for a command so unexpected and so singular was, that a cargo of naval and military stores which our government had sent them was not satisfactory.

2. Whether the stores were really such as the Dey pretended, or whether he only sought a pretext for commencing anew his system of piracy, is uncertain. One thing is, indeed, well known, which is, that depredations were immediately commenced, and that our vessels were not only plundered, but several of them captured and condemned, nd their crews sold into slavery.

3. During the session of Congress which commenced in December, 1814, the president, in a message, suggested the importance of taking measures to prevent further piracy on our vessels from this quarter. The subject was agitated in Congress, and at length, in March, 1815, they declared war against the Dey.

DECATUR.

4. Soon after this, an American squadron, under the gallant Decatur, sailed for the Mediterranean, to make a descent upon the Algerines. On the 18th of June, they captured an Algerian frigate of forty-four guns and six hundred men, and a brig. The victorious squadron then sailed for Algiers, to humble the Dey, if possible, still further.

5. Such was the terror inspired by the American arms, that it was not difficult to procure a treaty, on our own terms. The Dey not only agreed to give up the property and men he had taken from us, and exempt

us from tribute in time to come, but actually to pay six millions of dollars for previous damages. This treaty was signed June 30th of the same year.

6. Decatur then sailed for Tunis, and afterward for Tripoli, and obtained indemnity of the rulers of both, for past wrongs, and security against future ones.

CHAP. CLXXXII.-1. What reason was given by the Dey of Algiers for sending away the American consul? 2. What depredations were committed? 8. What was done by Congress? When was war declared against the Dey? 4. What was done by an American squadron? 5. What did the Dey agree to do in the treaty? When was this treaty signed! 6. What did Decatur do as to Tunis and Tripoli?

SECOND UNITED STATES BANK,

363

CHAPTER CLXXXIII.

MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.-The second United States Bank chartered.-Indiana admitted into the Union.

1. THE two principal events belonging to the history of the United States, for the year 1816, were the establishment of the second Bank of the United States, and the admission of In-di-an'-a into the Union, as the nineteenth state.

2. The bill for the incorporation of a bank passed April 10th. Its capital was thirty-five millions of dollars; of which seven millions were to be subscribed by the United States, and twenty-eight millions by individuals. Its affairs were to be managed by twenty-five directors, five of whom were to be appointed by the president and senate, and twenty elected by the stockholders. The charter was

limited to twenty years.

3. With regard to the early history of Indiana, little can be said, except that it had been, for a long time prior to its settlement, the residence of various Indian tribes, and the theatre of Indian wars. It was here that the Shawanese resided, and that the bloody affair of Tippe-ca-noe' took place.

4. How early the first white settlement was made, which was fairly within the limits of Indiana, cannot now be determined. It was a part of the great territory claimed by the French and traversed by their traders. It is quite certain that Vin-cennes', if not some other posts, was settled at least one hundred and sixty years ago.

5. At the peace of 1763, Indiana, with the rest of the great NorthWestern Territory, was given up by France to England. Still it was claimed by the Indians, but, by the various treaties made with them from time to time, extensive tracts were obtained for settlement. But the Indian title to many parts of the state was retained till the year 1812, and even longer.

6. It was erected into a territorial government in 1809. In December, 1815, its inhabitants being found to amount to sixty thousand, a petition was sent to Congress to be made a separate state, which was granted, as we have already seen. The prosperity of Indiana has been almost unexampled; its population now exceeds a million of inhabitants.

CHAP. CLXXXIII.-1. What two events took place in the year 1816? 2. What were the conditions of the second United States Bank? 3. What of the early history of Indiana? 4. What of the settlements there? 5. What of Indiana at the peace of 1768? In 1822? 6. Relate its subsequent history. Its population at the present time?

MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION, FROM MARCH 4TH, 1817, TO MARCH 4TH, 1825.-His Character and History.Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice-President.-Mississippi admitted into the Union.

1. THE year 1817 is noted in the history of the United States, as the commencement of the administration of James Monroe, of Virginia, and also for the admission of Mississippi to be the twentieth pillar of the American Union.

2. Mr. Monroe was a very different man from Mr. Madison, his predecessor in office. The latter was a man of great learning, as well as of high talents as a statesman. He was a very active member of the Continental Congress, and it is to him we are indebted, more than any other man, for the adoption of the constitution under which we live. Yet Mr. Madison was no warrior.

