in 1876. He is the author of Politics Mother of Presidents, a name popular(with W. W. Crane); Federal Government ly given to Virginia, which has furnished in Switzerland; Democracy and Social six Presidents of the United States-nameGrowth in America; Establishment of Spanish Rule in America, etc.

ly, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Harrison, and Taylor. It is also called "Mother of States," as it was the first settled of the original thirteen States that formed the Union.

Motley, JOHN LOTHROP, historian and

April 15, 1814; graduated at Harvard University in 1831, and afterwards spent a year at the universities of Göttingen and Berlin; travelled in Italy, and, returning, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1836. He wrote two historical novels-

Mosquito Coast, a region of Central America, lying east of the state of Nicaragua, with a coast-line of about 250 miles on the Caribbean Sea. The Indians of this coast were long under diplomatist; born in Dorchester, Mass., protection of the British, who held Belize and a group of islands in the Bay of Honduras. The jealousy of the United States was aroused. In April, 1850, the two governments covenanted not "to occupy or fortify or colonize, or assume or exercise any dominion over, any part of Central America." In 1855 the United States charged the British government with infraction of the treaty; but the latter agreed to cede the disputed territory to Honduras, with some reservation. Subsequently there was considerable friction between the United States and the British authorities, chiefly growing out of commercial affairs; Great Britain took Chief Clarence under its protection; and in 1894 the Mosquito Reservation was annexed to the republic of Nicaragua under the name of the Department of Zelaya. See NICARAGUA.

Mother Ann. See LEE, ANN.

Mother Goose, the alleged author of a collection of popular nursery rhymes. Mrs. Goose was of a wealthy family in Boston, Mass. Her eldest daughter married Thomas Fleet, an enterprising printer, and Mrs. Goose lived with them. When their first child was born she was delighted, and spent nearly the whole time in singing songs and ditties which she had learned in her youth, to please the baby. The unmusical sounds annoyed everybody, and especially Fleet, who loved quiet. He remonstrated, coaxed, scolded, and ridiculed, but in vain. He could not suppress the old lady; so he resolved to turn the annoyance to account by gathering up and publishing the songs, ditties, and nonsensical jingles of his mother-in-law, and punishing her by attaching her name to them. In 1719 they were published in "Pudding Lane" (afterwards Devonshire Street), Boston, with the title of Songs for the Nursery; or, Mother Goose's Melodies for Children.

JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY.

Master's Hope (1839) and Merry Mount (1849). In 1840 he was secretary to the American legation in Russia; in 1861-67 minister to Austria; and in 1869-70 minister to Great Britain. He became interested in the history of Holland, and embarked for Europe in 1851 to gather materials for his great work, The History of the Rise of the Dutch Republic, which was published in London and New York in 1856. In 1861 he published The United Netherlands (2 volumes, enlarged to 4 volumes in 1867). This work was followed, in 1874, by The Life and Death of John of Barneveld, Advocate of Holland, with a View of the

Primary Causes of the Thirty Years' War. ary War, she resided in a fine mansion
On his recall from London he revisited near the Santee River, from which she
Holland in pursuit of historical studies. was driven by British, who fortified the
He afterwards went to England, where he
died near Dorchester, May 29, 1877.

in 1758, and was the mother of six the roof of the dwelling. It was soon children. Left a widow of fortune at in a blaze, when the garrison were comabout the beginning of the Revolution- pelled to sally out and surrender. The

patriotic owner then regaled both Ameri- ment in June of that year. can and British officers at her table.

Moulton, JOSEPH WHITE, historian; born in Stratford, Conn., in June, 1789; practised law in Buffalo and in New York City; and afterwards removed to Roslyn, N. Y., where he engaged entirely in historical research. His publications include A History of the State of New York (with John V. N. Yates); Chancery Practice of New York; View of the City of New Orange as it was in 1673, etc. He died in Roslyn, N. Y., April 20, 1875.

He gained

great fame by his defence of Fort Sullivan (see CHARLESTON), in Charleston Harbor. In September, 1776, he was made a brigadier-general. He was engaged in the local service, and in May, 1779, with 1,000 militia, opposed the advance of Prevost upon Charleston, which he held until Lincoln relieved him. He was distinguished at the siege of Charleston in 1780, was made a prisoner, and remained so until 1782, when he was exchanged for Burgoyne. While a prisoner he wrote his Moulton, LOUISE CHANDLER, author; Memoirs, published in 1802. In October born in Pomfret, Conn., April 10, 1835; of that year, he was promoted major-genmarried William U. Moulton in 1855. Her eral, and was governor of South Carolina writings include This, That, and the in 1785-86 and 1794-96. He died in Other; Juno Clifford; Firelight Stories; Charleston, S. C., Sept. 27, 1805. Ourselves and Our Neighbors; Miss Eyre from Boston and Others; In the Garden of Dreams (poems); Random Rambles; Lazy Tours in Spain and Elsewhere, etc. She edited the Last Harvest and Garden Secrets, and the collected poems (with biography) of Philip Bourke. She also edited a volume of selections from Arthur O'Shaughnessy, with a biographical sketch.

Moultrie, WILLIAM, military officer; born in South Carolina in 1731; was captain of infantry in the Cherokee War:

WILLIAM MOULTRIE.

Moultrie, FORT, SEIZURE OF. Major Anderson abandoned weaker Fort Moultrie, and went to stronger Fort Sumter, on the evening of Dec. 26, 1860. He left officers and men to spike the guns, burn the carriages, and cut down the flag-staff, that no other banner might occupy the place of the national flag. The bewildered citizens of Charleston saw the smoke of the burning carriages at dawn, and when they knew its origin, the disunionists were greatly exasperated. The Secession convention requested Governor Pickens to take possession of the government property in and around Charleston. The arsenal, into which Floyd had crowded arms, was seized in the name of the State of South Carolina, and thus 70,000 stand of arms and a vast amount of stores, valued at $500,000, were placed in the hands of the enemies of the government. Men of Charleston, equipped with these weapons, went in two armed steam-vessels and seized Castle Pinckney (which was surrendered by its commander, N. L. Coste), and took possession of dismantled Fort Moultrie in the name of "the sovereign State of South Carolina." The fort was strengthened, new breastworks were constructed, and heavy guns were mounted.

Mound-builders, the name given to an unknown people who inhabited the central portion of North America at an unknown period in its history. They have left traces of agriculture and skill in arts, member of the Provincial Congress from and evidences of having attained to a conSt. Helena parish in 1775, and was made siderable degree of civilization. All over colonel of the 2d South Carolina Regi- the continent between the great range of