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It is deemed of great importance to give encouragement to our domestic manufacturers. In what manner the evils adverted to may be remedied, and how far it may be practicable, in other respects, to afford to them further encouragement, paying due regard to all the other great in ,terests of the nation, is submitted to the wisdom of Congress.

The survey of the coast for the establishment of fortifications is now nearly completed; and considerable progress has been made in the collection of materials for the construction of fortifications in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Chesapeake-bay. The works on the eastern bank of the Potomac, below Alexandria, and on the Peapatch in the Delaware, are much advanced; and it is expected that the fortification at the Narrows, in the harbour of New York, will be completed the present year. To derive all the advantages contemplated from these fortifications, it was necessary that they should be judiciously posted, and constructed with a view to permanence. The progress hitherto has, therefore, been slow; but as the difficulties, in parts heretofore the least explored and known, are surmounted, it will in future be more rapid. As soon as the survey of the coast is completed, which it is expected will be done early in the next spring, the engineers employed in it will proceed to examine for like purposes the northern and north-western frontiers.

The troops intended to occupy a station at the mouth of

the St. Peters, on the Mississippi, have established themselves there; and those which were ordered to the mouth of the Yellow Stone, on the Missouri, have ascended that river to the Council Bluffs, where they will remain until next spring, when they will proceed to the place of their destination. I have the satisfaction to state, that this measure has been executed in amity with the Indian tribes, and that it promises to produce, in regard to them, all the advantages which were contemplated by it.

Much progress has likewise been made in the construction of ships of war, and in the collection of timber and other materials for ship-building. It is not doubted that our navy will soon be augmented to the number, and placed in all respects on the footing, provided for by law.

The board consisting of engineers and naval officers, have not yet made their final report of sites for two naval depots, as instructed according to the resolutions of March 18 and April 20, 1818, but they have examined the coast therein designated, and their report is expected in the next month.

For the protection of our commerce in the Mediterranean, along the southern Atlantic coast, in the Pacific and Indian oceans, it has been found necessary to maintain a strong naval force, which it seems proper for the present to continue. There is much reason to believe, that if any portion of the squadron heretofore stationed in the Mediterranean should be withdrawn, our intercourse

intercourse with the powers bordering on that sea would be much interrupted, if not altogether destroyed. Such, too, has been the growth of a spirit of piracy in the other quarters mentioned, by adventurers from every country, in abuse of the friendly flags which they have assumed, that not to protect our commerce there, would be to abandon it as a prey to their rapacity. Due attention has likewise been paid to the suppression of the slave trade, in compliance with a law of the last session.

Orders have been given to the commanders of all our public ships to seize all vessels, navigated under our flag, engaged in

that trade, and to bring them in, to be proceeded against in the manner prescribed by that law. It is hoped that these vigorous measures, supported by like acts by other nations, will soon terminate a commerce so disgraceful to the civilized world.

In the execution of the duty imposed by these acts, and of a high trust connected with it, it is with deep regret I have to state the loss which has been sustained by the death of commodore Perry. His gallantry in a brilliant exploit in the late war added to the renown of his country. His death is deplored as a national misfortune.

JAMES MONROE.

Annual Treasury Report of the United States.

Treasury Department, Dec. 10, 1819. Sir; I have the honour to transmit herewith a report, prepared in obedience to the act, entitled "An Act to establish the Treasury Department." I have the honour to be, very respectfully, Sir, your most obedient servant, W. H. CRAWFORD.

The Hon. the President of the Senate. In obedience to the directions of the "Act supplementary to the Act to establish the Treasury Department," the Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits the following report:

1st. Of the Revenue.

The nett revenue arising from duties upon imports and tonnage, internal duties, direct tax, public lands, postage, and other incidental receipts during the year 1815, amounted to 49,555,642 doll. 76 c. viz. : Customs, (see statement A)

Internal duties

Direct tax

Public lands

..........

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..36,306,022 51

5,963,225 88

5,723,152 25

1,287,959 28

275,282 81

That which accrued from the same sources during the year 1816,

amounted to 36,657,904 doll. 72 c. viz. :

Customs

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That which accrued from the same sources during 1817, amounted

to 24,365,227 doll. 24 c. viz.:

Customs, (see statement A)

Internal duties

Direct tax

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Public lands, (exclusive of Mississippi stock)
Postage, and other incidental receipts..........

