The United States, in arms at home, and victorious on the ocean, commanded the respect of their enemy.The directory made overtures of peace. The president immediately appointed ministers, who, on their arrival at Paris, found the executive authority in the possession of Bonaparte as first consul. They were promptly accredited, and in September, 1800, a treaty was concluded satisfactory to both countries.

While this negotiation was in progress, the whole American people were overshadowed with gloom, by the sudden death of the father of his country. On the 14th of December, 1799, after an illness of one day only, General Washington expired. Intelligence of this event, as it rapidly spread, produced spontaneous, deep, and unaffected grief, suspending every other thought, and absorbing every different feeling.

Congress, then in session at Philadelphia, immediately adjourned. On assembling the next day, the House of Representatives resolved, "that the speaker's chair should be shrouded in black, and the members wear black during the session; and that a joint committee should be appointed to devise the most suitable manner of paying honour to the memory of the MAN, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

On this

The senate, on this melancholy occasion, addressed a letter of condolence to the president of the United States. "This event," they observe," so distressing to all our fellow citizens, must be particularly heavy to you, who have long been associated with him in deeds of patriotism. Permit us, sir, tó mingle our tears with yours. occasion, it is manly to weep. To lose such a man, at such a crisis, is no common calamity to the world. Our country mourns a father. The Almighty Disposer of human events has taken from us our greatest benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with reverence to HIM who maketh darkness his pavilion.

"With patriotic pride we review the life of our WASHINGTON, and compare him with those of other countries who have been pre-eminent in fame. Ancient and modern names are diminished before him. Greatness and guilt have too often been allied; but his fame is

whiter than it is brilliant. The destroyer of nations stood abashed at the majesty of his virtues. It reproved the intemperance of their ambition, and darkened the splendour of victory.

"Such was the man whom we deplore. Thanks to God, his glory is consummated. Washington yet lives on earth in his spotless example-his spirit is in heaven. Let his countrymen consecrate the memory of the heroic general, the patriotic statesman, and the virtuous sage: let them teach their children never to forget that the fruits of his labours, and of his example, are their inheritance."

Agreeably to the report of the committee, and the unanimous resolves of congress, a funeral procession moved from the legislative hall to the German Lutheran Church, where an oration was delivered by General Lee, a representative from Virginia. The procession was grand and solemn, the oration impressive and eloquent. Through out the union similar marks of affliction were exhibited. A whole bereaved people appeared in mourning. In every part of the republic, funeral orations were delivered, and the best talents of the nation were devoted to an expression of the nation's grief.

In 1800, congress removed from Philadelphia to a place which had been previously selected; and public buildings were erected on the Potomac, a few miles above Mount Vernon, to which the name of Washington was given, and congress.commenced its session for the first time at this place in November.

President Adams' first term was drawing nigh to a close, and the people were to give their votes for the next president.

The federalists supported Mr. Adams, and General Pinckney; the republicans, Mr. Jefferson and Colonel

Burr.

The strife of the two parties during the time of electioneering, was spirited. Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr received a very small majority, and their votes were equal, each having seventy-three. The house of representatives was called to make a decision. After thirty-five trials, Mr. Jefferson was chosen president, and Mr. Burr vicepresident. At this period the population amounted to

5,319,763, having increased about one million four hundred thousand, in ten years.

Mr. Jefferson entered upon the duty of president March 4th, 1801. Mr. Jefferson took a bold and decided stand, as may be seen by the following extract from his message:

Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political,-peace, commerce, and honest friendship, with all nations, entangling alliances with none; the support of the state governments in all their rights, as the most competent administration for our domestic concerns, and the surest bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies:—the preservation of the general government in its whole constitutional vigour, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home, and safety abroad:a jealous care of the right of election by the people, a mild and safe corrective of abuses which are lopped by the sword of revolution where peaceable remedies are unprovided: absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority, the vital principle of republics, from which is no appeal but to force, the vital principle, and immediate parent of despotisms:-a well-disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace, and for the first moments of war, till regulars may relieve them ;-the supremacy of the civil over the military authority:-economy in the public expense, that labour may be lightly burthened.

