disputes between England and America broke out
into a war. On her part England had done what she could to bring
these disputes to an amicable adjustment: even offering to suspend
the offensive regulations of which the Americans complained, if the
Americans would repeal the restrictive acts by which they had marked
their resentment. The person, however, who now directed the councils of
the United States was inimical to the interests of Great. Britain, and
devoted to the views and interests of Napoleon. War was declared, and
the world saw with surprise, a government calling itself free banding
with a military despotism which had not its parallel In the world's
history. The Americans commenced the war by the invasion of Canada; but
they were defeated in two engagements, and compelled to relinquish the
enterprise. They consoled themselves, however, for these disasters by
their success at sea, they having captured two English frigates, chiefly
from the superiority of their own in size, weight of metal, and number
of men. Similar disasters also attended our naval armaments on the
lakes, arising chiefly from the above-mentioned cause. The English
cabinet was much censured for want of foresight, in not having been
prepared with ships of sufficient size to cope with their antagonists,
but neither ministers nor people expected a long continuance of this
war, as it was well known that in the northern states there existed a
large and powerful party averse to it, as it was prejudicial to their
interests. Proposals, apparently conciliatory, were, indeed, made by
both parties, but the year closed without witnessing a suspension of
hostilities.

MEETING OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

Parliament, with a newly-elected house of commons, assembled on the 24th
of November; and on the 30th, the regent delivered an address from the
throne, which embraced a variety of topics, the most prominent of
which was the war in the Peninsula, that in Russia, and the contest in
America. In the debates on the addresses, these events gave rise to much
discussion in both houses, but they were carried unanimously. The most
prominent; measures previous to the Christmas recess were a grant of
L100,000 to the Marquess of Wellington for his services in Spain, and of
L200,000 for the relief of the sufferers in Russia. The bullion question
was also again discussed; but the house repeated Mr. Vansittart's
resolution of last year; namely, that guineas and bank-notes