The description thus coldly penned by one of the actors in this barbarous drama, only falls short of the terrible truth. In the American metropolis, then in the fifteenth year, only, of its existence, the British found about nine hundred houses, scattered in groups over a surface of three miles; and two splendid buildings, namely, the capitol, as yet unfinished, and the president's house, these being among the finest specimens of architecture in the new world. But, beautiful though they were, the torch of the incendiary soon laid them in ruins. The great bridge across the Potomac was also wantonly burnt. The blaze produced by these wholesale acts of destruction was seen even in Baltimore, forty miles distant. All that was combustible about the capitol and the presidential mansion, including therein all the furniture and articles of taste or value, and the valuable libraries of the senate and house of representatives, was reduced to ashes; and the walls of these stately buildings, blackened with smoke and in melancholy demolition, remained, for a time, the monuments of British barbarity. Gales and Seaton's valuable printing establishment was also destroyed. All the public buildings, with the exception of the patent-office, shared the same fate at the hands of the enemy, who also took particular pains to mutilate the beautiful monument erected in honor of the naval heroes who fell at Tripoli.

It is related, that when the detachment sent out to destroy the president's house entered his dining-parlor, they found a dinner-table spread, and covers laid for forty guests. Several kinds of wine, in handsome cut-glass decanters, were cooling on the side-board; dishes and plates,

for immediate use. In short, everything was ready for the entertainment of a ceremonious party. Such were the arrangements in the dining-room, while in the kitchen were others answerable to them in every respect. Spits, loaded with savory joints, turned before the fire; pots, saucepans, and other culinary utensils, stood near by; and all the other requisites for an elegant and substantial repast were exactly in a state which indicated that they had lately and precipitately been abandoned. These preparations were beheld by a party of hungry British soldiers, with no indifferent eye. An elegant dinner, even though considerably over-dressed, was a luxury to which few of them, at least for some time back, had been accustomed, and which, after the dangers and fatigues of the day, appeared peculiarly inviting. They sat down to it, therefore, not indeed in the most orderly manner, but with countenances which would scarcely have belied a party of aldermen at a civic feast; and, having satisfied their appetites with fewer complaints than would have probably escaped their rival gourmands aforesaid, and partaken pretty freely of the presidential wines, they finished with the incendiary's torch, and with such a carnival of violence and plunder as would disgrace even the Thugs of India.

Mrs. Madison states that General Ross sent a message, offering her an escort to whatever place of safety she might choose. "I make no war, "I make no war," Ross pretentiously. remarked, "on letters or ladies, and I have heard so much in praise of Mrs. Madison, that I would rather protect than burn a house which sheltered so excellent a lady." She, however, had seasonably absented herself, taking with her such valuables, in the shape of plate, portraits, and wardrobe, as she could hastily collect and have placed in a wagon. One of the articles which Mrs. Madison insisted on saving, before leaving, was a large picture of General Washington by Stuart; it was, however, screwed to the wall, and the frame had therefore to be broken and the canvas

detached therefrom, Mrs. Madison standing near by, with a carving knife in her hand, ready with her assistance. She succeeded, with the aid of Mr. Jacob Barker, in her purpose, and escaped to a tavern some sixteen miles from the city, Mr. Madison joining her, secretly, in the evening. Ross remained in his camp during the night. Cockburn, it is said, passed the same time, in beastly degradation, at a brothel.

The British having accomplished the object of their visit, passed through Bladensburg, on the route to Benedict. They left their dead unburied; such of their wounded as could ride, were placed on horseback, others in carts and wagons, and a considerable number were left behind. The wounded British prisoners were intrusted to the humanity of Commodore Barney, who provided everything for their comfort; and such as recovered were exchanged, and returned to the British. The retreat of the invaders, though unmolested, was precipitate, and conducted under evident apprehension of an attack. They took Alexandria on the thirtieth of August. On the twelfth of September they marched upon Baltimore, but were repulsed, General Ross losing his life in the preliminary engagement. It was amid the excitement of this movement on the part of the foe, especially their bombardment of Fort McHenry, that Francis Key, who was on the spot at the time, composed that popular song, "The Star Spangled Banner."

On account of Washington being the seat of government of the American republic, its capture occasioned great eclat on the part of the British, and much chagrin and indignation throughout the United States-indeed, the whole civilized world exclaimed against the act, as a violation of the rules of modern warfare. The capitals of most of the European kingdoms had lately been in the power of an enemy; but in no instance had the conqueror been guilty of similar conduct. In this case, too, the outrages were committed while a treaty of peace was actually pending! The success of the Americans in the battles of Chippewa and Bridgewater, had, doubtless, greatly exasperated the haughty Britons, and led them to this act.

