UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 367 



Army- In a report of the secretary of war to congress, in the be- 

 ginning of 1814, the following statement of the regular forces is 

 given. 



The amount of regular troops in 



February, 1813, was 18,945 



June, 27,609 



December, . . . . . . 34,325 



January, 1814, 33,822 



The aggregate amount of volunteers employed in the service of the 

 United States in 1813, was 6000, and of militia 30,000. A short time 

 previous to the conclusion of peace with Great Britain, the secretary 

 of war stated the number of troops in the service of the United 

 States, to be 62,448. 



The peace establishment before the war was 5000 men. It is now 

 fixed at 10.000. 



Navy On the 4th of March, 1814, the government of the United 

 States had in commission, three frigates of 44 guns ; three of 36 ; one 

 of 32 ; two corvettes of 24 guns ; one ship of 24 guns ; three of 20 ; 

 two brigs of 18 guns; three of 16; two of 14; one of 10, and one of 

 2 guns; three sciiooners of 14 guns; one of 8; one of 6; one of 5 ; 

 one of 4; two of 3; seven of 2, and three of 1 gun; eight sloops of 

 18; three of 16; one of 12, and three of 8 guns ; one hundred and 

 twenty six gun boats, thirty two barges, and twelve other armed ves- 

 sels 



Of the above number there were employed on the lakes, one ship 

 of 24 guns; three of 20; two brigs of 18 guns; one of 16; one 

 schooner of 14 guns, and all the vessels carrying less than 14 guns. 



There were building at the same time, three vessels of 74 guns ; 

 and three frigates of 44 guns ; besides 60 barges and other small 

 vessels. Two of the 74's and two of the frigates have since been 

 completed. The other frigate was burned by the British at Wash- 

 ington, and the other 74 is still on the stocks at Philadelphia, and will, 

 when finished, be the most powerful vessel in the American navy, 

 carrying about 90 guns. 



The recent exploits of this little navy are fresh in the memory of 

 every one. 



Government and Laws. ...In the year 1778, the American States 

 entered into a mutual compact or agreement, styled " Articles of Con- 

 federation and perpetual Union," which was found to be equal to all 

 the purposes of the revolutionary war; but after the restoration 

 of peace, when trade, opened to all nations, required some gene- 

 ral laws for its regulation, and the payment of a large national 

 debt began to press on the states, the system was found to be inade- 

 quate. In order, therefore, to meet the public exigencies, to "form 

 a more perfect union, establish justice, provide for the common de- 

 fence, and promote the general welfare," the people of the United 

 States summoned a Convention of Delegates from the several states, 

 who met at Philadelphia, May 25, 1787, and framed the existing 

 Federal Constitution. 



By this form of government the legislative authority is vested in a 

 Congress, which is composed of two branches, a Senate and House 



