"In the year [1749] after the peace [of Aix-la-Chapelle] the land forces in Great Britain were reduced to little more than 18,000 men; those in Minorca, Gibraltar, and the American plantations, to 10,000; while the sailors retained in the Royal Navy were under 17,000. From the large number both of soldiers and seamen suddenly discharged, it was feared that they might be either driven to distress or tempted to depredation. Thus, both for their own comfort and for the quiet of the remaining community, emigration seemed to afford a safe and excellent resource. The province of Nova Scotia was pitched upon for this experiment, and the freehold of fifty acres was offered to each settler, with ten acres more for every child brought with him, besides a free passage, and an exemption from all taxes during a term of ten years. Allured by such advantages, above 4,000 persons, with their families, embarked under the command of Colonel Cornwallis, and landed at the harbour of Chebuetow. The new town which soon arose from their labours received its name from the Earl of Halifax, who presided at the Board of Trade, and who had the principal share in the foundation of this colony. In the first winter there were but 300 huts of wood, surrounded by a palisade." _Lord Mahon (Earl Stanhope), History of England, 1713-1783, chapter 31 (volume 4)._ See, also, NOVA SCOTIA: A. D. 1749-1755. HALIFAX CURRENCY. "For many years Canada used what was called 'Halifax currency,' in which the nomenclature of sterling money was that employed, but having a pound of this currency valued at four dollars." _G. Bryce, Short History of the Canadian People, page 433._ HALIFAX FISHERY AWARD. See FISHERIES, NORTH AMERICAN: A. D. 1877-1888. HALLECK, General Henry W. Command in Missouri. See UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A. D. 1861 (JULY-NOVEMBER). Command in the Valley of the Mississippi. See UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A. D. 1862 (FEBRUARY-APRIL: TENNESSEE); (APRIL-MAY: TENNESSEE-MISSISSIPPI); (JUNE-OCTOBER: TENNESSEE-KENTUCKY). Command of all the armies. See UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A. D. 1862 (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER: MISSISSIPPI). HAMADAN. The capital city of ancient Media. HAMATH, Kingdom of. "It is impossible to doubt that the Hamathites are identical with the Canaanitish tribe that was settled in the town of Hamath, afterwards called Epiphania, on the Orontes, between the Hittites and the Amorites of Kadesh. After the time of David they were succeeded in that town by the Arimæans." _F. Lenormant, Manual of Ancient History of the East, book 6, chapter 1 (volume 2)._ {1623} ----------HAMBURG: Start---------- HAMBURG: The origin of the city, its freedom and commercial rise. See HANSA TOWNS.