were compelled to forego further search, and returned home, without the loss of a man during their protracted and hazardous voyage. Congress assembled on Monday, the 1st of December, and on the succeeding day the annual message of the President was communicated to both Houses. The view presented of the condition and prospects of the country, in this document, was of a generally satisfactory character. Among other subjects alluded to by the President, in his message, was the expected arrival in this country of the Hungarian ex-governor, Louis Kossuth, for whose conveyance from Turkey the U. S. steam-frigate Mississippi had been commissioned by a vote of Congress. The President recommended to Congress a consideration of the manner in which the distinguished exile and his companions," brought hither by its authority," should be received and treated. In consequence of a change of arrangements, Gov. Kossuth proceeded from Gibraltar to England by other conveyance than the Mississippi; where, having passed a month, amidst the hospitable greetings of the English people, he re-embarked, and arrived per steam-ship at New-York, on the morning of the 5th of December. The anticipations of the American people, in view of this visit, had been highly raised. The reputation of the famous Hungarian, and the history of his noble and self-sacrificing endeavors in behalf of his country's freedom, together with the story of his sufferings while an exile and prisoner in a strange land, had long been familiar in this country; and the freemen of America, in the exercise of a generous and characteristic sympathy for the oppressed, and entertaining an especial regard for one who had so nobly vindicated the cause of liberty, were eager for the opportunity of seeing and hearing the man, and of attesting their admiration of his course, in a cordial welcome to the shores of the republic. His reception in the metropolis was one of the most impressive spectacles ever witnessed in this country. The whole population seemed carried away with enthusiasm and excitement. The roar of cannon and the huzzas of immense multitudes honored his disembarkation at Castle-Garden, and the subsequent military and civic parade through the great thoroughfare of the city, which had been decorated with surpassing magnificence, exceeded any demonstration of a similar nature in honor of heroic virtues or public worth. : The attentions of the citizens of the metropolis were subsequently displayed in numerous banquets in honor of the city's distinguished guest, and on each occasion were heard from the Great Hungarian those powerful and impassioned strains of eloquence which caused the tyrant of Austria to tremble on his throne, and inspired his devoted countrymen to battle for their national righ's, until crushed in the vastly unequal contest they were compelled to wage, with treachery in their own camp and the force of combined despots arrayed against them. Governor Kossuth, after a brief tarry in New-York, repaired to the seat of the federal government, where he was formally introduced to Congress and the President; and thence through Harrisburg, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and all the principal cities of the West, receiving at every point on his journey testimonials of the warmest sympathy and respect from the people. Since his arrival, and the enunciation of his stirring appeals in behalf of his country's wrongs, the public mind in this country has been deeply agitated by the question as to the duty of the American government, in relation to the interference of despotic powers in suppressing attempts like that made in Hungary, for the attainment of liberty. The subject has been introduced even in Congress, and is undoubtedly destined to create widespread and earnest discussion, and perhaps to lead to events of a most important character. : The distinguished Hungarian, after remaining in this country several months, during which he extended his visits to the North and the South, the East and the West, everywhere receiving marks of the highest consideration and svm pathy, together with liberal contributions of "material aid," for the successful prosecution of his future plans for the redemption of his country from the rule of the oppressor, took his departure for England, there to await the development of events connected with the contemplated revolutionary movements in Europe. On the 29th of July, 1852, the Hon. Henry Clay died at the city of Washington, in the 76th year of his age. Mr. Clay was at the time a member of the United States Senate, from the State of Kentucky. His illness was somewhat protracted, and the entire nation watched with painful interest the gradual decline of the distinguished statesman. It was but recently that they had been called to witness the death of the eminent man, who, with so much ability, had stood forth for so long a time the acknowledged champion of Southern rights and interests in the national councils; in the death of Mr. Clay the country sustained another bereavement, the influence of which upon the public mind was manifested in the unaffected tokens of general sorrow and grief. It was felt that the nation had lost one of its ablest public men,one associated, not only with the present greatness and prosperity of the country, but who had been identified with its earlier history, had been the compeer of the many distinguished men whose patriotism and statesmanship had won for them a proud position in the public remembrance, and who, through a long political career, had been intimately connected with nearly every important measure of national concern. Whether in the discharge of his public duties at home, or in the more conspicuous positions of Representative and Senator in Congress, or as a cabinet officer or diplomatist, Mr. Clay stood pre-eminent for his brilliant talents and powerful and persuasive eloquence; while as a man, he was proverbially possessed of those winning and attractive features of character which were calculated to secure for him the strongest personal attachments. A succession of those terrible steamboat calamities which seem to be peculiar to American waters, occurred during the summer of the same year, which deserves a passing notice. The steamers Henry Clay and Armenia, bound from Albany to New York, were engaged, as is alleged, in a race, prompted