and Amity between Great Britain and members of the Congressional minority, the United States of America. Signed at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814"; and upon the other a feminine figure standing on the segment of a globe, holding in one hand the olive branch of peace. Another was struck, which is represented in the accompanying engraving. The British government, grate ful for the loyalty of Canada during the war, caused a medal of gratitude to be struck, as seen below. whose protest against the war had been conscientiously made, this peace faction endeavored-by attempting to injure the public credit, preventing enlistments into the armies, spreading false stories concerning the strength of the British and the weakness of the Americans, and public speeches, sermons, pamphlets, and newspaper essays-to compel the government to sheathe the sword and hold out the MEDAL OF GRATITUDE. Peace Party. On the declaration of olive branch of peace at the cost of nawar in June, 1812, an organization known tional honor and independence. Their unas the peace party soon appeared, com- scrupulous, and sometimes treasonable, posed of the more violent opposers of the machinations were kept up during the administration and disaffected Democrats, whole war, and prolonged it by embarwhose partisan spirit held their patriot- rassing their government. The better ism in complete subordination. Lacking portion of the Federal party discountethe sincerity and integrity of the patriotic nanced these acts. With a clear percep tion of duty to the country, rather than jecting or holding as a conquered province to their party, leaders like Quincy, Emott, any sovereign State now or lately one of and a host of others gave their support the United States." To this John C. to the government in its hour of need. National Observatory, in a letter to the London Times (Aug. 17, 1863), said, in proof that there was no chance for the preservation of the Union, "There is already a peace party in the North. All the embarrassments with which that party can surround Mr. Lincoln, and all the difficulties that it can throw in the way of the war party in the North, operate directly as so much aid and comfort to the South." The faction issued many publications in furtherance of their views, and never ceased their operations until the close of the war which they had prolonged. Breckinridge added, "or to abolish slaThe first call for the marshalling of very therein." From the beginning of the hosts of the peace party, so conspicu- the Civil War there was a faction, comous during the Civil War, was sounded in posed of the disloyal politicians of the Congress when (July 10, 1861), a loan opposition, who used every means in their bill was introduced authorizing the Sec- power to embarrass the government. They retary of the Treasury to borrow $250,- affiliated with the KNIGHTS OF the Gold000,000 for the support of the govern- EN CIRCLE (q. v.), and, like the peace ment and to prosecute a war in its defence. faction in 1812-15, they were practical Clement L. Vallandigham, Representative enemies of their country. Matthew F. in Congress from Ohio, made an elabo- Maury, formerly superintendent of the rate speech against the measure and the entire policy of the administration in its vindication of the national authority by force of arms. He charged the President with usurpation in calling out and increasing the military and naval forces of the country; in blockading ports; in suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus; and other acts which the safety of the government seemed to require and all done without the express authority of Congress. He declared that the denunciation of slavery and slave-holders was the cause of the war; denounced the revenue laws as injurious to the cottongrowers; charged his political opponents with being anxious for war instead of peace, and of having adopted a war policy for partisan purposes; warned the country that other usurpations would follow, such as the denial of the right of petition and the freedom of conscience; and pronounced the war for the "coercion of sovereign States" to be "unholy and unjust." From that time until the close of the war, and even afterwards, Mr. Vallandigham used all his powers in giving "aid and comfort" to the Confederates. He and the peace party opposed every measure of the administration for ending the war. They were doubtless sincere; but the friends of the republic regarded them as mistaken and mischievous. Peace Resolutions. During the holiday recess of Parliament in 1781-82, the people and legislators of England had the surrender of Cornwallis to reflect upon, and came to the conclusion that further efforts to subdue the colonies were useless. On Feb. 22, 1782, a motion was offered by Conway, in the House of Commons, against continuing the war in America. It was then negatived by a majority of cne. Five days later, Conway's resolution for an address to the King on the subject was carried by a majority of 19. To this address the King gave an equivocal answer. On March 4 Conway brought forward an address to the King to declare that the House would consider as enemies to the King and country all those who Benjamin Wood, Representative from should further attempt the prosecution New York, proposed (July 15) that Con- of a war on the continent of America for gress should take measures for assembling a border-State convention to devise means for securing peace. Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, introduced (July 18) an addition to a bill for the reorganization of the army, which declared that no part of the army or navy should be employed in "sub the purpose of reducing the revolted colonies to obedience. It was adopted without a division. The next day, with like unanimity, leave was given by the House to bring in an "enabling bill," allowing the King to make a peace or truce with America. It was accordingly brought in, but PEACH-TREE CREEK-PEACOCK it was ten weeks before it became a law under a new administration. The North administration was no more. Of it Dr. Johnson said: "Such a bunch of imbecility never disgraced the country. It was composed of many corrupt and greedy men, who yielded to the stubbornness of the King for the sake of the honors and emoluments of office." were killed or wounded. Only two of the Peacock's men were wounded; and so little was she injured that an hour after the battle she was in perfect fighting order. The Épervier sold for $55,000, and on board of her was found $118,000 in specie. She was