tion to the outrage which had been committed upon the frigate Chesapeake, by the British naval force then

on our coast.

His excellency governor Wright, was unanimously requested to take the chair, and John Johnson, esq. was appointed secretary.

After the cause of the meeting had been stated in an appropriate address from the chair, several spirited resolutions were adopted, expressive of their sentiments of detestation and resentment, with which they viewed the unprovoked attack upon the Chesapeake pledged their lives and fortunes to co-operate with the government of the United States in any measure of retaliation which might be adopted. Also, renouncing all intercourse with the British ships-of-war stationed on our coast, until the decision of our government should be known; with other declarations on the same subject, and with arrangements for carrying the design of these resolutions into effect.

On the 26th of August of this year, the startling information was received here of a piracy having been committed in the Chesapeake bay, about thirty miles below Annapolis, by a French pirate, in the capture of the ship Othello, captain Glover, bound to Baltimore.

Spirited preparations were immediately made, and the 'Holy-Hawk' packet, with two brass four-pounders, under command of capt. Muir of the artillery, and capt. Duvall of the infantry, with a detachment of their respective companies, armed with muskets and boarding pikes, accompanied by a boat from the 'L'Eole,' (then lying in our harbour,) with thirtythree volunteers, French and American, under the command of lieut. Mann, of the United States' navy,

and an officer of the 'L'Eole,' sailed in pursuit of the pirate. They proceeded some distance down the bay, but returned without encountering the modern Kidd. Detachments from Baltimore, under captains Samuel and John Sterett, in conjunction with captain Porter, of the U. S. navy, were more fortunate. The piratical vessel was taken to that port. Five of the crew, who had passed through this place, were captured by our citizens a short distance from town, and were also taken to Baltimore. A gentleman, then high in authority, assured the captors of these five unarmed French pirates, 'that they deserved well of their country.'

Nothing material transpired from this period until the war of 1812, when the citizens of Annapolis were still the same patriotic and zealous people in the cause of their country, and for which they have ever been distinguished in times of peril and danger: always as resolved to repel an invasion of their soil, as were their ancestors to resist tyranny and oppression.

CHAPTER VIII.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY OF ANNAPOLIS, AND ITS MORE PROMINENT PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

City of Annapolis-Its Population-Shipping-Its Site-Its Advantages-Naval Academy-The Round Bay-Rail Road-Its proximity to the seat of the National Government-Its Harbour-The Treasury-The Government-house-St. John's College-Episcopal Church-Roman Catholic Chapel-Methodist ChurchAfrican House of Worship-The Farmers' Bank of Maryland→ Court-house-City Hall-City Hotel-Ball-room-Theatre-The Garrison at Fort Severn.

ANNAPOLIS, the capital of Maryland, received its name in 1708, in honour of Queen Anne, the then reigning monarch of England. It is situated on the south branch of the river Severn, thirty miles south from Baltimore, and forty miles east-north-east from Washington, in latitude 38° 58′ north; longitude, Washington city, 0° 31' east.

Its population is about three thousand; shipping, 4006 tons. It stands on a peninsula formed by Acton's creek on the south, and Covey's creek on the north; the heads of these two creeks being within half a mile of each other. Its greatest length is little more than a mile, and in breadth something more than half a mile. It covers an area of about an hundred and forty-three acres. The site of the city is one of great beauty, commanding an extensive view of the Chesapeake and the surrounding country, which exhibits a great diversity of landscape and picturesque scenery. The appellation of the 'beautiful city,' has often been applied to her, especially when clothed in nature's brightest livery.

Annapolis is the natal place of some of the most distinguished men America can boast of; and has the honour of being the native place of five of the most beautiful and accomplished peeresses of our mother land.

This city is admirably adapted as a location for a Naval Academy, an institution which has long been desired by all classes of our citizens. Her central position between the north and the south; her proximity to the seat of our national government; her fine and commodious harbour, which gives her great commercial advantages-all combine to recommend her to the general government as decidedly the best location in the Union for the site of such an institution. There is water bold and extensive enough for all desirable purposes; and only seven miles from the mouth of the Severn is the Round Bay, a beautiful sheet of water, which of itself presents a commodious and secure harbour for ships-of-war, and in every respect is an eligible depot for naval stores. The Annapolis and Elkridge rail road being finished, the distance between Annapolis and Washington can be accomplished in less than three hours, which removes at once all the force of the objection heretofore made on the ground of its difficulty of access during the winter.

It now occupies three hours by steamboat travel between this place and Baltimore; by the rail road, two hours, and perhaps less, will suffice to pass from one to the other. And thus will Annapolis be rendered a suitable and convenient outer or winter harbour for the great emporium of our State, whose harbour is frequently closed by ice, while this is open all the winter, unless it be one of unusual severity.

The public buildings are the state-house, the treasury, the government-house, St. John's college, Episcopal church, Roman Catholic chapel, Methodist church, African house of worship, the Farmers' Bank of Maryland, court-house, city hall, city hotel, ballroom, theatre, the garrison at fort Severn.

THE STATE-HOUSE.

The state-house is situated on a beautiful elevation in the centre of the city. It has elicited alike the admiration of the citizen, the sojourner, and the stranger, for the beauty of its structure.

The main building is of brick, and the superstructure which surmounts it is of wood.

The height from the base to the top of the spire is two hundred feet. From the platform of the dome, which is one hundred and thirty-five feet high, the spectator has one of the most delightful panoramic views to be found within the United States. It commands a view of nature in all the beauty of poetic scenery-the ancient city-its environs--the adjacent country-the noble Chesapeake, and the eastern shore beyond it, for an extent of thirty miles around, breaks upon the view of the delighted eye.

The hill on which stands this noble edifice, is enclosed by a neat and substantial granite wall, surmounted by a handsome iron railing, which is entered by three gates, one situated at the head of Francis street, and in front of the building, the second to the south-west, and the third to the north-east of the circle.

The main entrance to the building is through a portico of but modest pretensions, and opens into a spa