sideration of injuries received whilst a Sergeant in Colonel Porter's regiment of the Continental Army, during the late war. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Parker, a member from the State of Virginia, presented to the House a letter frond William Yerby, mate of the schooner Polly, of Baltimore, on the subject of the impressment of the said Yerby, by the British, at Cape Nichola Mole; which was received, read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the bill for the relief and protection of American seamen. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled “An act making an extra allowance to certain clerks in the public offices, and to the widows of certain deceased clerks ;" 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 the Committee of Claims. Mr. New, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act for the relief of certain officers and soldiers who have been wounded or disabled in the actual service of the United States;" 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. The House proceeded to consider the report of the Committee of Privileges, to whom were referred two letters; one from James Gunn, a Senator of the United States for the State of Georgia; the other from Frederick Frelinghuysen, a Senator of the United States for the State of New Jersey, together with certain papers presented to the House by Mr. Baldwin, a member for the said State of Georgia, which lay on the table: Whereupon, The said report being again read at the Clerk's table, was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as followeth : "That the committee have, according to order, taken into consideration the subject referred to them: "That, after their appointment, they received a letter from Frederick Frelinghuysen, a Senator from the State of New Jersey, which is herewith reported. "That it appears to the committee, from a view of all the circumstances attending the transaction referred to them, that the same was a breach of the privileges of this House, on the part of Jame Gunn, a Senator from the State of Georgia, and Frederick Frelinghuysen, a Senator from the State of New Jersey. "That the several letters addressed to the House by the said James Gunn and the said Frederick Frelinghuyser, together with that addressed by the latter to the committee, and herewith reported, contain apologies and acknowledgments, on the occasion, which ought to be admitted as satisfactory to the House; and, therefore, that any further proceeding thereon is unnecessary. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill authorizing and directing the Secretary of War to place certain persons, therein named, on the pension list; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenburg 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 on Monday next. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the motion of the seventh instant, "requesting the President of the United States to lay before this House a copy of the instructions, correspondence, and other documents, relative to the treaty lately concluded between the United States and Great Britain ;" and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said motion under consideration, and made a farther progress therein. Resolved, That this House will on Monday next again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said motion. The House proceeded to consider the report of the Committee of Elections, to whom were referred the credentials of David Baird, returned to serve in this House as a member for the State of Pennsylvania; and the said report being twice read at the Clerk's table, was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as followeth : 1796.] 475 "That the elections appear to have been regularly held in the several counties composing the district, and that the judges of the several districts in the respective counties made up a return for each of the said counties, in the manner and at the time prescribed by law. "That the general election law directs that one of the judges of each of the counties ⚫ composing the district should meet at a place called the Burnt Cabins, in the county of Bedford, on the third Tuesday in October ensuing the election, to estimate the votes given in the several counties, and to return the person having the highest number of votes, in the entire district, as their Representative; except there should be, at the time of holding the said elections, any of the militia of any of the said counties in the service of the United States; and, in that case, that the judges should meet on the fif teenth of November ensuing the election. "That, at the time of holding the elections, Bedford and Huntington, two of the counties in the said district, had no part of their militia in the service of the United States, and the judges of those two counties met at the Burnt Cabins, on the third Tuesday in October, in order to make their district return. "That the county of Franklin had a part of their militia in the service of the United States at that time, and the judge from that county did not meet the other judges; in consequence of which no return was made on that day. "That, on the fifteenth of November, the judges of Bedford and Franklin met for the purpose of making a return; but the judge of Huntington, as it is suggested, not being informed of the alteration of the law in that respect, failed to attend; by which they were again prevented from making a return. "That, on the first day of May last, all the judges met at the Burnt Cabins, and returned David Baird, as having the highest number of votes. "That, in consequence of the informality of the said return, it being the first of May instead of the fifteenth of November, the committee have called for and obtained the several county returns, on which the district return was founded, and have made an estimate of the votes as they appear from those returns; which estimate is as follows: "David Baird, eighteen hundred and eight. "James McClain, one thousand and ninety. "James Chambers, five hundred and nineteen. "Whereupon, "Your committee are of opinion that David Baird is entitled to a seat in this House." The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to whom was referred the memorial of Henry Messonnier; 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 report under consideration 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 the Collector for the port of Baltimore do pay to Henry Messonnier six hundred and fifty-five dollars and ninety cents, being the amount of duties paid on fourteen hogsheads of coffee more than was imported in the ship Peccariau, Captain Latour, in February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolution, and that the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures do prepare and bring in the same. The House proceeded to consider the report of the Committee of Elections, to whom was referred the petition of sundry citizens and electors of the district of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, complaining of an undue election