The House proceeded to consider the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the petition of Thomas Coit: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the petitioner have leave to withdraw his said petition.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to authorize the allowance of drawback on part of the cargo of the ship Enterprize; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the char, and Mr. Cobb 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 to-morrow. Ordered, That the report of the committee to whom was re-committed the report of a committee on the report of the Secretary of War, respecting the fortifications of the United States, be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on so much of the report of the committee appointed to inquire and report whether any, and what, alterations ought to be made to the act imposing duties on snuff manufactured within the United States, as relates to an immediate alteration of the mode of collecting the duties on snuff manufactured within the United States: and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cobb reported that the committee had, according to order, had under their consideration such parts of the said report as were referred to them, and come to a resolution thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was twice read, and agreed to by the House, as followeth :

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill to amend the act laying duties on manufactured snuff, and to alter the mode of imposing the said dutics, by imposing the same on the mortar.

Ordered, That Mr. William Smith, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Samuel Smith, Mr. Lyman, Mr. Findley, Mr. Fitzsimons, and Mr. Madison, be appointed a committee, pursuant to the said resolution.

Ordered, That the Postmaster General, to whom was referred, on the thirtieth day of May last, the petition of Benjamin Muniford, be discharged from the consideration of the same, and that the sad petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill authorizing the erection of a light-house near the entrance of Georgetown Harbor, in the State of South Carolina; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cobb reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made an amend ment 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 to-morrow.

Mr. Murray, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Alexander Roxburgh, made a report; which was read, and ordered to 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.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4.

An engrossed bill to authorize the allowance of drawback on part of the cargo of the ship Enterprize was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act to authorize the allowance of drawback on part of the cargo of the ship Enterprize.

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

Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Smith and Mr. Fitzsimons be added to the committee to whom were referred the memorials and petitions of sundry manufacturers of hemp, chocolate, and paper.

Mr. Sherburne, from the committee to whom was re-committed the report of the committee on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act to amend the act, entitled 'An act to establish the Post Office and Post Roads within the United States," made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee respecting the settlement of the accounts of the former Government, and the unpaid balances due thereon; and, after some time

spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cobb reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said report under consideration, and come to several resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table. Ordered, That the said resolutions 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, February 4th, 1795.

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives :

I lay before Congress, for their consideration, a letter from the Secretary of State, upon the subject of a loan, which is extremely interesting and urgent.

G. WASHINGTON.

The said message and letter were read, and ordered to be referred to Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Madison, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. William Smith, and Mr. Giles, with instruction to examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their 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 relative to the compensations of certain officers employed in the collection of the duties of impost and tonnage; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cobb reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made several amendments thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow inorning eleven o'clock.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5.

An engrossed bill relative to the compensations of certain officers employed in the collection of the duties of impost and tonnage was read the third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act relative to the compensations of certain officers employed in the collection of the duties of impost and tonnage.

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

their concurrence.

A memorial of Augustine Biddle, of the county of Harford, in the State of Maryland, was presented to the House and read, praying the renewal of certain loan-office certificates, the property of the memorialist, which were lost or destroyed some time in the month of November, one thousand seven hundred and ninety.

Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to Mr. Dent, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Hartley; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

A petition of Anthony Bartow and Robert S. Bartow, of Westchester, in the State of Pennsylvania, executors of Anthony Bartow, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying the liquidation and settlement of a claim for supplies furnished by the deceased, for the use of American Army, during the late war. Also,

A petition of John Sumpter, of the town of Manchester, in the State of Virginia, praying compensation for his services as a taylor, employed in making sundry suits of clothes for a detachment of the Army of the United States, stationed at Chesterfield Court-house, in the said State, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Claims.

A memorial of Oliver and Thompson, of the town of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, merchants, was presented to the House and read, praying that certain errors, made to the injury of the memorialists, in the payment of the duties on fifteen boxes of Irish linens, and thirty pipes of Madeira wine imported into the United States, in the years one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and one thousand seven hundred and ninety two, may be rectified.

Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to Mr. Samuel Smith, Mr. Hillhouse, and Mr. Wingate; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

Mr. Tracey, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of George Gibbs, made a report; which was read: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Collector for the port of Newport, in the State of Rhode Island, be, and he hereby is, authorized to allow to George Gibbs, the legal drawback on certain wines, by him exported, in the month of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety, in the ship Warren, to Calcutta: Provided, that the said George Gibbs shall produce all the other testimony (excepting the oath of the mate,) required respecting drawbacks, by an act passed the fourth of August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in, pursuant to the said resolution, and that the Committee of Claims do prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill for continuing in force, for a limited time, an act passed the third of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, entitled "An act transferring, for a limited time, the jurisdiction of suits and offences from the District to the Circuit Court of New Hampshire, and assigning certain duties in respect to invalid pensioners, to the Attorney of the said district."

And a committee was appointed, of Mr. Jeremiah Smith, Mr. Thatcher, and Mr. Peleg Wadsworth.

A memorial of the sugar refiners, in the town of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, was presented to the House and read, praying a revision of the excise laws of the United States; and that so much of the act, passed at the last session of Congress, entitled "An act laying certain duties upon snuff and refined sugar," as imposes a duty on sugar refined within the United States, may be repealed.

Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the report of the committee appointed to prepare and report a plan for the reduction of the public debt.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee appointed to prepare and report a plan for the reduction of the public debt; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cobb reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said report under consideration, and made a farther progress therein. Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into à Committee of the Whole House on the said report.

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, FEBRUARY 6.

An engrossed bill for the erection of a light-house near the entrance of Georgetown harbor, in the State of South Carolina, was read the third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act for the erection of a light-house near the entrance of Georgetown harbor, in the State of South Carolina.” Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire

their concurrence.

The memorial of Charles De Frey, and the petitions of Robert Elliott and Anna Knolten, in behalf of themselves, or as legal representatives of others, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying compensation for services rendered, or losses and injuries sustained, in the Army and Navy of the United States, during the late war. Ordered, That the said memorial and petitions be referred to the Committee of Claims. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act to authorize the allowance of drawback on part of the cargo of the ship Enterprize." And then he withdrew. Mr. Fitzsimons, from the committee appointed to inquire into the establishment of Clerks in the several departments, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.

Mr. Fitzsimons, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of William Gardner, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee appointed to prepare and report a plan for the reduction of the public debt; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cobb reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and come to several resolutions

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thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, amended, and agreed to by the House, as follow:

1st. Resolved, That there be appropriated, out of the revenues of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, a sum not exceeding six hundred thousand dollars, to be applied to the payment of two dollars on every hundred dollars of the amount of that part of the public debt, which bears an actual interest of six per cent; the said payment to be made on the day of -next.

2d. Resolved, That the several clauses of limitation in the acts for laying duties and taxes on manufactured sugar and snuff; on licences for retailing wines and spirituous liquors; on sales at auction; and on carriages, be repealed; that the said several acts be continued in force until the year one thousand eight hundred and one; and that the moneys arising therefrom, be appropriated to the discharge of that portion of the public debt which is redeemable by law, subject however, to a substitution of other duties or taxes of equal value, to all or any of the said duties and taxes.

3d. Resolved, That the eighth section of the act of last session, laying and continuing certain duties on goods, wares, and merchandise, be repealed; and that the duration of the said act be made commensurate with the act for laying such duties, passed the tenth day of August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety, entitled "An act making further provision for the debt of the United States."

4th. Resolved, That the surplus of revenue, which may hereafter exist, after satisfying all legal appropriations, be annually appropriated to the purchase of the public debt. 5th. Resolved, That provision be made for the sale of the public lands in the Western Territory.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in, pursuant to the said resolutions, and that Mr. William Smith, Mr. Ames, Mr. Fitzsimons, Mr. Duvall, and Mr. Nicholas, do prepare and bring in the same.

Resolved, That this House will, on Monday next, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said report.

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9.

