E .5 C 5.1 '"-^i.'!!i!J''"' >^ c^ .^^ <•>. O. ■/ ■"o 0^ -V ' ^^-. " ^ S^-~ ' ^ ' r ^ O' A-^' ■- ' "":--.' '■ a'^^' "i.- ->?* * • <>^, -'\^" , , "--o .*^ '/ "oo^ V- x° "^. ^ /^^ "^^^ ^, ^/. ■' ■' N '^^ vV . "".^ ■s^ /'. '^Vi. V 'J- ■ ." ' <**■;■ A ^^, ■-^ Y -^' V^ ^y- c*' x^ C '0 >:,'^ -^ o5 -Ci o x^^- x'S' '^r A ,0 o i' vf" '! ■■■'■ ,X^^ / A HISTORY UNITED STATES In Chronological Okder Prom the Discovery ol" America in 1492 TO THE YEAR 1885, [NCLUDING NOTICES OF MANUFACTURES AS THEY WERE INTRODUCED; OF OTHER INDUSTRIES; OF RAILROADS, CANALS, TELEGRAPHS, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ; OF IN- VENTIONS, IMPORTANT EVENTS, ETC. "t-. BY / EMERY E. CHILDS, NEW YORK. No. 116 William Street. 1885. 7\'^'^ t CS2 copykiqht, 1885, By EMEEY E. CHILDS. M. H. GREEN, PRINTER, KLECTROTYPER AND BINDER, 324-330 Pearl Street, NEW YORK. ^ \ courts of the United States, vio- late the laws of nations with respect to the powers at war, or any of them. Mr. Genet, after this, threatened to ap- peal to the people; but finally, after many controversies with him, the President demanded Ins recall by the French Govern- ment, which demand was acceded to. Genet is said to have in- troduced into this country the idea of " democratic societies," in imitation of the Jacobin clubs of Paris. On the 30th of May one was instituted at Philadelphia. Others were formed in other cities, and from their name the term Democrat first came to be used in the politics of this country. Congress passed an act by which slave-masters and their agents were given summary jjower to seize, hold, and return to slavery their fugitive bondsmen escaping from one State into another. The yellow-fever devastated Philadelphia, and more than one half the houses in the city Avere deserted by people who fled the place. The first printing-press in Tennessee was set up at Knoxville, and the first newspaper issued called the Knoxville OazeUe. The first newspaper publislied north of the Ohio was issued at Cincinnati on the 9th of November, and called The Sentinel of the Northwestern Territory. The first Sunday-school opened in New England was estab- lished at Pawtucket by Samuel Slater. This year is marketl by the invention by Eli Whitney of the 58 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. cotton-gin. Up to this time the cleaning of cotton from the seed was done by hand, one laborer accomplishing about six pounds a day. By this invention about one thousand pounds of cotton could be cleaned in the same time. The city of Washington was founded, and the corner-stone of the Capitol laid by President Washington, on the 18th of September. The first mill in the United States for the manufacture of cotton-yarns wi ■ erected by Samuel Slater at North Provi- dence. The first manufacture of clocks as a business in America was started by Eli Terry, at Plymouth, Conn. 1794 At this time the western forts on Lake Erie were still occu- pied by the British, contrary to the treaty of 1783. American vessels were seized by vessels of that nation on their way to French ports and American seamen were impressed. In view of those facts, the President, after many remonstrances with the British Government, fearing that the United States might get involved in war with England, sent John Jay as a special envoy to London, to endeavor to avert that calamity by negotiation. In November a treaty with Great Britain was signed, and was afterward ratified by the United States Senate. As this treaty was considered favorable to Great Britain, the publication of it in this country tended to heighten the asperity of political par- ties, and to increase the feelings of hostility toward England which were entertained by the opposition to the administration. An insuiT^ction broke out in Pennsylvania caused by the pas- sage by congress of acts imposing duties upon spirits distilled, and upon stills. From the commencement of the operation of those laws, combinations of distillers were formed in the four western counties of Pennsylvania to defeat them, and violence was repeatedly committed. In July about one hundred armed men attacked the house of an inspector of the revenue and wounded several persons. They seized the marshal of that district, and coinpelled him to enter into stipidations to forbear the execution of his office. Both the inspector and the marshal were obliged to flee from that part of the country. These and many other outrages induced President Washington to issue a proclamation commanding the insurgents to disperse. In Octo- ber the President ]>roceeded to Bedford at The head of a body of militia, where he gave out instriictions to Governor Lee of Maryland, whom he appointed to command the forces for the suppression of the rebellion, now supported by several thousand men. Governor Lee with fifteen thousand troops marched into Pennsylvania, and compelled the insurgents to lay down their arms and solicit the clemencj' of the government. General St. Clair having resigned the command of the araiy since his defeat. General Wayne was appointed to succeed him. On the 20th of August General Wayne had a battle with a large body of Indians at the rapids of the Miami, in whieii he defeated them; he then desolated their country, and erected forts in the heart of their settlements. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 59 The foreign and domestic debts of the United States on the 1st of January were a little more than scventy-fonr millions of dollars. As an offset, there were about twenty-six millions appli- cable to the sinking fund. The Insurance Company of North America, in Philadelphia, and the Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, were incorpo- rated. The first turnpike road in the United States was completed by a private company, and connected Lancaster with Philadel- phia, a distance of sixty-two miles. The tirst cotton sewing-thread manufactured in the United States was made this year at Pawtucket. Samuel Morey built a steamboat with a stern-wheel, and navi- gated it from Hartford to New York. Dayton, in Ohio, was laid out into a town and the lots dis- posed of by lotter}'. The first newspaper published west of the Mississippi was is- sued at New Orleans under the name of The Monitrur. The first theatre established in Boston was opened on the 4th of February, under the name of The Federal Street Theatre. The law forbidding theatrical performances had been repealed in the preceding year. By an act of congress the addition of two stars and two stripes was made to the national flag. On the 27th of March congress authorized the construction of six frigates as the foundation of a navy. The vessels of the Revolutionary war were disposed of at the end of that con- test. 1795 The reserve lands belonging to the State of Connecticut were soklfor twelve hundred thousand dollars, and the proceeds of the sale were appropriated for the support of schools in the State. The exports of tlie United States for this year amounted to more than forty-seven millions of dollars. The Massachusetts Fire Insurance Company of Boston was incorporated. The yello^v-fever attacked the city of New York, and more than seven hundred persons died from it. The first newspaper established in the United States exclu- sively for commercial topics was issued at Boston on the 5th of September, under the title of The Boston Prices-Cnrrent and Marine Intelligencer, Commercial and Mercantile. 1796 The third presidential election took place this j-ear. Wash- ington was earnestly solicited to be a candidate for rc-elcctfon, but he positively declined. John Adams and Thomas Pinck- ney were supported liy the Federalists as President and Vice- President. The Republicans were imanimously in favor of Thomas Jefferson for President, but were not united on the subject of Vice-President. At the election, of the electoral votes John Adams received 71; Thomas Jefferson, 68; Thomas Pinck- ney, 59; Aaron Burr, 30; Samuel Adams, 15; Oliver Ellsworth, 11; George Clinlon, 7: John Jay, 5; James Iredell, 3; Georse 60 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. WaKhington, 3; J. Henry, 2; 8. Johnston, 2; and Charles C. Pinckney, 1. By the constitution as it stood at this period, the person receiving the highest number of electoral votes was elected President, the next highest Vice-President. Accordingly John Adams was the successful candidate for President, and Thomas Jefferson became the Vice-President elect. Tennessee was formed under a State government and admit- ted into the Union. Knoxville was made the capital until the year 1802. The census of Albany showed a population of 6021. The first Methodist Church established in Boston was opened this j-ear. On the 20th of June a conflagration at Charleston, S. C, con- sumed three hundred houses ; and one at Savannah on the 25th of November destroyed three hundred and fifty. There was a large emigration to Ohio of people from the East- ern States. At this period Cincinnati contained about six hun- dred inhabitants. At this time there were four daily stages between New York and Philadelphia, and one between Philadelphia and Baltimore. The first successful manufacture of sugar from cane was made at a plantation a few miles above New Orleans. Cleveland, in Ohio, was founded, and Baltimore incorpora- ted with a city charter. The first directory in Baltimore was published. A conflagration in Savannah destroyed property valued at one million of dollars. The first newspaper published in Washington was issued on the 11th of June, and called The Washington Gazette. The first daily newspaper established in Boston appeared on the 6th of October, under the name of The Polar Star and-Bos- ton Daily Advertiser. The first manufacture of morocco leather in the United States was started at Lynn, Mass. 1797 John Adams was inaugurated President, and Thomas Jeffer- son took the oath of office as Vice-President, on the 4th of March. There were at this period four hundred and eighty post-offices in the United States. Detroit at this time contained three hundred houses. The first American vessel on Lake Erie was launched near Erie, Pa. Western New York received a large emigration from the East this year. The introduction of cast-iron ploughs commenced at this time, and soon superseded wooden ploughs, which were heretofore ex- clusively used. At first there was a pi'ejudice against the new plough it being stated that cast-iron poisoned the land and spoiled the crop. The first scientific periodical in America was established in New York, and called The Medical Repository. 1798 Congress passed an act in March establishing the Mississippi Territorj'. HISTORY OF THE UXITKD STATES, 61 In May, Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, vras designated as the site for a government armory and manufactory. " Hail Columbia" made its tirst appearance and was a great success. It was composed by Joseph Hopkinson, of Philadel- phia, and was adapted to the air called "The Presidents March." The yellow-fever raged with violence in Philadelphia and New York. In the first 3645 persons died of the disease ; in the last 2086. It appeared as an epidemic in Boston for the first time, where 145 died of it. The new State-House in Boston was completed. The manufacture of straw-braid for hats and bonnets was originated at this time in Dcdham, Mass. The tirst American vessel on Lake Ontario was launched at Hanford's Landing, near Rochester. 1799 Although there was no declaration of war either on the part of France or the United States, hostilities actuallj' commenced on the ocean between the two nations. The United States fri- gate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, on the 9th of February fell in with and captured the French frigate LTnsurgente, of forty guns. This action took place in the West India seas, and lasted about an hour. The American navy consisted at this period of forty-two ves- sels, carrying nine hundred and tifty guns. The Legislature of Pennsylvania established the seat of gov- ernment at Lancaster. 1800 The north wing of the Capitol was finished this year, and the seat of government for the United States was removed to Washington. Congress met there for the first time on the 22d of November. A treaty was concluded between Spain and France, by which the sovereignty a)id property of Louisiana were conveyed to France. The Mississippi Territory was organized; and Indiana Terri- tory formed, with St. Vincennes as its capital. By the second census the population of the United States was found to be 5,805,482, of whom 896,849 were slaves. The population of the city of New Yoi'k was 60,489 ; of Philadel- phia, about 40,000 ; Baltimore, 23,971 ; Boston, 24,937 ; Wash- ington, 3210 ; Providence, 7614 ; and Charleston, 18,712. The first Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia was erected. More than one thousand of the inhabitants of Baltimore died from the yellow-fever. The United States frigate Constellation met the French frigate Le Vengeance at sea on the 1st of February, and in an action which took place for five hours, silenced the French ship. A squall enabled her to escape, with the loss of one hundred and sixty men killed and woimded. At the presidential election thisyear,the Republican candidates were Thomas Jefferson, who received seventy -three electoral votes ; and Aaron Burr, who received the same number. The Federalists gave John Adams sixty -five votes, Charles C. Pinck- 62 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, ney sixty-four, and John Jay one. The votes for Mr. Jeffer- son and Mr. Bun- being equal, by the terms of the Constitution which prevailed at this period, there was no choice, and the election was thrown into the House of Representatives, to be decided which should be President, Jefferson or Burr. After a contest of seven days, on the thirty-sixth ballot Thomas Jefferson was elected President, and Aaron Burr was made Vice-President. The name of the Republican party now began to be changed to the Democratic. Water was tirst introduced into Boston, by a private corpo- ration, from Jamaica Pond, about eight miles distant. 1801 Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr commenced their terms of office as President and Vice-President, respectively, on the 4th of March. The President despatched u small squadron to the Mediter- ranean, to protect American commerce from the depredations of the cruisers of Tripoli. The exports this year from South Carolina were 65,000 barrels of rice ; 8,000,000 lbs. of cotton ; 8,500 barrels of indigo, and 5,996 hogsheads of tobacco. There were at this time two hundred newspapers published in the United States, of which number seventeen were dailies. The compound blowpipe was invented by Professor Robert Hare of Philadelphia. Congress established a navy-j'^ard at Brooklyn, L. I. Buffalo was laid out into town-lots. There were at that place at this time one tavern, five dwellings, and one store, all built of logs. Philadelphia commenced, on the 27th of June, to be supplied with water conveyed through pijjes laid in the streets. The Evening Post issued its first number, at New York, on the 16th of November. It was edited by William Coleman, and supported the Federal party. The pillory was used for the last time in Boston on the 22d of November. 1803 Ohio was authorized by congress to be erected into a State, and admitted into the Union. The admission was consummated the next year. The number of its white inhabitants was esti- mated at about 75,000. — ~ Georgia ceded to the United States all her western territory upon condition that congress should not prohibit slaverj* in that district. A manufactory of sheet- copper was started in Massachusetts, which was the onlj^ one of the kind in the United States. Congress established a military academy at West Point. The first newspaper published in Mississippi was issued at Natchez, and called The Natchez Gazette. 1803 The United States purchased from France all of Louisiana, for the sum of fifteen millions of dollars. This purchase em- braced all the country west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, and from the Mexican dominions on the south to Canada on the north. Governor Claiborne, of Missis- HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 63 sippi Territory, and General Wilkinson were appoiuled com- missioners by congress to receive formal possession of the territory. Upon their arrival at New Orleans, the Commissary of France, acting in behalf of the French Government, formally delivered the country over to the United States commissioners, and vested Governor Claiborne with the powers before exercised by the French governor. Commodore Preble, commanding an American fleet, bom- barded the town and forts of Tripoli, on the MediteiTanean. The frigate Philadelphia, commanded by Captain Bainbridge, struck on a rock in the harbor of Tripoli on the 81st of October, and his otHcers and crew, numbering three hundred men, were taken prisoners. The officers were well treated, but the men were reduced to slaveiy. The tribe of Kankasia Indians ceded to the United States all the territory in its possession extending along the Mississippi River, from the Illinois to and up the Ohio. The lirst bank in Cincinnati was opened, and called The Miami E.\porting Company. The first cotton-mill in i^ew Hampshire was erected at Xew Ipswich. 1804 A proposed amendment to the Constitution was ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several States, and became a part of the Constitution. This amendment concerned the manner of electing the President and Vice-President so as to designate which person was voted for as President, and which as Vice-President ; instead of the original article in the Consti- tution which required the electors to vote for two persons for these offices, of whom the one who had the highest number of votes was to be President, and the next highest, Vice-President. In the presidential election this year the Democratic party nominated Mr. Jefferson for re election as President, and George Clinton as Vice-President. The Federalists nominated Charles C. Pinckney for President, and Ruf us King for Vice-President. The Democratic candidates secvu-ed all the one hundred and seventy-six electoral votes, excepting fourteen. The Legislature of New Jersey passed an act on the 15th of February for the gradual al)olition of slavery in that State. It made all persons free that should be,born after the fourth day of the following July. The children of slaves to become free — males at twenty-five years of age, and females at twenty-one. Congress passed an act separating the district purchased from France into two territories, divided b}' a line drawn along the thirty-third parallel of north latitude. That on the south of this line was called the Territory of Orleans ; that on the north The District of Louisiana. Orleans contained at this time about fifty thousand inhabitants, of whom more than one half were slaves. The principal town in that territory was New Orleans, which contained a population of about eight thousand. St. Louis was the chief settlement in the District of Louisiana. The Delaware Indians ceded to the United States their title to an extensive territory east of the Mississippi. This tract 64 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. contained all the country between the Wabash and the Ohio, south of and including the road from the Rapids to Vincennes. Tripoli was bombarded a second time in August. About this time Sunday-schools l)egan to be established in different sections of the country, and their introduction gradu- ally increased from this period. Fort Dearborn, on the site of the present city of Chicago, was established, and garrisoned by a company of about fifty men. The Middlesex canal, connecting Boston harbor with Concord River, was completed, and was the first canal in the United States opened for the transportation of passengers and mer- chandise. A conflagration in New York destroyed property valued at two millions of dollars. The Bichmond Enquirer issued its first number on the 9th of May, at Richmond, Va. On the llth of July, Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury under Washington, was fatally wounded by Aaron Burr, Vice-President of the United States, in a duel fought at Weehawken, in New Jersey, opposite the city of New York. This event caused intense excitement throughout the country, and was deeply deplored. 1805 Thomas Jeiierson was inaugurated President of the United States, on the 4th of March, and George Clinton took the oath of office as Vice President. Large purchases of lands were made from different tribes of Indians in the western and also in the southern territories. A treaty of peace was concluded with Tripoli on the 3d of June. Michigan Territory was formed by act of congress from a portion of Indiana on the llth of January. The first dry-goods commission house established in the United States was opened at Philadelphia, for the sale of cot ton yarns and threads manufactured in Providence. The first cargo of ice exported from this country was shipped this year from Boston to Martinique, anil consisted of one hun- dred and thii-ty tons. 1806 England being at war with France, declared the whole coast of the continent of Europe, from Brest to the Elbe, in a state of blockade. France retaliated by declaring the British isles under blockade, and forbade the introduction into France of the products of Great Britain and her colonies, whether in her own ships or those of other nations. These edicts inflicted great damage upon American commerce, which before their passage had been seriously interrupted by acts of the British Government. At last great feeling was excited throughout the coimtry, and most of the principal towns memorialized con gi-ess or the executive on the subject. Tlie continued impress- ment of American seamen afforded a further cause of com- plaint. On the 15th of April congress passed an act prohi- biting the importation of specific articles of British growth or manufacture, to take effect on the llth of November. The President sent an expedition consisting of twenty-eight HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 65 men, under the command of Captains Lewis and Clarke, in the year 1804, to explore the Missouri, and to find the best com- munication from that river to the Pacific, antl they returned this year. They ascended the river more than three thousand miles, traced it nearly to its source, crossed the Rocky Moun- tains, and descended the Columbia River to the ocean. In this and the following year Lieutenant Pike ascended the Missis- sippi to its source, and ascertained the geography of that coun- try, whicli was not heretofore known. 