and its agents, the government of the United States declared war against that power, June 18th, 1812, which continued about three years.

The seat of war on the land, was principally on the frontiers of Canada, of which province it was the object of the Americans to take possession. The war at that point continued with various success on the part of the Americans and British. The Americans, however, were able to effect but little towards accomplishing the designs of their government. The situation of the contending parties at the close of the war was nearly the same as it was at the commencement; on the ocean, however, it was different. The splendid success of the American navy in various engagements, raised it to a high elevation, and taught her proud rival a lesson which will not be forgotten. During Mr. Madison's Presidency, in 1816, a National Bank was established with a capital of thirty-five millions of dollars.

MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION.

Mr. Monroe commenced his administration in 1817, under many favourable circumstances,—the country was fast recovering from the depression of commerce and a three years' war. The political feuds, which had, since the revolution, occasioned so much animosity, were now gradually subsiding, and there appeared in the administration a disposition to remove old party prejudices, and to promote union among the people. A spirit of improvement was spreading throughout the country: roads and canals were constructed in various parts of the union. The principal events which took place in Mr. Monroe's administration were-the war with the Seminole Indians -the passage of an act by Congress granting a pension to the indigent officers and soldiers of the revolutionthe cession of Florida to the United States by the Spanish government, and the visit of Gen. Lafayette to the United States.

J. Q. ADAMS' ADMINISTRATION.

Mr. Adams was elected President in 1825, and continued in office four years. The principal events during this period were-the Treaty with Colombia-the Pana ma Mission, and the death of the two venerable patriarchs of the revolution, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, on the fiftieth anniversary of Independence. During this period, the people of the United States were divided into two parties in reference to the Presidential election; one party desirous of retaining Mr. Adams during another term of oflice, the other upholding General Andrew Jackson as a suitable candidate for the office of President. Party spirit now raged with violence, each party upholding their favourite candidate, and traducing the other. Upon counting the votes, it appeared that a large majority were in favour of Andrew Jackson; and on the 4th of March, 1829, he was inducted into the office of President of the United States, according to the form prescribed by the Constitution.

JACKSON'S ADMINISTRATION.

General Jackson took the oath of office as president of the United States, March 4th, 1829, and was continued in office eight years. The leading measures of his administration were carried out with an uncommon degree of energy and determination. In 1832, the bill to recharter the United States bank was passed by Congress, but. being vetoed by the president, it was lost. In 1832, also, Congress passed a new tariff bill. This act was considered so grievous in South Carolina, that a convention was assembled, who published an "ordinance," nullifying or forbidding the operation of the tariff laws within the limits of that state. This act called forth a proclamation from President Jackson, stating that "such opposition must be repelled." Hostile preparations were now made on both sides. The gathering storm was allayed by the passage of the compromise act, introduced into Congress.

by Mr. Clay, which reduced the duties on certain articles, and limited the operation of the tariff to the 30th of September, 1842.

În 1835, serious apprehensions were entertained of a war with France. Our government for many years had urged in vain upon that country the claims of our citizens, for spoliations upon American commerce during the wars of Napoleon. These claims amounting to twenty-five millions of francs, had been acknowledged by the French government, but for various reasons payment was delayed. Certain measures were now proposed, which it was feared would involve the two nations in war. Happily all differences were amicably settled. In 1835, the national debt was extinguished, and such was the financial state of the nation, that several millions of surplus revenue, at the beginning of 1836 remained in the treasury.

VAN BUREN'S ADMINISTRATION.

Martin Van Buren, succeeded General Jackson in the presidency, in 1837, and continued in office four years During the administration of his predecessor, the public moneys were removed from the United States bank and deposited in the state banks. These institutions thus had their facilities for lending money increased, speculation was encouraged, large debts were contracted, and the common beaten track of honest industry in order to acquire wealth, was in a measure abandoned. This unnatural state of things of course could not continue; it had its crisis in 1837. Such was the revulsion in business transactions, that the banks suspended specie payments. Those where the public funds were deposited, shared the common fate, and the government expected embarrassment. The president convened a special session of Congress, September 4th, 1837, and recommended a mode of keeping the public money called the “subtreasury" scheme. This was rejected by Congress, and treasury notes were ordered to be issued in order to supply the wants of government.

HARRISON'S AND TYLER'S ADMINISTRATIONS.

After a long and exciting political contention with regard to candidates for the presidential office, General Wm. H. Harrison was by a large majority elected president, and John Tyler vice-president. General Harrison was inaugurated March 4th, 1841, and died April 4th, just one month afterward; and Mr. Tyler, by the constitution, became president. Some of the leading measures of Mr. Tyler's administration were not in accordance with the wishes of the political party who elevated him to office, and much dissatisfaction was thereby given. The most important political event during his administration was the annexation of Texas to the United States. In 1842, after a long and exciting controversy for some years, respecting the northeastern boundary of the Uni ted States, dividing the state of Maine from Canada, a treaty was negotiated between the British envoy Lord Ashburton, and Daniel Webster the American secretary. After another exciting political struggle, James K. Polk having received a majority of electoral votes, was on the 4th of March, 1845, inducted into the presidential office.

POLK'S ADMINISTRATION.

The principal events and measures which signalized the administration of Mr. Polk, were: the admission of Texas as a state; the division of Oregon; the Mexican war; the occupation of Mexico; the treaty; and the acquisition of California with its mines of gold. In consequence of the measures of the American government in relation to Texas, difficulties took place with the government of Mexico, which resulted in open war. For a long period the boundaries of Oregon, owing to conflicting claims remained undefined, and it was feared that hostilities would arise on this account, but in 1846, all differences were adjusted. The acquisition of California, extending the limits of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, will undoubted prove an important event in the his

tory of the world. After another political struggle, General Zachary Taylor having received a majority of thirtysix votes in the electoral college over his competitor, General Cass, was on the 5th of March, 1849, inaugurated as president.

INTERESTING EVENTS, &c.

1. North American Indians.

It has long been a question agitated among the learned, how America was first peopled. The opinion best supported is, that the Indians of this country emigrated from the north-eastern parts of Asia, crossing over to this continent at Bhering's straits. It having been established by the discoveries of Captain Cook, that at Kamschatka, in about latitude 66 degrees north, the continents of Asia and America, are separated by a strait only eighteen miles wide, and that the inhabitants on each continent are similar, and frequently pass and repass in canoes from one continent to another: from these and other circumstances, it is rendered highly probable that America was first peopled from the north-east parts of Asia.

But since the Esquimaux Indians are manifestly a separate species of men, distinct from all the nations of the American continent, in language, disposition, and habits of life; and in all these respects bear a near resemblance to the northern Europeans, it is believed that the Esquimaux Indians emigrated from the northwest parts of Europe. Several circumstances confirm this belief. early as the ninth century, the Norwegians discovered Greenland, and planted colonics there.

As

With regard to the number of Indians inhabiting our country, at the time of the arrival of the European settlers, no correct estimate can be made; but, according to the estimate of Dr. Trumbull, they could not much exceed 150,000, within the compass of the thirteen original states. It is believed that they were formerly much