years with embarrassments and difficulties, he became a joint proprietor with Mr. Hallock, and the paper was raised to the first rank of the daily press. He was the owner of the New York Tabernacle. He gave liberally according to his means: he lived in the strict observance of religious duties, and died with the calmness and reliance of a Christian. At the funeral services, in the Tabernacle, there is said to have been fifteen hundred persons present.

26th. In Warren county, N. J., Colonel JONAH HOWELL, at the age of 93. Colonel Howell was born in Hunterdon county; but, when six weeks old, his parents removed to Warren, and the son has continued to live ever since, now near a century, on his paternal farm, which is now in the hands of the third generation. Rather an unusual instance of permanence in this age of change.

At Fort Gibson, MICCONOPY, (Pond-king,) the head chief of the Seminole nation. He was one of the few warriors who, at the head of a mere handful of men, resisted our government for six years, and maintained possession of their country during that time against twenty times their number of well equipped troops, led by our most experienced generals. We believe that it was to General Taylor, then Colonel Taylor, that Micconopy finally surrendered. He commanded the Indians in person at the time of Dade's massacre, and, with Osceola, successfully resisted the crossing of the Withlacooche by General Gaines, in 1836.

At Milwaukie, Wisconsin, THOMAS WILLIAMS, aged 90 years, a distinguished chief of the Iroquois nation, and descended from the Rev. John Williams, of Deerfield, Mass., who, with his family and parishioners, was taken captive at the sacking of his native town by the Indians and French, in the year 1704. The deceased was an active participant in the scenes of the revolution, espousing the cause of the British at Bennington and Saratoga. During the war of 1812, by special invitation of the United States Government, he placed himself under the protection of its flag, and was present at the battle of Plattsburgh. He had for many years maintained the tenets of the Christian faith, and died as he had lived, respected and beloved by his people.

FEBRUARY, 1849.

2d. At New York, ALEXANDER MING, one of the oldest printers in the city, aged 76, died on Friday. He was a very worthy man. When General Washington arrived at Paulus's Hook, on his way to this city to be inaugurated, he was rowed across the North River in a barge by sea captains-Captain Randall, of the Sailors' snug harbour memory, acting as coxswain. Alexander Ming, then a lad, was one of the pages in attendance on the general.

10th. At Mobile, WILLIAM R. JOHNSON, of Virginia, the "Napoleon of the Turf," aged 77. Col. Johnson was a native of North Carolina, but lived in Virginia from his early days. He was repeatedly elected to the legislature. His connexion with the turf, dates from childhood; he was trained to it by his father.

11th. At New Haven, NATHAN BEERS, aged 96, an old revolutionary soldier. He left Yale College to enlist in the army, served for a time under Benedict Arnold, and was present at the execution of Andre.

In Virginia, BENJAMIN WATKINS LEIGH, formerly a member of the U. S. Senate. Commencing the practice of the law at an early age, he was employed to revise the laws of the state, the result of which was the well-known revisal of 1819. He was also for a long time reporter of the Court of Appeals, and there are twelve volumes of reports that bear his name. In the Virginia State Convention of 1829-30 he occupied a prominent position. In national politics he has been not less conspicuous. In both branches of congress he has served repeatedly and with ability.

At Genoa, Italy, COMMODORE BOLTON of the United States navy. He was an experienced and excellent officer-the account of his death has just been received at the navy department, as having happened the 22d February. The letter states:

"His whole soul seemed absorbed by his duties, and he had intended. to embark on the very day of his death for Leghorn, to meet with his presence, the requirements of the consul, for the appearance of some of the squadron, and from which he was restrained only by the urgent entreaty of his wife, and the remonstrance of the physician, upon the duty he owed himself. He was heard to say, 'I have no care for myself, it is my duty.'

The following obituary notice, also just come to hand, is worthy of record.

DONNA AUGUSTINA FERRANDO, of Tlaliscoyan, in Mexico, died early in January. The residence of this lady was on the route from Vera Cruz to Orizaba—about forty miles from the former. She had frequent occasions, and never neglected one, of showing kindness to American prisoners, during the late war.