1807 The frigate Chesapeake, commanded by Commodore Bar- ron, sailing from Hampton Roads on a cruise to the Mediterra nean, was come up witli by the British ship of war Leopard, one of a squadron then at anchor within the waters of the United States. An officer was sent from the Leopard to the Chesapeake, with a note from the captain respecting some de- serters from some of his Britannic majesty's ships, supposed to be serving as part ot the crew of the Chesapeake, and required per- mission to search for them. Commodore Barron .sent answer that he knew of no such men as described ; that the recruiting ofiicers of the Chesapeake had been particularly instructed by the government not to enter any deserters from English ships, and that he had been instructed never to permit the crew of any ship under his command to be mustered by any ofiicers but his own. The Leopard, shortly after this answer was sent, ranged alongside of the Chesapeake, and commenced a heavy tire upon her. The Chesapeake, unprepared for action, made no resist- ance, when, having sulfered much damage, and lost three men killed and eighteen wounded, the commodore ordered his colors to be stixick, and sent an officer on board the Leopard to surrender his vessel. The commander of the British ship then took possession of tlie Chesapeake, mustered her crew, and, carrying off four or five of the men, abandoned the ship. Commodore Barron at once returned to Hampton Roads and reported the occurrence to the government. On receiving the information of this outrage, the President, by proclamation, interdicted the harbors and waters of the United States to all armed British vessels, and forbade intercourse with them. A United States vessel was dispatched with instructions to the American minister to London to call on the British Govern- ment for the satisfaction and security which the outrage required. In Noveml)er, the English ministry issued new orders in council, proclaiming a blockade of pretty much all Europe, and f(jrl)id(ling any trade in neutral vessels, unless they had first gone into some British port and paid duties on their car- goes. In December, France proclaimed a new decree, by which it was declared that any ship was lawful prize that had any- thing to do with Great Britain, that should pay it tribute, that should carry its merchandise, or that should be bound either to or from any of its ports. On the 22d of December, congress passed an act laying an embargo on all shipping in the ports of the United States. The departure of any vessel from any port 66 HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES. of the United States bound to any foreign port Avas forbidden, except by the express commission of the President. Foreign armed vessels with public commissions, and foreign merchant- ships in ballast, or only with such cargo as they had when notitied of the act, wei"e excepted. Coasting-vessels were to give bonds in double the value of their cargoes, to reland the same in the United States. Aaron Burr was arrested on the charge of prosecuting a scheme for the separation of the western country from the Union, and the subjugation of New Orleans, but after a pro- tracted trial, no overt act of treason being proved against him, he was released. Tlie practicability and advantages of propelling boats by steam-power was for the first time demonstrated to the satis- faction of the public this year, by Robert Fulton. In the spring his steamboat, called the Clermont, was launched, and an engine procured from England put in her. On the 1st of August the first trip was commenced, and the boat ran from New York to Albany, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, against the current, in thirty-two hours. The boat soon after ran regular trips between those places, and proved a success. A log cabin was erected on the site of the city of Rochester, which was the first house built there. 1808 The operations of the embargo law, although the measure was sustained by a majority of the American people, was the occasion of great distress, particularly among the commercial community throughout the United States. Dependent as we were on foreign markets for the sale of our redundant products, now that we'Vere not permitted to export them, they fell to half their Avonted price, and even less. To many of the pro- ducers they did not repay the cost of production. The supply of foreign merchandise, too, which habit had made ncccssarv, and of which there was no domestic supplj" or an insufficient one, being cut off, its price rose proportionally high, and thus the expenses of the agricultural classes increased in the same pro- portion that their means of defraying them diminished. It l)ore still harder on the sailors and shi]3-o\vners, who were thrown entirely out of employment, and here the pressure was most severely felt in the States that were most addicted to navi- gation. It operated as a bounty on manufactures, ))ut this, at first, benefited but a small proportion of the community. In Boston and in Portland soup-kitchens were established in aid of the suffering. At the presidential election held this year, the candidates of the Democratic party were elected. James Madison receiveri one hundred and twenty-two electoral votes for President, and George Clinton one hundred and lljiiteen for Vice-President. The Federalists nominated Charles C. Pinckney for President, and Ruf us King for Vice-President, and each received forty seven votes. Of the Democratic votes, six were given to George Clinton for President. The States which supported U;e Fed- HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 67 eral nominations were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, antl Delaware. The Choctaws ceded to the United States their lands vrhich formed the southern part of Mississippi. A large part of Michigan Avas purchased from the Ottawas, Chippeways, Wyaudots, and Pottowatomies. By a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, it appeared that a great number of roads were built in the Eastern and Mid- dle States, while few had been constructed south of the Poto- mac. The roads were chie3y turnpikes, varying in cost from li'ss than a thousand dollars a mile to fourteen thousand. The toll collected paid an interest on the investment, in some instances less than three per cent, in others as high as eleven. Connecticut since 1803 had incorporated fifty turnpike com- panies. In New York, in less than seven years, sixty-seven companies for building roads had been incorporated, and twenty-one more to build toll-bridges. It was recommended that the National Government should spend two millions of dollars yearly for ten years in improving the communication between different parts of the Union. The importation of negro slaves into the United States was prohibited by act of congress in 1806, to take effect on the 1st of January of this year. The steaml)oat Phoenix, built by John Stevens, ran from Hoboken, on the Hudson, to Philadelphia. This was prob- ably the tirst steam-vessel ever navigated on the ocean. The tirst book printed west of the Mississippi was published, containing the laws of Louisiana Territory. The lirst newsjjaper published in St. Louis was issued in July, and nameil The Mmouri Gazette. The first one in . Indiana was published at Vincennes. The tirst settlement in Oregon was made by the Missouri Fur Company, by the establishment of a trading-post on the Lewis River. The tirst Temperance Society recorded, established in this country, was formed in March by forty -three members resid- ing in Saratoga County, N. Y. The tirst church edifice erected in "Williamsburg was com- pleted for the Methodists. 1809 James jVIadison was inaugurated President of the United States, and George Clinton took the oath of office as Vice- President. Congress, in March, repealed the embargo law as to all nations excepting Great Britain and France ; and as to those nations all commercial intercourse witli them was interdicted, whether by exporting or importing, either directly or circuit- ously. An act was also passed for increasing the army and navy. On the 23d of April, Mr. Erskine, minister from Great Britain to the United States, pledged his court to repeal its anti-neutral decrees by the 10th of June ; whereupon the Presi- dent proclaimed that commercial intercourse would be renewed on that day. The king refused to ratify the arrangement made 68 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. by Mr. Erskine, and recalled him. The President therefore issued a second proclamation, reviving the non-intercourse law. Mr. Jackson succeeded Mr. Erskine, and he soon giving oflfence to the American Government, the President refused all intercourse with him, and he was also recalled. Illinois Territory was formed and established by act of con- gi'ess, on the 3d of February. It embraced the present States of Illinois and Wisconsin. Sails were about this time made in Boston, from the tirst cotton-duck manufactured in this, if not in any other country. The first church Sunday-school formed in the United States was established at Pittsburg. From this period began the transfer of the control of Sunday-schools from individuals to churches, and the change made from paid to voluntary teach- ers, and from secular to religious instruction. 1810 The Rambouillet decree, alleged to be designed to retaliate the act of congress which forbade French vessels to enter the ports of the United States, was issued by the French Govern- ment on the 23d of March. By this decree all American ves- sels and cargoes arriving in the ports of France, or of coiuitries occupied b}^ French troops, were ordered to be seized and con- demned. On the 1st of May congress passed an act exclud- ing British and French armed vessels from the waters of the United States ; but providing that if either of those nations should modify its edicts before the 3d of March ensuing, so that they should cease to violate neutral commerce, of which fact the President was to give notice by proclamation, and the other nation should not within three months after pursue a similar step, commercial intercourse with the first might be renewed, but not with the other. On the 2d of November the President issued his proclamation declaring that the French decrees were revoked, and that intercourse between the United States and France might be renewed. England, however, continued her restrictions on American commerce, and the better to enforce them, stationed ships of war before the principal ports of the United States, to intercept communication. On the 10th of the same month a proclamation Avas issued interdicting commer- cial intercourse with Great Britain. At this period the number of paper-mills in the United States was one hundred and eighty. The importation of rags was now commenced. The first agricultural exhibition held in this country was opened at Georgetown, D. C. The first lot of cotton goods printed from engraved rollers was put on the market from a factory near Philadelphia, on the 6th of October. The cylinder machine was imported from England, and the new process now began to supersede that of block-printing, previously in use. Astoria, in Oregon, was foxmded by the Pacific Fur Com- pany of Oregon, of which John Jacob Astor was the chief pro- prietor. The first foreign missionary societv founded in the United HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 69 States was formed under the title of the " American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions." 1811 Reparation was made by the Government of Great Britain for the attacli of the Leopard upon the Chesapeake. On the 16lh of May there was a tight betw^een the American frigate President, of forty -four guns, and the English sloop of war Little Belt, of eighteen guns. This vessel belonged to the British squadron which was ordered to the American coast to break up the trade from the United States to France, and the President was one of the few ships the government had for the protection of her commerce. The ships met a few miles south of Sandy Hook, chased each other in tiu'n, then tired into each other without any reasonable pretext for the first shot, which each accused the other of having tired. The loss on l)oard the English ship, in an encounter which lasted only a few minutes, was over thirty in killed and wounded, while only a single man was slightly wounded on board the President. The aifair cre- ated great excitement, and a court of inquiry was instituted, which found that the first shot was tired by the Little Belt. Hostilities with Great Britain being apprehended, congress passed an act for raising an additional force of twenty -five thousand men. A theatre in Richmond, Va., was burned on the evening of the 26th of December, when more than six hundred persons were present. Nearly seventy lives were lost on the occasion, and many more died afterward from injuries received. A fire occurred in New York on the 19th of May, destroying about one hundred buildings ; and at Newburyport on the 31st, con- suming more than two hundred buildings and other property, valued at six hvmdred thousand dollars. The frontier settlers being seriously alarmed bj^ hostile indi- cations on the part of the Indians, General Harrison, early in November, commanded an expedition for demanding satisf ad ion of the savages, and to put a stop to their threatened liostilities. On the 7th of November his camp was surprised aliout four o'clock in the morning by the enemy, and a bloody and doubt- ful contest ensued. The Indians were finality repulsed with considerable loss. General Harrison then destroyed their prin- cipal settlement, called Tippecanoe, and established forts in their country. The first steamboat which ran on the AVestcrn waters left Pittsburg on the 29th of October, bound for New Orleans, where it vvas intended to ply between that city and Natchez. Five steamboats were running betw^eeu New York and Albany at this period, and one between New York and Nev>' Brunswick, N. J. The first ferry-boat propelled by steam in this, and probably in any other country, conmienced to ply between New York and Hobokcn. At this period there was but one dry-goods store in Brook- lyn. Mails passed through Long Island but once a week. The manufacture of chemicals, the first of its kind in New England, was commenced at Salem, Mass. 70 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. The charter of the United States Bank, incorpoj-ated in the year 1791, expired this year, and its renewal was defeated in congress, principally throu,ii,h the influence of those who desired to establish smaller banks for theniselves. 1812 Congress passed an act, on the 3d of April, establishing an embargo for the period of ninety days on all vessels in antl ar- riving in port ; and soon afterwards an act to prohibit the ex- portation of specie, goods, wares, and merchandise during the continuance of the embargo. In June, congress passed a bill declaring war with Great Britain, which was signed by the President on the 18th. The reasons given for this action were the impressment of American seamen by the British ; the seiz- ure of persons as British subjects on the high seas, sailing un- der the American flag ; the violation of tlie rights and the peace of our coasts b}' British cruisers ; the blockading of their ene m:es' ports without an adequate force ; and the orders in council affecting neutral rights. At the same lime a suspicion was suggested that the Indians had been incite d to hostile acts by British agents. The declaration of war found many opponents througliout the country, who strongly expressed their disapprobation of the policy of the government At the same time a majority of the people were exasperated by the aggiessive conduct of Eng- land, and supported the measures of congress to sustain the dig- nity of the nation. In Baltimore tlie contending pra'tits were particularly aggressive. The editors of the Federal Republican, a newspaper printed in that city, having published strictures on tlie declaration of war, a mob assembled at night, tore down their office, and destroj-ed their printing materials. The paper was afterwards established at Georgetown, and a house wa.s engaged in Baltimore from which the papers were to l)e dis tributed. One of the editors, with Genera) Henry Lee, General Lingan, and many others, having provided arms and ammuni- tion, they determined, if attacked, to defend themselves in tlie exercise of their rights. In the evening of the 27th of July a mob collected, and assailed the house with stones. While they were forcing the door several muskets were fired,. by wliich two persons were killed and seveial woimded. On the arrival of the military a compromise was effected. The persons within the house surrendered on a promise of safely in the prison. On the folloTsing night the mob reassem))led, broke open the jail, killed General Lingan, bruised and mangled eleven others, eight of whom, supposed to be dead, were thi'own in a henp in front of the jail. Some of the ringleaders Avere tried, but Ihey es- caped punishment. The I'uneral obsequies of Genei'al Lingan were attended at Georgetown by three thousand persons. The prosecution of the war commenced on the Canadian borders. The programme for the campaign was the invasi(ni of Canada at three points, namel}-, Detroit, and Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers. General William Hull, Governor of Michigan Territory, commenced crossing Uie liver at Detroit to the Canadian shore on the 12th of July, with a considerable HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. Vl force, with the intention of capturing- Port Maiden, about eighteen miles Ijelow. After spending nearly a month in in- action, Hull received intelligence of an advance of a British army under General Brock for the relief of the fort, and he im- mediately ordered his forces to abandon Canada and return to Detroit, much to the disappointment and indignation of his officers and men. Soon afterward the British projected a siege of Detroit; but scarcely had it commenced when Hull, on the 16th of August, displayed a white flag from the fort and soon made its surrender, without having fired a shot or made any elfort to stay the course of the enemy. By the tenns of tlu; capitulation "all of Michigan Territory was surrendered to the British, a large amount of arms, ammunition, and provisions, and three thousand men as prisoners of war. General Hull was soon exchanged, and in the year 1814 was tried and con- demned bv court-martial for cowardice and sentenced to be .shot, but he was pardoned by the President on account of his services in the Revolutionary war. An American force miderthc command of General Van Rens- selaer crossed the Niagara River on the 13th of October, and made an attack on the British stationed on Qucenstown Heights. At tirst the Americans were successful, but later on were totally defeated, with a loss of about two hundred killed and wounded, and upwards of one thousaiul sui-rendercd as prisoners of war. In the battle General Brock, the British commander in-chief , was slain. A naval engagement occurred on the 19th of August oiT the American coast between the United States vessel Constitution, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, and the British frigate Guerriere. After a severe action at close quarters of about half an hour the enem^^'s vessel surrendered, but was found to be so much injured she was burned. The enemy's loss was fifteen killed, sixty -four woundetl, and tMenty-one missing; of the Constitution, fourteen killed and wounded. On the 18th of October the Wasp, a United Stales schooner under the com- mand of Captain Jones, fell in with a squadron of British merchantmen, convoyed by the British sloop of war Frolic, off the coast of North Carolina. A severe engagement ensued, in which the American vessel was victorious. The sea was very rough, and it required much nautical skill to manage the ves- sels^ At one time they were so near that they touched each other, and the destruction wrought by their giins was terrible. At length the Americans boarded the enemy, but they found no man to oppose them. The decks were covered by the dead and wounded, and every man who was able had gone below, except the seaman at the wheel. Very soon after the "ictory was secured the Poictiers, a British seventy-four gun ship, ap- peared, and captured both the Wasp and her prize. On the 25th of October Captain Decatur, of the frigate United States, captured the British frigate Macedonian, after an action of an hour and a half. The loss of the enemy w^as thirty-six killed and sixty-eight wounded; of the Americans, twelve killed and wounded. 