On June 3rd, the British gunboats on lake Ontario, supported by detachments from the garrison of Isle au Noix, made prize of two American armed vessels, of 11 guns and 50 men each. An action greatly to the credit of the British troops occurred on June 6th, at Burlington Heights near the head of the same lake, where colonel Vincent was posted with a division of troops. Receiving information

that the Americans had advanced from Forty-mile Creek with 3,500 infantry and 250 cavalry, and 8 or 9 field pieces, for the purpose of attacking him, he sent lieut -col. Harvey with two light companies to reconnoitre, and from his report was led to determine upon a nocturnal attack of the enemy's camp, about seven miles distant. A force not exceeding 704 firelocks was destined to this enterprize, which terminated in a complete surprize of the enemy, who were driven from their camp, with the loss of three guns and a brass howitzer, and two brigadier-generals with more than 100 officers and privates made prisoners. The British afterwards marched back to their cantonments, and the Americans, still greatly superior in numbers, after re-occupying their camp in order to destroy their incumbrances, commenced a precipitate retreat to the place whence they

came.

The appearance of the squadron of sir J. Yeo off Forty-mile Creek determined the Americans to a further retreat, in which almost the whole of their camp equipage, and a quantity of stores and provisions, fell into the hands of their

concentrated his forces at Fort George; and colonel Vincent, in consequence, made a forward movement from the head of the lake in order to support the light infantry and Indians who were employed in cutting off the supplies of the Americans. On June 24th, an occurrence took place which gen.. Dearborn in his dispatch terms "unfortunate and unaccountable.” He had detached, on the evening of the 23rd, lieut.-col. Bæstler, with 570 men, to march, by the way of Queens-town to the Beaver Dams, eight or nine miles thence, in order to disperse a body of British collected there for the purpose of procuring provisions. This detachment was attacked by the Indians from an ambuscade in the woods, and retired to clear ground, whence the commander sent express for a reinforcement. In the meantime lieut. Fitzgibbon arriving with a British force, the American leader seems to have lost his presence of mind, and without waiting for succours, agreed to a capitulation, by which two fieldofficers, 21 other officers, 27 noncommissioned officers, and 482 privates, were surrendered prisoners of war, with their colours and two field-pieces.

About this time, admiral sir J. B. Warren lying in the Chesapeake, on the intelligence that the enemy were fortifying Craney island, the possession of which was necessary to enable the light vessels to proceed up the narrow channel towards Norfolk, directed a landing of the troops under sir Sidney Beckwith, on the nearest point to that place; but upon approaching the island, the shoalness

of the water, and the strength of the enemy's defences, rendered the enterprize too difficult to be undertaken with any prospect of success; so that the troops were ordered back, after some loss had been sustained from the sinking of two boats. An attack upon an American post at Hampton on June 26th, was more successful. This post, defended by a considerable corps, and commanding the communication between the upper part of the country and Norfolk, was thought by the admiral a proper object for an attempt; and accordingly, he embarked sir S. Beckwith's troops on board the light squadron commanded by rear-adm. Cockburn, on the night of the 25th, which were Janded at day-light the following day to the Westward of Hampton. Whilst the enemy's attention was engaged by a fire from the armed vessels upon the batteries, the troops unobserved gained their flanks, and the action which ensued terminated in obtaining possession of their camp and batteries. Some loss was sustained by the British, but much more by the Americans. The capture of the islands of Ocracoke and Portsmouth on the coast of North Carolina, in July, by admiral Cockburn's squadron, has been mentioned under our head of naval transactions. On the whole it may be remarked, that although the coasts and inlets of this part of America were kept in continual alarm by the motions and enterprizes of the blockading squadrons, yet nothing was effected that can be regarded as important towards the general result of the war. The losses and disquiets, however, oc

