had the said communications 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 communications. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31. A petition of the Chief Clerks in several of the Executive Departments of the Government of the United States, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House and read, stating the insufficiency of the salaries allowed them by law, and praying that the same may be increased, and rendered more adequate to their services. Also, a petition of Daniel Byrnes, of New Windsor, in the State of New York, praying compensation for the value of a quantity of wheat flour, and other articles of provision, which were taken for the use of the American Army, during the late war. Also, a petition of Robert Horner, of York county, in the State of Pennsylvania, praying the liquidation and settlement of a claim for the use of a wagon and team, which were taken into the service of the United States, in the month of November, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven. Also, a petition of Eliphalet Thorp, praying that he may receive an allowance for rations due him as a Captain in the seventh Massachusetts regiment of the Continental Army, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petitions do lie on the table. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act making an alteration in the flag of the United States;" to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew. The said bill was read the first time. On motion, The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next. A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, as followeth: Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: UNITED STATES, December 30th, 1793. I now transmit you a report by the Secretary of State, of such laws, decrees, and ordinances, or their substance, respecting commerce in the countries with which the United States have commercial intercourse, as he has received, and had not stated in his report of the sixteenth instant. G. WASHINGTON. The said message and report were read, and ordered to 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 confidential communications from the President, respecting the measures which have been pursued for obtaining a recognition of the treaty between the United States and Morocco, and for the ransom of prisoners, and establishment of peace with the Algerines; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said communications 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 communications. A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, as followeth: UNITED STATES, December 30, 1793. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: I lay before you, for your consideration, a letter from the Secretary of State, informing me of certain impediments which have arisen to the coinage of the precious metals at the Mint. As also, a letter from the same officer, relative to certain advances of money, which have been made on public account: Should you think proper to sanction what has been done, or be of opinion that any thing more shall be done in the same way, you will judge whether there are not circumstances which would render secrecy expedient. G. WASHINGTON. The said message and letters being read, Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to the impediments which have arisen to the coinage of the precious metals, at the Mint, be referred to Mr. William Smith, Mr. Ames, and Mr. Niles; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. Ordered, That such other parts of the said message and letters, as relate to certain advances of money, which have been made on public account, be committed to a Com mittee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1794. Two other members, to wit: Uriah Forest and Thomas Sprigg, from Maryland, appeared, produced their credentials, and took their scats in the House; the oath to support the Constitution of the United States being first administered to them by Mr. Speaker, according to law. A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, as followeth: UNITED STATES, December 31st, 1793. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives : I now lay before you a letter from the Secretary of State, with his account of the expenditure of the moneys appropriated for our intercourse with foreign nations, from the first of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, to the first of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three; and other papers relating thereto. G. WASHINGTON. The said message and papers were read, and ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, That the message received yesterday, from the President of the United States, accompanying a report from the Secretary of State, of the substance of such laws, decrees, and ordinances, respecting commerce in the countries with which the United States have commercial intercourse, as he has received since his report of the sixteenth instant, be committed to the Committee of the Whole House to whom are committed the confidential communications from the President, respecting the measures which have been pursued, for obtaining a recognition of the treaty between the United States and Morocco, and for the ransom of prisoners, and establishment of peace with the Algerines. A memorial of Lewis I. Costigin, formerly a Lieutenant in the first New Jersey regiment of the American army, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for military services rendered, and losses and injuries sustained during the late war. Ordered, That the said memorial, together with the petition of Eliphalet Thorp, which lay on the table, be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. A petition of Daniel Parker, of the county of Middlesex, in the State of Massachusetts, merchant, was presented to the House and read, praying to be relieved against the Losses he sustained, under a contract entered into in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, for the supply of the Continental army with provisions, during the whole of the said year; which contract was terminated in a few months after it was entered into, by the unexpected event of the treaty of peace, and the consequent dis banding of the army. 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 of Thomas Claxton, assistant doorkeeper, was presented to the House and read, praying some compensation or allowance for the services of a laborer, to perform the menial duties of his office. Ordered, That the said memorial do lie on the table. A memorial of William Patterson, Samuel Sterrett, and Gustavus Scott, the committee appointed by the Legislature of Maryland to draw for, and distribute the moneys granted by that State for the relief of the French emigrants from the island of St. Domingo, was presented to the House and read, stating that their funds are nearly exhausted, and praying the relief and aid of Congress in the premises. Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to Mr. Samuel Smith, Mr. Rutherford, and Mr. Smilie; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. VOL. II.-4 The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee the Whole House on the confidential communications from the President, respecting the measures which have been pursued for obtaining a recognition of the treaty between the United States and Morocco, and for the ransom of prisoners, and establishment of peace with the Algerines; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull reported that the Committee had, according to order, again had the said communications under consideration, and come to several resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were read, and ordered to lie on the table. Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said communications. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2. Two other members, to wit, from Virginia, Isaac Coles, and from North Carolina, William Barry Grove, appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats in the House; the oath to support the Constitution of the United States being first administered to them by Mr. Speaker, according to law. A memorial of Nicholas Rieb, of the city of Philadelphia, cordwainer, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for his services as an artificer in Colonel Benjamin Flower's regiment of artillery; and also, that he may receive the pay and emoluments due to his son Peter Rieb, a soldier in the same corps, during the late war. Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to Mr. Findley, Mr. Gregg, and Mr. Gilbert; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Adam Polander was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for military services rendered to the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. 