delicately, that the utmost the war-agitating party could force through was the following declaration : "1. That the treaty with France of the 4th of July, 31, should be maintained, and its execution insisted upon. 2. That the committee on foreign affairs should be discharged from the furher consideration of so much of the message as relates to commercial estrictions, or to reprisals on the commerce of France." Here, then or a while the subject rested: but no sooner had M. Serrurier, the French ambassador near General Jackson, laid an exposé of these things, as ir luty bound, before his government, than he was abruptly recalled home Again it appears, that the French chambers, emboldened by what they fancied to be a spirit of opposition in the American people to the meas ures of their president, resolved that he should apologize, at the least, for his hauteur of manner towards them. Our minister in France, Mr. Liv ingston, had been instructed, in the event of the French chambers refu sing to adjust the claims, to return home immediately, in a ship of war which would be dispatched for that purpose. The money was not refused; but the bill granting it was passed with a clause which suspended payment till satisfactory explanations should be given to France of the President's language. Mr. Livingston consequently returned to Wash ington. The president met Congress in December, again, and of course devoted a large share of his opening address to these things; after a due recapitulation, the general, instead of abating in his usual candour or peculiar decisiveness, wound up with a flourish something after the fashion following: Proposition 1. That there was nothing in his former message that required explanation: Proposition 2. That if there was, he should not allow a foreign power to require it; or to take notice of, or found demands upon, the tenor of an interior communication of one department of the American government with another. Here, then, affairs were ta king a new posture; here, again, was matter for a supplementary action in the French chambers: and we were once more in the way to be plunged in all the probabilities of a prolonged and unavailing warfare, equally as senseless on the one hand as the other. Now, however, at this critical juncture, the better genius of both countries interposed, and saved them from themselves. Thanks to the immediate interference of bluff William IV., the sailor-king of England, who, brave and humane alike, now proffered to the mock-heroic governments his mediation between them; it was accepted, and everything was presently arranged to the satisfaction of all parties; long, it is to be hoped, so to continue.

Amid the political jarrings and discord of this cra, an occasional bright relief appears upon the clouded horizon. Among other causes of congratulation which may be named, we find a statement embodied in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, to the effect that the government of the "great and prosperous nation" whose financial concerns he had the honour to take charge of, was now entirely relieved from all manner of coordinate liabilities:" and the United States now," said the honourable secretary, "presents the happy, and, probably, in modern times the unprecedented spectacle, of a people substantially free from the smallest por tion of public debt."

Both the tribes of the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians had now removed entirely from the confines of the states of Georgia and A.abama, and their yielded territories were accordingly offered at the different landonces for sale. Treaties in the highest degree favourable, alike to them and to the people of the United States, were in process of fulfilment: the chiefs had become persuaded as well of the superior value of their new territories, as of other advantages derived by them from the exchange. Thus a general satisfaction was apparent, which was considered the more remarkable at that time, as it was directly in despite of the loud lamen ations and bewailments of the party of those unfortunate gentlemen

Rev'd. Messrs. Butler and Worcester: and now that we have touched upon the subject it mav be as well to mention, that these men were missionaries among the afore-named tribes, from among whom they were some time previously taken by the authorities of the state of Georgia, on a charge of indirectly fomenting disturbances, and creating a spirit of resistance particularly hostile to the constituted authorities of that state; upon this accusation they were tried, found guilty, and thrown into the state penitentiary; but after a brief incarceration, they were released by virtue of a pardon from Governor Lumpkin; and the red men having now peaceably removed, the missionaries were permitted to return to their for mer field of labours, where we presume they endeavoured, with accustomed and very commendable assiduity, to instil into the untutored Indian's plant mind an admiration for the astonishing virtues of "civilized" people.

