These proceedings left the rightful ruler in the lurch.  He had been promised that he should be restored to his throne on condition of helping the Americans, and he had given the most valuable sort of aid, but the treaty declared that no assistance should be given him.  It was a gross injustice on the part of our Government, which did no special credit to itself, when, after the deposed ruler had made a pitiful appeal to Congress, that body presented him with a beggarly pittance of $2,400.

THE WAR OF 1812.

CHAPTER XI.

Cause of the War of 1812—­Discreditable Work of the Land
Forces—­Brilliant Record of the Navy—­The Constitution—­Captain Isaac
Hull—­Battle Between the Constitution and Guerriere—­Winning a
Wager.

Probably no hostilities in which the United States was ever engaged so abound with stirring, romantic and remarkable exploits as those upon the ocean in the War of 1812.

Now, as to the cause of the war between England and our country:  Great Britain was engaged in a tremendous conflict with France, at the head of which was the greatest military leader of the world, Napoleon Bonaparte.  England needed every soldier and sailor she could get.  Some of them deserted to our ships, so her officers began the practice of stopping such vessels on the ocean, searching them for deserters, and if found they were taken away.  Sometimes she took Americans, because she knew they were good seamen, and, to excuse her action, she declared they were deserters from the British navy.

[Illustration:  IMPRESSING AMERICAN SAILORS.]

This action was against the law of nations.  She had no more right to molest an American vessel than she had to land a force on our coast, march inland and search the house of a private family.  We protested, but she paid no attention.  It happened more than once that when our vessels refused to be searched the English fired into them and killed and wounded some of the American crews.  If any nation acted that way toward England to-day she would declare war at once, and so would any other nation.

Finding there was no peaceable way of stopping the unbearable conduct of Great Britain, our country, in the month of June, 1812, declared war against her, and it lasted until the early part of 1815.

There was one feature of that war which it is not pleasant for Americans to recall.  It opened with a cowardly surrender by General William Hull of Detroit to the English army, and for two years our land forces did very little to their credit.  They set out to invade Canada several times, but in every instance were beaten.  The leading generals were “poor sticks,” quarreled among themselves, and for a time failed to gain any advantage.  The trouble was not with the soldiers.  They were among the best in the world, but their leaders were of no account.  By and by, however, the poor officers were weeded out and good ones took their places.  Then something was accomplished in which we all could feel pride.