r was
attacked by the American General, Harrison, with 10,000 men, who
captured nearly the whole of his force, he himself escaping with a
few attendants. Towards the end of October three American armies,
each amounting to 10,000 men, marched from different points upon Lower
Canada: but this great effort was frustrated by the vigilance of Sir
George Prevost. During the autumn a squadron of six British vessels was
captured by a superior American squadron, on Lake Erie, but on the whole
the campaign was honourable to the British arms. When defeated, it was
only by dint of overwhelming numbers. Between the "Shannon" and the
"Chesapeak," ships of superior force, there was a fierce battle in
Boston Bay, which resulted in the capture of the American vessel, the
"Chesapeak," although she had in number and weight of guns, as well
as in the number of its crew, a considerable superiority over the
"Shannon." After a fierce conflict of fifteen minutes' duration,
the "Chesapeak" was on its way with the conqueror, Captain Broke, to
Halifax. In St. George's Channel, also, an American sloop of war was
captured by the British sloop, "Pelican."

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament met on the 4th of November. In his speech the prince declared
that no disposition to require sacrifices from France, inconsistent with
her honour and just pretensions, would ever be an obstacle to peace; and
that he was ready to enter into discussion with the United States, on
principles not opposed to the established maxims of public law and the
maritime right of the British empire. The speech naturally noticed the
successes which had crowned his majesty's arms and those of his allies
in the present year, and it also spoke of the now prosperous state of
British commerce, despite the enemy's efforts to crush it. The speech of
the prince regent was received with universal assent and joy. The voice
of opposition, indeed, was entirely hushed, and in both houses the
addresses were carried _nem. con_.

BILL FOR ALLOWING THE MILITIA TO VOLUNTEER INTO THE LINE, ETC.

Early in this session Lord Castlereagh introduced a bill for allowing
three-fourths of any militia regiment to volunteer for foreign service,
which bill passed with-out opposition. Parliament also gave its ready
sanction for a loan of L22,000,000 as well as for subsidies to Sweden,
Russia, and Austria. Previous to this, L2,000,000 had been advanced
to Spain, two to Portugal, and one to Swede