Near the close of the year, an unparalleled conflagration visited the city of New-York, the effects of which were so extensive as to be felt more or less in every direction throughout the land. It is computed that nearly twenty millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed, without estimating the injury and loss from individual failures and suspension of business. The fire broke out early on the night of the 16th of December, the thermometer at the time standing at zero; of course, the intensity of cold rendered engines and hydrants of but little use, though the devotion of firemen to their duties still shone conspicuous and bright as ever. At two o'clock on the morning of the 17th, Lieutenant Reynolds, with a detachment of marines from the navy-yard at Brooklyn, and shortly after Captain Mix, with a body of sailors under arms, arrived on the ground; they rendered very essential service, in guarding property, and taxing charge of a quantity of gunpowder brought from the magazine at Red Hook for the purpose of stopping the ravages of the flames by explosion. After the devouring element had swept away between thirty and forty acres of substantial buildings, mostly stores filled with rich merchandize, a stop was put to the further spread of the desolation, by making use of the powder and exploding certain buildings. As an instance of one of the uses of law, it may be mentioned, that the owners of said exploded buildings subsequently brought suit against the city for allowing their property to be thus destroyed, and damages in full were recovered.

Among the names of the dead for this cycle of time, are to be seen several that have filled the trumpet of fame. In Philadelphia, Chief-justice John Marshall, of Va., aged 80; at Columbia, S. C., General Wade Hampton, aged 81; in Connecticut, Senator Nathan Smith, aged 66; in Tennessee, Bishop M'Kendree, of the M. E. Church, aged 78; in N. Y., Enoch Crosby, the original of Cooper's "Spy," aged 88; at Havana, Commodore Henley, U. S. N.; en route to Spain, William T. Barry, American minis

ter.

In Paris, Admiral de Rigny; Bellini, the composer; and barons Dupuytren and Humboldt. In England, William Cobbett, author; C. Matthews, comedian; James Hogg, the "Ettrick shepherd;" Professor Malthus, political economist; in Edinburgh, the Rev. Dr. Chalmers; at Dublin, Mrs. Felicia Hemans. At Vienna, A 67, "his imperial majesty, Francis II., emperor of Austria, king of Hungary, Bohemia, Lombardy and Venice, and president of the German confederation."

A. D. 1836.-Occasionally the annalist finds it necessary to reach alike backward and forward into the mists of time, in order to trace correctly the history of events from cause to consummation: and in some instances, though rarely, "the intelligent public" may justly consider it requisite in us to hazard an opinion respecting the peculiar merit or blame-worthiness attached by different schools of judges to difficult acts or actors. Perhaps, about this period of time, there was no more fruitful source of angry disputation, than the war in Florida; and. indeed, all

things considered, there could scarcely arise a more painful yet uncertain theme, or one presenting any similarly strange variety of aspects, as it whirled scathing and bloodily along.

Years elapsed, yet still the cruel contest raged; the silent knife, the midnight flame, and the indiscriminate massacre still went on as ever, in defiance of the power of a mighty nation, with men of much renown to head her armies. Truly, an unbiassed reader is half tempted to believe, with some of the general officers who failed to gather laurels in that dis astrous region, that a kind of dark fatality controlled their best planned movements. For even when, by some intermission in their usual fate, officers and men survived the war and pestilence of two campaigns, star vation and madness, with consequent self-murder, was sure to sweep them down in the third. And, to complete the picture, when the Indians finally threw down their arms, an unexampled mortality destroyed them ; death first appearing in the terrible and dreaded form of small-pox, and next in that of steamboat explosions.

As early as the beginning of '34, the storm of war began to brew; and it appears but too plain, that its seeds were sown under the very eyes of men sent to prevent such a catastrophe, and who, previously, had won a name for vigilance and conduct. General Wiley Thompson, and others, composed the agency to superintend the removal of the Indians from Florida, in conformity with the terms of the treaty of Payne's Landing; they had already experienced much difficulty, a majority of the tribe being stubbornly opposed to removing, and several of the more influential chiefs openly denying the validity of their former agreement. Osceola, a halfbreed, the son of an Englsh man and Indian woman, now came inte notice; he was already distinguished as a proud, gloomy, and ambitious person, and he now keenly judged the prevailing dissatisfaction in his tribe afforded a rare opportunity for the further elevation of his fortunes Accordingly, at "a talk" in the camp of General Thompson, he ventured haughtily to assume, upon a sudden, that the red men were the only rightful owners of the soil, and the whites had no business whatever upon it. For this "burst of eloquence" he was put in irons, and suffered a Jay's imprisonment; at the end of which he was released, making much profession of humility, and an entire acquiescence in the existing state of things. But, with genuine aboriginal duplicity, he had determined upon deep and thorough vengeance. After a sufficient delay to cover his intentions, the warrior set out upon a tour among the neighbouring tribes, circulating the war-belt with great assiduity, and endeavouring in his sonorous and really eloquent style, to incite a general rising for the extermination of the whites from their borders.