A

So overwhelming was the effect upon. the people of the United States, of the wanton burning and plunder of their capital, that party spirit instantly vanished, and with it the dissensions which had almost paralyzed the government. nation of freemen was seen to rise in its strength. Multitudes who had at first opposed the war on the ground of its impolicy, or who had condemned the invasion of Canada, now viewed Great Britain only as a powerful nation, precipitating her armies on the country, with the simple intention of sating her vengeance by desolating its fairest portions. The whole country was in motion; every town was a camp; all considerations were merged into one, paramount above all others, namely, the defense of the country against a barbarous foe.

by an attack upon that place by land, and, at the same time, to attempt the destruction of the American flotilla concentrated on the lake:

Accordingly, on the third of September, Sir George Prevost, the governor-general of Canada, at the head of some fourteen thousand men-most of them veterans who had served under Wellington in his recent victorious campaigns against Napoleon-entered the territories of the United States. On the sixth they arrived at Plattsburg. It is situated near the lake, on the northern bank of the small river Saranac. On their approach, the American troops, who were posted on the opposite bank, tore up the planks of the bridges, with which they formed slight breastworks, and prepared to dispute the passage of the stream. The British employed themselves for several days in erecting batteries, while the American forces were daily augmented by the arrival of volunteers and militia. Early in the morning of the eleventh, the British squadron, commanded by Commodore Downie, appeared off the harbor of Plattsburg, where that of the United States, commanded by Commodore McDonough, lay at anchor prepared for battle. Downie, an officer of high distinction, coveted this combat upon Britain's favorite element, not doubting for a moment that he should cover himself with glory, by the speedy capture or annihilation of the Yankee fleet. He little knew the pluck of McDonough, —a striking illustration of whose character may here be related:

In 1806, McDonough was lieutenant of a United States vessel, the Siren, then cruising in the Mediterranean, under the command of Captain Smith. One forenoon, during the absence of Captain Smith on shore, a merchant brig, under the colors of the United States, came into port, and anchored ahead and close to the Siren. Soon after, a boat was sent from a British frigate then lying in the harbor, and the crew boarded this merchantman. After remaining alongside a little while, the boat returned, with one more man than

the report of this affair was borne to the captain of the British frigate, he put off, in a rage, for the Siren, determined to know how McDonough had dared to take a man from one of his majesty's boats. Politely greeting him, McDonough resolutely said

"The man is an American seaman, and under the protection of the flag of the United States, and it is my duty to protect him."

"By ! I don't care for your American flag! If you don't give up the man, I'll bring my frigate alongside, and blow you to the devil!" replied the Britisher.

"That you may do; but, as long as my vessel swims, I shall keep the man," calmly responded McDonough.

“You are a very young man, and will repent of this indiscretion. If I had been in the boat, you would not dared to have taken the man, I'm if you would!”

“I would have taken the man, or lost my life," said McDonough.

"What, sir! would you attempt to stop me, if I were now to undertake to impress men from that brig?" inquired the British captain, scornfully.

"I would; and, if you wish to be convinced, you have only to make a commencement."

Enraged at this, the Englishman returned to his ship, and shortly afterwards was seen making in the direction of the American merchantman. McDonough thereupon ordered his boat manned and armed, and got in her himself, all in readiness for pursuit. The Englishman, seeing the turn things were likely to take, and deeming discretion to be the better part of valor, contented himself with taking a circuit round the American brig, and returning again to the frigate. Thus the affair ended.

It was with this cool, intrepid, and resolute master of himself and of the situation, that Downie, flushed with expectations of a speedy and easy victory, was soon to deal, and by whom, as the sequel showed, he was doomed to overwhelming defeat, on the waters of that vast lake where his squadron now floated in proud defiance. Indeed, such was the assurance of ability in the mind of Downie, to scatter the Americans to the four winds, that a British barge, filled with amateur spectators, accompanied the other vessels, which misled McDonough to suppose that there were thirteen barges in force, when in reality there were but twelve, the thirteenth being filled with idlers, who came not to bear the brunt of battle, but to enjoy the excursion, and witness and share the expected victory.

On Sunday morning, September 11, 1814, it being the fifth day of the siege, the motives which induced the British general to delay, hitherto, his final assault upon the American works, became appar

ent. Relying on his ability to carry them, however they might be strengthened and fortified, he had awaited the arrival of the British fleet, in the belief that, with its co-operation, an easy conquest could be made not only of the American army, but also of the American fleet. On this day, therefore, the British fleet, consisting of the frigate Confiance, carrying thirty-nine guns, twenty-seven of which were twentyfour pounders; the brig Linnet, of sixteen guns; the sloops Chub and Finch, each carrying eleven guns; and a large number of galleys, each carrying one or two guns; was seen coming round Cumberland, where the American fleet lay at anchor.

The American fleet comprised the ship Saratoga, carrying twenty-six guns, eight of which were long twenty-four pounders; the brig Eagle, of twenty guns; the schooner Ticonderoga, of seventeen guns; the sloop Preble, seven guns; and ten galleys, six carrying two guns each, and the remainder one gun apiece.

Besides the advantage which the enemy possessed in being able to choose their position, their force was much superior: The number of guns, all told, in the British fleet, amounted to ninety-five, and of men, to upwards of a thousand; while the Americans had only eighty-six guns, and eight hundred and twenty men. One of the American vessels had been built with almost incredible dispatch; eighteen days before, the trees of which it was structed were actually growing on the shores of the lake.

con

The American vessels were moored in line, with five gun-boats or galleys on each flank. At eight o'clock, the look-out boat announced the approach of the British, and at nine, immediately on getting round. Cumberland Head, Downie anchored in line abreast of the American force, at about three hundred yards distance, and gave tokens of battle. The youthful McDonough awaited all these movements with perfect calmness and order. Indeed, true to his manly character and to his trained habits of observing the Sabbath and trusting to divine help in human