by that spirit of rivalry and competition which finds so universal a development and sympathy in the American breast. The Henry Clay, from over-heating her machinery, took fire; and although the steamer was at once directed to the shore, nearly one hundred lives, chiefly of females and children, were destroyed. In the ensuing month (August), a collision occurred on Lake Erie, between the steamer Atlantic and the propeller Ogdensburgh, by which the former was sunk. She had on board a large number of emigrant passengers for the West; and out of a total of about 350 persons, about 200 perished. These, with a repetition of similar disasters on a more limited scale, in most cases the result of recklessness or criminal negligence, have had the effect of arousing the attention of Congress to the importance of adopting some measures for the safety of passengers traversing our waters in steam vessels; and a law has been enacted, with stringent provisions, for the better regulation of steamboats, and the additional security of those on board. The ink seems hardly dry, with which we recorded the death of the great statesman of the West, Mr. Clay, when the sorrowful duty again devolves of committing to these historical pages the announcement of the decease of Daniel Webster, a name honored, not only by all Americans, but enjoying a world-wide renown. Mr. Webster died at his residence at Marshfield, Massachusetts, on Sunday morning, the 24th of October, 1852, in the 71st year of his age. The circumstances attending the death, as well as the life, of this eminent man, were peculiarly impressive. Retiring to his favorite country home, for the purpose of recuperating his energies, which had become much depressed from official labor and a temporary indisposition, he was soon violently attacked by disease, which, after a brief course, terminated in death; and thus was the country called to mourn the loss of undoubtedly the greatest intellect to which it ever gave birth, and the civilized world a man, whose towering character and colossal mental proportions were at once the admiration and honor of the race. The announcement of the critical illness of Mr. Webster was received with gloomy forebodings; the interval was brief, ere the impressive fact was communicated to all parts of the country, that the great statesman was no more! Among the many interesting incidents so mínutely recorded, as characterizing the closing moments of his life, it is related that, during the night of his decease, arousing himself from a deep lethargy in which he had remained for some time, he uttered the exclamation, "I still live!" and, with these last words, sunk gradually into the peaceful arms of death. The expression possesses a force and truthfulness which will be readily admitted by his countrymen. Though dead, the character and fame of the great statesman still live; his name will ever be honored, as among the mightiest of the mighty dead; and the influence of his words and deeds will be transmitted to the latest posterity. Mr. Webster was, at the time of his decease, a member of the Cabinet, holding the position of Secretary of State. He had before filled the same office, and in the discharge of its duties had been called to the management of the most difficult and important international questions. His distinguished talents were also for a long period exercised in the Senate of the United States; while as a lawyer, and constitutional expounder, his reputation was pre-eminent. Calhoun, Clay, and Webster! In life these great men were together a brilliant triumvirate of American statesmen, as they have been justly called; in death they were not long parted. 4 The important occurrences connected with the Presidential election of this year will next demand our notice. The National Conventions of the two leading parties, whig and democratic, assembled at Baltimore, the former on the 1st of June, and the latter on the 16th of the same month, and after having experienced great difficulty in making a selection of candidates, eventually put forward respectively General Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, and General Winfield Scott, of New Jersey. The free-soil party nominated Hon. John P. Hale, of New Hampshire. The result of the canvass in November was favorable to the democratic party, which succeeded in electing its candidate, General Pierce, by the large electoral vote of 254, to 42 for the whig candidate. By States, 27 cast their votes for General Pierce, and 4 for General Scott. The candidates for the Vice-Presidency were Wm. R. King, of Alabama, democrat, and Wm. A Graham, of North Carolina, whig. The former was elected. A. D. 1853.—General Pierce was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, on the 23d of November, 1804, and is the youngest man ever elevated to the Presidency of the United States. A statesman of good abilities, evincing in all his public acts marked discretion and prudence, and in his private life unspotted integrity, he entered on the 4th of March last upon the duties of his exalted position, with a degree of national unanimity and respect never surpassed upon any similar occasion in this country. It remains that we notice briefly the project for the "Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations," recently carried into effect in this country, in the city of New York, and which it is hoped will not be an unsuccessful imitation of the great "World's Exhibition" held in London in 1851, which is elsewhere described in these volumes. The accompanying finely executed engraving is a faithful representation of the structure in which the Exhibition is held. The Exhibition was opened in presence of the President on the 14th of July of this year. The building itself is another Crystal Palace, as it is constructed entirely of iron and glass, like the European model, though differing from that in design and arrangement. About 1,250 tons of the former material, and 39,000 square feet of the latter, were demanded in its construction. The edifice, 365 feet in length and breadth, is in the form of a Greek cross, surmounted by a dome 100 feet in diameter, at the intersection. Its extreme height is 148 feet, and its internal arrangements are such as to admit of 111,000 square feet on the ground floor, and 62,000 square feet of galleries; or, substantially, nearly