In '35, he passed some time among the restless and quarrelsome Creeks, who were easily persuaded to join in the promising scheme. And it was owing altogether to the machinations of this wily individual, that General Scott was forced, in April of this year, to make all speed to their territory, when the battle of the Chattahoochie river, in Georgia and Alabama, was the result. Much praise is due the prudence and conciliating tact of Scott on this occasion, as well as his warlike capabilities, for, by making various trifling concessions, and promising more, the tribe was pacified. Thus a grand link in Osceola's chain of war was broken; alas, that no power was found sufficient to accomplish as much elsewhere.

The first act of the endless tragedy opened as follows: Major Dade, with a detachment of one hundred and seventeen men, was ordered, on the 23rd Dec., 235, from head-quarters at Tampa Bay (Fort Brooke, to join General Clinch at Camp King, a station about one hundred and twenty miles on the route towards St. Augustine. The general was urgently requiring to be reinforced, as his foes were daily increasing in numbers and audacity, and steadily closing around him Major Dade's men forced

their way over two-thirds of the distance, experiencing unexampled dif ficulties and dangers, the roads being obstructed, and bridges burned by hostile bands before them; but on the morning of the fourth day, and when fondly looking for their journey's end, they were unexpectedly ambushed, and volley after volley from unerring rifles poured in upon them before an enemy could be discovered. A solitary man, after being severely wounded, by feigning death escaped. Thence the savages pro ceeded to Camp King, and a like scene was enacted there, at the sutlery, within gunshot of the blockhouse. General Thompson, Lieut. C. Smith, Rogers, the sutler, and others, were at dinner, when Osceola and his party quietly walked in and shot them down, and after leisurely securing those highly prized evidences of their brutality, the scalps of the victims, they as coolly, and without molestation, departed.

A more even-handed part of the play was shortly to be performed: and the truth of that portion of prophetic lore which declares "they who kill with the sword shall themselves likewise perish," was to be practically illustrated. The Indians gaining confidence from their late unchecked operations, assembled in force on the banks of the Withlacoochee, near Clinch's position. Aware how important it was to clear the communication for receival of his supplies, the general instantly sallied forth to dislodge the menacing enemy. After a hard day's fight the Indians retreated, carrying with them their dead; the loss on the part of the whites was between fifty and sixty, killed and wounded. An incident having an air of romance, is stated to have transpired here: Osceola, who commanded the savage array, had formerly received some trifling kindnesses at the hands of an American lieutenant, who was now observed among the foremost of the pale-faces, leading his men to battle; the chief, it is said, at once gave orders that this man should be spared-but that every other officer should be cut down, if possible, without mercy. At all events, the friend of Osceola escaped unharmed from the thickest of the fight, while his compatriots, with scarcely an exception, could boast no such immunity. Though forced to retire, the Indians were by no means discouraged yet; and though Clinch had come off victor for the day, his triumph was dearly bought, and he was still in danger of starvation. Surrounded by a foe the most implacable, and without sufficient means to attempt cutting his way through them, messengers were dispatched in every direction for aid. The enlightened and useful chief, Charley Omathla, with his band of friendly Indians, were next attacked by Osceola and murdered: so that now the Americans found it nearly impossible to communicate from postto post, or procure an emissary able to thread his way at all through the beset paths of the forest. At the end of a month, however, assistance arrived. General Scott landed at St. Augustine on the 7th of February, and was approaching Fort Drane, when he received information that General Gaines had also landed, upon a part of the peninsula nearer Clinch, with a reinforcement sufficient for every purpose. Scott was himself or dered to proceed forthwith to the Creek country, which he did, and in a short time quelled the disturbances there, as before mentioned. Meanwhile, the second battle of the Withlacoochee was fought between Gaines and the savages, when the former proved victorious, and relieved Clinch. Immediately thereafter, disliking Florida service, or deeming the troubles ended, General Gaines took up his line of march for New Orleans, his former quarters.