"The honest payment of our debts, and sacred preservation of the public faith:-encouragement of agriculture, and of commerce as its, hand-maid :-the diffusion of information, and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public reason:-freedom of religion; freedom of the press; and freedom of person, under the protection of the habeas corpus :-and trial by juries impartially selected." "These principles," added Mr. Jefferson, "should be the creed of our political faith-and should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps, and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety."

In 1802, Ohio was admitted as an independent state into the union. It derived its name from the River Ohio, which sweeps the southern border of the state. Louisi

ana was purchased by the United States in April, 1803, for the sum of fifteen millions of dollars.

The Tripolitan cruisers continued to harass the vessels of the United States, and congress determined to act with greater vigour against them. Accordingly, a squadron was fitted out, and the command given to Commodore Preble. On arriving before Tripoli, Captain Bainbridge, in the frigate Philadelphia, of 44 guns, was sent into the harbour to reconnoitre. While in eager pursuit of a small vessel, he unfortunately advanced so far that the frigate grounded, and all attempts to remove her were in vain, The sea around her was immediately covered with Tripolitan gun-boats, and Captain Bainbridge was compelled to surrender. The officers were considered as prisoners of war; but the crew, according to the custom of Barbary, were treated as slaves.

At the capture of this frigate, the enemy rejoiced and exulted beyond measure. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur conceived the design of retaking, or destroying her. Commodore Preble, applauding the spirit of the youthful hero, granted him permission to make the attempt. In February, 1804, he sailed from Syracuse, in a small schooner, having on board but seventy-six men, entered undiscovered the harbour of Tripoli, and, advancing boldly, took a station alongside the frigate. Perceiving the crew in consternation, Decatur sprang on board, his men followed, and, with drawn swords, rushed upon the enemy. The decks were soon cleared, some being killed, and others driven into the sea.

A heavy cannonade upon the frigate, from the batteries on shore, and the corsairs near, was now commenced, and several vessels of war were seen approaching. She was set on fire and abandoned, none of the party being killed, and but four wounded. Throughout all the piratical states, this brilliant exploit exalted the reputation of the American arms. The president, in reward of his address and bravery, promoted Lieutenant Decatur to the rank of post-captain in the navy.

The Bashaw, who might well be compared to the toad which wished to swell itself to the size of an ox, reposed in fancied security. He cast a malignant glance at the

little squadron in which Decatur was one of the distinguished leaders. He saw in the bay, spreading before his city, his batteries, and his castles, a noble American frigate, (the Philadelphia,) and the pride of the American navy, upon which the "star spangled banner" once triumphantly waved, now added to his naval force, manned by a double crew of Tripolitans, and with the Turkish crescent waving on its mast. He saw its once gallant crew, miserable slaves in his own gloomy dungeons; and, in anticipation, feasted his cannibal appetite upon all the victims which the American squadron could add to his list of Christian slaves.

The American squadron obliged the Bashaw to smell their powder, and taste their lead, so frequently, that he was obliged to offer favourable terms of peace, which were accepted, and the war in the Mediterranean ended.

In June, 1804, Colonel Burr challenged Mr. Hamilton to settle some trifling offence by a duel, in which the latter was killed.

This year Mr. Jefferson was re-elected president, and George Clinton, vice-president; and their term of office commenced in March, 1805. This year Michigan became a government of the United States, and General Hull was appointed by Mr. Jefferson the first governor.

Burr, notwithstanding his brilliant talents, now sunk, for a time, into merited obscurity. His future conduct showed, however, that, while unobserved by his fellowcitizens, he had not been idle. In the autumn of 1806, his movements in the western country attracted the notice of government. He had purchased and was building boats on the Ohio, and engaging men to descend that river. His declared purpose was to form a settlement on the banks of the Washita, in Louisiana; but the character of the man, the nature of his preparations, and the incautious disclosures of his associates, led to the suspicion that his true object was either to gain possession of New-Orleans, and erect into a separate government the country watered by the Mississippi and its branches, or to invade, from the territories of the United States, the rich Spanish province of Mexico.

From the first moment of suspicion, he was closely