, it is declared the crisis to make the agony more painful? Here in the constitution, that "congress shall have power several questions cast up for discussion, and succeed to establish post offices and post roads," and yet it is each other, embracing a variety of facts and calculacontended that congress has no power to construct tions, and opening a wide field of enquiry. If he a post road. Now, if it was in like manner declared had found a favorable moment to claim the floor, he that congress shall have power to establish banks would have made an effort to present the subject in and banking houses, no one would be hardy enough new aspects and relations. He would have felt some to contest the existence of the banking power, and pleasure in doing so, but he would not forfeit his conversely, if doubts may fairly arise upon the post claims to the indulgence of the committee by surpriroad power, under the clause recited, the same prin- sing them into a renewal of the debate; and, there. ciples and course of reasoning which start the doubt, fore, would only indicate his conviction, that, unless will lead to the inevitable conclusion, that the bank-the directors of the bank shall make a radical change ing power does not exist. In his opinion the power in the administration of its concerns, we shall meet to construct post roads was clearly and expressly here next session under a derangement and depre ciation of the paper currency, heretofore unknown in this union. He hoped he might be mistaken, but his prediction was founded on facts, and the results of long experience. The Mississippi River. FROM THE MISSISSIPPI REPUBLICAN, 1806. In January, rose and fell considerably, but rising the last of the month; on the last of February it was much below the tops of the banks; April 8tli, thirty feet below the same; early in May, rising: to 16th rose 10 feet: June 5th, within 8 feet of the top of the banks, and upon the 7th, fast falling; this rise from the Ohio. 1807. Rising and falling frequently, to the middle We feel ourselves greatly indebted (and so should of May, not very high at Natchez; rose to the top of every inhabitant of Western America) to the en- the levee at N. Orleans and made a breach below lightened citizen who has communicated to the the town; December, rising and falling several times; "Republican" the subjoined highly interesting me- on the 20th, it was only 7 feet above low water moranda relative to our great river. No other in-mark, but on the last of the month, fast rising. habitant of the region of the Mississippi, we can say without fear of contradiction, has devoted the same time, with a similar accuracy of observation, as this gentleman has, upon the subject of which he treats. Detail of the rise and fall of the Mississippi river at Natchez landing, for more than twenty years, by a gentleman who arrived there in August of 1798, and has been since resident in its vicinity. He entered the Mississippi river in July, from the Ohio, and arrived at Natchez, early in August; it was low during his descent, at his arrival, and so continued the whole season. 1799. January 1st, low but fast rising; February 11th, high for the season, and rising; subsiding the 6th of April, and in July fast falling. 1800. April 1st, fast rising; July 1st, low and falling; not so high by 6 feet as usual; last of September, very low, and in Nov. lower than at any former time in fifty years. 1801. Continued low the whole year. For several years the river had been so low as to cause a popular conjecture that the Missouri might have found some new outlet. 1808. March 1st, high and rising, early in April had fallen; rose again before the 20th; continues full until June 1st, when it was falling; 21st, was fast falling. 1809. January, fast rising, and upon the last of the month uncommonly high for the season; continued to rise to the 4th of May; falling on the 6th, higher than in 1802; June 1st, had fallen four feet; levee above N. Orleans broken, and great damage sustained; on the 17th April, the plantations opposite Natchez abandoned; middle of December, river, which was low, commenced rising, and rose considerably by the 31st. 1810. January 1st, falling, 18th, low, for the season, but rising; low all February; rising early in March; not high the middle of the month, and falling to the last, when it was low, and began to rise; rising to the last of April, when it was very high, but not as in the last year, though the low ground at. Natchez landing was under water: falling from 1st to 12th May, when it was slowly rising, and upon the last of the month was again high; falling early in June; to 25th had fallen 15 feet; to 28th rose 6 feet, and then falling; continued to fall till late in December, when it was rising. 1802. January 5th rising; 27th, within ten feet of the top of the banks; last of March, high; 26th of April, falling, having been higher than for a dozen 1811. January, fast rising, and upon the 31st years* and flooded the low grounds opposite Nat-nearly full; falling early in February-to 14th had chez. ་ 1803. Middle of May, high and rising; 23d, falling; June 7th, had fallen ten feet; to the 10th had raised two; rising slowly to the 20th, when it was falling; from the 16th to 31st December, rose fifteen feet, and then slowly falling. 1804. January 18th, fast rising; April 22d within a foot of the top of the banks and falling; June 14th, from the Missouri waters it was near the top of the banks, though previously fallen considerably; July 1st, had again fallen, and upon the 31st, 20 feet,a nd the banks at the ferry-house were tumbling down. 1805. January 20th, 30 feet below the top of the banks, but rising; March 21st, higher than last year, nearly to the top of the banks; May 16th, had fallen an inch or two, and made stationary by the Missouri waters to June 4th, when it was again falling; 17th, had fell thirty inches and fast falling; on the 11th, the banks at the landing, and seven or eight houses, tumbled down; river rising at the close of the year *From the first establishments on the island of New Orleans, to 1770, a period of more than twenty years, the Mississippi had seldom exceeded the level of its banks; and levees were formed only on the lowest grounds, and none more than six inches in heighth. From that date the country was flooded, and crops destroyed for three successive years, and in consequence high levees were made, and continued, ere 1797, to full 60 leagues above the city, on both sides of the river; rise of the river thereby increased, and inundation frequent, but from last date to 1802, was supposed to be quite as low as before the year 1770, fallen 12 feet; March the 9th, 20, when it was rising, but upon the 19th low for the season, though continuing to rise; April 1st, nearly full, and fast rising; May 1st, within 15 inches of the height of 1809, and rising, and upon the 21st higher than at that time, at Natchez and N. Orleans, by a few inches; Jnne 4th, stationary at Natchez; 8th, falling; 19th, had fallen 5 inches; at Orleans fell on the 11th, after having effected breaches in the levees-said to have been higher than for 30 preceding years; upon the 8th July had fallen at Natchez 8 inches; 15th, 16; 20th, 3 feet, but not within the banks; upon the last of Nov. it was low, and falling; rising early in Dec.— upon the 20th had risen 5 feet. 1812. To the last of March frequently rising and falling- then rising, and within 5 feet of the top of the banks; April 10th, falling; 21st, 7 feet below, and 27th fast rising, June 15th, within 2 feet of the heighth of last year, and falling; 22d, had fallen 2 fect on the 4th of July 6, and was fast falling; Oct. 24th, rising; Nov. 13th, had risen 15 feet; upon the 24th, 25 feet, and at a stand; to Dec. 9th, fell 4 feet, and then rising; to the 22d rose to within 7 feet of the heighth of last year, and at a stand; to the 31st it feel 8 feet. 1813. January 14th, falling and low for the season: rose, to 20th, two feet, and again falling; early in Feb. low, but rising fast; on the 20th nearly fall, but failing; March 12th, low for the season, and falling; rising the 16th, and April the 8th, banks full and river slowly rising; June the 9th, Mississippi one foot higher than it had before been known to be, within the recollection of the oldest persons; the Missouri waters were coming down upon the |