General Clinch, unambitious of further laurels, about the same time resigned his commission and went into retiracy. General R. K. Call. governor of the territory, then assumed command-in-chief, and proposed vigorously to prosecute the warfare to conclusion. For some cause, however, an order was early received by the governor, from General Ma comb, at head-quarters, announcing a further change in the command.

Adjutant-general Jesup was nominated in his stead, much to the dissatis faction of General Call, and the complete discomfiture of his extensivelymade arrangements. Burning with zeal, and filled with confidence in his own abilities, General Jesup determined by a series of swift and brilliant movements to rid fair, fated Florida at once of all her foes. Judiciously planned and well carried into execution, were his first measures: bodies of troops were thrown among the Indian villages, and kept close upon the trail of the war-parties. The result of this, was a speedy report of sev eral battles, almost simultaneously, in different quarters of the country. First, Col. Henderson, commanding marines, came upon the enemy suddenly, near the head waters of the Ocklawaha, when a severe action ensued, in which the chief Osuchee, or Cooper, fell, his warriors being routed, and their camp equipage taken. A few days later the same corps encountered a party of the enemy on the banks of the river Hatchee-Luskee, when a severe masked fight took place, in which the Indians had the worst of it, though they managed finally to escape into the everglades, bearing with them their dead. The next battle of the season (8th February, '37) was that of Lake Monroe, when the Indians were the attacking party, and came well prepared. They assaulted the command of Col. Fan ning at break of day, on all points, and fought with the greatest intrepidity but were eventually repulsed, though not until they had wounded many and killed Captain Mellon, of the 2d artillery, a meritorious officer, who held his position bravely to the last.

General Jesup, in his report of proceedings about this date, mentions coming upon the Thlau-hatkee (White Mountains), an elevated range of hills not mentioned by any geographer, nor described in any account of Florida hitherto published. The passage of his scouring parties over these ridges was exceedingly difficult, rendering the transportation of baggage-wagons almost impossible.

Up to the beginning of March, '37, the contest was waged with much vigour on both sides; but the chiefs then found they were fast getting worsted, and they therefore proposed, unitedly, to capitulate. Jesup at once offered them favourable terms, when, without hesitation, a majority of them came into camp. In the short space of thirty days from that time, nearly the whole disposable force of the savages, with their women, chidren, and negroes, were comfortably housed in the different forts, harmless, and apparently contented, awaiting the action of authorities in regard to their removal. The principal chief, Holatechee, son of Micanopy, king of the Seminoles, came in; his father being detained at home by sickness, sent a promise that he would also soon come. At the same time arrived from their war-paths, Cloud, Jumper, Jim Boy, and Tuste. nuggee, with Abraham, a negro, the Talleyrand of the savage court; they all and severally agreed that the people under their command should remove as soon as the necessary preparations could be made. Our commander-in-chief, therefore, in the plenitude of his simplicity, or beguilement, pronounced the war ended; and he began at once the arrangements which were, no doubt, kindly intended to separate for ever the sons of the forest from the scenes of all their earlier joys and sorrows-as well as to relieve his own men for a season from their arduous but well-performed duties. Transports were ordered in readiness, the commissary's department largely drawn upon, and everything appeared in a fair train of completion, when, alas! a most unfortunate interruption put a period to these promising plans.

Jesup certainly did much, perhaps more than any one else, towards quelling the storm which was desolating Florida when he landed upon its shores; but he had evidently yet to learn what a hydra-headed description of monster "the war" in reality was. No sooner had the sickly season commenced, and the unacclimated soldiers begun to fall victims