THE WAR OF 1812

DEFENSIVE   MEASURES   CONSIDEUED   BY   THE   CITIZENS

The City of New York suffered greatly during the War
of 1812. Many of its greatest merchants were reduced
almost to bankruptcy. It stirred the citizens to a point
ne\'er reached in any experience previously. The appended
account gives a graphic picture of the situation and of
the state of the public mind. Meetings were held and
various measures were considered and a special Com¬
mittee of Defense organized. The following excerpts
from the proceedings of the Common Council and the
Committee are of great interest.

The Committee have endeavored to obtain information on
the important objects of inquiry committed to them, and
they hasten to lay it before the Common Council. It may
be classed under these heads:

1.  To the probability of a hostile attack.

2.  To the means of resistance.

3.  To the measures which ought to be adopted, in order
to protect the city and the surrounding country, in con¬
sequence of the deficiency of such means.

With regard to the first point, the Committee have no
])articular information. It is well known that the British
have a vast disposable force in Europe, a part of which is
intended for America; that the British Naval Commander-
in-chief has not appeared off the American coast this
season, but has remained at the island of Bermuda, in all
probability with a view to concentrate his forces for some
important object, and that upon the whole there is reason
to believe that a blow is intended to be struck which will
greatly injure this country; but the point of attack can¬
not be known. Whether the enemy intends to aim at
New Orleans, Norfolk, Washington, Baltimore, New York,
or Newport, or whether he has adopted any definite plan
cannot be determined but by'the course of events. "That
alarm exists in all those places; that all are exposed; and
that prudence and patriotism dictate the indispensable
necessity of adopting all proper measures to repel his at¬
tacks cannot be doubted. When we consider the immense
prize which this city affords to his cupidity, the importance

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