Another member, to wit: Robert Goodloe Harper, returned to serve in this House as a member for the State of South Carolina, in the room of Alexander Gillon, deceased, 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 George Sharp, of the County of Rensselaer, in the State of New York, was presented to the House and read, praying the liquidation and settlement of a claim for services rendered, and supplies furnished the United States, during the late war, of which he has hitherto been debarred by the operation of the acts of limitation. Also, A petition of Thomas Donnellan, of the town of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, praying the renewal of a certain certificate of public debt, the property of the petitioner, which was consumed by fire, some time in the month of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five. Also,

A petition of Anne M'Mahon, of Ohio County, in the State of Virginia, widow of William McMahon, deceased, praying relief in consideration of the loss of her said husband, who was killed, while a Major in the actual service of the United States, in an engagement with the Indians, at Fort Recovery, on the thirtieth day of June last. Ordered, That the said petitions, together with the petition of Roger Enos, presented the fourteenth of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Goodhue, from the committee to whom were referred the memorials of sundry manufacturers of hemp, in the towns of Boston, Newport, and Providence, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

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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 to amend the act, entitled 'An act to establish the Post Office and Post Roads within the United States;' and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cobb reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made several amendments thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table; where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, be read the third time to-morrow..

Mr. Parker, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of Parker, Hopkins, and Meers, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

Mr. Sedgwick, from the committee to whom was referred the message from the President of the United States, of the fourth instant, enclosing a letter from the Secretary of State, relative to a loan for the maintenance of the intercourse of the United States with foreign nations, made a report; which was read: Whereupon,

Resolved, That adequate provision be made by law for reimbursing, before the year -, any loan, which may hereafter be made under the authority of the President of the United States, in virtue of an act of the last session of Congress, entitled "An act making further provision for the expenses attending the intercourse of the United States with foreign nations; and further to continue in force the act, entitled 'An act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations.””

Resolved, That, for the purpose mentioned in the foregoing resolutions, the proceeds of the duties upon carriages for the conveyance of persons; on licences for selling wines and foreign distilled spirituous liquors, by retail; on snuff and refined sugar; and on property sold at auction; imposed by acts passed at the last session of Congress, and which may be further continued the present session, which are not already appropriated, be appropriated for the reimbursement, before the year- -, of any loan, which may hereafter be made in virtue of the act aforesaid: and that the faith of Government be pledged to make good any deficiency.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions, and that Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Madison, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. William Smith, and Mr. Giles, do prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill to amend the act, passed the eighth day of May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, entitled "An act making alterations in the Treasury and War Departments," in such manner as to give to the President of the United States the same power of temporary appointment to the officers mentioned in the eight section of the act aforesaid, in case of vacancy, as by the same section, is given to him in the cases of death, absence from the seat of Government, and sickness: Provided, That no appointment, made as aforesaid, shall be for a longer term than six months.

And a committee was appointed of Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Watts, and Mr. M'Dowell. The House proceeded to consider the resolutions reported on the fourth instant, from the Committee of the Whole House to whom was referred the report of the committee respecting the settlement of the accounts of the former Government, and the unpaid balances due thereon; and the said resolutions being amended at the Clerk's table, were, on the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as follow:

1st. Resolved, That further and more adequate provision should be made, by law, for the recovery of debts due from individuals to the United States.

24. Resolved, That the Comptroller of the Treasury be authorized to issue a notification to any person who has received moneys for which he is accountable to the United States, or to the executor or administrator of such person, if he be deceased, requiring him to render to the Auditor of the Treasury, in a reasonable time, not less than nor more than months, all his accounts and vouchers for the expenditure of the said moneys, comprehending a schedule of all claims of credit, or, in default thereof, to remain charged with the moneys so advanced; and suits shall be commenced for the same without further notice, and the party subjected to the costs and charges of such suits, whether the ultimate decision shall be in their favor, or against them.

Sd. Resolved, That the Marshals of the respective Districts be authorized to serve the said notifications on the parties therein named, by leaving copies thereof at their respective dwellings or usual places of abode; and that the return of the notifications to the Comptroller's office, with the Marshal's certificate thereon, that service has been made, be deemed legal evidence in the District Courts of the proceedings, and for the recovery of costs and charges.

4th. Resolved, That, in cases where accounts shall be rendered to the Auditor of the Treasury, within the time limited in the notifications to the Auditor, he shall immediately proceed to liquidate the credits to be passed for the said accounts, and report the same to the Comptroller, with a particular list of any claims for credit which shall have been disallowed by him.

5th. Resolved, That the Comptroller of the Treasury immediately proceed to the examination of the credits allowed by the Auditor, and, if the same be approved by him, that he ca se credit therefor to be passed on the public books.

6th. Resolved, That a list of such credits as shall have been claimed, and not admitted