The yellow fever was epidemic in the cities of Philadelphia 1798. and New York. In the first, 3645 persons died of this disease; in the last, 1310. It appeared for the first time, as an epidemic, Yellow at Boston, where the deaths were about 145. The new state house in Boston was first occupied.1 fever. Jeffery lord Amherst, the British commander in chief at the Deaths. conquest of Canada, in 1759, died in England, aged 81 years;2 Jeremy Belknap, minister in Boston, aged 54 years.3 1799. THE French government having made a fresh proposal of Embassy to negotiation, president Adams appointed Oliver Ellsworth, chief France. justice of the United States, Patrick Henry, late governor of Virginia, and William Vans Murray, minister at the Hague, to be envoys to the French republic, to discuss and settle by treaty all controversies between the United States and France. Mr. Henry died on the 4th of June, before the time of embarkation; and governor Davie, of North Carolina, was appointed in his The envoys were not to embark for Europe until the Executive Directory of France should give assurances to the United States that they shall be cordially received, and that a minister of equal powers shall be appointed to treat with them.1 room. & Prussia. A treaty of peace and friendship between the United States Treaties and the kingdom of Tunis, negotiated by William Eaton and with Tunis James L. Cathcart, was concluded on the 6th of March; and a treaty of amity and commerce between the United States and the king of Prussia, negotiated by John Quincy Adams, minister plenipotentiary at the court of Berlin, on the 11th of July. 1 Its corner stone was laid by governor Adams on the 4th of July, 1794. 2 General Amherst, having taken Cape Breton in 1758, succeeded Abercrombie in the command of the army in North America; and the fall of Niagara, Ticonderoga, Quebec, and Montreal, with the submission of all Canada, marked the progress of his judicious and successful measures. His services were honourably rewarded by the court, and gratefully remembered by the colonies. The American artist has introduced Amherst into his "Death of Chatham;" and it is gratifying to know that he has well copied the original. On making some inquiry of prince Edward when at Cambridge, while we were looking upon West's Death of Chatham in the college library, pointing to lord Amherst, he said, the likeness was excellent. 3 The Rev. Dr. Belknap was born in Boston, and educated at Harvard College, where he was graduated in 1762. After a ministry of some years in the church in Dover, New Hampshire, he came to Boston, and on invitation of the presbyterian church there, which was at this time formed upon congregational principles, he was installed its pastor in 1787. The character of this estimable man, and eminent historian and biographer, and an account of his publications, may be found in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. vi. 10-18, and Eliot and Allen, Biog. 4 See A. D. 1800. For a very interesting and instructive biography of the great Virginia statesman and orator, see Wirt's Sketches of the Life and Character of PATRICK HENRY. 1799. Salem East rine So ciety. Thomas Truxton, commander of the United States frigate Constellation, took the French frigate Insurgente.1 The whole American navy consisted, this year, of 42 vessels, carrying 950 guns. Of the episcopal clergy in the United States there were, at this time, 7 bishops, and 211 presbyters.2 The Salem East India Marine Society was founded. It is India Ma- composed of persons who have actually navigated the seas beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, as masters or supercargoes of vessels belonging to Salem. The chief objects of this institution are, to assist the widows and children of deceased members; to collect such facts and observations as tend to the improvement and security of navigation; and to form a Museum of natural and artificial curiosities, particularly such as are found beyond the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn.3 Societies. Marine The Massachusetts Missionary Society was instituted. A Medical Society in North Carolina was incorporated. The Marine Hospital of the United States was opened at Fort IndeHospital. pendence. Its object is the reception of sick or disabled officers and sailors, in the service of the public or of merchants.* An American Review was begun at New York.5 Review. A telegraph on an improved plan was invented by Mr. Jonathan Grout of Belcherton, in Massachusetts. The inventor set up one of his telegraphs between Boston and Martha's Vineyard, places 90 miles apart, at which distance he asked a question and received an answer in less than ten minutes. 1 The captured frigate had 44 guns. The action was off St. Christopher's, in the West Indies. Congress presented captain Truxton a gold medal; and the Underwriters of Lloyd's coffee house, in London, presented him a silver urn, estimated at 600 guineas.-" A schedule of the names of American vessels captured by the French, and of the circumstances attending them,” commencing with July 1796, is inserted in Wait's American State Papers, iii. 21. The whole number captured was 308. 