72 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. On the 29th of December the Constitution, commanded bj Commodore Bainbridge, had an engagement with the British frigate Java which lasted three hours, in which the latter was captured by the Americans. In the course of the action the Java was reduced to a wreck. She was entirely dismasted, a large number of her guns were disabled , her hull was much shat- tered, and her bowsprit was shot away, while the Constitution did not lose a spar. The Java was bound to the East Indies and had on board upward of one hundred officers and men des- tined for service in the East. Her officers and crew numbered over four himdred, and of these twenty-two were killed aud one himdred and two wounded. The Constitution lost nine killed and twenty-five wounded. Congress passed an act admitting the Territory of Orleans into the Union as a State under the name of Louisiaaa. and changed the name of the territory lying north of it from that of the District of Louisiana to the Missouri Tcrritorj'. At the presidential election this year the Democratic candi- dates were successful, and the war policy of the government was sustained, which Avas the most important issue between the two parties. James Madison, the nominee of the Democrats for President, received one hundred and twenty-eight electoral votes, and Elbridge Gerry one hundred and thirty-one votes for Vice-President. The Democratic party, however, in the State of New York nominated De Witt Clinton against Mr. Madison, and Jared Ingersoll against Mr. Gerr3'. Those nominations were also supjiortcd by the Federalists throughout the countrj*, Clinton receiving eighty-nine and Ingersoll eighty-six electoral votes. Columbus in Ohio was laid out and made the capital of the State. The seat of government for Pennsylvania was removed from Lancaster to Harrisburg. Eochester in New York was surveyed into lots, and a post-office and store were established there. The scarcity of Virginia bituminous coal, which, up to this time, was thai principally in use, incited furtlier experiments in introducing anthracite. Nine wagons loaded with that coal were hauled to Philadelphia from a distance of one hundred and six miles, tw^o of which were sold at the cost of transporta- tion and the remainder given away, and diificulty was experi- enced in finding persons who would accept it. Tlie owner of the coal 'larrowly escaped prosecution for swindling by those who had made \insuccessful trials to burn the "stone," as it was called. The first manufacture of j^ins in this country w^as commenced at New York by some English workmen, who Irought with them to this country the necessary imiilements. The business was encouraged by the high price of pins, which had advanceil to one dollar per paper; but it was abandoned at the close of the war, and the article then continued to be imported as before. The first cotton-mill at Fall River, Mass., was erected and put into operation. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 73 The first steam-ferrj' between New York and Jersey City was established in August, and about the same time one went into operation between Philadelphia and Camden. The first rolling-mill established in Pittsburg was erected this year. 1813 James Madison was inaugurated President of the United States, and Elbridge Gerry took the oath ol' office as Vice- President. The scene of military operations this year continued princi- pally on the Canadian frontier. On the 22d of January, Brigadier-General Winchester of the United States army, and nearly five hundred officers and men, were made prisoners at Frenchto\\T), in Canada, by a di- vision of the British army from Detroit. General Dearborn embarked on the 25th of April, with a force of seventeen hundred men, at Sackett's Harbor, for the purpose of capturing the British stores at York — now Toronto. The landing was succe.ssfull}' effected, in spite of the enemy's re- sistance, and an assault conducted under General Pike, when, during the advancing movement, the magazine blew \ip, kill- ing and wounding several hundred men, and among the latter the commanding officer, who did not long survive. The Amer- ican troops, however, soon rallied and carried the place, and captured seven hundred and fifty prisoners, together with a large amount of baggage and public property, the British gen- eral and the remainder of his forces escaping with much diffi- culty. The American squadron returned to Sackett's Harbor, and soon after set sail for the Niagara frontier. The British, taking advantage of thi** movement, proceeded to Sackett's Harbor, and landed a force of one thousand men under Sir George Prevost. The small body of American regulars left to defend the place made an effectual resistance to the enemj-'s approach; and General Brown meanwhile rallied the militia, which at first had given way, and marched them towards the landing. Sir George, apprehending this movement as designed to cut off his retreat, withdrew in great haste to his boats and sailed away. On the same day that the British were repulsed at Sackett's Harbor, the American expedition made an attack on Fort St. George, on the Niagara frontier, and captured it, taking above seven hundred and fifty prisoners. On the 2d of May the British attempted to capture, by as- sault. Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky, but were repulsed with a loss of about one hundred and fifty men. A movement was commenced in Sei^tember by a large body of soldiers under General Harrison against the British and their Indian allies at Detroit and Maiden. On the 27th the troops embarked on the fleet, and were transported to Maiden ; but on their approach the British destroyed tlie fort and public stores, and retreated along the river Thames, where they were pursued by the Americans. On the 5th of October, a severe battle was fought between the two armies, in which the Ameri- 74 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. cans were victorious. In this battle the famous chief Tecum- seh was killed, and the Indians tied. The British loss was about six hundred and seventy in killed, Avounded, and prison- ers. On the 29th of September the Americans took possession of Detroit, which, on the approach of Harrison's army, had been abandoned by the British, and General Harrison i&'sucd a proclamation re-establishing the government of Michigan. A body of Americans were defeated in a battle at Williams- burg, Upper Canada, with a loss of about three hundred and fifty men. Fort Niagara was surprised by the British on the 19th of December, and of the three hundred men composing the garri- son, no more than twenty escaped. On the 30th of the same month the British proceeded to Buf- falo aufl burned the entire village. On the 10th of September, Commodore Perry, with a fleet of three brigs, a ship, and live schooners, carrying fifty four guns, made an attack on a Britisli squadron of six vessels, carrying sixty-three guns, on Lake Erie, and captured the entire fleet. On the 13th of June three British frigates entered Hampton Roads. Two days afterwards they were reinforced by thirteen vessels. On the 22d an action took place in Chesapeake Bay, between a detachment of the British fleet and an American naval force, manned by four hundred and eighty Virginia militia and one hundred and fifty sailors, in which the British lost in killed, wounded, and drowned about twelve hundred men. On the 1st of June Captain James Lawrence, commanding the United States frigate Chesapeake, sailed out of Boston har- bor, and engaged the British frigate Shannon. The Chesa- peake was captured in an action of eleven minutes, and Cap- tain Lawrence mortallj^ wounded. The United States sloop of war Argus was captured by the British sloop of war Pelican, in St. George's Channel, on the 14th of August; and on the oth of September the British brig- Rover was captured by the United States brig Enterprise, off Portland. The British sloop of war Peacock was taken by the American sloop of war Hornet, but was retaken by the British .ship Poictiers. — -^ The British under Admiral Cockburn took possession of Havre de Grace, in Maryland, on the 3d of May, and plun- dered and burned the town. A conflagration occurred at Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, on the 32d of November, and destroyed upwards of three hundred buildings. The first stereotj'ping in America was done by Mr. Bruce at New York; also by Mr. Watts, who printed a catechism, which, it is believed, was the first book issued from stereotype-iilatcs in this country. The Albany Argus issued its first number on the 13th of Janu- ary at Albany, N. Y. The first successful daily paper pub- lished in Boston was called the Daily Advertiser, and issued its first number on the 3d of March. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ,0 The first steam ferry-boat between New York and Brooklyn commenced running: on the lOlli of I\Ia3\ 1814 The war continued on the northern frontier. On the 3d of July, the American forces, consisting of about three thousand men, under the command of Generals Scott and Ripley, crossed the Niagara River, and took possession of Fort Niagara with- out opposition. On the 4th, General Brown with two thousand men aclvanced to the village of Chippewa, to attack the British force there intrenched under General Riall. On the 5th the British general drew out his troops and offered battle, but was compelled to retire with a loss of five hundred men. On the 35th the advance of the two armies again encountered at Lun- dy's Lane, not far from the Falls. The battle was obstinately fought by the advance on each side till the main body came up. The battle lasted from four in the afternoon until midnight. The loss of the British was upwards of eight hundred in killed and wounded, besides two hundred men and twenty officers as prisoners. The British general was wounded and taken prisoner. On the 15th of August a large British force made an assault on Fort Erie, and were repulsed with great loss. On the 11th of September an American fleet on Lake Cham- plaiu, under Captain Macdonough, in an action with a British squadron of superior force, lasting about two hours and a half, sunk or captured the entire fieet of the enemy. The British commander was killed, and nearly nine hundred of his men ta- ken prisoners. It was the declared intention of the British to lay waste the whole American coast, from Maine to Georgia. Their first attack, as a part of this plan, was made earl}* in April on a part of Saybrook, called Pettipauge, near the mouth of the Con- necticut River, where they destroj^ed twenty-five ves.sels. About the middle of August a British squadron of between fifty and sixty sail arrived in the Chesapeake, with troops des- tined for the attack on Washington, the capital of the United States. A body of five thousand of them having landed, an ac- tion was fought at Bladensburg, six miles from Washington, in which the Americans were repulsed, and the British advanced towards the capital. Upon their apiiroach the President and heads of departments fied from the town. The British took possession of Washington, burned the Capitol, the President's house, the public offices, the arsenal, the navy -yard, and the bridge over the Potomac. On the 29th the city of Alexandria capitulated to the British. On the 11th of September the British admiral appeai'ed at the mouth of the Patapsco, foui-- teen miles from Baltimore, with a fieet of fifty sail. The next day six thousand land forces were disembarked at North Point, and commenced their march towards the city. On the 12th a battle was fought, in which the Americans were compelled to retreat. The British, however, were repulsed in an attack on FortMcHenry, and abandoned the attempt to get possession of the city. They retired to their shipping on the 14th, and soon after left the Chesapeake. 76 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. On the 11th of July, a British fleet took the town of East- port, in Maine ; on August 9th, they bombarded Stonington, in Connecticut ; on the 1st of September they took possession of Castine, in Maine. The naval oi^erations at sea were continued with various suc- cess. On the 28th of March, the United States frigate Essex, after a desperate action, was captured in the Bay of Valparaiso, in South America, by a British frigate and a sloop of war. On the 29th of April, the United States sloop of war Peacock cap- tured the British brig Epervier off Canaveral, Florida, after an action of forty-five minutes. The Indians continued their hostilities at the South whicli they had commenced in the preceding year. In January, Gen- eral Andrew Jackson made an excursion into their country, and defeated them in several engagements. On the 34th of December, a treaty of peace was signed at Ghent between the plenipotentiaries of Great Britain and the United States. Delegates appointed by the legislatures of the several States in New England met at Hartford in convention on the 15th of December. The proceedings took place with closed doors, but the journal was afterwards made public. The convention em- bodied their views in a report, which was immediately made public and extensively circulated. It was a statement of griev- ances, many of which were real, but which necessarily arose out of a state of war, and a recommendation of several amend- ments to the Constitution. As the news of peace arrived soon after the convention adjourned, the causes of disquiet were re- moved ; but as the delegates were all of the Federal party, the convention, before and after their meeting, was denounced in the severest terms by the administration, as being treasonable to the general government, and the name of the "Hartford Convention" became with the Democratic party a tenn of re- proach. Congress passed an act on the 23d of December, establishing new rates of postage after the 1st of the following February. The rates on letters were to be as follows, ^iz., for any distance not exceeding forty miles, twelve centi^^ between forty and ninety miles, fifteen cents; between ninety and one hundred and fift}' miles, eighteen and three quarters cents ; between one hundred and fifty" and three hundred miles, twenty-five cents; between three hundred and five hundred miles, thirty cents ; and over five hundred miles, thirty-seven and one half cents. Double letters to be double price. Suspension of specie payments was declared by the banks in New Orleans, in April ; in Philadelphia and the District of Columbia, in August ; and in September by nearly all in the Middle and Southern States. The ' ' Star-Spangled Banner" was first sung at the Holliday Sti-eet Theatre, in Baltimore, in October. The first newspaper in Illinois was published about this time, at Kankaskia, and called The Illinois Intelligencer. HISTORY OF TlIK UXITEI) STATKS. i I The first religious newspaper publisbed in America was issued at Cbillicothe, Ohio, and called T/ie Recorder. The manufacture of carriages was commenced at Albany and at New Haven. The town of Williamsburg, L. I., contained at this period seven hundred and fifty-nine inhabitants. 1815 The last battle of the war took place before New Orleans, on the 8th of January, between the British troops, consisting of twelve thousand men, commanded by General Packenhani, and the Americans, amounting to six thousand, under General Jackson. About two weeks before, a large British force landed about six miles below New Orleans for the purpose of attack- ing that city. A few days after landing. General Jackson ordered a movement to check the advance of the enemy, and defeated them in a battle with severe loss. On the 1st of Jan- uary, the British attacked General Jackson's line of defence and were repulsed. Upon another attack on the 8th. thej' were defeated with great slaughter, and retreated to their landing- place, where they embarked and sailed away. The treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States, concluded at Ghent, was ratified by the President on the 17th of February. War was declared in March by the United States against Algiers. The causes for this step were, that the Dey of Al giers had violently and without just cause obliged the consul of the United States and all American citizens in Algiers to leave that place in violation of the treaty subsisting between the two nations ; that he had exacted from the consul a large sum of money, to which he had no just claim ; and that these acts of violence and outrage had been followed by the capture of, at least, one American vessel and her crew, and bj' the seiz- ure of an American citizen on board of a neutral vessel ; that the captured persons were yet held in captivity ; that efforts to obtain their release had proved abortive ; and that there was some re;\son to believe they were held by the Dey as means by which he calculated to extort from the United States a de- grading treatj'. An expedition was accordingly ordered to the Mediterranean, under the command of Commodore Bainljridge. Before its arrival, a squadron under the command of Commo- dore Decatur captured an Algerine brig of war and an Alger- ine frigate of forty-four guns and six hundred men. Decatur then hastened to the port of Algiers, where he readily obtained a treaty of peace, bj- the terms of which the claims and de- mands of the United States were wholly satisfied. He also ob- tained indemnity from Tunis and Tripoli, and procured the release of captives held by those powers. The water-works at Fairmount, for supplying Philadelphia with water, were completed. Cincinnati contained at this period about eleven hundred buildings and six thousand inhabitants. 1816 Treaties were concluded with several tribes of Indians at the V8 HISTORY OF THE VNITED STATES. South, by which they ceded large tracts of land to the United States. The second religious newspaper published in the United States was issued at Boston, on the 3d of January-, under the name of The Recorder. Indiana was admitted as a State into the Union. Upwards of seven thousand emigrants arrived at New York^ this year. Congress passed an act establishing a National Bank for twenty years, with a capital of thirty-live millions of dollars ; the main office to be at Philadelphia, with branch-offices at such places as might be designated by the board of directors. The United States Government was to take seven millions of dol- lars of the stock. At the presidential election of this year, James Monroe for President, and Daniel D. Tompkins for Vice-President, were the candidates of the Democratic party, and they re- ceived one hundred and eighty-three electoral votes. The Fed- eralists nominated Rufus King for President, who received thirty-four votes. Their votes for Vice-President were divided among several persons. The first Episcopal church erected in Louisiana, was opened on the 14th of April, at New Orleans. The first steamboat which appeared at Charleston, S. C, ar- rived there from Savannah, on the 23d of June. Travelling between New York and Philadelphia, at this time, was accomplished between sunrise and sunset. The common council of New York forbade chimney-sweep- ers from crying their trade in the streets. The first savings-banks established in the United States were formed this year. The Savings Fund Society of Philadelphia Avas opened for business on the 2d of December ; and the Pro\i- dent Institution for Savings, at Boston, on the i3th of the same month. The Bank of Savings was founded at New York, at a public meeting, held on the 25th of November, but did not go into operation until the 3d of July, 1819. The lighting of streets with gas was first established in the United States at the citj^ of Baltimoi-cr^ At Philadelphia, a theatre was thus lighted on the 25th of November, and it was the first place of amusement in America illuminated iu that manner. The common council of the city of New York dis- cussed measures for its introduction there. 1817 James Monroe was inaugurated President on the 4th of March; and Daniel D. Tompkins took the oa'h of office as Vice-President. Mississippi was divided; the eastern portion being erected into the Territory of Alabama, and the western portion admit- ted into the Union as a State, on the 10th of December. On account of the increasing display of hostile intentions hj the Seminole Indians, the government on the 26th of December directed General Jackson to rejiair to Fort Scott, and assume the immediate command of the forces in tliat quarier of the HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 79 southern department. The regular forces there at this lime were about eight hundred, and one thousand more were added from the mihtia of Georgia. The strength of the Indians was estimated at twenty-seven hundred. The Hartford Times made its first appearance at Hartford, Conn. Work commenced in building the Erie Canal on the 4th of Juh^ Property valued at one million of dollars was destroyed by a flood in the Kentucky River. The first bank established in Vermont ^vas incorporated by the legislature, to be located at Windsor. The State exacted a bonus from the institution. The first steamboat which was seen at St. Louis arrived there from Louisville on the 2d of August. The first regular line of packet ships between Xew York and Liverpool was established, and called the "Black Ball Line." It consisted at first of four ships of four hundred to five hun- dred tons each. The first institution in the United States for the instruction of the deaf and dumb went into operation at Hartford, Conn., on the 17th of April, with a class of seven pupils. 1818 Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State on the 3d of December, and the seat of government was removed from Kas- kaskia to Vaudalia, where it remained until its removal to Springfield in the year 1839. All the territory lying north of Illinois and Indiana was annexed to Michigan. Congress enacted that the national flag should consist of thirteen stripes with twenty white stars on a blue field, and that a star should be added, from time to time, au additional States should be admitted into the Union. The Indians of Ohio ceded by treaties all their lands in that State to the government. The Chickasaws also ceded all the land lying between the Mississippi and the northern course of the Tennessee. The remains of General Montgomery, the hero of Quebec, were transferred, at the expense of tlie State of New Y(.rk, from their resting-place in Canada, and were deposited, ^vi;h military honors, on the 8th of July, beneath the mural tomb in front of St. Paul's Church, in the' city of New York. The first steamboat on Lake Erie was launched near Buffalo, and commenced its first trip to Detroit on the 23d of August. The first religious newspaper in the United States devoted to the Methodist Society was established at Boston. Shoe-pegs became introduced about this time. On the 19th of March a powder-mill near Wihnington, Del., blew up killing thirty -five persons. The shock ^\as felt forty nriles distant. The principal part of Table Rock, at Niagara Falls, broke off by its own weight, and fell into the gulf below. The first savings-bank in Baltimore was established. 