on the District of Columbia, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Wilson submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That the committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire whether any, and if any, what further provisions are necessary to be made by law for securing to the widows or other heirs of soldiers, who died or were killed in the service of the United States during the late war, the land bounty due to the said soldiers respectively.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the 16th instant. for instructing the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads to inquire into the expediency of establishing a certain postroute; and agreed thereto.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the 16th instant, for instructing the committee on Finance to inquire into the expediency of altering the law imposing a duty on carriages; and agreed thereto.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of the 16th instant for information relative to the military establishment. And,

On motion by Mr. Tichenor,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until Monday next.

'The Senate resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the Public Lands, who were instructed to inquire into the expe

diency of authorizing an exchange of Territory with any of the Indian tribes."

Ou motion by Mr. Morrow,

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed until Monday next.

The Senate resumed the report of the committee on Finance, on the petition of James Humes, collector of the Revenue for the 6th District of Pennsylvania.

On the question to agree thereto,

It was determined in the affirmative, yeas 23,

nays 13.

On motion by Mr. Roberts,

The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the Senators present, those who voted in the affirmative, are

Resolver!, That the prayer of the petition ought not to be granted.

A message from the House of Representatives by Mr. Dougherty, their Clerk:

Mr. President-The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed two enrolled bills, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President. And he withdrew.

The President signed the two enroiled bills last reported to have been examined, and they were delivered to the committee to be laid before the President of the United States.

The President communicated a report of the Acting Secretary for the Department of War, made in compliance with the resolution of the 14th instant. requesting information respecting the "exchange of lands with any of the Indian tribes now completed or contemplated under the act of Congress, approved on the 26th day of March, 1804, entitled "an act to erect Louisiana into two territories and to provide for the temporary government thereof," and the report was read.

The following written message was received

from the President of the United States, by Mr. Todd his Secretary:

To the Senate and House of Representatives,

of the United States.

I transmit to Congréss an account of the contingent expenses of the

1816.

January 17, 1817.

government for the year

JAMES MADISON.

The message and account therein mentioned were read.

On motion by Mr. Sanford,

It was agreed that when the Senate adjourn, it be to Monday next.

The bill entitled "an act directing the discharge of Oliver Spellman from imprisonment," was read a third time.

Resolved, That this bill pass.

Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly.

The amendments to the bill entitled "an act directing the discharge of John Ricaud from imprisonment," having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, the bill was read a third time as amended.

Resolved, That this bill pass with amendments. Ordered, That the Secretary request the coneurrence of the House of Representatives therein. On motion,

The Senate adjourned to 11 o'clock on Monday morning, to which time the several orders of the day were postponed.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20th, 1817.

The President communicated a memorial of the legislature of the Mississippi Territory, praying for the appointment of an additional judge east of Pearl river; and the memorial was read.

On motion by Mr. Tait,

Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the Judiciary, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise.

The President, also, communicated another memorial of the said legislature, praying the adjustment of British claims to certain lands, as stated in the memorial; which was read.

On motion by Mr. Tait,

Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the Public Lands, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise.

He also communicated a letter from the commissioner of the general land-office, transmitting the report of the commissioners for ascertaining and adjusting claims to land in the eastern district of the State of Louisiana; which were read.

On motion by Mr. Fromentin.

Ordered, That they be referred to the committee on Public Lands, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Ruggles presented the petition of Samuel Brown, praying compensation for services during