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certain sums of money, which he has been compelled, by suit, to pay, on account of the United States. Also,

A petition of Jean Baptist Dumon, son and heir of Jean Baptist Dumon, deceased, late of Canada, merchant, praying to be reimbursed certain advances made by the deceased, for the support of the American Army, and also for losses and injuries sustained, both in his person and property, by adhering to the American cause, during the late

war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

Mr. Bourne, of Massachusetts, from the Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninetytwo," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon,

Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

Mr. Madison, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill for carrying into effect a contract between the United States and the State of Pennsylvania; which was received, and read the first time.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill for establishing the Post Office and Post Roads within the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said bill under consideration, and made a farther progress therein.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said bill.

Mr. Bourne, of Massachusetts, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, this day, wait on the President of the United States, and present for his approbation an enrolled bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two."

On motion,

Ordered, That the consideration of a report, made to this House on the twenty-sixth of February last, by the committee to whom was referred the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, on the petition of Comfort Sands and others, be taken up on Friday

next.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock,

THURSDAY, December 22.

A bill for carrying into effect a contract between the United States and the State of Pennsylvania was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

A petition of Josiah Witter was presented to the House and read, praying relief in consideration of a wound received in the service of the United States, during the late

war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

A petition of Lawrence Furlong was presented to the House and read, praying the settlement of a claim against the United States, for pilotage, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

A memorial and address of the People called Quakers, from their several religious societies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, was presented to the House and read, praying that Congress will adopt such measures as, in their wis dom may be deemed salutary and effectual, for securing peace and friendship with the original holders of this land.

Ordered, That the said memorial and address do lie on the table.

A petition of sundry merchants and others of the town of Newport, in the State of Rhode Island, was presented to the House and read, praying that a weekly post may be established from Newport to Boston, through the towns of Bristol, Warren, and

Taunton.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom was committed the bill for establishing the Post Office and Post Roads within the United States.

Mr. Gerry, from the committee to whom were referred several motions for obtaining annual and regular statements of the receipts and expenditures of all public moneys, and for a due examination of such statements, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That Mr. Sedgwick have leave to be absent from the service of this House for three weeks, and Mr. Dayton until this day week.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act relative to the election of a President and Vice President of the United States, and declaring the officer who shall act as President, in case of vacancies in the offices both of President and Vice President;" and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made some progress therein.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said bill.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23.

A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, notifying that the President did, this day, approve and sign an act, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two."

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

On a motion made and seconded, "That the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the petition of George Webb, be referred to a Select Committee, and that the committee be instructed to prepare and bring in a bill allowing such of the Receivers of Continental Taxes in the several States, as continued in service after the end of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, a commission, as a compensation for their services and expenses, not exceeding the rate of per centum upon the amount of moneys by them respectively received for Continental services subsequently to the time aforesaid:"

Ordered, That the said motion and report be referred to Mr. Livermore, Mr. Giles, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Fitzsimons, and Mr. Bourne, of Rhode Island; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of Comfort Sands and others, made to this House on the twenty-fifth of February last, be referred to Mr. Benson, Mr. Gregg, and Mr. Venable; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

A memorial and petition of sundry merchants of the city of Charleston, in the State of South Carolina, engaged in Commerce, previous to the late Revolution, was presented to the House and read, stating the peculiar hardships under which they labor, from the two-fold causes of the operation of the fourth article of the definitive Treaty of Peace, and of so much of the act of Congress for funding the public debt as redeems the old Continental money, at the rate of one hundred dollars thereof for one dollar specie, the former requiring them to pay their British debts in sterling money, with full interest to the present time, and the latter, depriving them of all hope of indemnity, from the effects of depreciation and tender laws to which they were exposed during the war, and praying relief.

Ordered, That the said memorial and petition do lie on the table.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill for carrying into effect the contract between the United States and the State of Pennsylvania; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time on Monday next. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill for establishing the Post Office and Post Roads, within the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said bill under consideration, and made a farther progress therein.

Resolved, That this House will, on Monday next, again resolve itself into a Cominit. tee of the Whole House on the said bill.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next.
And then the House adjourned until Monday morning eleven o'clock.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26.

An engrossed bill for carrying into effect a contract between the United States and the State of Pennsylvania was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act for carrying into effect a contract between the United States and the State of Pennsylvania.”

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

A petition of Baylor Hill was presented to the House and read, praying to receive the commutation of half-pay for his services as a Captain of light dragoons in the Army of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

A petition of William Smith, of the town of Baltimore, was presented to the House and read, praying that he may be allowed to fund certain Continental Loan Office Certificates, which were issued in the State of Georgia, some difficulty in receiving them having arisen with the Comptroller of the Treasury.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

A petition of Patrick Ferrall, principal Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for settling the accounts between the United States and the individual States, was presented to the House and read, praying that he may receive a salary equal to that which is allowed to the principal Clerks in the Treasury Department, with a retrospect from the fifth of August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety.

Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill for establishing the Post Office and Post Roads, within the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Sinith, of South Carolina, reported that the Committee had, according to order, again had the said bill under consideration, and made several amendments thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table.