21st. At Hollis, New Hampshire, the venerable TIMOTHY FARRAR, at the age of one hundred and one years, seven months and ten dayshaving been born on the 11th of July, 1747.

Of the 6200 graduates of Harvard, we believe four have completed a century of years-namely:

Doctor ED. HOLYOKE, who died aged 100 years 7 months.

DOCUMENTS.

STATE PAPERS.

(The great length of the President's annual message, renders it impossible to insert it entire in the present number; we, therefore, only give a part, reserving the remainder for our next. The annual message is always an important paper, belonging to the political history of the times, and has, therefore, appropriately a place in the Register. It is due to the head of the government, to insert it as written, and not in the mutilated shape of a synopsis.)

THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL MESSAGE TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, DEC. 5th, 1848.

Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:—

Under the benignant providence of Almighty God, the representatives of the states and of the people are again brought together to deliberate for the public good. The gratitude of the nation to the sovereign Arbiter of all human events, should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy.

Peace, plenty and contentment reign throughout our borders, and our be loved country presents a sublime moral spectacle to the world.

The troubled and unsettled condition of some of the principal European powers has had a necessary tendency to check and embarrass trade, and to depress prices throughout all commercial nations; but notwithstanding these causes, the United States, with their abundant products, have felt their effects less severely than any other country, and all our great interests are still prosperous and successful.

In reviewing the great events of the past year, and contrasting the agitated and disturbed state of other countries with our own happy and tranquil condition, we may congratulate ourselves that we are the most favoured people on the face of the earth. While the people of other countries are struggling to establish free institutions, under which man may govern himself, we are in the actual enjoyment of them-a rich inheritance from our fathers. While enlightened nations of Europe are convulsed and distracted by civil war or intestine strife, we settle all our political controversies by the peaceful exercise of the rights of freemen at the ballot box. The great republican maxim so deeply engraven on the hearts of our people, that the will of the majority, constitutionally expressed, shall prevail, is our safeguard against force and violence. It is a subject of just pride, that our fame and character as a nation continue rapidly to advance in the estimation of the civilized world. To our wise and free institutions it is to be attributed, that while other nations have achieved glory at the price of the suffering, distress and impoverishment of the people, we have won our honourable position in the midst of an uninter rupted prosperity, and of an increasing individual comfort and happiness. I am happy to inform you that our relations with all nations are friendly and pacific.

Advantageous treaties of commerce have been concluded within the last four years with New Granada, Peru, the two Sicilies, Belgium, Hanover, Oldenburg and Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Pursuing our example, the restrictive system of Great Britain, our principal foreign customer, has been relaxed; a more liberal commercial policy has been adopted by other enlightened

nations, and our trade has been greatly enlarged and extended. Our country stands higher in the respect of the world than at any former period. To continue to occupy this proud position, it is only necessary to preserve peace, and faithfully adhere to the great and fundamental principle of our foreign policy, of non-interference in the domestic concerns of other nations. We recognise in all nations the rights which we enjoy ourselves, to change and reform their political institutions, according to their own will and pleasure. Hence we do not look behind existing governments, capable of maintaining their own authority. We recognise all such actual governments, not only from the dictates of true policy, but from a sacred regard for the independence of nations.

While this is our settled policy, it does not follow that we can ever be indifferent spectators of the progress of liberal principles. The government and people of the United States hailed with enthusiasm and delight the establishment of the French republic, as we now hail the efforts in progress to unite the states of Germany in a confederation, similar in many respects to our own federal union. If the great and enlightened German states, occupying, as they do, a central and commanding position in Europe, shall succeed in establishing such a confederated government, securing at the same time to the citizens of each state, local governments adapted to the peculiar condition of each, with unrestricted trade and intercourse with each other, it will be an important era in the history of human events. Whilst it will consolidate and strengthen the power of Germany, it must essentially promote the cause of peace, commerce, civilization and constitutional liberty, throughout the world.

With all the governments on this continent, our relations, it is believed, are now on a more friendly and satisfactory footing than they have ever been at any former period.