1819 A treaty for tlie cession of the Floridas to the United States by Spain was signed at Washington on the 23d of February. 80 HISTORY OF THE UXITEI) STATES. and ratified by the United States ; but in August the King of Spain refused to ratify it. It was ratified, however, in 1821. By the terms arranged, the United States Government was to pay the sum of five millions of dollars, and cede to Spain its disputed title to the vmdefined territory of Texas. Treaties were concluded with the Kickapoo and Chippewa tribes of Indians, by which they ceded large tracts of land in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois to the United States. Alabama was admitted into the Union on the 14th of Decem- ber as a State. That part of the Missouri Territory lying south of the latitude of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes was erected into a separate district called the Arkansas Territory, and was organized under a territorial government. The settlement of Indianapolis was commenced. At the end of the year there were fifteen families in the place. A case relating to Dartmouth College, the adjudication of which was considered of great importance as affecting other corporations, was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. Its opinion was that the charter granted by the British crown to the trustees of Dartmouth College in the year 1769 was a contract within the meaning of tliat clause of the Consti- tution of the United States, wliicii declares that no State shall make any law impairing the obligations of contracts ; that the charter was not dissolved by the Revolution ; and that an act of the legislature of the State of New Hampshire altering the charter without the consent of the corporation was unconstitu- tional and void. The first periodical published in the United States devoted to agriculture commenced its issue on the 2d of April, at Balti- more, under the name of the American Farmer. The first religious newspaper devoted to the Baptist denomi- nation appeared] at Boston, in May, under the title of the Watchman and Reflector. The Analectic Magazine, for July, contained the first pub- lished specimen of American lithograpliic printing, an art but a short time before introduced from Germany into England. The stone was procured from Munich. Up to this time forty steamboats had been built on the west- ern waters, seven of which liad been wrecked and abandoned. On the 19th of May, the first steamboat which navigated on the Missouri River arrived there from St. Louis on a passage of seven days' sailing. The first steamboat on Lake Huron ap- peared there in June. A conflagration at Wilmington, N. C, destroyed more than one hundred and fiftj- dwellings and stores, which, with other property consumed, were valued at one million of dollars. A fire raged for about three weeks in the forests near Spring- field. N. J., consuming as estimated about three thousand acres of timber. The yellow-fever appeared in many of the Southern cities this year. In New Orleans, upwards of twelve himdred died during a period of sixty daj^s ; in Natchez, business was suspended, and HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 81 those that were able fled the city. In Mobile, Savannah, Charleston, and Baltimore large numbers died from the disease. The introduction of the secret society of Odd Fellows was instituted in this country on the 26th of April by five members at Baltimore, who organized a lodge under the name of Wash- ington Lodge, No. 1, of Odd Fellows. A charter was soon afterwards obtained from the " Manchester Unity," of England, for the Washington Lodge, as the Grand Lodge of Maryland and the United States. The first specimen of patent or japanned leather produced in this country was made as an experiment by Seth Boyden of Newai'k, N. J. In 1822 he commenced its manufacture on a small scale, and about the j^ear 1826 established a large fac- tory for its production. The first steamship v/hich ever crossed the Atlantic sailed from Savannah about the 24th of May, and arrived at Liver- pool on the 20th of June. All its coal was consumed within ten or twelve days, and the remainder of the voyage was made under sail. The steamer was built in New York for some citi- zens of Savannah ; was of about three hundred and eighty tons, and named the Savannuh. The experiment did not demon- strate the utility of steam for transatlantic voyages. 1820 The district of Maine was separated from Masachusetts in the preceding year, formed into a separate State, and admitted into the Union on the 3d of March. Congress passed an act prohibiting any citizen of the United States from engaging in the slave-trade under the penalty of death. At the presidential election held this year, James Monroe was re-elected President, and received all the electoral votes except- ing one. Daniel D. Tompkins received all the electoral votes excepting fourteen, for a second term as Vice-President. The former distinctions of party had at this time almost if not quite disappeared, and new questions of great national interest arose to divide public sentiment. Among the most prominent of the su))jects agitated were additional i)rotection to American manu- factures, internal improvements by the general government, and the acknowledgment of the independence of the South Ameri- can republics. At this period there was great pecuniary distress throughout the country. There had been heavy importations of foreign merchandise, which tended to depress prices and to ruin those engaged in manufactures in the United States. The currency was also in a deranged state ; a spirit for banking companies prevailed, and an unusually large number of those institutions were authorized in many of the States of the Union. The coun- try was flooded with paper-monej" issued by these banks, many of which were unable to redeem their bills when presented, and the most disastrous results soon followed. The outstanding pa- per currency, which in 1815 and 1816 was estimated to be one hundred and ten millions, had been reduced to about forty five millions by the contraction of bank discounts. Flour, which 82 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. was selling from ten to fifteen dor.ars a barrel in 1817, was now five lo six. Tlie prices of other staples were equally reduced ; all manufacturing interests suffered severelj% factories and work- shops were closed, and the workmen thrown out of employ- ment. Little Rock was laid out, and established as the seat of govern- ment for Arkansas Territory. Memphis, in Tennessee, was also laid out. At this period the city of New York contained a population of 123,706; Philadelphia, 108,116; Baltimore, 62,738; New Orleans, 21,176 ; Charleston, 24,780 ; Boston, 43,298 ; Wash- ington, 13,247 ; Cincinnati, 9732; Albany, 12,630 ; Providence, 11,761 ; and Brooklyn. 5210. A conflagration at Savannah destroyed one half the town on the 11th of January. Four hundred and .sixty -three buildings were consumed, valued, with their contents, at four millions of dollars. On the 20th of June, one hundred and twenty of the best buildings in Troy, N. Y., were destroyed by fire, involving a loss of nearly one million of dollars. The first steamboat on the Arkansas River ascended to the village of Arkansas in May. The first steamboat on Lake Michi- gan made its first appearance there in July; it sailed fr©m De- troit to Green Bay, carrying two hundred passengers and a large cargo. The first steamship line established between New York and New Orleans conunenced running in June. The yellow-fever raged in Savannah during the summer and autumn, carrying off about seven hundred of the inhabitants. Many of the people fled, leaving three huncked and forty -three houses unoccupied. The first newspaper published in Arkansas appeared at Ar- kansas village under the title of The Arkansas Gazette. The New York Observer made its first appearance this year. About this time portable and, so-called, fire proof safes were introduced for sale iuto New York. Thej* were imported from France, and constructed of iron and wood. The first manufacture of carpenter's steel squares in the Unit- ed States was commenced at North Bennington, Vt. The great national road, the work of the general government, extending from Cumberland to Wheeling, was completed this year. It was fourteen years in process of construction, and cost seventeen hundred thousand dollars. The intention original!}" was to extend the road to the Mississippi. The first regular commencement of the anthracite- coal trade was made this year l)y the Lehigh Coal Company, an organiza- tion formed in July, 1818. The improvement of the navigation of the Lehigh River, bj' which shipments could be made to tide-wa- ter at small expense, and proper means of lighting the coal having been discovered, removed some of the ditticulties heretofore en- countered in attempting its introduction. Al)OUt three hundred and sixty five tons were shipped to Philadelphia during the year, but much difficulty was experienced in disposing of so large a HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. 83 quantity. The first experiment of manuf acturing iron by the use of anthracite coal was made at this time by some of the members of the Lehigh Coal Company. Daily mails were established between New York, Broolvh'n, and Jamaica. Thf> whale fishery business commenced about this time at New London. James Monroe was inaugurated President of the United States on the 4th of March, and Daniel D. Tompkins took the oath of ofiice as Vice-President. The treaty for the cession of the Floridas, concluded at Wash- ington on the 32(1 of Februarj', 1819, between Spain and the United States, having been ratified on the one part by the King of Spain and by the President of the United St ites on the other ]iart, possession was taken of those provinces according to treatj'. On the 1st of July, General Andrew Jackson, who had been ap- l)oinled governor of the Floridas, issued a proclamation declar- ing that the government heretofore exercised over the said provinces under the authority of Spain had ceased, and that of the United States was establislied over the same; that the inhabi- tants thereof would be incorporated in the union of the United States as soon as it might be consistent with the Federal (Con- stitution, and admitted to the enjoyment of all the privileges, rights, and immunities of the citizens of tiie L^nited States; tliat in the mean time they would be maintained and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property, and the religion thej^ professed, and that all laws and municipal regulations which Avere in existence at the cessation of the late government would remain in full force. Missouri was admitted into the Union as a State, after a vio- lent contest in Congress and intense excitement thi-oughout the country upon the subject whether it should or should not be admitted with a constitution giving its inhabitants the right to hold slaves. A compromise was at length eft'ected between the opposuig parties in Congress, by which slavery was permitted in Missouri, but forever prohibited in the territory of the United Stales, excepting Missouri, lying north of tlurt}--six degi'ees thirtj" minutes north latitude. The American Colonization Society secured from the African authorities of Cape Mesurado, by purchase, a tract of territoiy in that country for the establishment there of colonies of free blacks from the United States. A foundation of a settlement was laid near Mesurado River, to which was given the name of Liberia, and a new town was commenced and called Monrovia. Indianapolis was laid out as a town for the seat of govern- ment for Indiana, and given its present name. Lowell, in Massachusetts, was founded by a company which was subsequently organized under the name of the Merrimac Manufacturing Company, which purchased four hundred acres of land at that location for manufacturing purposes. The first mill was started in September, 1823. The remains of Major Andre were removed from their rest- 84 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ing-place at Tappan in August, and placed on board a Britisli frigate, to be transferred to England for interment in West- minster Abbey. The city council of Charlestown, S. C, passed an ordinance to prohibit the opening of night and Sunday schools for the in- struction of negro slaves. Severely cold weather was experienced in New York the latter part of January. The North River from Cortlandt Street to Jersey City was crossed on the ice by loaded sleighs. The first religious newspaper publii^hed in the United States devoted to the Unitarians, was issued at Boston on the 20th of April, and called The Christian Register. The receipts of anthracite coal at Philadelphia were ten hundred and seventy -three tons, all of which was mined by the Lehigh Company. 1822 A conspiracy of negroes in Charleston, S. C, was discovered in June, and on trial seventy-two were convicted, thirty-five of whom were executed and the remainder sentenced to banish- ment. The Lehigh mines shipped twenty-four hundred and forty tons of coal to Philadelphia during this year. The first strictly commercial newspaper published in the United States south of Boston, was issued at New Orleans on the 27th of July, under the title of The Neio Orleans Prices- Current. The first new^spaper established in Indianapolis was pub- lished on the 28th of May. Owing to the irregularity of the mails, the paper was issued without established dates. At this period there was but one copper-rolling mill in the United States, and that was operated near Baltimore. The first Brooklyn Directory was issued in May. In 1796 there was a publication called " The New York and Brooklyn Directory and Begister for 1796," but which contained the names only of those residing on two or three Brooklyn streets. Boston was organized under a city charter, and its first mayor elected. Gas as a means of illumination was adopted. The cotton-culture in Texas was commenced this year. The manufacture of cotton duck was begun at Paterson, N. J. The first regular steamship line between New York and Nor- folk commenced running in the autuma. 1823 In October, the Erie Canal was finished between Rochester and Albany, and the first passage of boats was made on the 8th. The 3'cllow -fever ap]>eared at Natchez, and out of its popii- lation of three thousand, all, excepting between three and four hundred, fled the place. The first steam-power printing-press in the United States was put in operation in New York in June, printing an abridgment of Murray's English Grammar — the first work done. The manufacture of wine was commenced about this time in Cincinnati. The first three-story house erected in Brookljai was built this year. The first paving of streets was commenced on Sands HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 85 Street, and houses were first given numbers. Henry Street was opened, the Apprentices' Library organized, and the first bonded warehouse in the town erected. At this time its popu- lation was about seven thousand. The New Yorli Gas Liglit Company was incorporated, but did not begin successful works until the year 1837. 1824 By a treaty concluded between the United States and Russia, the southern boundary-line of their possessions on the Pacific was fixed at fifty-four degrees and forty minutes of north latitude. On the 13th of March a treaty was concluded between the United States and Great Britain for the suppression of the ^ave-trade. By the terms of the treaty, vessels were to be em- ployed by each of the nations to cruise on the coasts of Africa, of the West Indies, and of America, and their commanders were to be authorized under certain restrictions to detain, ex- amine, capture, and deliver over for trial and adjudication by some competent tribunal any ship or vessel concerned in the illicit traffic of slaves, and carrying the flag of the other. General Lafayette having received an invitation from Con- gress to visit the United States, resolved to accept it. He ar- rived in the harbor of New York on the 15th of August, and proceeded to Staten Island, where he was received as a guest at the residence of the Vice-President. A committee of the corporation of the city of New York and a great number of distinguished citizens proceeded to Staten Island to give him welcome. An escort of steamboats, decorated with the flags of all nations, and bearing thousands of the citizens, brought him to the view of the assembled multitudes at New York, who mani- fested their delight at seeing him by shouts and cheers. At the City Hall the officers of the city and many citzens were presented to him, and he was welcomed by an address from the mayor. While he was at New York deputations from many of the principal cities arrived with invitations for him to visit them. After remaining a lew days at New York, he pro- ceeded to Boston, where he met with the same cordial recep- tion. Soon afterwards he returned to New York, visited Al- bany and the towns on the North River, and afterwards passed through the intermediate tOAvns to Vii'ginia, where he visited the tomb of Washington. He returnedto Washington during the session of Congress, and remained there several weeks. The custom of making nominations for President and Vice- President by caucuses of the members of Congress, which pre- vailed heretofore, became unpopular, and was broken up at this period. The result of the election this year showed that no choice for Presi^ient had been made by the electoral colleges, and according to the provisions of the Constitution, the decision was referred to the House of Representatives, which body was required to make a choice in such an exigency from the three names who had received the highest number of votes. John C. Calhoun received one hundred and eighty two votes for 86 HISTORY or the united states. Vice-President against seventy-cigbt for all other-;, and was elected. For President, Andrew Jackson received ninelj-nine votes, John Quincy Adams eighty- four; William H. Crawford, forty-one; and Henrj^ Clay thirty-seven. The result in the House was the election of John Quincy Adams. Tallahassee was laid out, a settlement of the place commenced, and made the capital of Florida. The first bank in Brooklyn, called the Long Island Bank, and the first insurance company, called the Brooklyn Fire Insurance Company, were established. A confiagration took place in the forests of Suffolk County, Long Island, extending over nearly twenty thousand acres, and consumed, as estimated, as much timber as would have made from seventy to eighty thousand cords of wood. The Boston Courier appeared in Boston, on the 2d of March. Anthracite coal was first introduced at New York, this year. There was such prejudice against its use, that families were offered grates free of charge, and in some instances some coal besides, as inducements to try it. The j'ellow-fever raged at Kew Orleans with more violence than ever before, and compelled almost a complete .suspension of business. The manufacture of flannel by water-power was commenced at Amesbury, Mass., and a piece was exhibited at a Fair which is said to have been the first flannel produced in this or anj- other country, excepting that made by hand. The introduction of marble as a building material in Ts'ew York was commenced, and the first building erected with a marble front, excepting the Citj' Hall, was the American ]\Iu3eum, on the corner of Broadway and Ann Street. Such was the prejudice of builders against its use, that they would not undertake its introduction, and a convict at Sing Sing was pardoned for the express purpose of superintending the work. 1825 John Quincy Adams on the 4th of March was inaugurated President of the United States, and John C. Calhoun took tlie oath of office as Vice-President. Congress voted two hundred thousand dollars in money and twenty four thousand acres of fertile land in Florida, to Lafayette, as a reward and remuneration for his services to this country during the Revolutionary war. It was shown that in the six years from the year 1777 to 1783,Xafayette had expendcil for the American service, from Lis personal rcsoui-ces, the sum of one hundred and fort}' thousand dollars, and that he had left the enjoyments of rank and fortune to come and serve the American cause, and without paj'. He equipped and armed a regiment, and freighted a vessel with arms and ammunition, for the L'nitcd States service. It was yot until the year 17 1)4, when almost ruined by the French Revolution, that be would accept the naked pay, without interest, of a general officer for the time he had served. He was entitled to land as one of the oflicers of the Revolution, and eleven thousand five hundred acres had been granted to him, to be located on any of the public HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATKS. 87 lands of the United States--. His agent located one thousand acres adjoining the city of New Orleans, and Congress after- wards, not being informed of that circumstance, granted the same ground to that city. His location was valid, and he was so informed; but he refused to adhere to it, sajing that he would have no contest with any portion of the American people. Lafayette made an extensive tour tlirough the South- ern and "Western States, and on the loth of June he, on his return, reached Boston. On the 17th he assisted at the cere- monies attendant upon laying the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument, and then visited the principal places in Xew Eng land. On the 8th of September he bade adieu to