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REMARKABLE TRIALS AND LAW CASES.

KING'S-BENCH, JAN. 5. Dring v. Campbell.-This was an action for goods delivered. Plea, no promise to pay.

Mr. Gurney stated, that this action was instituted to recover the sum of 9/. 11s. of the defendant, who is a Director of the East India Company. It would, perhaps, surprise them to find, that it had been thought requisite to call in the aid of a special jury to decide upon such a question, which in his opinion might have been equally well settled by a common jury: it would, perhaps, surprise them still more to learn, that it was for an account of tallow candles, had and delivered, and used, and burnt by this East India Director. The defence on which the defendant rested his hopes of success was this "I gave my butler, Smith, who has now left me, money wherewith to pay this account; he, according to your statement, has not paid it; but even allowing that position to be good, as I have paid it once, I am not liable to pay it again." He hoped, however, that the verdict of a special jury, to which he had chosen to resort, would convince him to the contrary, and would teach him that

in such cases a master was responsible for the actions of his ser

vants.

It was contended on the part of the defendant, and witnesses were called to establish the fact, that the defendant had repeatedly given express orders to Smith, who paid all his disbursements for the house, on no account whatsoever to incur any bills, but to pay for every thing in ready money. It was also shown that all the dealings which Mr. Campbell had previously had with the defendant were for ready money, and ready money alone; and, therefore, that as he had never applied for credit himself, the plaintiff could not recover of him for credit afforded without his consent to his servant. It was also proved in evidence, that after this bill of 9l. 11s. was said to be contracted, the defendant had paid 14l. to the plaintiff for goods which he had purchased; and that the plaintiff had at that time made no such a claim as that which was at present before the Court. On all these grounds it was contended that a verdict should be given to the defendant.

The Lord Chief Justice in summing up the evidence said, that the sum for which this ac

tion was brought was only trifling; the question to be decided by it was of the greatest importance: it was in reality, whether a gentleman was to be rendered liable for all the debts which his servant might take it into his head to incur on his behalf. Now, the law upon the point was clear and satisfactory, and expressly stated, that if any individual send his servant for goods to a tradesman, desiring credit to be given generally to that servant, he must continue to pay for the goods which that servant may purchase, until he, the master, give notice to the tradesman that such credit be discontinued; but if the master shall never have desired credit to be given to the servant, and the tradesman shall confide goods to the servant on the credit of the master, the risk so incurred must fall upon the tradesman, and not upon the master, who has no knowledge of the credit given. It was, therefore, their duty in this case to consider whether Mr. Campbell had ever, at any time, authorized Mr. Dring to give credit to his servant or not; if he had given any such authority, they must find for the plaintiff; if he had not, their verdict must be for the defendant.

of a report of the defendant, who is a land-surveyor, had been induced to advance a large sum of money in purchase of an annuity, on the security of a certain estate. The estate turned out to be of much less value than reported by the defendant, and the plaintiff now sought to recover of him a compensation in damages for the loss he had thereby sustained.

Mr. Scarlett and Mr. Gurney for the plaintiff; and Mr. Sergeant Pell, and Mr. Marryat for the defence.

Mr. Scarlett, in his opening speech, detailed the circumstances of the case. The plaintiff had been applied to by a Mrs. Bourne to purchase an annuity of her, and she stated that she had to offer as a security, an estate situated near Market-Deeping, in Lincolnshire, called Deeping Fen. This estate was described to be let to Richard Jones, esq., on a lease of 21 years, of which 18 were then unexpired, and at a yearly rent of 1,720. In consequence the plaintiff applied to his solicitor to make the necessary inquiries, and the solicitor employed the defendant to make a survey of the estate. His report, after having surveyed it, was, that he considered it very favourably circumstanced, and well worth the rent at which it was then let -viz. 1,720. Soon after, however, Jones, the tenant, was unable to go on: he quitted the estate; but the stock upon it was insufficient to pay the arrear of rent. The place afterwards reOakes v. Wiggins.-The plain-mained for a long time untetiff in this case is a gentleman of nanted; and when at last a tenant property, who, in consequence was found, no more than 480l. a

The jury, not agreeing in their verdict, retired, and after a deliberation of four hours, returned a verdict for the defendant.

JANUARY 9.

year,

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