2 Adams, View of Religions. In the states south of New England there were 164 ordained and officiating episcopal ministers; 18 in the state of New York, 6 in New Jersey, 14 in Pennsylvania, 4 in Delaware, 39 in Maryland, 68 in Virginia, and 15 in South Carolina. Trumbull. 3 The Society was incorporated in 1801. By one of the articles in its Regulations, every member bound to sea, is authorized to receive from the Society a blank journal in which he is to insert all things worthy of notice which occur during his voyage, and, upon his return, it is to be deposited with the Society. In 1821, 67 journals of voyages, made to various parts of the world, had been deposited. They are open to the public, and recourse is often had to them, to correct the latitudes and longitudes of places visited by our ships. The Musuem contains a rich, extensive, and splendid collection of natural and artificial curiosities, which are placed in the Hall where the Society holds its meetings. Account of Salem East India Marine Society in 1821. 4 Bartlett's Progress of Medical Science, in 2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 125. This hospital was established at Charlestown in 1803; and is supported by a monthly assessment on seamen. See Act of Congress 16 July, 1798. 5 It was connected with a Magazine until 1801, when it assumed the title of the American Review and Literary Journal. Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, was made the seat of government 1799. of that state, by an act of the legislature. The militia of the United States were estimated at 854,626, Militia. and the seamen at 63,500.1 ington. George Washington, commander in chief of the American forces Death of during the revolutionary war, and first president of the United G. WashStates, died at Mount Vernon, in Virginia, on the 14th of December, aged 68 years. The impression of this afflictive event is without a parallel in the annals of America. It was spontaneous and unaffected grief, which nothing but the loss of the Father of his Country could have excited. The Senate and House of Representatives in Congress resolved, "that a marble monument be erected by the United States in the Capitol, at the city of Washington, and that the family of general Washington be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it; and that the monument be so designed, as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life." Agreeably to other resolutions and recommendations of congress, a funeral oration was delivered by one of its members (major general Lee), in honour of the memory of general Washington, before both houses; and the people of the United States wore crape on the left arm, as mourning, thirty days. "His example," said Mr. Adams, "is now complete; and it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age, but in future generations, as long as any history shall be read. If a Trajan found a Pliny, a Marcus Aurelius can never want biographers, eulogists, or historians."2 1800. removed to THE seat of government of the United States was removed to Seat of gov Washington, in the District of Columbia. The president, in his ernment speech to congress in November, said, that since the adjournment Washingof congress at their last session in Philadelphia, he had given ton. directions in compliance with the laws for the removal of the public offices, records, and property; that these directions had been executed, and the public officers had since resided and conducted the ordinary business of the government, in this place. After congratulating the people of the United States on the assembling of congress at the permanent seat of their government, and congress, on the prospect of a residence not to be changed, the president said, "it would be unbecoming the representetives of 1 For the increase of the militia and seamen of the United States from 1774 to 1799, see TABLES. 2 Answer of president Adams to a letter from the senate, on occasion of the death of Washington. Convention between the France. this nation to assemble, for the first time, in this solemn temple, without looking up to the Supreme Ruler of the universe, and imploring his blessing.-May this territory be the residence of virtue and happiness! In this city may that piety and virtue, that wisdom and magnanimity, that constancy and self-government which adorned the great character whose name it bears, be forever held in veneration! Here, and throughout our country, may simple manners, pure morals, and true religion, flourish for ever!" The envoys, appointed the last year, found the government of U. States & France in new hands. Negotiations, begun under more favourable auspices, terminated the adjustment of differences, in a convention between the United States and the French Republic, concluded at Paris on the 30th of September.1 Oct. 1. ceded by Bankruptcy. Mississippi. Indiana. Census. A treaty was concluded at St. Ildefonso between France and Spain, by which, under certain conditions, the sovereignty and property of Louisiana were ceded by Spain to France. The treaty was executed by the re-entrance of the French republic into possession of that province. Congress enacted a law for establishing a uniform system of bankruptcy.2 The Mississippi Territory was erected into a distinct government. A part of the