the .shores of America, and started on his return voyage to France. A treaty was concluded with the Creek Indians, by which they agreed to accept lands westward of the Mississippi, in exchange for an equal number of acres in the State of Georgia to which they claimed the title. They also agreed to remove from Georgia to the new territory assigned to them. Treaties were also made with the Osages and Kan,sas tribes, by which they ceded vast territories to the United States. The first newspaper for Sunday sale and circulation in the city of Neu' York was issued, under the name of The Suit- day Courier, early in the year, but ^vas soon discontinued for want of patronage. The Erie Canal was completed its entire length in October, and early in November the event was celebrated with great enthusiasm. On the 26th of October, the Erie Champlain and Hudson Canal was completed. The Italian Opera was introduced into the United States, the lirst performance of which came olT at the Park Theatre, in New York, on the 29th of November. The homeopathic practice of medicine was first introduced into this country, by a physician who removed to the city of New York from Copenhagen, Denmark, where he had practised that system. The manufacture of Queensware, the first of its kind in the United States, was commenced at Philadelphia. The tinder-box, flint and steel, which iip to this time were the usual means by which fire was struck, were now being super seded by a new and better invention, consisting of a bottle tilled with an acid and cotton surmounted with phosphorized pine- sticks. By a report of the Comptroller of the State of New York, it appears that nearly ninety thousand dollars were paid out of the treasury during the preceding ten j-ears for the destruction of wolves in that State. An article appeared in a newspaper published in New York in October which stated that a lot on the Bowery two hundred feet in front and the same depth had been sold for one hundred and five thousand dollars, the purchaser intending to erect a theatre upon the plot. 88 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 1826 The seat of government for Tennessee was changed from Murfreesborough to Nashville. An event occurred this year of a singular character, from which a powerful political combination grew into existence. A man named William Morgan, a member of the Masonic frater- nity residing in the western part of the State of New York, was reported to be engaged in a publication exposing the secrets of that society. The Masons in the vicinity were angry, and re- solved to prevent the publication, and made several forcible but ineffective attempts for that purpose. Morgan was soon missing, and the unsuccessful search for him excited an interest in the public mind which increased to a high degree of agitation. A committee was appointed at a public meeting to ascertain all the facts, and to bring to justice any criminals that might be found. It was discovered that he had been twice arrested on false charges, that he was taken from the Canandaigua jail in the evening about nine o'clock, gagged and bound, thrown into a can-iage, and hurried olf to Rochester. By i-elajs of horses and by different hands he was borne along until he was lodged in the magazine at Fort Niagara, where he was put to death. A great crime had apparentlj' been committed, and investiga- tion showed that Masons only were implicated in it. Arrests were made, but it was impossible to secure conviction where judges, sheriffs, juries, and witnesses were Masons. The excite- ment soon became political. It was alleged that Masonry held itself superior to the laws, and that Masons were mor(e loyal to their Masonic oaths than to their duty as citizens. Masonry, therefore, was held to be a fatal foe to the government and to the coimtry, which must be destroyed ; and in several town meetings in Genesee and Monroe counties. Masons, as such, were excluded from office. At the next general election the Anti- masons nominated a separate ticket, and they carried five counties against both the great parties. A State organization followed, and in the election of 1830 the Anti-Masonic candidate was supported by the National Eeptiblicans, and secured within eight thousand votes enough to insure an election. From a State organization the Anti Masons became a national party, and in 1832 nominated a presidential candidate, who was also supported by the National Republicans, and the union be- came the Whig party, which so triumphantly elected its presi- dential candidate in 1840. A railroad was put into operation on the 7th of October at Quincy, Mass., for the purpose of transporting stone from the granite quarries at that place to tide-water, a distance of about three miles. Granite sleepers were used, upon which timbers were placed, and on those flat bars of iron were spiked. The cars were drawn by horses. The novelty and advantages of this invention excited great attention. It has been slated through mistake that this railroad was tlie first one in America. There was a small road built before this one in the Lehigh coal district in Pennsylvania. The first daily newspaper published in Cincinnati appeared HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 80 this year, under the title of llie Commercial Register. The first daily newspaper established at Rochester, N. Y., was issued on the 25th of October, and called The Rochester Daily Advertiser. The Richmond TFAigr appeared in Richmond, Va., and the Nero Orleans Bee at New Orleans. Earthen sewer-pipes were exhibited at a Fair held in Balti- more, in November, and that article soon became generally introduced from this time. The manufacture of palm-leaf hats in this country was com- menced in Massachusetts, the material having been imported from Cuba. The first manufacture of axes and other edge tools was com- menced this year, at Hartford, Conn. The manufactui'e of school-slates, the first of its kind in the United States, was established in Pennsylvania, near the Dela- ware River. The introduction of the mulberry-tree into the United States was made for a nursery at Flushing, L. I. The tree was im- ported from France. The English tragedian Macready made his first appearance on the American stage on the 2d of October, at the Park Thea- tre, in New York. 1827 The era for the commencement of the construction of rail- roads in the United States dates from this year. The success of the small railroad at Quincy, Mass., demonstratetl the fact that much heavier loads could be drawn, and more easily with the same power, in cars with wheels running on iron rails than in wagons upon common roads, even when those roads were in the most passable condition. News of the success of railroads in England had just reached the United States, and had at- tracted much attention here, where the necessitj^ for improved highways was felt to be more imperative. At this period locomotives had not been used, even in England, and the first railroads there, as well as here, were intended for horse power only. As an evidence of the public sentiment of the time con- cerning railroads, the following extract from Kiles'' Register, of the od of January, 1829, is quoted, viz.: " The public mind is every day more and more settling into a belief that railroads will supersede canals, or at least be preferred, unless when the latter can be made under peculiarly favorable circumstances, for certain reasons, best fitted for some particular business. It is believed that railroads are much less expensive than canals as to their construction or repair, and transportation on them is far less liable to interruption on various accounts, and may be continued throughout the whole year. The ascent of consid- erable heights over which railroads shall pass, will possibly be assisted by stationary engines, or the use of additional horse- power ; but we rather think that from improvements now pre- sented, locomotive engines will never come into general use, the power necessary for the transportation of ponderous com- modities being so reduced as to become unworthy of much consideration compared with the work performed.'' The ad- 90 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. vantages of railroads worked by horse-power over other known means of kind transportation were generally appreciated bj' tlie ]3ublic. A charter was granted by the Legislature of Marylaad, for the construction of a railroad to connect Baltimore with Wheeling, and books for subscriptions to the stock were opened a^ Baltimore on the 20th of March of this year. The city made a subscription of five hundred thousand dollars, and fifteen hundred thousand dollars more were solicited. Upon closing the subscription-book on the 31st of March, it wns found that offers were made for a considerable amount more than twice that required. The projectors of the road in ask- ing for a charter, stated to the members of the legislature that the Avhole distance between Baltimore and Wheeling could be travelled at an average rate of four miles an hour. The en- thusiasm on the railroad question was not confined to Balti- more. The Legislature of Massachusetts by a large majority, authorized the ap]3oiniment of commissioners and an engineer for the purpose of determining a proper line of railroad be- tween the city of Boston and the Hudson River. In May a railroad was completed at Mauch Chunk, in Pennsylvania, for the transportation of coal from the Summit mines to the land- ing on the Lehigh. The cars ran down by gravity, and were drawn back by mules. At this period, Indianapolis contained twenty-five brick, sixty frame, and about eighty hewn-log houses ; a court-house, jail, and three churches. The population of Hartford w^as at this time six thousand nine hundred; of New Haven, seven thousand one hundred ; of Newark, N. J., six thousand five hundred; and of New Bruns- wick, six thousand seven hundred. The manufacture of fire-bricks was commenced at Baltimore Before this they weie obtained only from England. The gen- eral use of grates and furnaces was established about this time. The first lithographic establishment in the United States was started this year at Boston. The artists and materials were im- ported from England. About thib date the first store in this country for the sale of American hardware was opened at Philadelphia, by Amasa Goodyear and his son, of india-rubber celebrity. The Jmirnal of Commerce issued its first number at New York on the 1st of September. It was aided in starting by Arthur Tappan, and was established in the interests of Aboli- tionism. Eventually it came into the possession of David Hale and Gerard Hallock, and became a conservative oi'gan. The Mm-nincj Enquirer was started at New York in May ; and these two papers were rivals for the mercantile advertisements of the city, and tried to surpass each other in size, whence the term "blanket-sheets" was given them. To get the commer- cial news they established swift schooners and pony-expresses. In 1829 the Morning Courier was united to the Enqitirer, and in 1861 merged in the NetP York World. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 91 1828 At the presidential election this year John Quiucy Adams was the candidate of the National Republican party, which ad- vocated a high protective tariff, and the aid of the government to be given in carrying out a system of internal improvements. General Andrew Jackson was the nominee of the Democratic party, which opposed those measures. After a spirited contest, in which much personal abuse was mingled. General Jackson was elected, receiving one hundred and seventy-eight of the two hundred and sixty -one electoral votes. The question of a protective tariff was now one of the main issues in party strife ; and a tariff act passed by Congress in May was an event which commenced a serious division between the North and South. In the early years of Federal legislation the duties imposed were all moderate, and the Southern States were as ready as any part of the Union in extending protection to home indus- try, and some of their statesmen were among the foremost in promoting that policy. As late as 1816 some of the Soutlieru statesmen were still in favor of protection. After that j-ear the tariff bills took a sectional aspect : the Southern States, with the exception of the sugar-planting interests in Louisiana, against them ; the New England States also against them ; and the Middle and Western States in their favor. After the .year 1824 the South alone was against that policy. A newspaper, printed partly in English and partly in the Cherokee language, named The Phcenir, was published at New Echota. The types used were furnished by the United States Government. A three-story brick house, on a lot twenty-nine feet in front and one hundred and tifty feet in depth, Avith a brick stable in the rear, on Park Place, in New York, Avas sold at public auc- tion on the 25th of October for twenty-eight thousand eigUt hundred and fifty dollars A lot on Wall Street, twenty-five feet in front and one hundred and twelve in depth, was sold at private sale at about the .same time, for thirty-five thousand foiu' hundred dollars. The improvements upon it were of little value. An antiquarian book-store was established in Boston, and it was the first one of the kind opened in this country. The first damask table linen manufactured iu the United Slates was made this year at Pittsburg. The city of New York purchased from James Blackwell the island in the East River bearing his name, for the sum of thirty- two thousand dollars. The city afterAvards Avas obliged to pay an additional sum of twenty thou.sand dollars for the release of a doAver interest Avhicli Avas unexpectedly discovered to be a lien upon the property. The first edition of Webster's Dictionary' AA^as published. It Avas issued in two volumes, quarto. The first periodical devoted to agriculture, published south of Baltimore, was issued at the city of Charleston, under the title of the Southern AgrieultuHst. The fij'st periodical exclusivelv designed for the tastes of 92 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. ladies, issued in the United States, was established at Boston, and called the Ladies Magazine. It was united with Qodey's Ladies' Book in Philadelphia in 1837. The first steamboat belonging in Boston commenced making excursion-trips in the harbor. It was called the Benjamin Franklin. A premium was awarded by the Franklin Institute in Phila- delphia, in October, for an exhibition of an assortment of malle- able-iron castings made by Setli Boyden of Newark, N. J. It was the first attempt in this countrj% known to the committee, to anneal cast-iron for general purposes. The first manufacture of varnish, except for individual use, was commenced at New York. The first manufacture, in this country, of paper from straw and hay was commenced at Meadville, Pa. The paper was of a yellow color, strong and smooth, and an edition of the New Testament is said to have been printed upon it, which cost only five cents a copy. Three hundred reams of the paper Avere shipped to Pittsburg on the 30th of November. The celebrated planing-machine patented by William Wood- worth was introduced, and acquired an extensive sale. The first trip of a locomotive upon a railroad in America was made upon the Carbondale and Honesdale Railroad in Penn- sylvania. The engine was made in England , and was run by Mr. Horatio Allen, under whose direcUon it had been built. This trip was made about one year before the first steam rail- road in England was opened. On the 4th of July the corner-stone of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was laid at Baltimore with imposing ceremonies. This road, as well as all other of the early roads constructed in this country, was built of longitudinal wooden rails pinned down to cross-ties of stone or wood imbedded in the ground, with flat bars of iron fastened with spikes placed on top of the wooden rails. This method of construction was soon found to involve great danger, and consequent expense ; the ends of the iron bars becoming loose and starting up, were occasionally caught by the wheels and thrust up through the bottom of the car. A boat passed in October for the first time through the entire length of the Blackstone Canal, connecting Worcester with Prov- idence. The canal was commenced in 1826, and is forty five miles in length. One ton of coal was brought to Lowell from Boston in a wagon. It was the first anthracite coal seen in the place, and was considered a sufficient supply for the Lowell market for a whole year. 1829 Andrew Jackson as President, and John C. Calhoun as Vice- President, commenced their terms of oifice on the 4th of March. After the adjournment of the Senate, the President made one hundred and seventy-six appointments for oifice among his po- litical adherents, principally in consequence of a general re- moval of his political opponents. Never before had so total a HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 93 change been made in the public offices, and the conduct of the executive was subjected to severe animadversions. During General Washington's administration of eight years there were but nine removals ; in John Adams' of four years, only ten ; in Jefferson's of eight years, but thirty-nine ; in Madison's of eight years, but five ; in Monroe's of eight years, but nine ; and in John Quincy Adams' of four years, only two. A conflagration at Augusta, Georgia, on the 3d of April, de- stroyed upwards of three hundred buildings. On the lOtli of the same month, one hundred buildings, with a large amount of rice and other products, were consumed by lire at Savannah ; and on the same day the Lafayette Theatre in New York, to- gether with a large number of other buildings, were burned. The boiler of the steam-frigate Fulton, a receiving-ship sta- tioned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, blew up on the 4th of June, killing upwards of thirty persons and dangerously wound- ing twenty -three others. The first asylum for the blind in the United States was founded in Boston, and incorporated under the name of the New England Asylum for the Blind. " Sam Patch," famous for his jumps at the falls of the Passaic at Paterson, and later at Niagara, was killed on the 13th of November, in jumping from the Genesee Falls at Rochester. Many thousand persons were collected to witness his feats. The first public school in Baltimore was opened on the 31st of September. The first one in Louis\i]le, Ky., was also estab- lished this year. The first daily newspaper published in Portland, Me., was issued on the 13th of October, under the title of the Daily Courier. The following-named canals were completed this year: The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, connecting the Delaware River with Chesapeake Bay; the Cumberland and Oxford, in Maine; the Farmington, in Connecticut; the Oswego, con- necting Lake Ontario with the Erie Canal at Salina; and the Delaware and Hudson Canal, one hundred and eight miles in length, extending from Honesdale, Pa., to the Hudson River. The United States Mint at Philadelphia was completer!. The first figured muslin woven on a power-loom in this and, probably, in any other country, was made, in the summer of this year, at Central Falls, R. I. The use of Turke^'-red in calico-printing, which had for a long time given the French an advantage over English and American prints, was this year successfully introduced hj manufacturers at Lowell. The manufacture of penknives and pocket-knives, articles hitherto exclusively imported, was commenced at Worcester, Mass. The first manufacture of sewing-silk by machinery was commenced at Mansfield, Conn. 94 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. The first manufacture of bricks by machinery was com- menced at the city of New York. Large establishments for the manufacture of fire-bricks were erected about this time, and soon afterwards the importation of those articles was wholly stopped. Galvanizetl iron was invented, at this time, by John W. Revere, M.D., of New York, and on the 27th of Maich (Le result of his experiments was laid before the Lyceum of Natural History, in that city. 1830 Mormouism was founded this year, and Joseph Smith, tlic originator of that sect, published his book entitled " The Book of Mormon, an Account written by the Hand of Mormon, upon Plates taken from the Plates of Nephi." Smith professed to have translated this English version from the original plates, discovered to him by angels. This " divine revelation " was found to be a corrupt version of a religious romance, called " The Manuscript Found," written, in the year 1809, by Solomon Spaulding. A Mormon church was' organized by Smith at Manchester, in Western New York, on the 6th o'f April; and at the first conference held in June about thirty converts attended. In the following year the Mormons re- moved to Kirtland, Ohio. A severe storm was experienced in some parts of Tennessee, on the 31st of May. The town of Carthage was a heap of i-uins; almost every house in the place was destroyed or greatly damaged. At another town fifty -three buildings were blown down, killing five persons and in.iuring many others. In July, a heavy storm swept both sides of Lake Champlain. continuing for three days. The streams emptying inlo the lake were so swollen that mill-dams and mills, iron-works and other factories, bridges and crops, were almost universally destroyed. Chicago was surveyed and laid out as a town, and the map recorded on the 4th of August. The first sale of lots took place in the autumn. It was estimated there were at this period thirteen hundred and forty-three miles of cana! in the United States completed, eighteen hundred miles more in progress, and four hundred and eight miles projected. The first anival at Oswego of a vessel from Lake Erie occurred on the 3d of August, by the Weltend Canal, now just completed. The first steam-railroad that went into operation in America, designed for the transportation of both passengers and merchan- dise, was the South Carolina road, laid out to connect Charles- ton with Hamburg, on tbc Savannah River, opposite the city of Savannah. Six miles of the road were completed in the summer of this year, and a locomotive was run on it. This locomotive was constructed in New York, and was the first one built in this country. It was a small four-wheeled engine, with upright boiler ancl the flues close to the bottom, the flames circulating around them. It is a noteworthy fact that this road was designed and wholly constructed, for the use (jf locomo- HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 95 tives, upon the Jidvice of Mr. Horatio Allen, before they ^^■ere known in this country, or established in Great Britain. The road was built upon piles, and some of the swamps and rivers were crossed at an elevation of fifty feet. The Hudson and Mohawk Railroad, connecting Albany with Schenectady, was commenced. On the 24th of May, fourteen miles of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were completed and opened for use. The first telescope used in this country for astronomical purposes was set up at Yale College. Charles Kean, the celebrated actor, arrived in this country, and commenced his first engagement at the Park Theatre, in New York, on the 1st of September. The first penny paper published in Philadelphia was issued under the title of T!ie Cent. It had but a brief existence. The Christian Intelligencer, an organ of the Dutch Reformed Church, made its first appearance at New York. The Bcxton Transcript appeared at Boston, in July, and the Globe at Washington, in December. The Albany Exening Journal was also established this year. The first omnibus in New York commenced running this year. It had the word "Omnibus" painted in large letters on both sides, and was a puzzle to most pedestrians, who pro- nounced it variously. The name was generallj'' supposed to be that of the owner. The first Fourdrinier machine, used in the manufacture of paper, made in this country was built at Windham, Conn. Very few were afterwards imported. 