the two governments, already irritated, in a hostile attitude, quite inconsistent with the residence of an American minister at St. James's, and Mr. Monroe returned to this country, For a year or two, Mr. Monroe spent his time in literary leisure, or at least free from political pursuits, on his plantation in Virginia; but in the year 1810 he again resumed the duties of a politician, being elected to the legislature of Virginia. But he was elected governor of the commonwealth in a few months, and continued to discharge the duties of his office, until he was appointed secretary of state under Mr. Madison. Mr. Monroe was in this office when the war against Great Britain was declared, in 1812. He was in the discharge of his duties when the secretary of war found it necessary to repair to the frontiers, to correct the errors supposed to exist in the army. Mr. Monroe took the war department under his special care, and remained in it until all things went on smoothly. He took a deep interest in the conflict, and was the most efficient and active man in the cause. The president found Mr. Monroe his armor-bearer in the contest, whether he was in the office of secretary of state or war. He had decidedly the most business talent of the cabinet.

In 1817, when all was calm again, he was elected president of the United States by a large majority. During the first term of his administration, the country was so busy in repairing their losses, that almost every thing like party was forgotten; and on his second election, in 1821, he had the votes of all the electoral colleges, except one, which was given in New Hampshire, for John Q. Adams. He made, on his first coming into office, a very judicious selection of cabinet ministers, and lived with them in

great harmony. He gave new energy to the army and navy, and found something for our ships of war. to do, in protecting our commerce in distant seas, The able and bold secretary of war, John C. Calhoun, commenced, under the sanction of the president, the building a line of fortifications on our seaboard, which was wanted for our defence.

In the administration of Mr. Monroe, the Floridas were ceded to the United States by Spain, as an indemnity for spoliations on American commerce. This was a good bargain for both parties. Spain was exhausted in her finances, and Florida was only a bill of expense to her. The Spanish nation had not aught to say against the transfer, for the lands belonging to individuals in the Floridas became greatly enhanced in value, by coming within the jurisdiction of the United States. After his second election as president, Mr. Monroe made a journey through the northern and eastern states, and was cordially received in every part of the country, all parties joining to receive him as the head of our nation. Nearly all the objects of charity he saw, were some of his old companions in arms, they had never recovered from the shock which the revolution had given them, both as to fortune and habits. Among the many who went to pay their respects to him, was an old man broken in health and fortune by the vicissitudes of life, who was once a gallant officer, in whom were united the scholar, the merchant, seaman,, and skilful engineer. He had commanded a regiment and seen much service. He had been wealthy as a merchant, but entered into the tobacco trade soon after the peace, and became a bankrupt, and was at the time of his visit to the president mostly support

saw,

ted by the liberality of a marine society, of which he had been a founder and most munificent benefactor. He conversed with Colonel Monroe, with whom he had been intimate, with the freedom of an old friend and without a murmur at fortune. The president by the scantiness of his wardrobe, the poverty which had overtaken him; and on his retiring, spoke with great warmth of the neglect of the country, towards those who had spent their substance and shed their blood for our independence; for he knew that Colonel W--had lavished large sums in cloth. ing and arming his regiment. If Mr. Monroe had the pension law in view previous to this period, this interview with his old friend quickened his zeal, and secured something to sustain the last days of the heroes of the revolution. Before provision was made for their support, many of them had gone where honors or pensions cannot reach; but still many remain to be gladdened by the rills of public justice, which were caused to flow among those "in the sere and yellow leaf of life." As the president journeyed through New Hampshire, he made Hanover, on Connecticut river, a resting place for the night. While in that place, he visited Mrs. Wheelock, relict of President Wheelock of Dartmouth college, and in this lady found the once sprightly maiden, who had prepared with her own fair hands the bandage for the surgeon, who had dressed in her father's house the wounded Lieutenant Monroe, on the morning of the battle of Trenton. The grave statesman and year-stricken dame gazed on each other for a moment, reflecting upon the changes time had made on them; but instantly turned their thoughts from this subject, and commenced a conversation upon the incidents of the memorable day when their acquaint

ance began. The incidents of the battle, and those which followed the capture of the Hessians, were all fresh in the minds of both, and they seemed to grow younger from the glow which these recollections excited.

The South American states which had long been struggling with Spanish and Portuguese despotism, had now in dreadful convulsions burst asunder the chains which had bound them for ages, and in the agony of revolutionary conflict, stretched out their hands to the liberal nations of the earth for countenance and succor. In the very "lurid morn" of their national existence, before they had assumed any permanent shape, the government of the United States, that had hailed their struggle with joy, and carefully examined their cause, acknowledged their independence openly and boldly in the face of the world; and when it was apprehended, that the great powers of Europe were about to interfere with the internal concerns of the new states of South America, President Monroe, in a message to congress, declared to the world, that the United States could not, in honor to herself, be a quiet spectator of the scene. This declaration was made without a particle of assumption or arrogance, and proved to have been well-timed and effective; for we heard no more of the interference of the holy alliance in the affairs of the infant republics. This was the first great proof our country had ever had of its weight in the balance of national

power.

After Mr. Monroe had retired from office, he was engaged with his distinguished predecessors in the presidential chair, Messrs. Jefferson and Madison, in establishing the university of Virginia, and in forming a constitution and rules for its government. This

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was no easy task; for in avoiding monkish rules and the hoary errors of ancient seats of learning, there was great danger of falling into the other extreme of laxity in discipline, and free thinking in studies. These scholars and philosophers did not believe that they were so wise, but that experience might be a better test than their own judgments, and left room for revision in their code of laws, which has been judiciously used. The university is taking a high rank among the literary and scientific institutions in the United States. The next situation in which we find the ex-president Monroe, is as president of the Virginia convention called to amend the constitution of his native state. This was an arduous task. The rules and orders of a deliberate body, have grown up into a science within these last thirty years; and it requires a clear mind to comprehend all their niceties, and some degree of energy stricty to enforce them. Those who attended this convention, speak of his dignity and precision as presiding officer, and bear witness that he was in the full possession of his faculties.

To show the simplicity of our republican form of government, Mr. Monroe acted as a magistrate in the county of Loudon, where he resided, and was as attentive and as assiduous in the discharge of his duties as he had been in the highest office he was ever called to fill.

From Virginia he came to reside in the city of New York, to be with an affectionate daughter who had married in the city, and who was anxious for her father's health. He seldom appeared abroad after his coming to New York; but when he did, he was treated with profound respect by all classes of citi

zens.