casioned to the Americans by the desultory warfare, induced the President, who had failed in his attempts to pass another bill of embargo, to issue, on July 29th, a strict injunction on all naval officers to exercise the utmost vigilance in stopping and detaining all vessels and craft proceeding, or apparently about to proceed, towards the blockading ships; it being ascertained that such intercourse had been carried on to a great extent both by natives and foreigners, thereby conveying provisions and intelligence to the enemy. Attempts were also publicly encouraged for the destruction of the British men of war upon those stations by torpedoes and other explosive machinery, which, if considered as unfair modes of hostility, were, unfortunately, first encouraged by the English ministry (See Parliamentary Debates). One of the concealed methods of doing mischief practised by the Americans, appears to merit unqualified reprobation from its truly insidious character. A schooner was fitted out from New York, laden with provisions and stores, under which were deposited several casks of gunpowder, with trains communicating with a piece of clockwork contrived to go off at a certain time. The vessel was thrown in the way of the Ramillies, which sent a boat to take possession of her, when she was deserted by her crew, and brought near the man of war. Fortunately, the captain, sir T. Hardy, directed that she should be placed alongside of a captured sloop, and not of the Ramillies. A dreadful explosion soon took place, which proved fatal to the second lieutenant and

The extra session of Congress which concluded in August, conducted its business with unaccustomed dispatch, and with a degree of unanimity proving, that however reluctant a people may be to commence a war, when actually engaged in it, and especially when it is brought to their own doors, they will generally concur in measures rendered necessary by the circumstances. The establishment of a system of war-taxes capable of defraying the interest of the existing debt and of future loans was the principal business of the meeting; and though there were considerable differences of opinion as to the fittest objects of taxation, the majority gave their support to the measures proposed by the committee of ways and means. The

duties imposed were, on licences to retailers of wines, spirituous liquors, and foreign merchandize; on licences to distillers of spirituous liquors; on sales by auction of merchandize, and ships and vessels; on sugar refined in the United States; on bank notes and certain negociable paper; and on imported salt: these to continue in force during the present war, and a year after its termination. A further loan was authorised of 7,500,000 dollars for the service of the present year,and the first quarter of the next. A variety of acts were also passed relative to the prosecution and conduct of the war, and the provision for widows and orphans; and greater encouragement was given to privateers in respect to prizes. An act also passed, conformably to the President's former recommen

dation, prohibiting the use of British commercial licences. From all these measures may be seen the rapid approach to the condition of an old belligerent, by a new state, the peculiar felicity of whose situation appeared to be that of being placed beyond the sphere of perpetual hostility which involves the greatest portion of the world.

We now revert to the occurrences on and near the Canadian lakes, which continued to be the most important scene of warlike action during the American campaign of this year.

A detachment of troops of different descriptions, from the centre division of the British army in Upper Canada, was embarked under the command of lieut.-col. Bishopp, early on the morning of July 11th, for the purpose of destroying the American naval establishment at Black Rock on Lake Ontario. The detachment landed unperceived before day-light, and immediately proceeded to attack the batteries, which they carried with little opposition, the enemy retreating with precipitation. They then set fire to the block-houses, barracks, and navy-yard, with a large schooner; and the stores which could be got off were carried across the river, but before they could be taken away, the Americans, reinforced by a body of Indians, advanced, and rendered it expedient for the troops to retreat to their boats. They recrossed the river under a heavy fire, which occasioned a considerable loss, the commander himself being severely wounded; the purpose of the enterprize was, however, in great measure effected.

Sir G. Prevost, in a letter from the head-quarters at Kingston, da

ted August 1st, mentions that the enemy still occupied the position of Fort George and its immediate vicinity, where they were straitened by the advance of the British commander, major-gen. De Rottenburg, to St. David's, within seven miles of the fort. The enemy's fleet, consisting of two ships, one brig, and 11 schooners, had sailed from Sackett's harbour some days before, and the British squadron had gone in search of it. With a view of calling off the attention of the Americans from this province to the defence of their own settlements, sir G. Prevost had sent out an expedition of gunboats and other vessels, with 800 picked men, to make a movement on Lake Champlain.

Another dispatch from dispatch from sir George on August 8th, contains the information, that the enemy's fleet on Lake Ontario appeared on July 31st off the town of York (which the Americans had quitted after their former occupation of it) and making a landing under Commodore Chauncey, entered the place, liberated the prisoners in the gaol, and plundered the contents of some private stores, all public property having been previously removed. They landed again on the following day, burnt the small barrack, wood-yard, and storehouse, and afterwards sailed away, having done very little damage except to individuals. The town was totally defenceless, the principal persons having left it, and the militia being still under parole.

