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It is presumed

interest in them will be proportionably augmented that this trust is, in a certain degree, at least, incidental to the other duties of the superintendent of the public buildings; but it may merit consideration, whether it will not be proper to charge him with it more expcicitly, and to give him authority to employ one, or more persons under him, for these purposes.

Washington, February 10, 1818.

JAMES MONROE.

The said message was read, and referred to the committee on so much of the President's message as relates the public buildings, and the erection of additional edifices for the accommodation of the several executive departments, and the attorney general.

Mr. Robertson, of Louisiana, from the committee on the Public Lands, reported a bill, supplementary to the several acts for the adjustment of land claims in the state of Louisiana, and territory of Missouri; which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole, on Friday next.

Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, from the committee on Military Affairs, made a report on the petition of a company of rangers, commanded by captain James Biggar, in the years 1813 and 1814, which was read; when,

Mr. Johnson reported a bill for the relief of a company of rangers, which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole, to-morrow.

Mr. Johnson also reported a bill for the relief of captain Benjamin Johnson and captain Henry Gist, which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole last appointed.

Ordered, That the committee on Military Affairs, be discharged from the further consideration of the petitions of Charles Morgan and Polly Potter, and that they lie on the table.

On motion of Mr. Hubbard,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing by law, a post road from the town of Augusta, in the county of Oneida, and state of New York, to the village of Hamilton, in the county of Madison, and state aforesaid.

On motion of Mr. Butler,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing on the pension list, John Taylor, a soldier in the revolutionary army. On motion of Mr. Alexander Smyth,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting a pension to Daniel Hyden, a soldier of the revolution, who received several wounds, and is now indigent, and unable to support himself.

On motion of Mr. Alexander Smyth,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing the postmaster of Wythe court house to employ a clerk.

On motion of Mr. Hopkinson,

Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the salaries of the judges of the supreme court of the United States.

On motion of Mr. Pindall,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road from Wheeling, in Virginia, to Washinton, in Pennsylvania.

On motion of Mr. Beecher,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road from Columbus, Ohio, by Urbana, Champaign county, Troy, Miami county, to the seat of justice, in Dark county; and also be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road from Granville, Licking county, Ohio, by Johnstown, Sunsbury, Berkshire, to Worthington, Franklin county.

On motion of Mr. Pitkin,

Resolved, That the committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making provision by law, for extending the term of credit, for duties on articles imported from the West Indies.

The Speaker laid before the House, a letter from the commissioner of the Public Buildings in the city of Washington, enclosing a copy of one of the original deeds of conveyance to the trustees of the United States, for the grounds in the said city, and copies of the correspondence, relating to the location of the public offices on the President's square; which was referred to the committe on so mnch of the President's message as relates to the Public Buildings, and the erection of additional edifices for the accommodation of the Executive Departments and of the Attorney General.

The Speaker also laid before the House, a report of the Secretary of State on the petition of Caze & Richaud, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Cutts, their Secretary.

Mr. Speaker-The Senate agree to the conference asked by this House, on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses, on the first amendment proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the military service of the United States, for the year 1818," and have appointed managers on their part; and they have passed a resolution relative to the distribution of the late edition of land laws," in which they ask the concurrence of this House.

And then he withdrew.

The said resolution was read the first and second time, and committed to the committee on the Public Lands.

The House again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the resolutions submitted on the 7th December last, by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, and Mr. Walker, of North Carolina, and Mr. Comstock, and on the bill concerning half pay pensions, invalid pensioners, and for other purposes; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Alexander Smyth reported the said bill with amendments, and asked leave for the committee to sit again on the residue of the order.

Ordered, That the committee of the whole have leave to sit again on the residue of the said order.

And then the House adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, February 11, 1815.