Northwest Territory of the United States was erected into a temporary government by an act of congress, and named Indiana Territory. By the second census, the number of inhabitants was found to be 5,305,482.3 The shipping of the United States amounted to 939,000 tons. The revenue of the post office was 80,000 dollars. The state of things in Europe rendering the retention Army dis- of the provisional army no longer necessary, congress, on the 13th of May, passed a resolution to disband it. Post office. banded. College. Court. Church. Canal. Cow pock. The college at Middlebury in Vermont was incorporated. The municipal court of Boston was established. It was held by one judge. St. Augustine's church, Roman Catholic, was built at Philadelphia. Santee Canal, extending 22 miles between Santee and Cooper rivers, began to be passed through by boats. It cost the proprietors above 600,000 dollars; a sum exceeding seven times the amount of what the province sold for 72 years before. Inoculation of the cow pock was introduced into America by Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse of Cambridge. 1 This convention was ratified by president Adams 18 February, 1801; agreed to by Bonaparte 31 July; and promulgated by the president 21 December. 2 In 1803 this law was repealed. 3 See TABLES. The weather in South Carolina and Georgia was uncommonly 1800. cold at the commencement of this year; and several snows fell in the months of January and February. The grounds of the Snow in lower country were covered six inches, and those of the upper Georgia. country, two or three feet deep. In the upper country the snow lay several weeks. A sleet, at this time, loaded the trees with ice, from Broad river toward the Savannah, a space of 10 or 15 miles, and made great devastation in the forests.1 William Walter, rector of Christ church in Boston, died in the Deaths. 64th year of his age;2 John Rutledge, at the age of 61 years;3 1 Drayton. A letter from Savannah, dated 11 January, states that the evening preceding, there was "a heavy fall of snow and a severity of cold never before known" in that state; and that "the depth of snow was from two to three feet." By a MS. letter from Midway in Georgia dated 17 February, it appears, that the snow had been three feet deep in particular places, and from 16 to 18 inches on a level.-During seven winters in South Carolina and Georgia, I never saw the ground whitened with snow. 2 The Rev. Dr. Walter was the son of Rev. Nehemiah Walter of Roxbury. He was educated at Harvard College, and ordained by the bishop of London. He was assistant minister of Trinity Church under Rev. Mr. Hooper; at whose decease he succeeded to the rectorship, which he held until 1776, when he went to England. In 1791 he returned to America, and in 1792 was chosen rector of Christ Church. Rev. Dr. Parker, who preached his funeral sermon, delineated his character as ornamental to religion and to the church, to literature and humanity. Eaton's Hist. Account of Christ Church. 3 He was born in South Carolina in 1739. In 1761 he commenced the practice of law, and soon became eminent in his profession. He was sent a delegate to the first continental congress which met at New York in 1765; and "the members of the distant provinces were surprised at the eloquence of the young member from Carolina." At the commencement of the revolution he was by successive elections a member of congress till the year 1776, when he was elected president and commander in chief of South Carolina, in conformity to a constitution established by the people in that year. In this office he rendered important service to his country. General Lee, who commanded the continental troops, pronounced Sullivan's island to be a "slaughter pen," and either gave orders, or was disposed to give them, for its evacuation. The troops which Carolina had raised before congress had declared Independence, remained subject to the authority of the State, and at this early period were not under the command of the officers of congress. To prevent the evacuation of the fort on Sullivan's island, president Rutlege shortly before the commencement of the action on the 28th of June, 1776, wrote the following laconic note to general Moultrie, who had the command on the island: "General Lee wishes you to evacuate the fort. You will not do it without an order from ine. I would sooner cut off my hand than write one. JOHN RUTLEDGE." In 1778 he resigned the office of president; but at the next election he was reinstated in the executive authority of the State, under a new constitution, with the name of governor, substituted in the place of president. In 1784 he was elected a judge of the court of chancery in South Carolina. In 1787 he assisted in framing a national constitution; and as soon as it was in operation, he was designated by president Washington as first associate judge of the supreme court of the United States. In 1791 he was elected chief justice of South Carolina. He was afterwards appointed chief justice of the United States. "Thus for more than 30 years, with few short intervals, he served his country in one or other of the departments of government; and in all with fidelity and ability." Ramsay, Hist. South Carolina, ii. 510-519. |
