by Captain Gray on the 7th of May; and he gave it the name of his ship, which name has since been retained.

Congress passed an act fixing the rates for postage, which rates were not changed until the year 1815. The rate for single letters for a distance of thirty miles was six and one quarter cents; beyond that the rate increased with the distance. 1793 George Washington and John Adams were inaugurated for a second term of office as President and Vice-President, respectively.

In April Citizen Genet arrived in this country as minister from the French Republic. It having been expected in France that the United States would engage on its side against England and other nations, Genet, on his arrival, issued commissions to vessels of war to sail from American ports and cruise against the enemies of France. Whereupon the President issued a proclamation, declaring the policy of this government to be that of pursuing a conduct of friendship and impartiality toward the belligerent powers; and that whosoever of the citizens of the United States should render himself liable to punishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, by committing, aiding, or abetting hostilities against any of the said powers, or by carrying to any of them those articles which were deemed contraband by the modern usage of nations, would not receive the protection of the United States against such forfeiture and punishment. The President also gave instructions that prosecutions would be instituted against all persons who should, within the cognizance of the courts of the United States, violate the laws of nations with respect to the powers at war, or any of them. Mr. Genet, after this, threatened to appeal to the people; but finally, after many controversies with him, the President demanded his recall by the French Government, which demand was acceded to. Genet is said to have introduced into this country the idea of "democratic societies," in imitation of the Jacobin clubs of Paris. On the 30th of May one was instituted at Philadelphia. Others were formed in other cities, and from their name the term Democrat first came to be used in the politics of this country.

Congress passed an act by which slave-masters and their agents were given summary power to seize, hold, and return to slavery their fugitive bondsmen escaping from one State into another.

The yellow-fever devastated Philadelphia, and more than one half the houses in the city were deserted by people who fled the place.

The first printing-press in Tennessee was set up at Knoxville, and the first newspaper issued called the Knoxville Gazette.

The first newspaper published north of the Ohio was issued at Cincinnati on the 9th of November, and called The Sentinel of the Northwestern Territory.

The first Sunday-school opened in New England was established at Pawtucket by Samuel Slater.

This year is marked by the invention by Eli Whitney of the

1794

cotton-gin. Up to this time the cleaning of cotton from the seed was done by hand, one laborer accomplishing about six pounds a day. By this invention about one thousand pounds of cotton could be cleaned in the same time.

The city of Washington was founded, and the corner-stone of the Capitol laid by President Washington, on the 18th of September.

The first mill in the United States for the manufacture of cotton-yarns wa erected by Samuel Slater at North Providence.

The first manufacture of clocks as a business in America was started by Eli Terry, at Plymouth, Conn.

At this time the western forts on Lake Erie were still occupied by the British, contrary to the treaty of 1783. American vessels were seized by vessels of that nation on their way to French ports and American seamen were impressed. In view of those facts, the President, after many remonstrances with the British Government, fearing that the United States might get involved in war with England, sent John Jay as a special envoy to London, to endeavor to avert that calamity by negotiation. In November a treaty with Great Britain was signed, and was afterward ratified by the United States Senate. As this treaty was considered favorable to Great Britain, the publication of it in this country tended to heighten the asperity of political parties, and to increase the feelings of hostility toward England which were entertained by the opposition to the administration. An insurrection broke out in Pennsylvania caused by the passage by congress of acts imposing duties upon spirits distilled, and upon stills. From the commencement of the operation of those laws, combinations of distillers were formed in the four western counties of Pennsylvania to defeat them, and violence was repeatedly committed. In July about one hundred armed men attacked the house of an inspector of the revenue and wounded several persons. They seized the marshal of that district, and compelled him to enter into stipulations to forbear the execution of his office. Both the inspector and the marshal were obliged to flee from that part of the country. These and many other outrages induced President Washington to issue a proclamation commanding the insurgents to disperse. In October the President proceeded to Bedford at the head of a body of militia, where he gave out instructions to Governor Lee of Maryland, whom he appointed to command the forces for the suppression of the rebellion, now supported by several thousand men. Governor Lee with fifteen thousand troops marched into Pennsylvania, and compelled the insurgents to lay down their arms and solicit the clemency of the government.

General St. Clair having resigned the command of the army since his defeat, General Wayne was appointed to succeed him. On the 20th of August General Wayne had a battle with a large body of Indians at the rapids of the Miami, in which he defeated them; he then desolated their country, and erected forts in the heart of their settlements.

1795

1796

The foreign and domestic debts of the United States on the 1st of January were a little more than seventy-four millions of dollars. As an offset, there were about twenty-six millions applicable to the sinking-fund.

The Insurance Company of North America, in Philadelphia, and the Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, were incorporated.

The first turnpike road in the United States was completed by a private company, and connected Lancaster with Philadelphia, a distance of sixty-two miles.

The first cotton sewing-thread manufactured in the United States was made this year at Pawtucket.

Samuel Morey built a steamboat with a stern-wheel, and navigated it from Hartford to New York.

Dayton, in Ohio, was laid out into a town and the lots disposed of by lottery.

The first newspaper published west of the Mississippi was issued at New Orleans under the name of The Moniteur.

The first theatre established in Boston was opened on the 4th of February, under the name of The Federal Street Theatre. The law forbidding theatrical performances had been repealed in the preceding year.

By an act of congress the addition of two stars and two stripes was made to the national flag.

