the solemn grandeur of the scene; Sir George Prevost now led up his forces against the American works, and began throwing upon them, shells, balls, and rockets.

At the same time, the Americans opened a severe and destructive fire from their forts. Before sunset, the temporary batteries of Sir George Prevost were all silenced, and every attempt of the enemy to cross from Plattsburg to the American works was repelled. At nine o'clock, perceiving the attainment of his object impracticable, the British general hastily withdrew his forces, diminished by killed, wounded, and deserted, two thousand five hundred. At the same time, he abandoned vast quantities of military stores, and left the inhabitants of Plattsburg to take care of the sick and wounded of his army, and the "star-spangled banner" to wave in triumph over the waters of Champlain.

Sec. 52. It has been already noticed, that the New-England representatives in congress, as well as a great portion of the people in that section of the country, were early and strongly opposed to the war with Great Britain. During the progress of the war, this opposition continued, and became confirmed. Enlistments of troops into the army from this quarter were, therefore, fewer than under other circumstances might have been expected. Dissentions also arose between the general and state governments respecting the command of the militia, called out by order of the former, to defend the sea-board. Great dissatisfaction prevailed, from an apprehension that the affairs of the general government were mismanaged, and, to many, it ap peared that a crisis was forming, which, unless seasonably provided against, might involve the country in ruin.

Such apprehensions for the political safety

The village of Plattsburg is situated on the northeast side of the small river Saranac, near its entrance into the lake, and the American works are directly opposite.

extensively prevailing throughout New-England it was deemed important, by not a few distinguished and patriotic citizens, to take measures to remove public grievances, and to provide against anticipated evils.

Accordingly, on the Sth of October, 1814, at ⚫ an extra session of the Massachusetts legisla ture, a committee, to whom was referred the speech of the governor, (Strong,) in the conclusion of their report, recommended the appointment of "delegates to meet and confer with delegates from the states of New-England, or any of them, upon the subjects of their public grievances and concerns"-" and also to take measures, if they shall think proper, for procuring a convention of delegates from all the United States, in order to revise the constitution thereof, and more effectually to secure the support and attachment of all the people, by placing all upon the basis of fair representation."

This resolution met with a spirited opposition from a respectable minority, both in the senate and house of representatives-but finally passed. Delegates were accordingly chosen. This example was followed by Rhode-Island and Connecticut. Vermont refused, and New-Hampshire neglected to send.

On the 15th of December, these delegates, together with two elected by counties in NewHampshire, and one similarly elected in Vermont, met at Hartford. After a session of near three weeks, they published a report, in which, after dwelling upon the public grievances felt by the New-England states particularly, and by the country at large, in no small degree, they proceeded to suggest several alterations of the

federal constitution, with a view to their adoption by the respective states of the Union.

These alterations consisted of seven articles :-first, that representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned to the number of free persons;-secondly, that no new state shall be admitted into the union, without the concurrence of two thirds of both houses;-thirdly, that congress shall not have power to lay an embargo for more than sixty days;-fourth-4 ly, that congress shall not interdict commercial intercourse, without the concurrence of two thirds of both houses;— fifthly, that war shall not be declared without the concurrence of a similar majority;-sixthly, that no person who shall be hereafter naturalized, shall be eligible as a member of the senate or house of representatives, or hold any civil office under the authority of the United States; and, seventhly, that no person shall be elected twice to the presidency, nor the president be elected from the same state two terms in succession.

Sec. 53. The report of the convention concluded with a resolution, providing for the calling of another convention, should the United States "refuse their consent to some arrangement whereby the New England States, separately, or in concert, might be empowered to assume upon themselves the defence of their territory against the enemy," appropriating a reasonable proportion of the public taxes for this purpose; or, "should peace not be concluded, and the defence of the New-England States be neglected, as it has been . since the commencement of the war."

The conclusion of a treaty of peace with Great Britain, not long after, being announced, another convention was nof called; and, on the submission of the above amendments of the constitution to the several states, they were rejected.

No act of the federal party has been so bitterly reprehended by their opponents, as the formation of the Hartford Convention. It is represented by them, as a treasonable combination of ambitious individuals, who, taking advantage of the embarrassments of the national administration, arising out of the war, sought to sever the union; and were only deterred from an open attempt to accomplish their purpose,

by the unexpected conclusion of a treaty of peace with Great Britain, which disembarrassed the administration, and swept away all grounds upon which to prosecute their designs.

In defence of the convention, it is urged, that the indivi du ls who composed it, assembled in obedience to legisla tive appointment; and be the formation of a convention right or wrong, they, as individuals, were not responsible for it. That the calling of the convention was right, is urged on the following grounds: at the period of its formation, the situation of the country was such as gave serious grounds of alarm to reflecting men;—the war operations had been singularly disastrous; the recruiting service languished; the national treasury was almost pennyless; the national credit was shaken, and loans were effected at a ruinous discount; the New-England seaboard was left exposed to the enemy and instead of securing the confidence of the people of the eastern states, by filling the military and civil offices under the general government, with men of known ta lents and character, the administration committed the interests of the nation, at a critical period, to men contemned by a vast majority of the people in those states.

The public mind, in view of this state of things, was excited to a pitch bordering on insurrection; and as their representation in congress was unheard, they looked with earnest importunity to their state legislatures. What could be done? From the earliest dates of its history, the legislatures of New-England had been accustomed to call conventions, at periods of common danger, to confer upon the public welfare. It was natural at this moment to resort to the same course; and instead of favoring the suspicion of treasonable intentions, by the character of the men selected to form this convention, the age, gravity, and established reputation of the greater part of the members of it are a fair refutation of such suspicions. There are no clear proofs to support the charge of treasonable designs, on the part of the convention; on the contrary, their designs, which are the only fair test of their motives, and the only just grounds upon which to form its character, and which are before the world in their report, and their secret journal, triumphantly refute such a charge. And it is further maintained, that the actual operation of the proceedings of the convention was, instead of rousing opposition to the general government, to soothe the public apprehensions, and quiet that restless anxiety which pervaded the country.

Sec. 54. As early as the month of September, indications of no dubious character were given, that notwithstanding the negotiations pending between the Americans and British commissioners at Ghent, serious preparations were making for an invasion of Louisiana. About December ⚫ 5th, certain intelligence was received that a British fleet, consisting of sixty sail, was off the coast to the east of the Mississippi. In the course of the month, fifteen thousand troops were landed, under the command of Sir Edward Packenham, and, on the 8th of January, they attacked the Americans, amounting to about six thousand, chiefly militia, in their intrenchments, before New Orleans. After an engagement of more than an hour, the enemy, having lost their commander in chief, and Maj. Gen. Gibbs, and having been cut to pieces in an almost unexampled degree, fled in confusion, leaving their dead and wounded on the field of battle.

On the receipt of intelligence that the enemy were off the coast of the Mississippi, Com. Patterson despatched five gun boats to watch their motions. These boats being unfortunately captured, the enemy were left to choose their point of attack, entirely unmolested.

A part of the British forces were landed on the 22d of December, and several engagements took place between them and the Americans, some miles from New-Orleans, but nothing decisive was effected on either side.

During these preliminary engagements, General Jackson, now commanding at New-Orleans, had been diligently employed in preparations to defend the place. His front was a straight line of one thousand yards, defended by upwards of three thousand infantry and artillerists. The ditch contained five feet of water, and his front, from having been flooded by opening the levees, and by frequent rains, was rendered slippery and muddy. Eight distinct batteries were judiciously disposed, mounting in all twelve guns of different calibers. On the opposite side of the river was a strong battery of fifteen guns.