The young couple took a wedding journey through New England. They spent one day in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Lieutenant Perry was much interested in visiting the place where his Quaker ancestor had lived so many years before. During this time, the people of the United States had learned that the Embargo Act was a very unwise law. The men of Congress had thought to injure France and England by thus refusing to trade with them altogether. They soon discovered, however, that the damage to American commerce was far greater. Trading vessels in the ports were left standing idle at the wharves, while the sailors were forced to find other employment. [Illustration: JAMES MADISON.] All over the country, there arose a bitter feeling against this law. In the New England states, where there were the largest shipping interests, there was even talk of secession from the Union. About this time a new President, James Madison, was elected. Soon afterward the Embargo Act was repealed, and in its place was passed a law which satisfied the people for a time. By this law, trade was allowed with every country but England and France. American vessels now put to sea on voyages to foreign lands. But their old enemies, the English, soon began to annoy them as before. In May, 1811, the British sloop _Little Belt_ was hailed by the American frigate _President_, under the command of Commodore Rodgers. The reply was a cannon shot. The _President_ then poured broadsides into the _Little Belt_. After the English had lost thirty-two men in killed and wounded, they came to terms. [Illustration: COMMODORE JOHN RODGERS.] The American people now saw that war could no longer be avoided. On June 18, 1812, the formal declaration was made. VII.--WAR ON THE CANADIAN BORDER. Up to this time the English navy had been called the "Mistress of the Seas." England's vessels could be numbered by the hundred, and the crews by the ten thousand. When this war of 1812 was declared, the entire United States navy comprised about half a dozen frigates, and six or eight sloops and brigs. Along the American coast alone the English had seven times this number of war vessels. The first few months of the war were full of naval surprises. In that brief time the Americans captured more British ships than the French had taken in twenty years. On August 19th, the American frigate _Constitution_, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, in one half hour captured the English frigate _Guerrière_. The English lost one hundred men, and the vessel was so disabled that she was left to sink. The Americans lost but fourteen men, and in a few hours the ship was ready for another battle. Several other victories followed in quick succession. In all this time the Americans did not lose a ship.