acknowledged that attention was due to the representations of respectable men, and the proper attention should be given; and, at the same time, apprized the committee of the impossibility, in the nature of things, to give complete protection to every assailable point of the country. 11th of May, committee of vigilance appointed to cooperate with the committees of Georgetown and City of Washington: a deputation from the three committees waited upon General Armstrong, and represented the necessity of additional fortifications at Fort Washington. Colonel Wadsworth was ordered to attend the committee, examine, and report upon their suggestions. The examination was made, and Colonel Wadsworth reported that the battery at Fort Washington was in such a state, and it so effectually commanded the channel of the Potomac, that it was not to be apprehended that the enemy would attempt to pass it while its present defences remained entire. Its elevated situation should prevent dread of a cannonading from ships; that, in case of designs against the District of Columbia, an assault by land was most probable. To guard against this, some inconsiderable work on the land was recommended; an additional fort, in the same neighborhood, was considered unnecessary. On the 5th and 13th of August, 1814, the corporation loaned to the United States thirty-five thousand dollars, upon condition that it should be expended south of Alexandria. After the defeat of General Winder, at Bladensburg, the corporation, by committee, waited upon the British commander, at this city, to know what treatment was to be expected, provided Alexandria should fall into his hands. Admiral Cockburn assured the deputation that private property would be respected; that probably some fresh provisions and flour might be wanted, but they should be paid for. Without firing a gun, on the 27th, Fort Washington was blown up and abandoned by the commanding officer, Captain Dyson, who has been dismissed from the service of the United States, by the sentence of a court martial, in consequence of it.

On the 28th, after the enemy's squadron passed the fort, the corporation, by deputation, proceeded to the ship commanded by Captain Gordon, and requested to know his intentions in regard to Alexandria; which he proposed to communicate when he should come opposite the town, but promised that the persons, houses, and furniture, of the citizens, should be unmolested, if he met with no opposition. Next day, the 29th, the British squadron was drawn up in line of battle so as to command the whole town. There were two frigates, the Seahorse, thirty-eight guns, and Euryalus, thirty-six guns, two rocket ships of eighteen guns each, two bomb ships of eight guns each, and a schooner of two guns, arranged along the town. The committee will not attempt to condense the correspondence and terms of surrender, but refer to it as a part of the report. One hour was allowed the corporation to decide. It was stated to the British officer that the Common Council had no power to compel the return of

merchandise carried to the country, nor to compel the citizens to aid in raising the sunken vessels: these two points were yielded by the enemy. The enemy was requested to explain what was included in the term merchandise, which was to be taken; and, in answer, it was stated that it would embrace such as was intended for exportation, such as tobacco, cotton, flour, bale goods, &c. The plunder of the enemy was indiscrimi nate, and not confined to any particular class of individuals, and included alike non-residents and inhabitants. The plunder of the enemy was confined principally to flour, cotton, and tobacco. Estimate of the loss.-Three ships, three brigs, several bay and river craft, some vessels burned, sixteen thousand barrels of flour taken, one thousand hogsheads of tobacco, one hundred and fifty bales of cotton, five thousand dollars' worth of wines, sugar, &c. In relation to a letter written by Admiral Codrington to Captain Gordon, the committee will refer to the entire letter of General John Mason, who gives a satisfactory history of this transaction; and, to complete this part of the subject, reference is had to the statement of General Hungerford, giving the movements of his troops, and explains the interviews he had with the deputation from Alexandria, on his march to the City of Washington.

Conclusion.

In the inquiry into the causes of the success of the enemy, in his recent enterprises against this metropolis, the neighboring town of Alexandria, &c., the committee consulted a mode of investigation least embarrassing to themselves and to others. They determined that, as it was indispensable to resort to some of the parties for information not derivable from other sources, it would be equally their duty to hear, as far as practicable, those who were deeply concerned as to character and reputation, from the agency they had in this unfortunate transaction, with a determination that, in the event of any contradictions in material circumstances, to resort to impartial sources for explanation or correction. In the meantime, the committee called upon those who may be considered as impartial observers, for statements, that a just comparison might be made of different allegations and representations. If, therefore, the committee have failed to call upon persons in possession of any additional facts and views not submitted, it has not been through a want of inclination to receive all that could be important, but from a want of a knowledge of such persons and such facts. It was a question with the committee, at its earliest meeting, whether personal examinations before the committee should be adopted, or whether resort should be had, in the first instance, to call for written communications to views and interrogatories submitted by the committee, and best calculated to extract every important fact. Several considerations induced the adoption of the latter mode.

It gave the committee command of part of their time to attend to other public duties equally imperious and obligatory. It incurred no expense

march when called on.

The whole force to be

State.

WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. 13, 1814. The events in France having greatly augmented the disposable force of the enemy, and his disposition to employ it against the United States being well known, the safety of this Metropolis was thought to require particular attention.

On or about the first of July last, the President convened the Heads of Departments and the Attorney General, to consult them on the measures which it would be proper to adopt for the safety of this city and District. He appeared to have digested a plan of the force to be called immediately into the field; the additional force to be kept under orders to march at a moment's notice; its composition, and necessary equipment. It seemed to be his object, that some position should be taken between the Eastern Branch and the Patuxent, with two or three thousand men, and that an additional force of ten or twelve thousand, including the militia of the District, should be held in readiness, in the neighboring States, to

The measures suggested by the President were approved by all the members of the Administration. The Secretaries of War and Navy gave the information required of them, incident to their respective departments. The former stated the regular force which he could draw together at an early day, infantry and cavalry; the amount of the militia of the District; and the States from which he should draw the remaining force in contemplation, and in what proportions. The latter stated the aid which he could afford, from the officers and seamen of the flotilla on the Patuxent, and the marines at the navy yard, on the Eastern Branch. The result of the meeting promised prompt and efficacious measures for carrying these objects into execution. The command of this whole force, with that of the district No. 5, was given to Brigadier General Winder.

On the 5th of July I went to Virginia, whence I returned on or about the 25th. After my return, I was much engaged in the affairs of my own depaartment.

Calling on the President on the morning of the