ANNALS OF AMERICA.

CHAPTER I.

§ 1. Introduction. §2. Expedition of general Hull. 53. March through the Indian country. S4. Invasion of Canada. 5. Reconnoitering on the Thames. § 6. Attack on the British advanced posts. §7. Fal of Michillimackinac. § 8. Policy of Britain and America towards the Indians. 9. Skirmishing. § 10. American supplies intercepted. 11. Battle of Maguago. § 12. Canada evacuated. § 13. Detroit summoned. § 14. Surrender of the army. §15. Massacre at Chicago.

1 DURING the last thirty years the United States has been increasing in population and wealth in a ratio unparalleled in history. Within that period, its numbers have been more than coublel, while its forests have been rapidly changing into cultivated fieds, and flourishing towns and villages rising, as if by magic, in the midst of the wilderness. These blessings, however, have not been entirely unalloyed. The rapid increase of wealth has ntroduced luxury, with its accompanying evils, and has, especally in the larger cities, considerably sullied our republican simplicity of manners. Our extensive commerce, too, has embriled us with several of the European powers, and finally invdved us in war; while the thirst for speculation which it has exited in almost every class, has undoubtedly had a demoralizing tendency, though not perhaps in the degree attributed to itby some politicians, who have placed solely to that account the want of public spirit and nationality, which has been charged to this country. The present war, whatever other evils it may have introduced, has certainly checked this evil. It has raised the character of the nation in the eyes of foreign powers, and erected an altar of national glory on which all loca prejudices have been sacrificed, and politicians of every party have joined hand in hand to celebrate the triumphs of our country.

In commencing this work, we have chosen the declaration of war againt Great Britain as a point from whence to set out. Historical vents in general are so closely connected, that it is difficult to give a clear account of any particular period, without C

VOL. II.