704 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



year, should our foreign relations 

 be undisturbed, the revenue will 

 again be more than commensurate 

 to all the expenditures. 



Under the existing aspect of 

 our affairs, 1 have thought it not 

 inconsistent with a just precaution, 

 to have the gun-boats, with the 

 exception of those at New Orleans, 

 placed in a situation incurring no 

 expense beyond that requisite for 

 their preservation, and conveniency 

 for future service ; and to have the 

 crews of those at New Orleans re- 

 duced to the number required for 

 their navigation and safety. 



I have thought also, that our 

 citizens detached in quotas of mili- 

 tia, amounting to one hundred thou- 

 sand, under the act of March 1808, 

 might not improperly be relieved 

 from the state in which they were 

 held for immediate service. A dis- 

 charge of them has been according- 

 ly directed. 



The progress made in raising and 

 organizing the additional military 

 force, for which provision was made 

 by the act of April, 1808, together 

 with the disposition of the troops, 

 will appear by a report which the 

 secretary of war is preparing, and 

 which will be laid before you. 



Of the additional frigates requir- 

 ed by an act of the last session to 

 be fitted for actual service two are 

 in readiness, one nearly so, and the 

 fourth is expected to be ready in 

 the month of July. A report which 

 the secretary of the navy is prepar- 

 ing on the subject, to be laid before 

 congress, will show, at the same 

 time, the progress made in officer- 

 ing and manning these ships. It 

 will show also the degree in which 

 the provisions of the act relative to 

 the other public armed vessels have 

 been carried into effect. 



Aware of the inconvenience of a 



protracted session at the present 

 season of the year, I forbear to call 

 the attention of the legislature to 

 any matters not particularly urgent. 

 It remains, therefore, only to as- 

 sure you of the fidelity and alacrity 

 with which i shall co-operate for 

 the welfare and happiness of our 

 country, and to pray that it may 

 experience a continuance of the 

 Divine blessings by which it has 

 been so signally favoured. 

 (Signed) James Maddison. 



General Orders, of the l^th of 



May. 



The days of the 21st and 22nd 

 May will be eternally memorable 

 in the history of the world. The 

 array has given proofs of patriot- 

 ism, heroism, and contempt of 

 danger which posterity will ad- 

 mire, and our descendants hold 

 up as specimens of rare and great 

 actions. It furnished the enemy, 

 who had lately boasted of its 

 annihilation, with bloody proofs 

 of its existence. It has surpas- 

 sed my great expectations, and 

 I feel proud to be its leader. 

 You are in the field of battle the 

 first soldiers of the world ; be so 

 also in the spirit of discipline, in 

 the love of order, and in respect to 

 the property of the citizen ; then 

 would you be not only the first, 

 but the only army, and your grate- 

 ful country will bless your deeds. 

 Ourbelovedmonarchhas confidence 

 in you, and thanks you with pater- 

 nal emotions for the security of 

 his throne, and the welfare of your 

 families. 



I expect immediately from the 

 commanders of the different corps 

 the most circumstantial relation of 

 what took place with their respec- 

 tive 



