with Mr. Seward in this important matter at a time when this Nation was always on the point of an open rupture with England.

When the rebels had exhausted their own efforts and resources to build war-vessels, England came to their aid. With the greatest difficulty Mr. Adams prevailed on the British Ministry to stop the "Laird rams" which were preparing to enter the rebel service, assuring "Lord" Russell that, "at this moment, when one of the iron-clad vessels is on the point of departure from this kingdom on its hostile errand against the United States, it would be superfluous for me to point out to your lordship that this is war."

Still the British Ministry and the "governing class" generally in England were favorable to the cause of the Rebellion, and what aid could be given it in ship-building was given. Indeed, England took up the cause of the Rebellion on the sea, and was beaten.

Although the rebels constructed themselves several more or less formidable war-vessels, as the Merrimac, the Tennessee, the Albemarle, the Louisiana, the Manassas, the Mississippi, the Atlanta, the Virginia, the Savannah, the Sumter, the Nashville, and the Arkansas, yet it was reserved for England to furnish them some of the most powerful sea-going vessels of the period. Among these were the Florida, the Tallahassee, the Chickamauga, the Georgia, the Shenandoah, and the Alabama. With these piratical vessels American commerce was driven from the oceans.

Several hundred merchant-vessels were captured by them, and millions of property destroyed. This was a part of England's share in the great Rebellion.

One of the great events of the war was the conquest of the Merrimack (Merrimac) by the Ericsson Monitor. Although this denoted the beginning of a new era in the construction of war-ships, the great expectations for the monitors were hardly realized in the subsequent history of the war, however the theory of the English broadside was damaged.

Perhaps the most important naval affair of the war, on account of its double signification and bearing, was the destruction of the Alabama. This vessel was built at Liverpool by a member of the British Parliament, and against the remonstrance of Mr. Adams, was allowed to go to sea in the fall of 1862. Her armament and her crew were entirely English, and her captain was Raphael Semmes. She cleared the seas wherever she went, and it began to be the boast of England, and the rebels, that the United States had nothing to contend with her, and the fear that this was true was not without supporters at home. At last early in June, 1864, she went into the harbor of Cherbourg, France. On the 19th of that month the United States war-ship, Kearsarge, of about equal size and armament, commanded by Captain John A. Winslow, appeared at the entrance of the harbor, and offered battle. However much Semmes wanted to avoid this conflict, he could not do it. The British and French sympathizers expected him to fight. There could be no doubt about the result. Was not

the Alabama a British built ship; was not her crew composed of trained English artillerists; had she not an English armament; and had she not mainly sailed under the British flag? The Kearsarge moved several miles out, beyond the line of jurisdiction, and then turning upon the Alabama, the battle began. In one hour and two minutes the shattered Anglo-rebel ship went down; while the Kearsarge, with her crew, received little damage, although the trained British artillerists had fired at her three hundred and seventy shot and shell. The English steam-yacht, the Deerhound, having come out of the harbor to see the fight, was invited to aid in picking up the Alabama's crew, which she did, and in her share got Semmes, with whom she made off. But this was another illustration of the fact that England had lost her supremacy on the sea. If the South was beaten and mortified, England, her ally, was doubly humiliated.

CHAPTER XIX.

1863-WAR Of the rebeLLION-CONGRESS IN THE WINTER OF 1863-THE MESSAGE-THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW REPEALED-MR. LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATIONS AND MISTAKES.

CON

ONGRESS assembled ("first session of Thirtyeighth") again on the 7th of December, 1863, and sat until July 4, 1864. Although several States, notably Ohio and New York, had increased their opposition or Democratic representation, the political complexion of the two Houses was not much changed at this time, the Republicans and "Unconditional Union Men" having a large majority.

Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, was elected Speaker of the House, receiving one hundred and one votes. Samuel S. Cox, of Ohio, received forty-two of the Democratic votes, and thirty-nine others were scattered, and six members were absent or did not vote. Edward McPherson, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was elected clerk. On the following day the President sent in his

THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE.

FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE Senate and House of REPRESENTATIVES:Another year of health, and of sufficiently abundant harvests, has passed. For these, and especially for the improved

condition of our national affairs, our renewed and profoundest gratitude to God is due.

We remain in peace and friendship with foreign powers,

The efforts of disloyal citizens of the United States to involve us in foreign wars, to aid an inexcusable insurrection, have been unavailing. Her Britannic Majesty's government, as was justly expected, have exercised their authority to prevent the departure of new hostile expeditions from British ports. The emperor of France has, by a like proceeding, promptly vindicated the neutrality which he proclaimed at the beginning of the contest. Questions of great intricacy and importance have arisen out of the blockade and other belligerent operations, between the Government and several of the maritime powers, but they have been discussed, and, as far as was possible, accommodated in a spirit of frankness, justice, and mutual good-will. It is especially gratifying that our prize courts, by the impartiality of their adjudications, have commanded the respect and confidence of maritime powers.

The supplemental treaty between the United States and Great Britain for the suppression of the African slave-trade, made on the 17th day of February last, has been duly ratified and carried into execution. It is believed that, so far as American ports and American citizens are concerned, that inhuman and odious traffic has been brought to an end.

I shall submit, for the consideration of the Senate, a convention for the adjustment of possessory claims in Washington Territory, arising out of the treaty of the 15th June, 1846, between the United States and Great Britain, and which have been the source of some disquiet among the citizens of that now rapidly improving part of the country.

A novel and important question, involving the extent of the maritime jurisdiction of Spain in the waters which surround the island of Cuba, has been debated without reaching an agreement, and it is proposed, in an amicable spirit, to refer it to the arbitrament of a friendly power. A convention for that purpose will be submitted to the Senate.

I have thought it proper, subject to the approval of the Senate, to concur with the interested commercial powers in an arrangement for the liquidation of the Scheldt dues upon the