such a valuable prize that Warrington determined to take her into Savannah himself. On the way, when abreast Peach-tree Creek, BATTLE OF. See AT- of Amelia Island, on the coast of Florida, LANTA. the Épervier, in charge of Lieut. John B. Peacock, THE, a notable war-vessel of Nicholson, came near being captured by the United States in the War of 1812, two English frigates. She entered the Samounting eighteen guns. In March, 1814, vannah River in safety on May 1, 1814. under command of Captain Warrington, The Peacock reached the same port on she sailed from New York on a cruise. She May 4. This capture produced much ex Congress thanked Warrington in the name of the nation, and gave him a gold medal. In another cruise to the shores of Portugal soon afterwards, the Peacock captured fourteen vessels, and returned to New York at the end of October. was off the coast of Florida for some time ultation. In 1815, after parting with Biddle, Captain Warrington pursued his cruise in the Peacock, and on June 30, when off Anjer, in the Strait of Sunda, between Sumatra and Java, he fell in with the East India cruiser Nautilus, fourteen guns, Lieut. Charles Boyce. Broadsides were exchanged, when the Nautilus struck her colors. She had lost six men killed and eight wounded. The Peacock lost none. This event occurred a few days after the period set by the treaty of peace for the cessation of hostilities. Warrington was ignorant of Mr. Peale painted several portraits of any such treaty, but, being informed the Washington, among them one for Houdon's next day of its ratification, he gave up the Nautilus and did everything in his power to alleviate the sufferings of her wounded crew. He then returned home, bearing the distinction of having fired the last shot in the second war for independence. When the Peacock reached the United States every cruiser, public and private, that had been out against the British had returned to port, and the war was over. Peale, CHARLES WILSON, painter; born in Chestertown, Md., April 16, 1741; was at first apprenticed to a saddler, and afterwards carried on that business, as well as silversmith, watch-maker, and carver. He finally became a portrait-painter, and was a good sportsman, naturalist, preserver of animals, an inventor, and was the first dentist in the country who made sets of artificial teeth. He took instruc CHARLES WILSON PEALE. tions from Copley, in Boston, in 1770-71; studied at the Royal Academy in London; and in 1772 painted the first portrait of Washington ever executed, in the costume of a Virginia colonel, and at the same time painted a miniature of Mrs. Washington. He did military service and carried on portrait-painting during the Revolutionary War, and for fifteen years he was the only portrait-painter in America. He made a portrait gallery of Revolutionary worthies, and opened, in Philadelphia, the first museum in the country, and was the first to give lectures on natural history. use in making his statue of the patriot. He labored long for the establishment of an academy of fine arts in Philadelphia, and when it was founded he co-operated faithfully in its management, and contributed to seventeen annual exhibitions. Most of his family inherited his artistic and philosophical tastes. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 22, 1827. REMBRANDT, his son, born in Bucks county, Pa., Feb. 22, 1778; died in Philadelphia, Oct. 3, 1860; painted a portrait of Washington from life, which is now in the Senate chamber in Washington, and was commended by personal friends of the patriot as the best likeness of him (excepting Houdon's statue) ever made. He studied under West in London, and, going to Paris, painted portraits of many eminent men for his father's museum. Charles Wilson Peale's youngest son, TITIAN RAMSEY, born in Philadelphia in 1800; died there, March 13, 1885, was also a painter and naturalist. He was painter and naturalist to the South Sea Surveying and Exploring Expedition. Pearce, JAMES ALFRED, statesman; born in Alexandria, Va., Dec. 14, 1805; graduated at Princeton in 1822; admitted to the bar in 1824; elected to the Maryland legislature in 1831; elected member of Congress in 1835; elected United States Senator in 1843. President Fillmore nominated Senator Pearce as Secretary of the Interior. The nomination was confirmed but declined. He died in Chestertown, Md., Dec. 20, 1862. Pea Ridge, BATTLE AT. When the Confederates under General Price fled into Arkansas in February, 1861, General Curtis and a strong force of Nationals pursued him. Curtis crossed the Arkansas line on Feb. 18 and drove Price and his followers over the Boston Mountains. He then fell back and took a position near Pea Ridge, a spur of the Ozark Mountains. Meanwhile Price had been joined by Gen. Earl Van Dorn, a dashing young officer who was his senior in rank, and now took chief command of the Confederates. Forty heavy guns thundered a welcome to the young general. "Soldiers!" cried the general, "behold your leader! He comes to show you the way to glory and immortal PEA RIDGE, BATTLE AT renown. He comes to hurl back the were in battle order. His 1st and 2d minions of the despots at Washington, divisions, on the left, were commanded rewhose ignorance, licentiousness, and bru- spectively by Generals Asboth and Sigel; tality are equalled only by their craven the 3d was under Gen. J. C. Davis, and natures. They come to free your slaves, composed the centre, and the 4th, on the lay waste your plantations, burn your villages, and abuse your loving wives and beautiful daughters." Van Dorn came from western Arkansas with Generals McCulloch, McIntosh, and Pike. The latter was a New England man and a poet, and came at the head of a band of Indians whom he had lured into the service. The whole Confederate force then numbered 25,000 men; the National troops, led by Curtis, did not exceed 11,000 men, with 50 pieces of artillery. right, was commanded by Colonel Carr. On March 5 Curtis was informed by his scouts of the swift approach of an overwhelming force of Confederates; he concentrated his army in the Sugar Creek Valley. He was compelled to fight or make a disastrous retreat. Choosing the former, he prepared for the struggle. Meanwhile Van Dorn, by a quick movement, had flanked Curtis and gained his rear, and on the morning of the 7th he moved to attack the Nationals, not doubt- Osterhaus met with a warm reception, ing his ability to crush him and capture for the woods were swarming with Conhis train of 200 wagons. Curtis's troops federates. His cavalry were driven back, |