Since the exchange of ratifications of the treaty of peace with Mexico, our intercourse with the government of that republic has been of the most friendly character. The envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Mexico has been received and accredited; and a diplomatic representative from Mexico of similar rank has been received and accredited by this government. The amicable relations between the two countries which had been suspended have been happily restored, and are destined, [ trust, to be long preserved. The two republics, both situated on this continent, and with coterminous territories, have every motive of sympathy and of interest to bind them together in perpetual amity.

The gratifying condition of our foreign relations renders it unnecessary for me to call your attention more specifically to them.

It has been my constant aim and desire to cultivate peace and commerce with all nations. Tranquillity at home, and peaceful relations abroad, constitute the true and permanent policy of our country. War, the scourge of nations, sometimes becomes inevitable, but it is always to be avoided when it can be done consistently with the rights and honour of the nation.

One of the most important results of the war into which we were recently forced with a neighbouring nation, is the demonstration it has afforded of the military strength of our country. Before the late war with Mexico, European and other foreign powers entertained imperfect and erroneous views of our physical strength as a nation and of our ability to prosecute war, and espe cially a war waged out of our own country. They saw that our standing army on the peace establishment did not exceed ten thousand men. Accustomed themselves to maintain in peace large standing armies for the protection of thrones against their own subjects, as well as against foreign enemies, they had not conceived that it was possible for a nation without such an army, well disciplined and of long service, to wage war successfully. They held in low

repute our militia, and were far from regarding them as an effective force, unless it might be for temporary defensive operations when invaded on our own soil.

The events of the late war with Mexico have not only undeceived them, but have removed erroneous impressions which prevailed to some extent even among a portion of our own countrymen. That war has demonstrated, that upon the breaking out of hostilities not anticipated, and for which no previous preparation had been made, a volunteer army of citizen soldiers equal to veteran troops, and in numbers equal to any emergency, can in a short period be brought into the field. Unlike what would have occurred in any other country, we were under no necessity of resorting to draughts or conscriptions. On the contrary, such was the number of volunteers who pa triotically tendered their services, that the chief difficulty was in making selections and determining who should be disappointed and compelled to remain at home. Our citizen soldiers are unlike those drawn from the population of any other country. They are composed indiscriminately of all professions and pursuits; of farmers, lawyers, physicians, merchants, manufacturers, mechanics and labourers; and this, not only among the officers, but the private soldiers in the ranks. Our citizen soldiers are unlike those of any other country in other respects. They are armed, and have been accustomed from their youth up to handle and use fire arms; and a large proportion of them, especially in the western and more newly settled states, are expert marksmen. They are men who have a reputation to maintain at home by their good conduct in the field. They are intelligent, and there is an individuality of character which is found in the ranks of no other army. In battle, each private man, as well as every officer, fights not only for his country, but for glory and distinction among his fellow citizens when he shall return to civil life.

The war with Mexico has demonstrated not only the ability of the government to organize a numerous army upon a sudden call, but also to provide it with all the munitions and necessary supplies with despatch, convenience and ease, and to direct its operations with efficiency. The strength of our institutions has not only been displayed in the valour and skill of our troops engaged in active service in the field, but in the organization of those executive branches which were charged with the general direction and conduct of the war. While too great praise cannot be bestowed upon the officers and men who fought our battles, it would be unjust to withhold from those officers necessarily stationed at home, who were charged with the duty of furnishing the army, in proper time, and in proper places, with all the munitions of war and other supplies so necessary to make it efficient, the commendation to which they are entitled. The credit due to this class of our officers is the greater, when it is considered that no army in ancient or modern times was ever better appointed or provided than our army in Mexico. Operating in an enemy's country, removed two thousand miles from the seat of the federal government, its different corps spread over a vast extent of territory, hundreds and even thousands of miles apart from each other, nothing short of the untiring vigilance and extraordinary energy of these officers could have enabled them to provide the army at all points, and in proper season, with all that was required for the most efficient service.

It is but an act of justice to declare, that the officers in charge of the several executive bureaux, all under the immediate eye and supervision of the secretary of war, performed their respective duties with ability, energy and efficiency. They have reaped less of the glory of the war, not having been personally exposed to its perils in battle, than their companions in arms; but without their forecast, efficient aid and co-operation, those in the field would not have been provided with the ample means they possessed of achieving