UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 383 



the rights of neutrals. The Berlin and Milan decrees of France, 

 and the orders in council of England, subjected the American com- 

 merce to many inconveniences. Under those decrees and orders, a 

 number of American ships were captured and condemned. To avoid 

 this, congress, in 1808, laid an embargo, which continued upwards 

 of a year. This was followed by successive acts, prohibiting the 

 importation of British manufactures, and interdicting all commerce 

 with the belligerents. The act of congress, enforcing the latter 

 measure, left it in the power of the president, to renew the inter- 

 course with either nation, as soon as their obnoxious decrees should 

 be removed. Soon after, the French government proclaimed the re-? 

 peal of the Berlin and Milan decrees, and the trade with that country 

 was resumed. 



In 1 809, Mr. Jefferson retired from public life, and the Hon. James 

 Madison was elected president in his place. The British govern- 

 ment, still refusing to repeal their orders in council, in June, 1812, 

 a war commenced between the United States and Great Britain, in 

 which the valour of the American army and navy was displayed in 

 numerous instances. On the 24th of December 1814, this war was 

 terminated, by a treaty, signed at Ghent, by the commissioners of 

 the respective governments. 



