possession of their camp and batteries. In the following month, the islands of Ocrakoke and Portsmouth on the coast of North Carolina were captured by the squadron of Admiral Cockburne. In the naval combats between the two nations, success began to be more equally divided. The preceding year closed with another loss, though not a disgrace, to the British navy. On December 29th, 1812, the English frigate Java, Captain Lambert, of 46 guns, with Lieutenant-General Heslop and his staff on board, bound to the East Indies, gave chace off St. Salvador in Brazil to a strange sail, which proved to be the American frigate Constitution, Commodore Bainbridge, of 55 guns. In the action which ensued, the Java was reduced to a mere wreck by the superior fire of her antagonist, and was compelled to strike after sustaining a very severe loss, in which was that of her brave captain. This misfortune was compensated to the British navy by an action in which it recovered its wonted honours. His Majesty's frigate Shannon, Captain Broke, stationed off the port of Boston, had been brought to a state of the most perfect discipline by her commander, who assiduously exercised his men in the use of great and small arms. In this state of preparation, Captain Broke, on June 1st, stood close in with Boston lighthouse by way of a challenge to the United States' frigate Chesapeake, a fine ship of 49 guns fully manned. The American accepted the proffered combat, and standing out of the harbour, confidently bore down on his foe. The ships were soon in close contact, when Captain Broke, discerning a favourable opportunity, gave orders for boarding, himself setting the example. The conflict was bloody but short: the American's decks were cleared in two minutes, her colours were hauled down, and the British flag hoisted over them, and she was led away in triumph, in the sight of all her friends, who were expecting her victorious return. The French navy was now so much reduced, that scarcely any occasion was given during this year to British seamen, of displaying their superiority in the combats of squadrons or single ships against their accustomed foe; and their spirit of enterprize was chiefly exercised in attacks upon harbours, and batteries on the sea-coast. Several spirited and successful actions of this kind in the Mediterranean and its branches were reported, of which one of the most considerable was the capture of Fiume in the Gulph of Venice. Admiral Freemantle, with a squadron under his command," on July 2d, anchored opposite to this town, which was defended by four strong batteries. On the 3d, the ships weighed to attack the batteries, whilst a detachment of seamen and marines was sent to storm the Mole Head. This party succeeding, dashed into the town, drove before them the garrison with the governor at its head, and with a very small loss, gained complete possession of the place. It was highly to the honour of the victors, that although the town was stormed in every part, not an individual was plundered, and nothing was carried away except the goods afloat and the government stores. Of 90 vessels captured, more than half were restored to their owners. The French navy in October sustained the loss of two frigates, which, in returning to their ports, were nearly disabled by a hard gale, and in that condition fell in with English ships, to which they were incapable of making any adequate resistance. Among the foreign incidents of this year may be mentioned a visitation of the plague in the island of Malta, which spread alarm through all the Mediterranean, and excited particular interest in this country on account of the British troops stationed there. They were, however, preserved from the contagion by proper precautions; and the whole mortality was not great in proportion to the singular populousness of the island. In the month of July some severe though partial hurricanes were experienced in the West India islands, The greatest injury was sustained in Dominica and Bermuda. In the latter of these, the town of Nassau, by two successive tempests from opposite quarters on the same day, was nearly ruined, one-third of the houses being levelled with the ground, and all the rest greatly injured, with a vast destruction of property. The British parliament re-assembled on November 4th, and was opened by the Prince Regent in a speech from the throne. Its topics were chiefly the new alliances against the power of France, and their successes; and the war with America. His Royal Highness declared his readiness to enter into discussions for the adjustment of the differences subsisting between this country and the United States, "Upon principles not inconsistent with the established maxims of public law, and with the maritime rights of the British empire." With respect to the other great contest, he affirmed that "no disposition to require from France sacrifices of any description inconsistent with her honour, or just pretensions as a nation, will ever be on his part, or on that of his Majesty's allies, an obstacle to peace." The addresses on the speech were carried without opposition. After the treaties and conventions with Russia and Prussia had been laid before parliament, Lord Castlereagh introduced in the House of Commons a measure for augmenting the disposable force of the country, which consisted in allowing a number from the militia regiments, not exceeding three-fourths of the whole, to volunteer into the line on payment of an additional bounty, and to be accompanied by their officers, to whom an encouragement was to be given for volunteering. Leave being granted to bring in a bill upon this plan, it passed through both Houses without opposition; the general impression being, both in and out of parliament, that in the present conjuncture of affairs, every possible exertion should be made to bring the great contest on the continent to a speedy and desirable issue. In the same spirit, a supplementary loan of 22 millions proposed by the chancellor of the exchequer was agreed to; and various foreign subsidies consequent upon engagements entered into by the ministers, were passed without a dissentient voice. On December 20th parliament broke up with a motion for an adjournment to March 1st, which, after an attempt to shorten the period by an amendment, was carried without a division. A. D. 1814. Year of GEORGE III. 54 & 55. 2 & 3. The Allied Armies enter France. Napoleon leaves Paris and heads his Troops. Actions. Retreat of Napoleon and Advance of the Allies. He concentrates his Forces and repels Marshal Blucher.— Afterwards marches against Prince Schwartzenberg who retires. Motions of the Crown Prince of Sweden. Failure of the British at Bergen-op-Zoom.- Advance of Lord Wellington. - Negotiations at Chatillon; broken off. Farther Actions between the main Armies. — Paris. - The Allies determine on marching to Paris. Wellington continues to advance, and Bordeaux declares for the Bourbons. Battle before Its Result, and Capitulation of Paris. Provisional Government.-Deposition of Buonaparte. He sends in his Resignation. -His treaty with the Allied Powers. Battle of Toulouse.-Sortie from Bayonne. Naval Actions with the French. - Parliament. Bill respecting Colonial Offices. Bills to take away Corruption of Blood, and alter the Mode of Execution in High Treason. relative to the Speaker's Address to the Prince Regent.-Proceedings on the Corn Laws. Budget. Bill for preserving Peace in Ireland. Departure of Louis XVIII. from England; Entrance into Paris. -Treaty between France and the Allied Powers.-Dutch Constitution. -Plan of the Union of all Belgium,-Hamburg restored to Independence. Hanover erected into a Kingdom. Treaty between Denmark, Sweden, and Great Britain. - Cession of Norway to Sweden. Resistance of the Norwegians, and its final Result. Return of Ferdinand VII. to Spain. Abolition of the Cortes.· The Pope's Return to Rome. Revival of the order of Jesuits, and Restoration of other Religious Communities. King of Sardinia recovers his Italian Territories, with the annexation of Genoa.-Alliance between the King of Naples and Emperor of Austria.- Federal Compact of Switzerland. Affairs in the United States of America.- Actions Operations against the Southern States. City of Washington taken. -Expeditions against Alexandria and Baltimore. Farther Actions in Canada and on the Lakes. Destruction of the British Flotilla on Lake Champlain, and Retreat of General Prevost. Naval Actions.— Peace signed at Ghent. - Autumnal Session of Parliament. - Debate on continuing -Amendment of Irish Peace-preservation Act. Catholics. Princess of Wales. - Royal and T the commencement of this year the attention of all Europe was fixed upon France, which, from having |