Republican France and proclaimed himself Emperor of the French. He was then at the zenith of his fame as a military leader. Nearly all Europe lay prostrate at his feet. England was his most feared and hated enemy. Ambassador, it was believed, his prime minister, Romanzoff, suggested to Mr. Adams the expediency of tendering the mediation of Russia for the purpose of effecting a reconciliation. Mr. Adams approved it, and finally in March, 1813, M. Daschkoff, the Russian Ambassador at Washington, formally offered the mediation of his government to effect a reconciliation. It was too late. The President and the people resolved to carry on the war vigorously. They had been too often deceived by treacherous overtures for a friendly understanding upon honorable terms from Great Britain, to trust any more promises. This offer of mediation and its results, brought out from William Charles, then an industrious caricaturist of Philadelphia,' Toward France and England the United States held a strictly neutral position, and carried on a profitable trade; but finally the belligerents, in their anxiety to damage each other, ceased to respect the laws of nations toward neutrals. The British by Orders in Council' and the Emperor of the French by countervailing Decrees, nearly ruined American commerce. The remonstrances of the American government were unheeded. The British seemed more reckless of justice, than her foe. To the injurious act of diminishing commerce they added the insult of a haughty claim to the right of searching any American vessel wherein their cruisers might suspect there were deserters from the Royal Navy. was carried out most oppressively and offensively in practice. The Americans became. irritated and exasperated. When every honorable measure of diplomacy was exhausted in seeking for redress and justice; the government of the United States, in June, 1812, declared War against Great Britain, and immediately began a vigorous their horsemen into the North (against Moscow and the Lord prosecution of it. This Russia was now on friendly terms with Great Britain. Her ambitious enemy had then invaded Russian territory, in his expedition toward Moscow, and Russia had thrown open her ports to British commerce, thereby placing her own weak navy at the mercy of the British war marine. John Quincy Adams, was then the American Minister at the court of St. Petersburg, and his personal relations with the Emperor Alexander, were very intimate and cordial. When news of the American Declaration of War reached the Czar, he expressed his regret, and at the instance of the British 1 The British Privy Council consists of an indefinite number of gentlemen, chosen by the Sovereign, and having no direct connection with the Cabinet ministers. The Sovereign may, under the advice of this council, issue orders or proclamations which, if not contrary to existing laws, are binding upon the subjects. These are for temporary purposes, and are called Orders in Council.EDITOR.] 1 Charles was a Scotchman, and had been compelled to flee from Edinburgh because he had lampooned the authorities of that city. The war gave him many subjects for his satirical pencil. He labored on the side of the war party, and he gave many clever hits to the ultra-federalists or peace party, who rejoiced at every reverse of Napoleon, while the democrats rejoiced at all of his successes. The French Party" and the "British Party," were yet party names given to the respective political parties in the United States, who were waging an uncompromising political war against each other. The federalists of Boston commemorated in King's Chapel, on the 26th of March, 1813, the victories of the Russians over Napoleon, who aimed, it was said, "at the Empire of the world." One hundred and fifty amateurs and professional gentlemen assisted in the performance of sacred music. They sang the following recitative composed for the occasion: "For the hosts of Gallia went in with their chariots and with chased them with fierce warriors, winter blasts and famine; stanzas: In June, George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of Washington, addressed a large audience at Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, on the Russian victories. It drew from M Daschkoff, the Russian minister, a very complimentary letter, the original of which is before the wriHe requested a copy of the speech to send to the Emperor. "Permit me" said Daschkoff, to express to you my gratitude, that of my family, and of all my countrymen who shall praise your oration, for the zeal and interest you have displayed in our cause."-[EDITOR.] ter. a picture in ridicule of it, an exact copy of which, reduced is here given. In the centre of the picture is a bear in pleasant mood, personifying Russia. On one side of him kneels John Bull, with the inscription, "Orders in Council" on his horns of power. He is in a supplicating posture, and says: "Pray Mr. Bruin try if you can Bruun become MEDIATOR or Negociation for PEACE. make up the little difference between us, (referring to Columbia or America who stands upon the other side of the Bear.) The Wasps and Hornets have stung me so hard, I wish I had never disturbed their nests.' 