1831 a' negro insurrection broke out in Yirgmia, near the North Carolina border. It started with a party of thiec white men and four slaves, who commenced killing several families, and impressing into their service all slaves on their route, until a force of nearly two hundred accumulated, spreading desola- tion everywhere in their path. Fifty-five white persons were murdered before the insurrection was quelled. Troops were called out by the authorities of Virginia and North Carolina, who succeeded in killing or capturing all the insurgents. Fear- ing that this outbreak was but a part of a irrand conspiracj- of the negroes generally, martial law -was proclaimed in many places, and every negro who could not give a satisfactory ac- count of himself was arrested. In South Carolina the " Vigi- lance Association of Columbia" offered a reward of one thou- .sand dollars for the apprehension and conviction of any person who should be detected in distributing or circulating in that State the abolition paper called the Liberator, published in Bos- ton, or the pamphlet called " Walker's Pamphlet," or any other publication of a seditious tendenc.y. Chloroform was discovered this year by Dr. Samuel Guthrie of Sacketl's Harbor, N. Y. It was at first used only as a medi- cine, and its valuable qualities were not perceived until some time later. A conflagration destroyed the town of Fayetteville, N. C, 96 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. on the 29th of May; only a few buildings on the outskirts es- caped. All the public buildings, and about six hundred pri- vate houses, were consumed, with their contents. Groton monument, on Groton Heights, opposite New Lon- don, was completed. A three-story house and lot, on the corner of Pine and Wil- liam streets, in New York, was sold for twenty-two thousand dollars, in October. The lot was twenty-eight feet on Pine and sixty-eight on William Street. The first sporting paper published in the United States was issued at New York, and called The Spirit of the Times. The Louisville Journal appeared in Louisville, Ky. ; and on the 9th of November the TJaily Morning Post, at Boston. The first passage of boats on the Morris Canal, between New- ark, N. J., and the Delaware River, was made in November. The great Pennsylvania line of improvements, connecting Philadelphia with Pittsburg, commenced in 1826, was com- pleted in March. This line comprised eighty-two miles of rail- road from Philadelphia to Columbia; one hundred and seventy- two miles of canal from Columbia to Hollidaysburg; thirty-six miles of railroad over the Alleghany Mountains to Johnstown; and one hundred and five miles of canal thence to Pittsburg. The line of railroad over the mountains consisted of a series of inclined planes, and was worked by stationary engines. These improvements were built by the State, and cost upwards of twelve millions of dollars. The Hudson and Mohawk Railroad, between Albany and Schenectady, was opened for travel on the 1st of September. This road was first designed to be worked bj^ horse-power, with the exception of two inclined planes, where stationary engines were to be employed. Before its completion it was decided to substitute steam-power, and a locomotive was ordered to be built for it at New^ York, which was used on the first trip at the opening of the road, and ran the distance of sixteen miles in forty-six minutes. Pine wood was iised for fuel. The first railroad built in Virginia was opened. It was con- structed for the transportation of coal from the mines near James River to Manchester, opposite Richmond, a distance of thirteen miles. The first railroad in Louisiana was opened on the 23d of April, and connected New Orleans with Lake Pon- chartraiu, a distance of four and a halflniles. Its construction across the swamp was considered a great feat of engineering. Six miles of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad were completed and opened on the 4th of July. The cars were drawn by horses. In the next year sixteen miles were opened, at whicli time steam-power was adopted. The construction of the Harlem and the Ithaca and Owego railroads in the State of New York, and of the Lexington and Ohio in Kentucky, was commenced. The important arrangement of fom*- wheeled trucks for cars was introduced on the South Carolina Railroad, and were the first car-trucks used in this or any other country. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 97 1832 Upon the passage of a tariff bill by Congress in July, the representatives of South Carolina issued an atldress to the peo- ple of that State, asserting that, bj' the act passed, the burden of government was thrown exclusively on the Southern States, and meetings were held in South Carolina, denouncing the tariff, and pledging the persons attentling to support the State government in any measures it might adopt to resist it. In De- cember the Legislature of South Carolina passed acts prohibit- ing the enforcement of the United States revenue laws within the State, and authorizing the governor to call the militia into service to resist any attempt of the national government to en- force them. Ten thousand stand of arms, and the requisite quantity of military munitions, were ordered to be purchased. At this crisis the President determined to enforce the revenue acts, with an entire disregard to the pretended rights of sover- eignty which were assumed by the State of South Carolina, and he, accordingly, ordered all the disposable military force to assemble at Charleston, and a sloop of war to be sent to that port to protect the levenue officers, in case of necessity, in the execution of their duty. On the 10th of December, the Presi- dent issued a proclamation, in which he plainly and forcibly stated the nature of the American government, and the supre- macy of the Federal authorities in all matters intrusted to tlieir care, and exhorted the citizens of South Carolina not to persist in a course which must bring upon their State the force of the confederacy, and ex])ose the Union to the hazard of dissolu- tion. The revenue laws imder the protection of the United States forces were carried into effect without any opposition by violence, and, at a meeting of the leading nulliflers at Charles- ton, it was resolved that all collision between the State and Federal authorities should be avoided, in the hope that the con- troversy might Ije satisfactorily adjusted in Congress by the passage of bills modifying the tariff. That hope was realized, and the tariff' controversy in South Carolina ended. At the presidential election of this year the Democratic party voted for General Andrew Jackson for re-election as President, and Martin Van Buren for Vice-President, and those candidates were successful; General Jackson receiving two hundred and nineteen electoral votes, and Mr. Van Buren one hundred and eighty nine. At this time an Anti-jNIasonic jxirty had been in- stituted, which nominated William Wirt for President and Amos EUmaker for Vice-President, and they received seven electoral votes. The old Federal i"»arty had gone out of exist- ence, and the opponents of the administration were now de- nominated National Republicans. That party nominated Henry Clay for President, and John Sergeant for Vice-President, and they each received forty-nine votes. The State of South Caro- lina gav^e its eleven electoral votes to John Floyd for President and Henry Lee for Vice-President. A war broke out in Illinois between the Indians and the whites. In the year 1830, some Indians of the tribe of the Sacs and Foxes — two tribes imited in one — made some depredations 98 HISTORY OF THE UXITED STATES. on the white settlers near the mouth of Rock River. In conse- quence the United States Government made a treaty with Keo- kuk, the chief of that tribe, by which he agreed to remove with hU Indians across the Mississippi. Black Hawk, a noted war- rior, however, refused to recognize the authority of Keokuk to make that treaty, and, with many of the Indians, declined to re- move from Illinois. He gathered about him all the restless spirits of the tribe, ^et himself up as their chief, and commenced depredations on the Avhite settlements. Troops were called out by the governor, and the United States Government sent de- tachments of the army to assist in breaking up the war. Suc- cessive engagements were fought, with various success, antl many atrocities committed by the savages. On the 2d of Au- gust, a battle took place with the main body of the Indians, which closed hostilities. The Indians were defeated with great loss, and Black Hawk, with his two sons and seven other warriors, were captured, and sent prisoners to Fortress Mon- roe, Va. The source of the Mississippi was discovered on the 13lh of July by an exploring expedition under the command of Henry R. Schoolcraft. The Asiatic cholera, which had been devastating Montreal and Quebec for some time, made its tirst appearance in the United States at the city of New York on the 21st of Jane. The disease spread in various directions, reaching Philadelphia, Albany, and Rochester in July, and Boston, Baltimore, and Washington in August. In October it reached New Orleans, having previously appeared at Cincinnati and the intermediate cities. In Quebec, Montreal, New York, and Philadelphia, alone, there were eighteen thousand cases and eight thousand deaths. A disastrous flood swept the valley of the Ohio in February. The water continued to rise from the 7th to the 19th, when it attained the height of sixty -three feet above low-water mark at Cincinnati. The towns and villages along the banks of the river were submerged in some instances so deeply as to force the inhabitants to take refuge on the neighboring hills. It was impossible to make any accurate estimate of the value of the property destroyed. The steamboat Brandywine took fire on the evening of the 9th of April, on the Mississippi Riyer, near Memphis, and of about two hundi'cd persons on board all but seventy- five perished in the flames or by drowning. The first instance of chloroform being used by inhalation was at New Haven in January. The renowned gymnasvs and pantomimists, the Ravel family, made their first appearance in America, at the Park Theatre in New York, on the 16th of July. The popularity of this troupe continued undiminished for more than thii-ty j'ears. Charles Kemble, the celebrated comedian, and Fanny Kem- blc, equally celebrated as an actress, made their first appear ance in America, at the Park Theatre in New York, on the 17th of September. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 99 The manufacture of hosiery by steam or water power was first commenced in this country in October, at Cohoes, N. Y. The tirst steamboat seen at Chicago arrived there on the lOtli of July, liaving on board General Winlield Scott and United States troops destined for the scene of the Blacli Hawk war. Tiie tirst liouse built in Iowa was erected this year near the site of the citj^ of Davenport. The Paterson and Jersey City Railroad, the Schenectady and Saratoga, the West Chester in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown, and the Louisville and Bards- town railroads were all completed this year. On the 15th of November, Philadelphia and Harrisburg were connected by a continuous line of railroad. Operations were commenced on the Boston and Worcester Railroad in August. The tirst street railroad in America was completetl between the City Hall and Fourteenth Street in New York, and opened for travel in November. The road was built by (he Harlem Railroad Company, and some time afterwards was extended up Fourth Avenue. 1833 Andrew Jackson, as President, and Martin Van Buren, Vice- President, commenced their terms of office on the 4th of March. There ensued great commercial distress throughout the country this year, caused by a general system of retrenchment that the directors of the United States'Bank were obliged to institute, with a view to safety on account of an evident existing hostility to that corporation. The President of the United States was particularly opposed to the bank, and he caused all the public deposits, amounting to nearly ten millions of dollars, to be withdrawn from it, the greater part of which within a period of four months. Almost simultaneously with this step an attempt was made to destroy the credit of the bank, by sud- denly presenting for payment at one of the distant branches a large amount of circulating notes whi(,-h had been secretly accumulated. Emigrations were made to Iowa this year. From this time the progress and extension of settlements in that district were rajiid, and the population increased with far greater rapidity than in any new Territory heretofore. The town of Chicago was incorporated on the 10th of Au- gust. At that time there were one hundred and seventy-live houses and iive hundred and tifty inhabitants. The first news- paper published in the place was' issued on the 36th of Novem- bei', under the name of The Democrat. The tirst church organ- ized was formed on the 26th of June, by the Presbvtenans belonging to the garrison of Fort Dearborn. On the 'l9th of October, a Baptist society was formed. Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania passed laws for the supi^ression of lotteries. The United States Treasury building at Washington was consumed by fire on the 31st of March! Nearly all the valu- able papers contained in it were saved. On the 30th of April, a tire broke out in the extensive stables 100 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. of Kipp & Brown ou Hudson and Bank streets, in Now York, •and spread until over one hundred and thirty buildings were consumed. It was estimated that three hundred families were thereby rendered homeless. The city of Boston contracted for sperm-oil for street-lamps, — ninety cents per gallon for summer oil and one dollar for winter. Nashville, Tenn., was supplied with water conveyed in pipes through the streets. The tirst theatre erected in the United States expressly for operatic performances was opened on the 18th of November. It was built on the corner of Church and Leonard streets, in New York; but the enterprise proved a failure, and the lAiilding was used for theatrical purposes until it was destroyed by fire in the year 1841. Millerism, as it w^as called, commenced making converts at this time. William Miller began to lecture upon the subjects of the millenDium and the early destruction of the world, which he at first stated would take place in 1843. He secured disci- ples, who were called Millcrites, to the number, as estimated, of nearly fifty thousand. After the failure of his predictions, several yeai's and days were successively designated for the destruction of the world, and the sect existed for many years. The first exportation of American ice to the East Indies was made by Mr. Frederick Tudor, of Boston. It was sent in May, and delivered at Calcutta in the autumn. In the follow- ing year he sent the first cargo to Brazil. At this time there were seventy-six omnibuses running in the streets of New York, one hundred and ninety-four licensed hackney-coaches, twenty-four hundred and fifty-nine carts, and one hundred and fifty-seven porters with either barrows or hand-carts. On the r)th of October, one hundred and fifty one lots, each twenty-five feet front and one hundred in depth, on Prospect Hill in Brooklyn, L. I., three miles from Fulton Ferry, were sold at an average price of one hundred and twenty-five dollars apiece. ' The first public trial of reaping-machines took place on the 2d of July, before the Hamillon County Agricultural Society in Ohio. The exhibition was of the machine patented by Mr. Obed Hussey. The first newspaper issued in Wisconsin was published at Navarino on the 11th of December, and called The Oreen Bay Intelligencer. The Boston Daily Journal made its first apjiear- ance this year. The first successful penny paper established in the United States issued its first number on the 8th of Septem- ber at New York, and was called The JS'ew Yoi'k Sun. The progress of enterprise in American journalism took a step forward this year. I'he Neic York Journal of Commerce estab- lished a horse express from Philadelphia to New York, with relays of horses, by which the paper was enabled to publish Congressional news one day in advance of its contemporaries in HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 101 New York. This example was soon followed by other papers, until the government itself established an express between those cities, whereupon the Journal of Commerce extended its relays to Washington. The constitution of Massachusetts w^as amended, making the individual contributions for the support of the ministry volun- tary, instead of obligatory as they had always been for about two hundred years. The Ohio Canal, connecting the Ohio River at Portsmoutli with Lake Erie at Cleveland, a distance of three hundred and seven miles, was completed and opened for navigation. The South Carolina Railroad l)etween Charleston and the Savannah River, oue hundred and thirty- six miles in length, was entirely completed. This was the first railroad upon which the United States mails were carried, and the longest continuous line yet completed in this or any other country. The Camden and Amboy Railroad, between Amboy andBordentown, X. J., was opened for travel in September. The Petersburg and Ro- anoke Railroad in Virginia, about sixty miles in length, was also completed. The ceremony of breaking ground for the commencement of the Providence and Stonington Railroad took place at Stonington on the 14th of August. 