CHAP. CLXXXIV.-1. For what is the year 1817 distinguished? 2. What was the character of Mr. Madison?

MONROE

ELECTED PRESIDENT.

365

3. Mr. Monroe, on the contrary, though he entered upon his administration in a time of peace and comparative prosperity, had been a soldier. He was engaged in the Revolutionary War from the year 1776 to its close; and, though he held no other commission than that of a captain of infantry, was in a number of severe battles, and at that of Trenton was wounded. He was also a statesman as well as a warrior.

Daniel D. Tompkins was at
Though the prosperity of

4. He came into office March 4th, 1817. the same time inaugurated vice-president. the country was returning, yet it takes a long time for a nation to recover from a war, even in its commercial and financial concerns. Manufactures were broken down, agriculture was far from being as flourishing as it had been, and there was a great scarcity of money, especially of specie.

5. During the summer and autumn of this year, Mr. Monroe made a tour through the northern and eastern states, to observe the condition of the fortifications along the sea-coast, as well as to make himself acquainted with the state of the country in other respects. A similar tour was made, two years afterward, through the Southern and Western states, and another still later along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

6. In December 1817, the Territory of Mississippi was divided, the western portion, lying along the river, being admitted as a state into the Union. The eastern portion was erected into a territory, by the

name of Alabama.

7. The early history of this country has been mentioned, in our brief account of the travels of Ferdinand de Soto and La Salle. It suffered greatly during the wars of the Natchez Indians. The Choctaws for a long time retained and occupied the northern part of this state, and were in a good measure civilized.

8. There was also some trouble this year, 1817, respecting Amelia Island, which was a Spanish possession, and had become the resort of a set of outlaws. The United States, though at peace with Spain, at length determined to take possession of it. This was done by a naval force, sent out for the purpose, and without bloodshed.

8. That of Mr. Monroe? 4. Who was chosen vice-president with Mr. Monroe? What was the condition of the country at this time? 5. What tour was made by Mr. Monroe, and for what purpose? 6. What can you say of Mississippi? 7. What of its early history? How did it suffer? 8. What of Amelia Island?

31*

CHAPTER CLXXXV.

MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED. War with the Seminoles.-Illinois admitted into the Union.-Commercial Treaty with Sweden.

1. BETWEEN the United States and Florida, or rather partly within the limits of both, there was a tribe of Indians called Sem'-i-noles. The nation also included, at this time, many of the Creek Indians, who, dissatisfied with the treaty their brethren had made with the United States, in August, 1813, had fled to the Seminoles.

2. They also had among them another set of runaways, much worse than the vagabond Creeks. These were white traders from various nations, who, for the most part, dissatisfied with the slow, honest earnings of home, had come hither to gain money by trading with, and often by taking unfair advantage of the Indians.

3. The Seminoles becoming, by some means, excited to hostile feelings against their white neighbors, and being also urged on by the Creeks among them, began, about the close of the year 1817, to commit outrages, after the usual Indian fashion, upon the families on or near their borders.

4. Upon hearing of these outrages, the secretary of war ordered General Jackson and General Gaines, with eight hundred regular troops and one thousand militia, to proceed against them, and to call upon the governors of the several adjacent states for more men, if necessary. General Jackson, however, addressed a circular to the patriots, as he called them, of West Tennessee, one thousand of whom forthwith joined him.

5. The war was immediately and vigorously prosecuted, but in a way somewhat peculiar. St. Mark's, a Spanish post, was first seized, and afterward Pen-sa-co'-la, the capital of West Florida, also belonging to Spain. These places were taken because they favored, or were supposed to favor, the cause of the Indians. There was very little resistance on the part of the Spanish authorities.

6. The taking and occupying of these places, with some little skirmishing elsewhere, occupied the time till late in the spring of 1818, when General Jackson announced that the Seminole war was closed, and returned to Nashville. He was much censured for the manner

CHAP. CLXXXV.-1. What of the Seminoles? Why had the Creeks joined them? 2. What of the white traders? 8. What did the Seminoles begin to do in 1817? 4. What was ordered by the secretary of war? What did General Jackson do? 5. What of St. Mark's and Pensacola' 6. What was done by Jackson in 1818? Why was he censured?