'Bruin turning to Columbia, in a bland manner says, "Let me unite your hands, Madam-Johnny and I have been very friendly since I sent him my fleet to take care of." But Columbia, grown wary by experience, says: "I thank you Mr. Bruin, but I cannot trust the Bull. Though he has promised to draw in his Horns, he must be safe bound to the stake before I treat with him." ORIGIN OF THE STATES AND THEIR NAMES. A correspondent sent to the RECORD (see page 211) a little compilation of what he supposed to be facts concerning the origin of the names of some of our States, with the querie, "Are these statements correct?" Having seen some of these statements in the newspapers, and unable to 1 On Sunday the 19th of October, 1812, the American Sloop-of-war Wasp, Captain Jacob Jones, after a severe fight, captured the British Sloop-of-war Frolic. Charles soon afterward issued a caricature entitled "A Wasp on a Frolic," in which that insect is represented running its long sting through the belly of rotund John Bull, who exclaims, "I've often heard of your Wasps and Hornets, but little answer the question authoritatively, the Editor concluded to refer its solution to the readers of the RECORD without comment. Below are some of the valuable results of that reference which show the importance of a medium for such intercommunication upon historical and antiqua thought such diminutive insects could give me such a sting." On the 24th of February, 1813, the American Sloop-of-war Hornet, Captain James Lawrence, captured the British man of-war Peacock, off the coast of Brazil, after a severe combat. Commenting upon this event, a cotemporary Halifax newspaper said: "It will not do for our vessels to fight theirs, single handed. The Americans are a dead nip."-EDITOR. rian subjects as the RECORD presents. Further criticism of the article is solicited. The first of the subjoined papers is from JOHN G. SHEA, LL.D. of New York whose opinion is authority upon such points. The second is from the careful student of our history, CHARLES W. TUTTLE, Counsellor at law, of Boston, whose researches upon the topic about which he has written, enables him to speak with confidence. Editor of AMERICAN HISTORICAL Record. Dear Sir: Allow me to suggest a few doubts: CAROLINA cannot be called after Fort Carolina built near Port Royal, because that French fort was called Charlesfort. Sheas' Charlevoix i. p. 137. The French colonists subsequently built Caroline on the St. John, in what is still Florida. 26. p. 152. error of ascribing the name of Carolina to Charles IX of France, and assigns it properly to Charles II of England, under whom it was colonized. 26. p. 153. Charlevoix even notes the FLORIDA.-The feast is called Pascua Florida. KENTUCKY, will, I think, by Algonqiun scholars be interpreted like Connecticutthe long river. I do not think any word signifying head or source enters into it. OHIO is not a Shawnee word or a word in any Algonquin dialect. It is pure Iroquois, like Ontario and means in Iroquois Beautiful river. See Cuoq, Iroquois & Algonquin tract. MICHIGAN, is Michi great and gami lake in Algonquin, and is given in an early French Illinois dictionary. As earliest given it is Michigami. and French; but a Canadian French attempt ILLINOIS is not a compound of Indian to express the word Illiniwek, which in "We are Algonquin is a verbal form. The wek gradually got written ois, We say pronounced way or nearly so. and the Indians Illeen-week. Illy-noy but the French said: Illeen-way men." WISCONSIN arises from a misprint, all the early French documents have Ouisconsing or Misconsing and this seems to come from Miscosi, it is red. Wishcons, may mean a small beaver lodge. ALABAMA, is from the name of the tribe originally written Alibamon by the French. The late Rev. Mr. Byington an accomplish-quettes journal and evidently Algonquin. MISSOURI is a name first given in Mared Choctaw scholar sustained the earlier In an Illinois dictionary I find the word French by making the Alibamons to be with the meaning given Canoe. In Baraga's Choctaws, and he ridiculed the translation. Dictionary for It is muddy he gives Here we rest or The land of rest. I took down but cannot at the moment give his jishkiwika, but no word like Missouri. interpretation. MISSISSIPPI is not Choctaw or Natchez at all. The name first reached the French missionaries and voyageurs through the northern Algonquin tribes, and is clearly intelligible in their languages. Missi or Michi means great; sipi river: so that it simply means great river. The Ottawa was called Kichisipi, a great river and Col. Pichlynn a very intelligent Shawnee when asked by the late Buckingham Smith the meaning of Chesapeake, at once said Kichi-sipik. Place of the great water. ARKANSAS, is written in early French documents Alkansas so that the French word are certainly did not enter it, and such compounds are not in the style of the French. Alkusas or Arkansas was the name given by the Algonquins tribe to the nation calling themselves Quappas. IOWA is written at first Aiouès and was applied to a tribe of Indians, and would seem to be simply Ajawa-across, beyond, as if to say the tribe beyond the river. racy and is said by Morfi in his Manuscript TEXAS, was a name applied to a confedeHistory of Texas to mean Friends. New York, May, 1872. Editor of the AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD, Dear Sir: I beg to call attention to two historical errors long current in our history, one relating to Maine and the other to New Hampshire, repeated in your account of the "Origin of the States and their Names." Two theories of the origin of the name of the State of Maine has long been publicly known. The one accepted by you must be rejected in view of historical facts brought to light not long ago. The name of this State was first authoritatively and deliberately applied more accurately to that part of it west of the Kennebec River-in the charter granted by the great Council of Plymouth, to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Mason, dated August 10, 1622. Therein it is called the "Province of Maine." This was nearly two years before the Princess Henrietta Maria of France was thought of for a wife to Prince Charles of England. At the time this name appeared in the charter a marriage treaty was pending between Prince Charles and the Infanta Maria, daughter