four acres of room. Among the casualties which occurred during the year, may be noticed a destructive conflagration, which took place on the 5th of July, in the town of Oswego, New York, by which nearly the entire business portion of the place was destroyed, involving a loss of more than a million of dollars. The alarming number of railroad accidents also excited much public feeling. From the commencement of January until the middle of August, the number of accidents of this nature reached as high as 65; by which, it was estimated, that at least 176 persons were killed, and nearly double that number wounded. One of the most extensively fatal of these disasters occurred on the 6th of May, in Norwalk, Connecticut, when about 50 persons were killed outright, and a much larger number seriously injured, by a train being precipitated into the water in consequence of a drawbridge being left open. The year was also marked by the prevalence of the yellow fever at the South. The pestilence raged most violently in New Orleans, where the deaths from this cause, during July, August, and September, were estimated as high as 9,000. A matter of considerable interest, and which for a time threatened to become of deep national importance, grew out of the forcible seizure, by the Austrian authorities in the port of Smyrna, in Turkey, of a Hungarian refugee, named Martin Koszta, who had lived in this country nearly two years, and had formally declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States. Returning to Turkey, on a temporary visit, he was seized by the minions of Austria, but rescued by the prompt interposition of Capt. Ingraham, of the U. S. sloop of war St. Louis. The conduct of Capt. Ingraham was made the subject of complaint on the part of Austria, and led to à diplomatic exchange of notes between the Austrian Minister at Washington, and the State Department. The question was soon settled, by Austria's consenting to the release of Koszta, who had been placed in charge of the French Consul at Smyrna until the dispute could be adjusted. He is now released. The attention of Europe and America was deeply enlisted, towards the close of the year, by the posture of affairs between Russia and Turkey, and the probabilities of a general war as a result of threatened hostilities between those nations. The origin of the troubles were certain demands on the part of Russia in regard to the right of the Czar to regulate the affairs and interests of the Greek Church within the dominions of the Sultan; which having been rejected by Turkey, a Russian army was marched into her Danubian Provinces, and, notwithstanding the protracted efforts of France, England, Austria, and Prussia, to effect a reconciliation, this virtual invasion was followed by a declaration of war on the part of Turkey, in case her invaded provinces were not immediately vacated by the enemy. At the latest dates the war had actually begun, and the peace of all Europe endangered by the outbreak. A destructive fire occurred in the city of New York, on the 30th of October, consuming buildings and property on Fulton and Nassau-streets, to the value of nearly a quarter of a million of dollars. OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE DIFFERENT STATES. VIRGINIA. Or the original thirteen colonies, this was the largest, and probably the first settled. It received its name in honor of Elizabeth, the "virgin queen" of England. We are told that the London company, soon after its incorporation in 1606, despatched to America three ships, having on board one hundred and five persons, destined to begin a settlement in the southern part of this rich and beautiful country. The squadron was commanded by Christopher Newport, and in company with him was Capt. Gosnold, and the celebrated John Smith. Instead of being warned by the failure of Sir Walter Raleigh's attempt formerly to colonise Virginia, and preserving among themselves a unanimity of feeling and action, these adventurers began to quarrel with each other concerning their eventual precedency long before they reached the land. It seems, a sealed box had been delivered to the commander, with orders that it should not be opened until twenty-four hours after the emigrants had landed in America. It was understood, however, that said box contained instructions for their guidance in establishing themselves colonially after landing. Smith, from a certain bold and perhaps overbearing demeanor, incurred the hatred of his companions, and was most absurdly accused of an intention to murder the colonial council, usurp the government, and make himself king of Virginia. Upon this unfounded accusation he was put in close confinement, and held until the arrival and debarkation of the colonists. They were fortuitously driven by stress of weather farther northward than their contemplated place of landing, which was the disastrous Roanoke island, and entered the mouth of Chesapeake bay on the 26th of April, 1607. Here they discovered a large and beautiful river, which they named James river, and chose as a proper spot for commencing a permanent settlement, the present position of Jamestown. 1 On the 13th of May they debarked, and proceeded at once to organise their government. The mysterious box, as they had surmised, was found to contain the names of the council, and instructions for their guidance. In the list were the names of Gosnold, Smith, Wingfield, and Newport. Wingfield was elected President, but a vote was passed excluding Smith from his seat at the board. They had, however, the magnanimity to release him from confinement; and his subsequent services to the colony were of great moment. It is difficult to account for the dilatory spirit of these adventurers, as regards the cultivation of the soil; they had no visible means of support for any length of time, and yet neglected to put in any crops during the first year of their settlement. Barter and negotiation with the Indians for a time sufficed to supply them with the necessaries of life; but this was a very uncertain and precarious mode of subsistence, as they presently found. The aborigines became aware of the comparative dependence of the new comers upon them, and lost, in a great measure, that reverential awe with which they had at first welcomed them. In four months from the time of their landing, fifty of their number |