Mr. Spencer presented a petition of sundry merchants, ship owners, and other inhabitants of Rochester, on Genesee river, in the state of New York. praying that the acts relating to the entrance and clearance of vessels on the lakes, may be revised and amended, and that lighthouses may be erected on certain points on lake Ontario. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Ogden presented a petition of Richard M. Esselstyn, praying compensation for a quantity of staves and lumber, and other property, destroyed by the army under the command of general Wilkinson, on the northern frontier, in the late war with Great Britain. Mr. Herrick presented a petition of Robert Bay, James Clark, C. Deardorff, George Rummel, Christian Espich, and Jacob Espich, praying compensation for their services as officers of millitia, in the service of the United States, in the late war. Mr. Robertson, of Louisiana, presented a petition of Lewis H. Guerlain, a petition of Franis B. Languille, and a petition of John Rodriguez; respectively praying compensation for damages commiton their plantations by the American army, during the military operations in the neighborood of the city of New Orleans, near the close of the late war with Great Britain. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Claims. Mr. Sergeant presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, praying that the government of the United States will promptly and effectually interpose its power, to effect the liberation of Richard W. Meade, an American citizen, who is confined in prison in Spain, by order of the government of that country, contrary to the laws of nations, and without any just cause, as the petitioners allege. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee appointed on the 12th ultimo, on a resolution concerning the conduct of Spain in relation to Mr. Meade. Mr. Little presented a petition of Thomas Cross, brother and heir at law of Middleton Cross, deceased, late a soldier in the army of the United States, praying to be allowed the pay and bounty to which the deceased was entitled, in virtue of his enlistment; which is refused at the War Department, because of the death of the said Middleton, before he had been mustered in the corps to which he belonged. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War. Mr. Williams. of North Carolina, from the committee of Claims, made a report on the petition of John Bellinger, which was read, and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner be rejected. Mr. Williams also made an unfavorable report on the petition of captain Giles Kellogg, on behalf of himself and others, which was read and committed to a committee of the whole, on Monday next. Ordered, That the committee of Claims be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of Isaac Hodgdon, and that he have leave to withdraw the same. Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of Ways and Means, made a report on the petition of Daniel Manley, which was read and committed to the committee of the whole, to which is committed the report of the same committee, on the petition of Taylor & Walker. Mr. Lowndes, from the same committee, also made a report on the resolution instructing them to inquire into the expediency of repealing the duty on salt, which was read and committed to a committee of the whole, to-morrow. Ordered, That the committee of Ways and Means be discharg ed from a further consideration of the petition of Thomas Lewis, and that it be referred to the committee appointed on a petition of sundry merchants of Philadelphia, upon the subject of spoliations upon the commerce of the United States, by French cruizers, previous to the year 1800. Ordered, That the committee of Ways and Means be also discharged from the further consideration of so much of the petition of Eli Hart, as pray indemnity for losses, and that it be referred to the committee of Claims. Mr. Robertson, from the committee on the Public Lands, made a report on the petition of Charles Smith, which was read, and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner ought not to be granted. Mr. Southard, from the committee on Indian Affairs, made a report on the petition of sundry inhabitants of the territory of Missouri, which was read, and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted. Mr. Herbert, from the committee for the District of Columbia, reported a bill to incorporate a company to build a bridge over the Eastern Branch of Potomac, from the southern termination of Eleventh street, east, in the city of Washington; which was read the first and second time and committed to a committeee of the whole, on Monday next. The House proceeded to consider the resolution submitted on the 28th ultimo, by Mr. Sergeant, fixing the time for the adjournment of the present session of Congress. The said resolution was read the second time; when, 31st. Mr. Sergeant moved to fill up the blank with Tuesday, the Mr. Harrison moved that the said resolution be postponed until the first of April next; when, Mr. Pitkin moved that it lie on the table. And the question being taken thereon; It was determined in the negative. The question was then taken on the motion made by Mr. Harrison; And also determined in the negative. Mr. Herrick then moved to fill the said blank with the words 20th of April next. This motion was also rejected by the House. The said resolution was then ordered to lie on the table; and, Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses, be appointed to consider and report, when the present session of Congress may be terminated. The said resolution was read twice, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, to-day. It was accordingly read the third time, and passed. Ordered, That the title be, "A resolution respecting an adjournment of the 1st session of the 15th Congress." Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Mr. Pitkin, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Pleasants, were appointed of the said committee, on the part of this House. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. Ordered, That the committee of Ways and Means be discharged from the further consideration of the resolution of the general assembly of Maryland, respecting the monument ordered to be erected to the memory of major general, the baron De Kalb. Mr. Reed submitted the following preamble and resolution: Whereas, a resolution was passed by the Congress of the United States, on the 14th day of October, 1780, in the following words, to wit: 66 Resolved, That a monument be erected to the memory of the late major general the baron de Kalb, in the city of Annapolis, in the state of Maryland, with the following inscription: "Sacred to the memory of THE BARON DE KALB, Knight of the royal order of military merit, Brigadier of the armies of France, and Major General in the service of the United States of America; having served with honor and reputation for three years, he gave a last and glorious proof of his attachment to the liberties of mankind, and the cause of America, in the action near Campden, in the state of South Carolina, on the 16th of August, 1780, when leading on the troops of the Maryland and Delaware lines, against superior numbers, and animating by his example, to deeds of valour, he was pierced with many wounds, and on the 19th following, expired, in the 48th year of his age. The Congress of the United States of America, in gratitude to his zeal, services, and merit, have erected this monument." Resolved, therefore, That the aforegoing resolution be referred to a select committee with instruction to report a bill to carry the same into effect. The question was taken, will the House now consider the said resolution? And determined in the negative. The House again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill for the payment of certain militia claims of the state of Georgia; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Bassett reported the same with an amendment. And then the House adjourned. WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1818. Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of John Rollins, praying compensation for losses and damages sustained by him in the capture of his vessel by a French cruiser, in the year 1800, in violation of the provisions of the treaty between the United States and France. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Claims. On motion of Mr. Reed, Ordered, That the petition of James Orr, presented on the 8th January, 1817, be also referred to the committee of Claims. Mr. Bateman presented a petition of Daniel Pettibone, praying that he may be employed to erect in the rooms of the Capitol, his patent improvement in the economy of fuel, and the distribution of heat. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on so much of the President's message as relates to the Public Buildings, Mr. Herbert presented documents in support of the petition of Ambrose Vasse. Ordered, That the said documents be referred to the committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Scott presented a third petition of James Mackay, praying that his title to a tract of land in the territory of Missouri, may be confirmed. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims. On motion of Mr. Harrison, Ordered, That the petition of James C. Wingard, presented on the 16th December, 1816, be referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims. Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, from the committee of Claims, made reports on the petitions of Robert Purdy, and Greenbury Griffin, which werę read, and the resolutions therein contained were concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Robert Purdy be rejected, and that Greenbury Griffin have leave to withdraw his petion and documents. Mr. Robertson, of Louisiana, from the committee on the Public Lands, made reports on the petitions of Alexander M Nish, and Joseph Harris, which were read, and the resolutions therein contained were concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners, respectively, ought not to be granted. Mr. Pleasants, from the committee on Naval Affairs, made a report on the petition of captain Samuel C. Reed, on behalf of the officers and crew of the private armed brig General Armstrong, which was read; when, Mr. Pleasants reported a bill, authorizing a sum of money to be distributed among the officers and crew of the said late private armed brig, the General Armstrong, which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole, on Monday next. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, transmitting a copy of the proceedings of the court martial, and of the memorial of the midshipmen and other officers, called for by the resolution of this House of the 26th ultimo; which was referred to the committee on Naval Affairs. The House resumed the consideration of the bill by which the right of citizenship may be relinquished; and the question recurred on the amendment proposed by Mr. Robertson, and depending on the 2d instant; when, A motion was made by Mr. Forsyth to amend the said amendment by inserting between the word by and the word becoming, these words:" recording in the office of the clerk of some one of the district courts of the United States, a declaration that such is his intention twelve months prior to." The question was taken to agree to this amendment; And determined in the negative. The said amendment was then amended; and Mr. Terry moved further to amend the same by striking out the words for, or, where they first occur; which was rejected by the House. Mr. Mercer moved further to amend the said amendment, by inserting after the words " United States," the following words, viz: " and not in hostility against the said states." And the question being taken thereon; |