of Philip III, of Spain. A marriage of these royal parties was not effected till early in the year 1624. It was clear from this, and other circumstances that could be mentioned, that the naming of Maine had nothing to do with Henrietta Maria of France, as alleged. I may add in this correction, that I expect to show in my life of Captain Mason, that the Infanta of Spain was designedly complimented in the naming of a district in New England, granted by the great Council; a curious fact overlooked by historians. It seems to me reasonably certain that the State of Maine owes its name to no European State, province, or personage, but to its own singular geographical features. Years before the name appeared in this charter, the territory was commonly designated by English mariners and writers, "The Maine," variously spelt, to distinguish it from its insular parts lying about the coast. A useful and expressive word, constantly applied to it, in a maritime sense, was adopted for the English name of the territory by those authorized to give it a name. This origin of the name, proposed long ago, seems to be the true extended from the Merrimac to the Kennebec River, granted to Gorges and Mason in 1622. This was the first English name of New Hampshire. Seven years later, to wit. 1629, this territory, lying between. the Merrimac and Piscataqua Rivers, was granted to Captain Mason, and then first called, NEW HAMPShire. Laconia was a name coined immediately after this last event, and applied to a not very well defined extent of territory lying about Lake Champlain, granted by the great Council to Gorges and Mason after New Hampshire had been defined and named. I do not forget that some years since a town was incorporated by the name, Laconia, in New Hampshire, Boston, May, 1872. Truly Yours, C. W. T. Grosvenor Library, Buffalo, May 20, 1872. Editor of AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. Dear Sir: I suppose that your idea of placing on record the names of the states, and where derived is for the purpose of perpetuating them as simply for a historical reason. But no matter what is the design it is a laudable one and for one I wish you had taken in a greater field, and also give whenever it can be done, the meaning of the Aboriginal appelatives of rivers, lakes and mountains. But errors are so abundant, the question is, are we not perpetuating falsehood rather than the truth? I observe in the state nomenclature, that some errors occur; and I have noticed these same errors or similar ones to have occurred in works of history and travels. Will you allow me to make corrections where I know there is an error. I have for the last five and thirty years been pretty well acquainted with the mixed languages of the North West spoken by the Ojibwees, Ottawas, Pottawatamies and kindred tribes; branches of the great Algonquin nation and must say I do know that the word Michigan is "Michi Gumee" Great Water. The prefix Michi, is applied to animate and inanimate objects alike. There are slight variations in its pronunciation and spelling, but they all designate something large, expanded, quantities of, &c. There the word Michigan can be applied to the State having so many lakelets and being nearly surrounded by water; it can be styled the place of Great Waters. The name is applied irrespective to the land ast to the Lake. Now as regards Mississippi Missi or Michi meaning great, and must not be confounded with a similar word of the Dacota tongue having a very different meaning. The same meaning is applied to that as to Michigan, but the latter half of the words are different. "Seepe" or "Neebe" is applied indiscriminately to a lake, or river by some of the western bands of Algonquins, while with other "Gumee" is used, but the ending shows the true meaning the "ee" implying water. It is all very romantic to say that the meaning in Indian is the "Father of Waters" "Long River," &c. For aught I know tinow the Choctaw word, may mean Long river but Mississippi is not Choctaw or any part and parcel of the Mobilian tongue but good Algonquin. It is high time to purge our history of these fanciful meanings and cease to term Niagara "Thunder of Waters" because the old humbug H. R. S. once endeavored to palm that meaning off on the community, as to him the "Neck" was not romantic enough. Missouri-Minnay Sotor both show the Dacota earmarks, and in both is applicable to turbid or muddy water. It is difficult to say why Rhode Island was so termed as the record of its nomination is very brief. On the 13th of the first month, 1644, the General Court of Election's passed the following: "It is ordered by this Court, that the Island commonly called Aquethneck, shall be from henceforth called the Isle of Rhodes, or Rhode Island." This is all the record; neither in the history of the times or in private journals do we find any notice of the change or why. OLD RECORDS FROM NEW JERSEY. The first English emigrants to New Jersey soon discovered the necessity of having a faithful translation of the language used by the Aborigines. This grew out of their social and business intercourse, coupled with the determination to deal fairly with this people—thus avoid dissatisfaction and perhaps bloodshed. The proper authorities of the Salem Colony with John Fenwick as Governor have left on record, in one of the books of those early periods, a translation of Indian terms into the English and which was, no doubt, considered the standard in all things pertaining thereto. Several of the manuscript books of the proceedings of the Courts of that Colony are on file in the office of the Secretary of State at Trenton New Jersey, and often examined with much interest by Antiquarians. The following is a copy of the translation above mentioned as made in 1684. |