On the 27th of March congress authorized the construction of six frigates as the foundation of a navy. The vessels of the Revolutionary war were disposed of at the end of that con

test.

The reserve lands belonging to the State of Connecticut were sold for twelve hundred thousand dollars, and the proceeds of the sale were appropriated for the support of schools in the State.

The exports of the United States for this year amounted to more than forty-seven millions of dollars.

The Massachusetts Fire Insurance Company of Boston was incorporated.

The yellow-fever attacked the city of New York, and more than seven hundred persons died from it.

The first newspaper established in the United States exclusively for commercial topics was issued at Boston on the 5th of September, under the title of The Boston Prices-Current and Marine Intelligencer, Commercial and Mercantile.

The third presidential election took place this year. Washington was earnestly solicited to be a candidate for re-election, but he positively declined. John Adams and Thomas Pinckney were supported by the Federalists as President and VicePresident. The Republicans were unanimously in favor of Thomas Jefferson for President, but were not united on the subject of Vice-President. At the election, of the electoral votes John Adams received 71; Thomas Jefferson, 68; Thomas Pinckney, 59; Aaron Burr, 30; Samuel Adams, 15; Oliver Ellsworth, 11; George Clinton, 7; John Jay, 5; James Iredell, 3; George

1797

1798

Washington, 2; J. Henry, 2; S. Johnson, 2; and Charles C. Pinckney, 1. By the constitution as it stood at this period, the person receiving the highest number of electoral votes was elected President, the next highest Vice-President. Accordingly John Adams was the successful candidate for President, and Thomas Jefferson became the Vice-President elect.

Tennessee was formed under a State government and admitted into the Union. Knoxville was made the capital until the year 1802.

The census of Albany showed a population of 6021.

The first Methodist Church established in Boston was opened this year.

On the 20th of June a conflagration at Charleston, S. C., consumed three hundred houses; and one at Savannah on the 25th of November destroyed three hundred and fifty.

There was a large emigration to Ohio of people from the Eastern States. At this period Cincinnati contained about six hun

dred inhabitants.

At this time there were four daily stages between New York and Philadelphia, and one between Philadelphia and Baltimore. The first successful manufacture of sugar from cane was made at a plantation a few miles above New Orleans.

Cleveland, in Ohio, was founded, and Baltimore incorporated with a city charter. The first directory in Baltimore was published.

A conflagration in Savannah destroyed property valued at one million of dollars.

The first newspaper published in Washington was issued on the 11th of June, and called The Washington Gazette.

The first daily newspaper established in Boston appeared on the 6th of October, under the name of The Polar Star and-Boston Daily Advertiser.

The first manufacture of morocco leather in the United States was started at Lynn, Mass.

John Adams was inaugurated President, and Thomas Jefferson took the oath of office as Vice-President, on the 4th of March. There were at this period four hundred and eighty post-offices in the United States.

Detroit at this time contained three hundred houses.

The first American vessel on Lake Erie was launched near Erie, Pa.

Western New York received a large emigration from the East this year.

The introduction of cast-iron ploughs commenced at this time, and soon superseded wooden ploughs, which were heretofore exclusively used. At first there was a prejudice against the new plough it being stated that cast-iron poisoned the land and spoiled the crop.

The first scientific periodical in America was established in New York, and called The Medical Repository.

Congress passed an act in March establishing the Mississippi Territory.

1799

1800

In May, Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, was designated as the site for a government armory and manufactory.

success.

'Hail Columbia" made its first appearance and was a great It was composed by Joseph Hopkinson, of Philadelphia, and was adapted to the air called "The President's March."

The yellow-fever raged with violence in Philadelphia and New York. In the first 3645 persons died of the disease; in the last 2086. It appeared as an epidemic in Boston for the first time, where 145 died of it.

The new State-House in Boston was completed.

The manufacture of straw-braid for hats and bonnets was originated at this time in Dedham, Mass.

The first American vessel on Lake Ontario was launched at Hanford's Landing, near Rochester.

Although there was no declaration of war either on the part of France or the United States, hostilities actually commenced on the ocean between the two nations. The United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, on the 9th of February fell in with and captured the French frigate L'Insurgente, of forty guns. This action took place in the West India seas, and lasted about an hour.

The American navy consisted at this period of forty-two vessels, carrying nine hundred and fifty guns.

The Legislature of Pennsylvania established the seat of government at Lancaster.

The north wing of the Capitol was finished this year, and the seat of government for the United States was removed to Washington. Congress met there for the first time on the 22d of November.

A treaty was concluded between Spain and France, by which the sovereignty and property of Louisiana were conveyed to France.

The Mississippi Territory was organized; and Indiana Territory formed, with St. Vincennes as its capital.

By the second census the population of the United States was found to be 5,305,482, of whom 896,849 were slaves. The population of the city of New York was 60,489; of Philadelphia, about 40,000; Baltimore, 23,971; Boston, 24,937; Washington, 3210; Providence, 7614; and Charleston, 18,712.

The first Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia was erected. More than one thousand of the inhabitants of Baltimore died from the yellow-fever.

The United States frigate Constellation met the French frigate LeVengeance at sea on the 1st of February, and in an action which took place for five hours, silenced the French ship. A squall enabled her to escape, with the loss of one hundred and sixty men killed and wounded.

At the presidential election this year, the Republican candidates were Thomas Jefferson, who received seventy-three electoral votes; and Aaron Burr, who received the same number. The Federalists gave John Adams sixty-five votes, Charles C. Pinck