1 FRIDAY, JANUARY 3. The House proceeded to consider the memorial of Thomas Claxton, which lay on the table: Whereupon, Resolved, That the Clerk be authorized to pay (out of the money appropriated to defray the contingent expenses of the House) the sum of one dollar per day, for the services of a runner, and eighty cents per day, for a laborer, during the time such persons shall be employed, with the approbation of the Speaker, to assist the doorkeepers. A petition of David Turner was presented to the House and read, praying relief in consideration of injuries sustained whilst a soldier in Colonel James Miles's regiment of the American army, during the late war, which have rendered him incapable of obtaining a livelihood by labor. Ordered, That the said petition, together with the petition of Adam Polander, which lay on the table, be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Mr. William Smith, from the Standing Committe of Elections, to whom were referred the certificates and other credentials of the members returned to serve in this House, made a further report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, on the report of the Secretary of State, on the privileges and restrictions on the commerce of the United States, in foreign countries; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said report under consideration, and made some progress therein. Resolved, That this House will, on Monday se'nnight, again resolve itself into a Com mittee of the Whole House on the said report. Ordered, That the Secretary of the Treasury report to this House a comparative views of the tonnage employed in the trade between the United States and foreign countries. for the years one thousand seven hundred and ninety, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two: Also, that he report the actual tonnage of vessels of the United States, employed in one year, between the United States and foreign countries. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill providing for destroyed certificates of certain descriptions; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made some progress therein. Resolved, That this House will, on Monday next, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said bill. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. MONDAY, JANUARY 6. Another member, to wit: James Gillespie, from North Carolina, appeared, produced his credentials, and took his seat in the House; the oath to support the Constitution of the United States being first administered to him by Mr. Speaker, according to law. A petition of Jesse Raymond, of Norwalk, in the State of Connecticut, was presented to the House and read, praying the renewal of certain Continental Loan Office certificates, the property of the petitioner, which were taken by the enemy, or otherwise lost or destroyed, some time in the month of March, eighteen hundred and eighty-one. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the bill providing for destroyed certificates of certain descriptions. A petition of Peter Haas was presented to the House and read, praying that he may receive the arrears of pay, and other emoluments due for his services as a corporal, in the second Pennsylvania regiment, 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. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill for completing and better supporting the Military Establishment of the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull 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. Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendment, do lie on the table. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to report whether any, and what, alteration ought to be made in the ration now allowed to the troops of the United States; and that Mr. Irvine, Mr. Dearborn, and Mr. Heister, be the said committee. The House proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom was referred the memorial of Andrew G. Fraunces, and made some progress therein. Ordered, That the farther consideration of the said report be put off till to-morrow. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7. A petition of Thomas Hopkins, of Portland, in the State of Massachusetts, was presented to the House and read, praying that so much of the impost laws of the United States, as imposes a duty on twine and packthread imported into the United States, may be amended; and that the importation of all such foreign twine and packthread, manufactured into nets and seines, be prohibited. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the report of the Secretary of State on the privileges and restrictions on the commerce of the United States in foreign countries. A petition of William Smith, of the town of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, 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 Mr. Carnes, Mr. Mebane, and Mr. Hindman; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of Jeremiah Nicols, Collector for the District of Chester, in the State of Maryland, was presented to the House and read, stating the insufficiency of the com pensation allowed him by law, and praying that the same may be augmented, and rendered more adequate to his services. 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 Andrew Graydon, Chief Clerk in the office of the Treasurer of the United States, was presented to the House and read, praying that he may receive a salary equal to that which is allowed the Chief Clerks in the other departments. Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table. A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, as followeth : UNITED STATES, January 7, 1794. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: I lay before you an official statement of the expenditure to the end of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, from the sum of ten thousand dollars, granted to defray the contingent expenses of Government, by an act passed on the twenty-sixth of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety. G. WASHINGTON. The said message and statement were read, and ordered to lie on the table, A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Dandridge, his Secretary, as followeth: UNITED STATES, January 7, 1794. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: Experience has shown that it would be useful to have an officer particularly charged, under the direction of the Department of War, with the duties of receiving, safe-keeping, and distributing, the public supplies, in all cases, in which the laws and the course of service, do not devolve them upon other officers; and also, with that of superintending, in all cases, the issues in detail of supplies, with power, for that purpose, to bring to account all persons entrusted to make such issues, in relation thereto. An establishment of this nature, by securing a regular and punctual accountability for the issues of public supplies, would be a great guard against abuse, would tend to ensure their due application, and to give public satisfaction on that point. I therefore recommend to the consideration of Congress the expediency of an establishment of this nature, under such regulations as shall appear to them advisable. G. WASHINGTON. The said message was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Resolved, That it be an instruction to the committee appointed on Thursday last, on the subject of the Algerine communications, that they prepare and report to the House an estimate of the expense that will be requisite to place the principal seaports and harbors of the United States in a state of defence. Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, of the sums necessary to be appropriated for the service of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety. four, which was made on the twenty-third ultimo, be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next. Ordered, That the petition of Stephen Sayre, which lay on the table, be referred to the Secretary of State, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. Mr. Trumbull, from the committee appointed to prepare and report such standing rules and orders of proceeding as are proper to be observed in this House, made a report; which was read, and ordered to 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 sent from the Senate, entitled "An act making an alteration in the flag of the United States;" and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Trumbull 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 read the third time to-morrow. Resolved, That the injunction of secrecy imposed by the House, so far as relates to the resolutions agreed to on Thursday last, on the subject of the confidential communications from the President, respecting the measures which have been pursued for obra recognition of the treaty between the United States and Morocco, and for the |