The result of the expedition to Lake Champlain is related in other letters. Lieut.-col. Murray states that the land-forces proceeding to Plattsburg destroyed there the ene

my's arsenal, blockhouse, commissary's buildings, and stores, together with the extensive barracks of Saranac, capable of containing 4,000 troops. A quantity of naval stores was brought off, particularly equipments for a large number of batteaux. The barracks and stores at Swanton were also destroyed. A detachment sent to destroy the public buildings and stores at Champlain town effected their purpose without opposition. The militia assembled for the defence of Plattsburg had disbanded on the appearance of the `armament. At this time the American general Hampton had concentrated his forces, said to consist of about 4,500 regulars, with a large body of militia, at Burlington. The naval part of the expedition on Lake Champlain had captured and destroyed four vessels, without any attempt from the enemy's armed vessels to rescue them.

Sir James Yeo made frequent attempts during the month of August to bring the American squadron on Lake Ontario to action, but was frustrated by light and baffling winds, and the enemy's superiority in sailing. On the night of the 10th, however, he was able to get so close to them, that it was necessary for them either to engage, or to sacrifice two of their schooners. They preferred the latter; and after firing a few shots, sir James took possession of two fine armed schooners, with a crew of 40 men each. The Americans lost two others of their largest schooners by oversetting in carrying too much sail when chased by the British squadron, and about 100 men perished with them.

General Proctor, in compliance

with the importunity of his Indian allies, made an advance with about 350 of the 41st regiment, and 3 or 4,000 Indians, and on August 2nd attempted to carry by assault the fort of Sandusky, near the head of Lake Erie. His savage friends keeping out of gun-shot, the few British were left to make the attack by themselves, in which they displayed great courage; but the fire from the defenders became so galling and destructive, that the general found it most prudent to order a retreat, which was effected with the loss of 25 killed, as many missing, and about 40 wounded. The American account states the whole loss at 150, and raised the number of assailants to

500 besides Indians.

Sir G. Prevost having removed his head-quarters to St. David's, on the Niagara frontier, directed on August 24th, a general reconnoissance to be made on the enemy's force at Fort George. This was effected by a surprise of the American picquets posted on its front, the greater part of whom were taken prisoners. The British penetrated close to the fort and the new entrenched camp formed near it, both which were found full of men, and "bristled with cannon," and also supported by the fire from Fort Niagara on the opposite side of the river. No provocation being able to induce the enemy to come out into the field, sir George returned without loss.

The great object of the Americans, that of gaining naval possession of the lakes, was fully accomplished in September with respect to Lake Erie. Commodore Perry, their commander on that

station, mentions in his dispatch, that on the 10th he discovered the hostile squadron from his anchorage at Putin Bay, and getting under weigh, they came to action a little before twelve. His vessel, the Laurence, was so much injured by the fire of his opponent, that it became unmanageable; and after an engagement of two hours, the greatest part of her crew being killed or wounded, he quitted her, and went on board the Niagara. Soon after, he saw the Laurence's colours struck, but the foe not be. ing able to take possession of her, they were again hoisted. The Niagara then passed through the adverse line, consisting of two ships, a brig, a large schooner, and a sloop; and being assisted by his small vessels, which were got into. close action, the whole of them were compelled to surrender. Most of the officers of the British, or rather Canadian squadron (for it is said to have been wholly equipped and chiefly manned by the inhabitants of Canada) were killed or wounded, as well as a great number of the crews. The remainder were landed as prisoners at Sandusky. The relation of this affair afterwards given by the British commander, capt. Barclay, does not materially differ from the preceding. He says, he was reduced to the necessity of sailing wretchedly manned as he was, to fight the enemy, who blockaded the ports, on account of his urgent want of provisions and stores. His ship, the Detroit, being, after a severe engagement, rendered almost a wreck, himself wounded, and his first lieutenant mortally so, his consort, the Queen Charlotte,