Ordered, That the said amendments do lie on the table.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanying his report on the petition of Catharine Green, relict of the late General Green; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27.

A petition of sundry merchants and others, of the town of Warren, in the State of Rhode Island, was presented to the House and read, praying that a weekly post may be established, by law, from Newport to Boston, through Bristol, Taunton, and Warren, and a Post Office in the said town of Warren.

Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the Committee of the Whole House yesterday, to the bill for establishing the Post Office and Post Roads within the United States; and, having made some progress therein, an adjournment was called for: Whereupon,

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28.

A memorial of the Legislature of the State of New Hampshire was presented to the House and read, representing the inequality and injustice of a late act of Congress for the assumption of the State debts, and praying that the inequalities thereof

VOL. I-51.

may be removed, or the injuries and burthens thereby occasioned to the said State redressed in such other way as the wisdom of Congress shall deem expedient.

Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, for his information.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act for carrying into effect a contract between the United States and the State of Pennsylvania." And then he withdrew.

A petition of William Bayley, late a Major in the flying camp, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for services rendered, and injuries sustained, in the Army of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

A petition of Ebenezer Cowell was presented to the House and read, praying a remission of a sum of money advanced to him on account of a contract with the public for gunsmith's work, during the late war; and, also, that he may be allowed an account for like services, during the same period.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Muhlenberg, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Tredwell; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

A petition of James Watson, of the State of Pennsylvania, was presented to the House and read, praying to be indemnified for the loss of certain certificates and a sum of paper money, the property of the petitioner, which were destroyed by fire.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House, so far as respects the destroyed certificates.

Ordered, That the petition of William W. Smith, for himself and as an administrator to Gilbert Tennent, deceased, and Joseph Eaker, by his attorney, George Hunter, which lay on the table, be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, as followeth:

UNITED STATES, December 12, 1791.

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives :

I lay before you, for your consideration, the copy of a letter which I have received from the Attorney General of the United States.

G. WASHINGTON.

A copy of the letter, referred to in the said message, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The House resumed the consideration of the amendments reported by the Committee of the Whole House to the bill for establishing the Post Office and Post Roads within the United States; and, after farther discussion, some were agreed to, some amended and agreed to, and others disagreed to.

Ordered, That the said bill and amendments do lie on the table.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29.

Ordered, That the written message, of yesterday, from the President of the United States, together with the letter from the Attorney General, therein referred to, be referred to the Committee to whom was committed the report of the Attorney General, on the Judiciary System of the United States.

Ordered, That Mr. Hartley have leave to be absent from the service of this House for one week, and Mr. Hillhouse for twenty days.

The petitions of Adam Gibhart and William Langley were presented to the House and read, respectively praying compensation for services rendered in the Army of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

Ordered, That the petition of James Rumsey, by Joseph Barnes, his attorney in fact, which lay on the table, be referred to the committee appointed to prepare and bring

a bill or bills to amend the act, entitled "An act to promote the progress of useful

arts."

The House proceeded to consider the bill, which lay on the table, for establishing the Post Office and Post Roads within the United States, together with the amendments thereto; and the same being further amended at the Clerk's table,

Ordered, That the seventeenth and eighteenth sections of the said bill be re-committed to Mr. Smith, of New Hampshire, Mr. Laurance, Mr. Baldwin, and Mr. Bourne, of Massachusetts.

Ordered, That the farther consideration of the said bill be postponed until to-morrow.
The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning eleven o'clock.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30.

The several petitions of Isaac Benjamin, James Bray, David Brown, John Carnaghan, Thomas Chandler, Philip Durk, and George Durk, Thomas Jones, John Kryster, William Miller, and Aaron Stratton, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying compensation or relief for supplies furnished, services rendered, wounds received, or injuries sustained, in the Army of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

A petition of Abraham Darlington was presented to the House and read, praying to receive payment for property impressed for the use of the Continental Army, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

Mr. Bourne, of Massachusetts, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act for carrying into effect a contract between the United States and the State of Pennsylvania,” and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon,

Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

A memorial of John Churchman was presented to the House and read, praying the patronage of Government to enable him to undertake a voyage to Baffin's Bay, for the purpose of making discoveries to confirm his new theory of the variation of the magnetic needle: Also, that the penalties imposed by the act, entitled "An act to promote the progress of useful arts," may be increased.

Ordered, That the said memorial do lie on the table.

A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, as followeth:

UNITED STATES, December 30th, 1791.

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

I lay before you a copy of the ratification, by the Commonwealth of Virginia, of the articles of amendment proposed by Congress to the Constitution of the United States, and a copy of a letter which accompanied said ratification from the Governor of Virginia. G. WASHINGTON.

The papers referred to in the said message were read, and ordered to lie on the table. A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Northumberland, in the State of Pennsylvania, was presented to the House and read, praying that an act, passed last session, imposing duties on spirits distilled within the United States, may be repealed. Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to extend the time limited for the settlement of the accounts of the United States with the individual States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made an amendment thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was twice read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendment, be engrossed, and read the third time on Monday next.

The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom were referred several motions for obtaining annual and regular statements of the receipts and

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