ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE VINCENNES HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 22, 1839 BY JUDGE JOHN LAW LOUISVILLE, KY. PRENTICE AND WEISSINGER, PRINTERS 1839 TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK REPRINTED WILLIAM ABBATT 1915 Being Extra Number 44 of THE MAGAZINE OF HISTORY WITH NOTES AND QUERIES TH EDITOR'S PREFACE HE two very dissimilar items composing this EXTRA are alike only in their rarity. While the first is a history of the settlement and early days of a then far western town, the second is a masterly arraignment in Hudibrastic verse, of the French Directory of 1798, by William Cobbett, the celebrated Peter Porcupine, of whom Southey declared, that there never was a better or more forceful English writer. It was during the efforts of our representatives, Elbridge Gerry, John Marshall and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, that the latter made the famous retort, in reply to the brazen demand for money as the price of peace with France, "Millions for defence, but not a cent for tribute." Neither of these items has been reprinted before, and they will probably be new to most readers. For the portrait of Judge Law, we are indebted to the kindness of the Indiana Historical Society. It, too, has not been published before. CORRESPONDENCE At a meeting of the Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society, February the 22d, 1839, On motion of Dr. Stahl, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: 1st. That the thanks of this Society be, and they are, hereby tendered to the Hon. John Law, for the learned and interesting oration delivered by him to-day. 2d. That a committee be appointed to request a copy of said oration for publication in pamphlet form, at the expense of the Society. A. T. ELLIS, Pres't pro. tem. GEO. R. GIBSON, Secretary. Vincennes, February 23, 1839. DEAR SIR: The undersigned, a committee appointed by the "Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society," request from you a copy of the oration delivered by you on the 22d February, for publication-and as it is their wish, and the desire of our citizens generally, that the same should be published, for the learning and collection of historical facts contained in it, we trust that you will yield to the request, and furnish us with a copy of the same for that purpose. We are, with great respect and esteem, yours, &c. GEO. R. GIBSON, HON. JOHN LAW Vincennes, February 25, 1839. GENTLEMEN: Yours, under date of the 23d February, was duly received. The address to which vou refer was intended for the use of the society of which you are members, and is entirely at their service. Some of the incidents connected with the capture of Vincennes by Col. Clark, and set forth in the address, were, as you well know, derived from a |