Mr. Mason, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of sundry merchants and master tailors, in Boston, praying that the importation of ready made clothes may be prohibited.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Orr presented a petition of Ebenezer Smith, praying for a pension.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committe on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Ruggles presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Foxborough, in the state of Massachusetts, praying for the establishment of a post route.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Porter presented a petition of Samuel Yates, praying to be relieved from the payment of a judgment obtained against him for duties imposed on his distillery, as he alleges that by reason of sickness of himself and family, and other misfortunes, he is wholly unable to satisfy the same.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. Spencer presented a petition of John Daley, stating, that at the commencement of the late war with Great Britain he was an inhabitant of the British province of Canada, and by his attachment to the interest of the United States, he lost a considerable part of his property by confiscation, and that the residue thereof was consumed by fire, by order of the American general, in the destruction of the village of Newark, and praying such relief in the premises, as to Congress shall seem meet and proper.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the select committee, appointed on the 8th December last, on a similar petition of Samuel Thompson.

Mr. Peter presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the south east part of the city of Washington, praying that an act may be passed, authorizing the erection of a toll bridge across the eastern branch of Potomac river, from Smallwood's wharf.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee for the District of Columbia.

On motion of Mr. Harrison,

Ordered, That the petition of Thomas Jones, presented on the 18th January, 1815, be referred to the committee of Claims.

Mr. Hendricks presented a petition of William Barton, praying that he may be permitted to change the entry of a tract of land, purchased of the United States, having, as he alledges, by mistake, entered a tract, different from that which he intended to enter, and on which he is settled and made improvements.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. Scott presented a petition of John Calleway, a petition of William T. Lamme, a petition of Francis Kenner, and a petition of William Christy, respectively praying that their titles to lands in the territory of Missouri may be confirmed.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims.

Mr. Rhea, from the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, made reports on the petitions of James Taylor, and Benjamin S. Judah, which were read, and the resolutions therein contained, were concurred in by the House, as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted, and that James Taylor have leave to withdraw his petition and its accompanying documents.

Mr. Rhea also made an unfavorable report on the petition of Hugh Mulloy, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That leave be given to withdraw the petition of Matthew Cadwell.

Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, from the committee of Claims, made an unfavorable report on the petition of Hannah Weed, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Williams also reported the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of Isaac Brigs," with an amendment, which was read, and, together with the bill, committed to a committee of the whole, to-morrow.

Ordered, That the committee of Claims be discharged from the further consideration of the petitions of George Shaver and Ann Wattles, and that they be referred to the committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Smith, of Maryland, from the committee of Ways and Means, made a report on the petition of John Wilmot, which was read; when,

Mr. Smith reported a bill for the relief of the,said John Wil mot, which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole, to-morrow.

Mr. Herrick, from the committee on Private Land Claims, reported a bill for the final adjudication of the claims to land, in the Missouri territory, of the legal representatives of Elisha and Wil liam Winter, Gabriel Winter, and the legal representatives of Jaeque Clammorgan; which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole on Monday next.

Mr. Silsbee, from the committee on Naval affairs, to whom was referred the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act in addition to an act giving pensions to the widows and orphans of persons slain in the public or private armed vessels of the United States,” reported the same without amendment.

Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a committee of the whole on Monday, the 23d instant.

Mr. Forsyth, from the committee appointed on the 6th instant, to present to the President of the United States a resolution, that day adopted by the House, reported, that the committee had performed that service, and that the President answered, that, he would attend to the request contained in the resolution.

On motion of Mr. Mills,

Resolved, That the committeee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of exempting from duty, the articles of Sicilian sumac and merino wool, imported into the United States.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, trasmitting a report, prepared in obedience to a resolution passed at the last session, concerning contracts for the supply of fire arms, the expenditures at each of the national armories, and the number, specics, and quality of arms manufactured and repaired, at said armouries; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That the engrossed bill, for the remission of duties upon stereotype plates, and upon bibles and testaments in foreign languages, imported by societies or associations, for the gratuitous distribution of the Holy Scriptures, be committed to a committee of the whole to-morrow.

The House took up the amendments reported by the committee of the whole to the bill concerning half pay pensions, invalid pensioners, and for other purposes; and the said amendments being read, were concurred in by the House.

A motion was made by Mr. Colston, further to amend the said bill by striking out the following section, viz:

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That in all cases where any soldier of the regular army shall have died, while in the service of the United States, in the late war, or in returning home from said service, leaving a widow, such widow shall be entitled to receive the sum of forty-eight dollars, annually, for the term of five

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