1834 An unusual excitement and tumult took place in New York, ending in a riot, at the city election held on the 8th, 9th, and 10th days of April, caused by a bitter feeling existing between the Jackson men and their political opponents, who at this time were called by the new party name of ' ' whigs. " Great conf usioii and violence ensued; political meetings were disturbed and brok- en up, and in the Sixth and Eleventh wards proceedings were so riotous that the military were called out to quell the disturbances. Many of the citizens were dangerously injured, and several of the rioters were arrested and imprisoned. Citizens remained under arms all night, fearing that the banks would be sacked, as an at- tack on them was loudly threatened. Business was almost entire- ly suspended in Wall and other down-town streets. The election resulted in favor of the " whigs," and the victory was celebrat- ed by that party in many sections of the country. Salutes were fired, and other demonstrations of rejoicing were manifested. In Philadelphia, a grand barbecue was instituted, and fifty thousand people attended, as estimated. A meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society held in New York on the 4th of July was broken up by a mob. A few days afterwards another mob sacked the house of Lewis Tap- pan, a noted abolitionist, and then assaulted and damaged several churches, school-houses, and homes of colored families. The anti-abolition excitement spread to other places. At New- ark, N. J., on the evening of the 11th of July, a minister introduced a colored man into his pulpit, against the previously ascertained will of his people. When the populace found it out, they assembled in great numbers, took the colored man forcibly from the pulpit, conveyed him to jail, and threatened to tear it down unless the jailer received him. They then re- 102 IIISTOKY or THE UNITED STATES. turuetl to tho eliurch, broke the windows, tore down tlie pulpit, and reduced the edifice to a shell. In Noi"wich, Conn., a mob, lieaded by a baud of music, entered a church where a lecture was being delivered by an abolitionist, forcibly took the lecturer from the pulpit, and forced him to march before them, at the same time playing the Rogue's March, till they drummed him out of the town. In Philadelphia, a riot commenced on the even- ing of the 13th of August, and continued for three nights. Forty -four houses inhabited liy blacks were assaulted, damaged, and many of them destroyed. Other similar demonstrations occurred in several places in different sections of the coimtry. A report having been circulated in Boston that a girl was confined against her will in a convent of Ursuline nuns at ( harlestown, great excitement was manifested in the cit}^ and soon prevailed in the neighboring towns. On the night of the 11th of August, a large number of persons, disguised in fantas- tic costumes, assembled before the convent, and after waking and warning the inmates to make their escape, made an assault on the liouse. The doors and windows were forced open, the furniture broken, and the building set on fire and destroyed ; other buildings belonging to tbe convent were also burned. The cemetery was then visited and the graves were desecrated. The next day a large meeting of the citizens of Boston was held in Faneuil Hall to express their indignation at the outrage, and prompt measures were instituted to discover the perpetrators. Several persons were arrested, but were released for w'ant of proof, and onl}' one suffered conviction. Congress passed an act to establish branch mints at New Or- leans, Dahlonega, Ga., and at Charlotte, N. C. The earliest emigrations of settlers to Oregon commenced at this period. The streets of New Orleans were lighted with gas for the first time. At this period but one mail a week arrived at Chicago from the East, and that was brought from Niles, Mich., on horse- back. Brooklyn, L. I., was incorporated as a city, and thefirst mayor and other city officers elected. Rochester was also incoi-porated, and Burlington in Iowa laid out as a town. The wholesale clothing business in the United States was first coTumenced in the city of New YorTTfit this time. The first steam-]iower printing-press set up at the West was established at Cincinnati, for the publication of the Gazette. The first gun rifled in the United States was accomplished at South Boston, Mass. Hammered-brass kettJes began at this time to be manufactured in this country at Wolcottville, Conn. Wood-screws, for the first time manufactured bj- machinery, were made at Providence. The first table cutlery of American manufacture was made in January, at Greenfield, Mass. The New Jersey Railroad, from Jersey City to New Bruns- HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 103 wick, was completed. Tlie Philadelphia aud Treutou Railroad was opened for travel ou the 1st of November. 1835 Riotous demonstrations continued to be exhibited in various sections of the Northern States against the blacks and the abo- litionists; churches and public halls were assaulted, and anti slavery speakers rudel}' handled. Great excitement prexailed at the South, in consequence of the circulation there of papers and pamphlets sent by the different autislaver}- societies at the North. On the 29th of July, the post-office at Charleston was forced by a mob, the mails rifled, and all antislavery publi- c-itious destroyed. Great attention was excited throughout the country by publi cations in the newspapers of interesting discoveries concerning the moon, made bj" means of a newly invx'nted telescope, which, when the facts became known, were designated as the "Moon Hoax." Richard Adams Locke, the editor of the JVeic York i^u/i, wrote an article in that paper which purportetl to be an account of discoveries made by Sir John F. W. Her- schel at the Cape of Good Hope, and pi-etended to be taken from a late number of an Edinburgh journal, in which the author proceeded to delineate the geographical features aud the inhabitants of the moon with graphic power and such show of probability, that the gravest journals accepted tlie account as actual fact. The papers throughout the countrj^ copied the ar- ticle, and commented upon the wonderful discoveries, which, for the time, created much speculation and wonder. The dis- covery of the hoax excited general merriment, aud more so against those journals which, hoping to gain credit for enter- prise, had pretended to have copied tlie article themselves from the Edinburgh journal. The President, in his Message, announced the extinguishment of the national debt. The duties on imports and the sale of the public lands had produced the money for that purpose. The resources of the State of Ohio had been greatly devel- oped within the preceding five years. The State, at this lime, contained a population of about one million. One hundred and twenty-five newspapers were established in sixtj-tive towns. Cincinnati was seven days distant from Pittsburg, fourteen from New York, and twenty-one from New O^-- leans. Miss Charlotte Cushman made her first appearance on the stage at the Tremont Theatre in Boston, on the 8th of April, in the character of the " Countess" in the marriage of Figaro. She made a great success, and her popularitj^ as an actress'con- tinued more than forty years. The first house at Ye'rba Buena, the germ of San Francisco, was built. At this period the residents of Harlem and Yorkville, at the upper portion of New York Island, could reach the city by public conveyance only, unfrequently, by using a stage-coach plying between New York and Daiibury, Conn. An hourly stage between the city and Harlem was established this year, at 104 UISTOKY OF THE UNITED STATES. a charge to Yoikville of eigbteen and three quarter cents, and to Harlem of twenty -five. The ]Ve-w York Herald issued its tirst number on the 6th of May, from its office of publication in the cellar of No. 30 Wall street. The editor, Mr. Bennett, was his own reporter of the police news, of the city items, and of the money market. This latter department was the first of the kind published in America. The manufacture of mineral teeth for the market was first established in the United States about this time, bj' D. "W. Stockton of Philadelphia. The manufacture of horse-shoes by machinery was estab- lished at Troy. Up to this date they were made only by hand. At this period there were but two manufactories of hair-cloth in the country. One of these, the first iu New England, was but recently started at Deerfield, Mass. The first manufacture of pins by machinery was commenced at New York in December, by a company called the Howe Manufacturing Company, from the name of the inventor of the machines. About this period an improvement was made in the manu- facture of hosiery, which, Avith the introduction of the power-loom, in 1832, gave rise to the establishment of that business on an extensive scale in this country. This new in- vention consisted in knitting the goods in one continuous circu- lar web. Heretofore they were knit in strips, cut up into proper lengths, and the circle formed bj^ sewing the web * lengthwise. The first tiles for draining purposes are said to have been made this year, near Geneva, N. Y. Samuel Colt secured a patent for the famous revolving pis- tol bearing his name. A fire-department was organized at Chicago on the 19th of September, and two fire-engines and one thousand feet of hose ordered. In December, the first bank in the place went into operation. The first fire-engine in Indianapolis arrived there in September from Philadelphia. A conflagration occurred on the night of the 16th of December at New York, in the business part of "the city devoted principally to the wholesale dry -goods trade, destroying about seven hundred buildings, and involving a loss of, as 'estrmated, seventeen mil- lions of dollars. All insurance companies failed, excepting two, that insured in that district, the loss absorbing theij" entire assets, inflicting distress upon a class of people owning the slocks who relied upon the dividends for support, — such ;is widows and orphans, — which increased the extent of the catas- trophe. The burned district covered an area of about thirteen acres, in which only one store escaped entire. It embraced the blocks from Coffee House Slip along South Street to Coenties' Slip, thence to near Broad Street, along William to Wall, and down the south side of that street to the East River. A rage on the subject of silk-cidture was developed in many HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 105 sections of tlic country at this time, particularly in New Eng- land. Congress and several of the State legislatures, within the past few years, had promoted the growing interest n that business by means of publications, bounties, and other meas- ures. Large profits were realized by some in the sale of ,young mulberry trees, and large numbers of persons were induced to go into the business of raising silk. The speculative fever lasted several years, and many fortunes were made and lost in the business. The Boston and Providence Railroad was opened for travel, on the 2d of June ; the Boston and Lowell, on the 27th of June ; the Boston and Worcester, on the 6th of July ; and the Baltimore and Washington, on the 25th of Aug-ust. The Xew York and Erie was commenced on the 7th of November. 1836 The presidential election, this year, was warmly contested. The Democratic party nominated Martin Van Buren for Presi- dent, and Richard M. Johnson for Vice-President. The oppo- sition party now took the name of Whig. There were different sections of this combination, and although they were unable to unite upon a single candidate, they were in hopes of defeating the election of Mr. Van Buren by throwing the final choice in- to the House of Representatives. The result of the election was as follows : For President, Martin Van Buren, who re- ceived one hundred and seventy electoi'al votes ; William H. Harrison, seventy-three ; Hugh L. White, twenty-six ; Daniel Webster, fourteen; and W. P. Mangum, eleven. For Vice- President, Richard M. Johnson received one hundred and forty- seven votes ; Francis Granger, seventy-seven ; John Tyler, forty-seven ; and William Smith, twenty-three. Martin Van Buren received a sufficient number of electoral votes for elec- tion ; but by the terms of the Constitution, there was no choice of Vice President, in which case the Senate of the United States was designated to make it. By the vote in that body Richard M. Johnson was elected, he receiving thirty-three votes against sixteen given Mr. Granger. Arkansas was admitted into the Union on the 15th of June, with a constitution permitting slavery within the State. Texas rebelled against the Mexican authorities, and, on the 2d of March, proclaimed her independence and adopted a re- publican form of government. Wisconsin was organized under a territorial government, with jurisdiction over the " District of Iowa." The latter Ter- ritory, at this time, had a population of ten thousand five hun- dred. Madison was made the capital of Wisconsin, and was situated in the midst of a wilderness. The seftlement of Janes- ville in Wisconsin, and of Davenport in Iowa, was com- menced. The office of The PMlanthropisi, an abalition paper published in Cincinnati, was attacked by a mob, on the 29th of July, en- tered and pillaged, the types" scattered, and the press broken and thrown into the river. On tbc 9th of June, the Seminole Indians, under Osceola, 106 lIIsrORY OF THE UNITED STATES. were repulsed in an attack on the United States fortified post at Micanopy, F)a. On the 12tli of August they were victorious at Fort Doane. On the 15th of December, the United States Patent Office, with all its contents, occupying a portion of the General Post- office Building, in Washington, was destroyed by fire. The first astronomical observatory built in the United States was erected at Williamstowu, Mass. New Orleans was supplied with water pumped from the Mis- sissipi into a reservoir, and thence conveyed to the houses by means of pipes. The city of Philadelphia was lighted with gas, for the first time, on the 10th of February. ]Miss Ellen Tree made her first appearance in America on the 12th of December, at the Park Theatre, in New York, and proved to be the most popular actress, excepting Fanny Kem- ble, known to the New York stage. The first penny newspaper in Baltimore issued its first num- l)er on the 10th of March, under the title of The Baltimore Transcript. The New York Express commenced publication on the 20th of June, and the Public Ledger, at Philadelphia, on 25th of March. The first manufacture in this country of wrought-iron tubing and fittings for gas, water, and steam pipes was commenced at Philadelphia. The manufacture of fine-cut chewing tobacco was com- menced at Centreville, Mich., and, until the year 1847, was made at no other place west of Detroit. Felt cloth was first successfully manufactured at Norwalk, Conn. The first exportation of varnishes was made this year. The manufacturers of New York shipped a considerable quantitj' to South America and Mexico. Heretofore, railroad cars were pulled up heavy grades by means of stationary engines. On tlie 10th of July, on the Phil- adelphia and Columbia Railroad, it was for the first time dem- onstrated that ascents could be made bj' locomotives, without the aid of stationary engines and ropes, which fact resulted in the adoption of a new principle in the construction of railroads, and tlie saving of great expense. It wasjdso demonstrated, by an experiment on the Beaver Meadow Railroad in Pennsylva- nia, tliat anthracite coal was a better fuel than wood for loco- motives. The Utica and Schenectady Railroad, seventy eight miles in length, was opened for travel on the 1st of August. The Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad was completed on the 18th of April, and ground broken for its continuation throughout the whole length of Long Island. 1837 Martin Van Bureu, as President, and Richard M. Johnson, as Vice-President, commenced their oflBcial terms on the 4th of, March. This year is marked hy a remarkable pressure in the money > HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 107 market, and great commercial distress resultiug therefrom. Numerous banks had been chartered in the preceding year by the different State legislatures, to supply a supposed want of banking capital consequent upon the refusal of Congress to prolong the existence of the United States Bank, the charter of which was about to expii'c. These new banks being without any check to prevent excessive issues of paper circulation, the facilities of bank accommodations occasioned a scene of specu- lation which extended far and wide over the whole Union, and all classes of citizens Avere more or less entangled in the opera- tions which ensued. Extensive purchases of the jiublic lands, by individuals and companies, were among the schemes of the day, for the emploj'ment of the abundance of bank jjaper. At length, the government required all paj'uients for the public lauds to be made in specie, which sometimes produced large drafts on the banks for that commodity, and not only prevent- ed them from extending their lines of discount, but compelled them to commence calling in their circulating notes. An order had also been issued directing the surplus fuuds of the govern- ment to be distributed among the several States, and, from the mode in which that was managed, contributed to the derange- ment of the currency, Another cause of pecuniary embairass- meut and pressure was an excessive importation of merchan- dise from abroad, beyond the wants and abilities of the coun- try ; payments for which falling due, and American credit be- ing impaired in Louilon, occasioned a large exportation of spe- cie to Europe. On the 10th of May, all the banks in the city of New York, by common consent, suspended specie payments; the banks of Boston, Providence, Hartford, Albany, Philadel- phia, and Baltimore, and others in every (juarler, adopted the same coiu'se. During the preceding two months, unprecedent- ed embarrassments and difficulties were experienced among the mercantile classes, and were felt in all the commercial towns in the United States, especially in New York and New Orleans. The number of large failures which took place in New York in a short time was about three hundred, their liabilities amounting to many millions. In two days, houses in New Orleans stopped payment, owing an aggregate of twenty-seven millions of dol- lars. In Boston, one huntlred and sixty-eight failures took place in six months. Michigan was admitted into the Union on the 26th of Janu- ary. Osceola, the Seminole chief, was captured near St. Augus- tine. His capture ended the Seminole war. He had come un- der a flag of truce, to hold a conference with the American general, and by the general's orders was detained. He was sent as a prisoner to Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor, where he was kept until the next year, when he died. A mob attacked and tired a building in Alton, 111., on the 7th of November, in which was printed an abolition newspaper published by Rev. E. P. Lovejoy. The editor was murdered, and the press broken and thrown into the river. 108 HISTORY OF THE UNFIXED STATES. Chicago was incorporated as a city on llie 4th of March. On the 1st of Julj'' its population was forty-one hundred and sev- enty, and the number of buildings in the place about five hun- dred. On the 8th of May, the large Louisville and New Orleans packet Ben Sherrod, while ascending the Mississippi and whcTi about fourteen miles above Fort Adams, caught fire about one o'clock at night, and the passengers, about three hundred in number, had no alternative but to jump into the river without having time to save even their clothes. More than two hun- dred lives were lost by this catastrophe. The boat was engaged in a race at the time, and the firemen, to raise more steam, used pine-knots for fuel and sprinkled resin on the coal. About fifty lives were lost on the night of the 27th of Decem- ber, on the Mississippi, by the explosion of the boiler belonging to the steamboat Black Hawk as it was near the Red River^ The Baltimore Sun appeared on the 17th of May, and the JVeiD Orleans Picayune on the 25th of January. The fii'st successful introduction of the screw in steam-navi- gation was made this year, on the steamer Thames, by Captains Ericsson and F. P. Smith. The dynamometer, an invention for ascertaining the power used in driving machinery, was first put to use this year. The invention of one-day clocks with brass movements was introduced at this time in Connecticut, and resulted in a com- plete revolution of the clock business. The manufacture of clocks with wooden movements was immediately stopped. The first establishment erected for the exclusive manufacture of machinists' tools was opened at Nashua, N. H. A man was publicly whipped on the court-house parade in Providence, on the 14th of July, for horse-stealing. This method of punishment had never been legally abolished, though it had been discontinued for a long time. The law v.as soon after repealed. The railroad between Richmond and Fredericksburg, in Virginia, was completed; the Michigan Central, from Detroit to Ypsilanti, a distance of thirty miles, was opened for travel ; the road from Baltimore to Wilmington, also, on the 19th of July; and the Providence and Slonington, on the 10th of November. On the 26th of October, the tunnel between Thirty-fourth and Forty second streets, in New York, was completed b}' the Harlem Railroad Company. The Chenango Canal, connecting the Su.squehanna at Bing- hamton with the Erie Canal at Utica, was completed. 1838 The Mormons expelled from Missouri by persecution, whither they had emigrated from Ohio, established themselves in Hancock County, Illinois, and commenced building a town, which they called Nauvoo. They numbered at this time about twelve thousand. The Atlantic Ocean was crossed for the first time by vessels exclusively propelled by steam-power. There were two steamers, called the Slrius and the Great Western, which arrived at HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 109 New York iu the summer, within a few hours of each other. TheSirius started from London, and was seventeen days on her passage; the Great Western, from Bristol, fifteen days. From this period regular passages across the Atlantic were established. A legacy amounting to over live hundred thousand dollars, left the United States by Mr. James Smithson of England, ar- rived in August from London. The money was bequeathed by Smithson for the advancement of knowledge, and was used foV the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington. The first manufacture of gold thimbles and spectacles was commenced at Long Meadow, Mass. The first solid-headed pins made in the United States were manufactured at Birmingham, Conn. , by the Howe Pin Company which had removed to that town from New York. This new style of manufacture soon superseded the spun-headed pins heretofore used. The first zinc manufactured in the United States was made at the arsenal at Washington, from the red oxide of New Jersey. It was used in the brass designed for the standard weights and measun^s ordered by Congress. The expense of its manufacture was so great, that for a long time any further attempts to use this ore were abandoned. The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad in Virginia, the Nashua and Lowell, and a portion of the Mad River Railroad in Ohio, were completed and opened for travel. On the 27th of April, a destructive conflagration occurred at Charleston, S. C. Eleven hundred and fifty-eight buildings were destroyed, and nearly one half the city was desolated. Property valued at three millions of dollars was lost. On the afternoon of the 25th of April, the steamboat Moselle, bound for St. Louis, left her landing at Cincinnati, with an unusually large number of passengers on board, supposed to be nearly three hundred. The boat proceeded about a mile up the river, to take on some Gennan emigrants, and just as it was moving from shore at that point her four boilers exploded simultaneously, blowing the upper part of the vessel to atoms. The remainder, after floating a short distance, sank in the river. About one hundred and thirty persons lost their lives, and several others were badly injured. 1839 On the 10th of October, the United States Bank failed, and closed its doors, on account of ruinous speculations in cotton. During the preceding year it bought cotton for a rise, and for a time it advanced to sixteen cents a pound, but soon declined in price, causing great loss to the bank. It made great exertions to sustain itself by the sale of bonds in Europe, and by issuing post-notes, which were sold in Boston and New York at a discount of eighteen to twenty-four per cent. This failure and cotton speculations caused a large number of bank suspen- sions, principally at the South and West. Three hundred and forty- three banks closed business entirely, and sixty -two partially. The government lost two millions of dollars in deposits by these failures. 110 HISTORY OK Tllli: UNITED STATES. The seat of Government for Illinois was removed from Yan- dalia to Springtield . Greenwood Cemetery, in Brooklyn, was incorporated on the 11th of April, and in October lots were tirst offered for sale. The first printing-press established west of the Rocky Moun- tains was set up at Walla Walla, in Oregon, a place founded by some Presbyterian missionaries. The tirst' Normal School in America was opened on the 3d of July, at Lexington, Mass. The tirst successfully constructed screw-propeller was built this year by Captain Ericsson, in England, and navigated to this country. It demonstrated the value of screws over pad- dles for boats used for certain purposes. The first carpets woven by a power-loom, in this or any other country, were produced this year at Lowell. The tirst successful attempt to use anthi'acite coal in the manufacture of iron was made at a furnace in Pottsville, Pa. The proprietor was rewarded with a present of five thousand dollars, subscribed by citizens of the State. The first white settlement on the site of Sacramento was made by J. A. Sutter. The express business in this couutr}' originated on the 4th of March, Avhen Mr. W. F. Harndeu of Boston, according to previous advertisement, made a trip from that city to New York as a public messenger. He had in charge a few books and some Southern and Western bank notes for delivery. His route was by railroad from Boston to Stonington, thence by steam- boat to New Tork. He proposed also to take charge of freight and attend to its early delivery, he having made a contract with the railroad and steamboat line on that route for that purpose. Charles Goodj'ear obtained his first patent for vulcanized india-rubber in February. The Western Railroad, between Worcester and Springfield, Avas opened for travel on the 1st of October. The Syracuse and Utica, and the Syracuse and Auburn, railroads, were also com- pleted this year. 1840 Congress established the Independent Treasury. The new system proposed to separate the government entirely from any ciependence upon the banks in its fiscal operations, the collec- tion, safe-keeping, transfer, and disbursements of the public mone}^ to be performed by agents of the government alone, and only specie to be used in all transactions of the govern ment. This act was repealed during the administration of Mr. Tyler. The result of the presidential election this year, after a cam- paign more than usually exciting, was successful for the candi- dates of the Whig party. These were William H. Han'ison for President, who received two hundred and thirty -four elec- toral votes, and John Tyler for Vice President, who received the same number. Martin Van Bureu was the nominee for President of the Democratic party, and he received sixty votes. For Vice-President, Richard ^if. Johnson received forty-eight HISTORY or THE UNITED STATES. Ill votes, L. W. Tazewell eleven, and James K. Polk ouf. A third party, in favor of the abolition of slavery, had been or- ganized for some time, and this year nominated James G. Bir- ney for President, who received some scattering votes in the Northern States, but not sufficient in any one to give him a single electoral vote. The census of Iowa showed a population of forty-three thous- and ; and of Wisconsin, of thirty-one thousand. The town of Scranton, Pa., was founded. Water was supplied to the city of Chicago by a private cor- poration. It was pumped from the lake into a reservoir about twenty-five feet square and eight feet deep, and thence con- veyed to the citizens by means of pipes made of logs. This year, Mr. P. B. Burke and Mr. Alvan Adams com- menced to take charge of freight, and packages of money and goods, and attend to their delivery, between Boston and New York, by the way of Springfield, in competition with ]Mr. Harnden, who had established the business in the preceding year by the Stonington route. This enterprise was the founda- tion of the Adams Ex]5ress Company. The first manufacture of gold pens in this country was com- menced at New York. The first iron-front building in America was erected on Washington Street, in Boston, this year, upon the guarantee of the builder that it should be taken down at his own expense if it proved a failure. The first successful daguerreotype portraits were made at the New York University, by Dr. Draper. The process, invented by Daguerre, in France, was purchased by the French Govern ment, ami was never used in copying landscapes and likenesses, and was onlv adapted to statuary and architecture. When the news of Dr. Draper's discovery reached London, its success was ascribed to the peculiar brilliancy of the American sun- light. A tornado visited the city of Natchez, on the 7th of May, occasioning an immense destruction of property and loss of life. Several steamboats were destroyed at tbe wharves, and many persons who had embarked in them were drowned. A large number of flat-boats were wrecked by the gale, and a number of boatmen, estimated at upwards of two hundred, perished. The wi'cck of one steamboat was afterwards found at Baton Rouge, with fifty-one dead bodies on it. Of one hundred and twenty flat-boats at the landing, all but four were lost. The water in the river was agitated to that degree that the best swimmers could not save themselves. Many houses were blown down and several unroofed. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was completed from Georgetown, D. C, to Cumberland, Pa., a distance of one hundred and ninety-one miles, at a cost of about sixteen mil- lions of dollars. The Housatonic Railroad, in Connecticut, was completed from Bridgeport to New ]Milford on the 12th of February ; 312 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. tlie Raleigh and Gaston, and the Wilmington and Roanoke, in North Carolina, in April; and the New Bedford and Taunton, in Massachusetts, on the 1st of July. Mdlle. Fanny Elssler, the celebrated danseuse, made her first appearance in America at the Park Theatre, New York. Her engagement was a great success, and a tour through the coun- try was one of imabated triumph. 1841 William Henry Harrison was inaugurated President on the 4th of March, and died exactly one month afterwards, when he was succeeded by John Tyler, the Vice-President. On the 7th of November, a bri^ from Richmond, Va., sailed for New Orleans with one hundred and thirty-five slaves on board. When near the Bahama Islands, nineteen of the slaves arose and took possession of the vessel to secure their liberty. In the struggle which ensued, a slave-vender was killed, and the captain, first mate, and ten of the crew were severely wounded. The vessel was then sailed to Nassau, and being on English soil, the slaves retained their liberty. A riot took place at Cincinnati in September, lasting two days, incited by the mob against the abolitionists and blacks. Bands of anned men patrolled tbe streets in search of negroes ; a colored meeting-house and several houses were demolished. The first exportation of American clocks was made this yeai'. They were sent to England, and the invoice appeared to be so ridiculously low to the custom-house authorities at Liverpool that they were at first seized for under- valuation. This ven- ture proving successful, the business was continued, and devel- oped into one of large dimensions; and clocks were sent to the different coimtries of Europe, to Asia, and South America. Before the use of brass movements, shipments were not made across the ocean, as the old wooden clocks then in use would be ruined, because exposure to the humidity of the sea caused the movements of the clocks to swell and ruin them. The grain-drill for planting wheat was patented in March, and its introduction among the farmers attempted, but was only after the lapse of years that its value was recognized and acknowledged. The first steam fire-engine in this country was completed and put to use in New York, under a contract made with the associated insurance companies. It was, however, afterwards sold and converted to other purposes, its"great weight proving to be a fatal objection to its use. The ex^jress business continued to make progress. It was continued this year as far south as Philadelphia, and west to Albany. The JVew YovTc Tribiinw issued its first number on the 10th of April, edited by Horace Greeley. It Avas about one third its present size, and commenced with about six himdred subscrib- ers, procured by the exertions of a few of the editor's personal and political friends. The expenses of the first week of its existence were five hundrod and twenty-five dollars ; and the receipts, ninety-two dollars. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 113 The Western Railroad was completed on the 21st of Decem- ber, and communication was opened by railroad between Bos- ton and the Hudson, opposite Albany. The railroad between Auburn and Rochester was also completed, thus making a con- tinuous railroad between Boston and Rochester, excepting the ferry at Albany. 1842 It was provided in a treaty executed between Great Britain and the United States, that the latter nation should keep a force of one thousand men and eighty guns on the coast of Africa to assist in suppressing the slave-trade. On the 1st of August, the colored people in Philadelphia at- tempted a celebration in commemoration of West India eman- cipation. Their procession was assailed by a mob, who exe- cuted many deeds of violence and bloodshed. A public hall and a church were burned, and several private houses de- molished. Disturl)ances of like natui-e occurred at New Bed- ford, Nantucket, and other places. Anti-slavery meetings were broken up, halls damaged, and people assaulted. Pennsylvania and Maryland this year made default ia the payment of interest on their State debts. A government expedition, consisting of twenty-eight Cana- dians and Creoles who were accustomed to prairie life, com- manded by John C. Fremont and accompanied by the cele- brated Kit Carson as a guide, left Choteau's trading-house, on the Missouri River, for the pui'pose of ex|jIoring the country between the frontier of Missouri and the South Pass in the; Rocky Mountains, on the line of the Great Platte and Kansas Rivers. On the 14th of July they reached Fort Laramie, on Laramie River, a post belonging to the American Fur Com- pany, and inhabited by a motley collection of traders, with their Indian wives and parti-colored children. In August thej- came to their destination, and Fremont ascended the loftiest peak in that range of the mountains, about one hundred miles south of Oregon. This peak is thirteen thousand live hundred and seventj' feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico. On oni- side of the mountain could be seen innumerable lakes and streams and the springs of the Colorado, and on the other the Wind River Valley, where were the sources of the Yellowstone branch of the Missouri. Soon after the party set out on their return, and on the 17th of Octolier arrived at St. Louis. The Bunker Hill Monument was entirely completed on the 23d of July. The obelisk is thirty feet square at the base, tif- teen feet square at the top, and two hundred and twenty-one feet high. It is built of Quincy granite. Rhode Island was agitated this year by "Dorr's rebellion,"' as it was called. The old charter was and always had been the basis of the organic law for the State, and allowed the right of suffrage only to owners of a certain amount of real estate, and to their eldest sons. Mr. Dorr for several years, while a member of the assembly, exerted himself without avail to procure the substitution of a liberal constitution in place of the old charter. He then resorted to popular agitation, and organized a suffrage 114 HISTORY OF Tin: UMTKD STATES. parry in opposition to the charter party. The suffrage party, after holding several large mass conventions, called a delegate State convention to frame a new constitution, which was sub- mitted for ratification to the popular vote. It received fourteen thousand votes, a clear majority of the citizens of the State. The charter party, however, contended that a large proportion of the votes were fraudulent. Mr. Dorr and his party assumed that the new constitution was the fundamental law of the State, and proceeded in accordance with it to hold an election for State officers. Mr. Dorr was chosen gorernor, and a legislature, composed exclusively of his supporters, was elected. The charter party also held an election, polling fifty-seven hundred votes, while the suffrage party claimed to have polled seventy- three hundred. On the 3d of May, Mr. Dorr's party attempted to organize at Providence. The other party formed a State government on the same day at Newport, with Samuel W. King as governor. Governor King proclaimed the State under martial law, called out the militia, and asked and obtained the aid of the United States troops to suppress the movements of Dorr and his party. On the 18th of May a portion of the suf- frage party assembled at Providence under arms, and attempted to seize the arsenal, but dispersed on the approach of Gov- ernor King with a military force. They assembled again at a place about ten miles from Providence, but being attacked by the State troops they dispersed without resistance. ]Mr. Dorr took refuge in Connecticut and afterward in New Hampshire. A reward of four thousand dollars was offered for his appre- hension by the authorities of Rhode Island. He soon retiu-ned to the State, was arrested, tried, and convicted of high treason and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He was subsequently pardoned and restored to his civil rights, and the record of his sentence expunged. He lived to see his State under a liberal constitution, and his party in legal possession of the govern- ment. The Croton Aqueduct, for supplying water to the citizens of New York, was completed, and on the 14th of October the event was celebrated. Its length is about fort}" miles, and cost about twelve and a half millions of dollars. The city of Dubuque, in Iowa, was incorporated. It is the oldest town in the State, it having been-settied by the French in 1788. * . The first manufacture of piano and damask table-covers by power-looms was commenced in Pennsylv;.nia. The first submarine telegraph in this country was laid on the 18th of October, between Governor's Island in the harbor of the city of New York, and the Battery in that city. It was invented by Professor Morse, and consisted of a copper wire insulated by means of a hempen strand coated with tar, pitch, and India-rubber. The next morning communications were beginning to be received through it, when the wire was caught by an anchor upon being hauled up, and a large portion of it destroyed. This disturbance of the experiment led Professor HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 115 Morse to invent the method of transmitting the current across a body of water, by means of extending the wires a distance proportionate to the width along the banks on each side, and causing the poles to terminate each pair opposite each other in large metallic ])lates in the water. The first introduction of wire-ropes was made by Mr. John A. Roebling, who manufactured them for use on the inclined planes of the Alleghany Portage Railroad, crossing the mouu tains and connecting the eastern and western divisions of the Pennsylvania Canal. Hemp-ropes had been heretofore used upon that railroad, at an annual expense of about twenty thou- sand dollars. On the 21st of September, George Vandenhoflf, who afterwards made himself universally popular as a dramatic reader, made his tirst appearance in America, at the Park Theatre in New York. On the 4th of October, Mr. John Brougham appeared for the first time in this country at the same place. The railroad from Rochester to Buffalo, the last link in the line from Boston to Lake Erie; and the Philadelphia and Read ing Railroad, were completed this year. The Concord and Nashua Railroad was opened for travel on the 1st of Septem- ber. On the 15th of April, the steamboat Medora, belonging to the Baltimore Steam Packet Company, when about starting from Baltimore on a trial trip, exploded her boiler, killing twenty-seven persons and scalding and seriously injuring forty others. 1843 About one thousand men, women, and children assembled at Westport, on the Missouri frontier, in June, and commenced an emigration to Oregon, where they arrived, after a laborious and fatiguing journe}" of more than two thousand miles, in October. Other emigrations soon followed, and Ijefore the close of the year over three thousand settlers were in Oregon. A second exploring expedition, connnanded by John C. Fre- mont, consisting of thirty-nine men, Amtricans, Creoles, and Canadians, left the town of Kansas, on the Missouri frontier, on the 29th of May, for Oregon and California. On the 11th of July, they came in sight of Pike's Peak, having passed numer- ous trains of emigrant wagons on their waj', and on the 13th of August they crossed the Rocky Mountains at South Pass, which is about half-way between the Missis'sippi River and the Pacific Ocean. In September they visited the Great Salt Lake, and on the 25th of October they reached the Columbia River. On the 4th of November, they proceeded in boats to Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia, about one hundred miles from its mouth, and on the 25th, started on their return journey by a southern route. A submarine telegraph cable was laid between Coney Island and Fire Island antl the city of New Yoi'k, by Mr. Samuel Colt, and operated with success. The cable was insulated by being covered with a combination of cotton yarn, asphaltum, and beeswax, and the whole inclosed in a lead pipe, gutta-percha being unknown at this time. 116 HISTORY OF THE UXITLl) STATES. Cincinnati was ligbted with gas for the first time on the 14th of January. The exijress business was extended from Philadclpliia to Bal- timore, under a partnership company called Adams & Com- pany. The first lake propeller was launched at Cleveland. It used the screw of Ericsson's patent. The Miami Canal, connecting the Ohio at Cincinnati with Lake Erie at Toledo, a distance of two hundred and fifteen miles, was completed. The work was formally commenced on the 4th of July, 1825. The Georgia Railroad, one hundred and seventy-one miles in length, connecting Augusta with Atlanta ; the Georgia Central, one hundred and ninety -one miles, between Savannah and Ma- con ; and the Boston and Maine, between Boston and Berwick, were all opened for travel this year. The renowned violinist Ole Bull made his first appearance in America on the 25th of November, at the Park Theatre in New York. Charles Walcott, for many years considered among the best light and eccentric comedians on the stage, made his debut at the Olympic Theatre in New York. 1844 The candidates of the Democratic party this year were James K. Polk for President, and George M. Dallas for Vice-Presiilcnt. The Whig candidates were Henry Clay and Theodore M. Fre- linghuysen. The most important issue in the election contest was the question of the immediate annexation of Texas to the United States, the former party advocating it, the latter oppos- ing. Some opposed the scheme because they feared the exten- sion of slave territory, others that the United States would be involved in war with Mexico. The result of the election was successful to the Democratic candidates, Mr. Polk and Mr. Dallas each receiving one hundred and seventy electoral votes, and Clay and Frelinghuysen one hundred and five. Mr. Bir- ney was again nominated by the Abolitionists for President, and received of the ])opular vote nearly sixty-five thousand. The peo])le of Illinois, in the neighborhood of Nauvoo, felt scandalized at the tloctrines and practices of the Mormons. A newspaper was started to agitate the question of their expulsion from the locality. By the orders of Smith the Prophet, the obnoxious press was destroyed, the printingmaterials dispersed, and the editors were obliged to flee for theirlives. At Carthage, warrants were prepared for the arrest of Smith, his brother, and sixteen others, accused of being accessories in the destruction of the printing-office. The constables sent to arrest them were expelled from Nauvoo. The people of the county were re- solved to vindicate their laws, and the militia were ordered out. The Mormons fortified their city, and the governor of the State took the field in person. To avoid bloodshed, he parleyed with the Mormon leaders, and persuaded Smith and his brother to surrender themselves to the civil authority, with the assurance that they would receive protection and justice. The fiercest animosity existed between the people of Hancock County and HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 11/ the Mormons. The idea prevailed that at the connivance of the governor the Mormon leaders would be allowed to escape. To prevent this, a mob with blackened faces assembled on the even- ing of the 27th of June, fell upon and dispersed the guard at Carthage jail, and rushed into the prison where the two Smiths were confined. Smith was mortally wounded while attempting to j