and return of John Swanwick to serve as a member of this House for the said State; and, the said report being twice read at the Clerk's table, was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House, as followeth : "That the petitioners have entirely failed to support the allegations contained in their petition, and that they have, in a formal manner, relinquished the same. "Your committee are, therefore, of opinion that John Swanwick is entitled to a seat in this House." Information having been given to this House that a son of General Lafayette is now within the United States: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the truth of the said information, and report thereon; and what measures it will be proper to take, if the same be true, to evince the grateful sense entertained by this country for the services of his father. Ordsered, That Mr. Livingston, Mr. Sherburne, and Mr. Murray, be appointed a committee pursuant to the said resolution. The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next. MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1796. Another member, to wit: Thomas Sprigg, from Maryland, 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. Ordered, That Mr. Leonard have leave to be absent from the service of this House for three weeks. An engrossed bill, authorizing and directing the Secretary of War to place certain persons, therein named, on the pension list, was read the third time. Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act authorizing and directing the Secretary of War to place certain persons, therein named, on the pension list." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. A memorial of the Marine Society of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, was presented to the House and read, praying that a light-house may be erected on the high lands of Cape Cod, in the said State, under such regulations as Congress shall think proper to establish. Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures. A memorial of sundry Inspectors of the port of Philadelphia, whose names are thereunto subscribed, in behalf of themselves and the widows of sundry deceased Inspectors, was presented to the House and read, praying that they may be allowed an additional compensation to reimburse the extraordinary expenses they incurred in the discharge of their official duties, during the calamity in the city of Philadelphia, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, where they remained at the great personal hazard of themselves and families. Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Committee of Claims, to whom is committed the bill sent from the Senate, entitled “An act making an extra allowance to certain clerks in the public offices, and to the widows of certain deceased clerks." A petition of sundry inhabitants of the Western counties of Pennsylvania, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House and read, praying that the House of Representatives will pass all laws necessary for carrying into effect the late treaty concluded between the United States and Great Britain. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union." Mr. Swanwick, a member for the State of Pennsylvania, presented to the House a letter from Andrew Donaldson, late of the brig Jane, of Boston, on the subject of the impressment of the said Donaldson, on board of a British ship of war at London; which was received, read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the bill for the relief and protection of American seamen. Mr. Goodhue, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, presented, according to order, a bill for the relief of Henry Messonnier; which was received and read the first time. On motion, The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. Mr. Thatcher, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of Jonathan Hastings, made a report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next. Mr. Sherburne, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill to continue in force, an act "for ascertaining the fees in admiralty proceedings in the district courts of the United States, and for other purposes;" which was received and read the first time. On motion, The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time to-morrow. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the motion of the seventh instant, "requesting the President of the United States to lay before this House a copy of the instructions, correspondence, and other documents, relative to the treaty lately concluded between the United States and Great Britain ;" and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said motion 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 motion. Mr. New, 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 two enrolled bills; one entitled "An act for the relief of certain officers and soldiers who have been wounded or disabled in the actual service of the United States;" and another entitled "An act for the relief of Joze Roiz Silva." The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1796. An engrossed bill to continue in force an act "for ascertaining the fees in admiralty proceedings in the district courts of the United States, and for other purposes," was read the third time. Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act to continue in force an act for ascertaining the fees in admiralty proceedings in the district courts of the United States, and for other purposes." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. An engrossed bill for the relief of Henry Messonnier was read the third time. Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act for the relief of Henry Messonnier." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. A petition of sundry citizens and inhabitants of the counties of Washington and Allegany, in the State of Pennsylvania, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for the value of fences, timber, and other property of the petitioners, which were damaged or destroyed by the militia called out to suppress the late insurrection in the Western counties of Pennsylvania. Also, a petition of Samuel Brooke Beale, of Prince George's county, in the State of Maryland, praying the renewal of certain certificates of public debt, the property of the petitioner, granted him for military services during the late war, which were lost or destroyed some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five. Also, a petition of Doyle Sweeny, and others, clerks in the Treasury Department, praying an additional compensation, to reimburse the extraordinary expenses which they incurred in discharging the duties of their respective offices, during the calamity in the city of Philadelphia, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, where they remained at the great personal hazard of themselves and families. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Claims. A memorial of Jacob Broom, of the borough of Wilmington, in the State of Delaware, was presented to the House and read, praying that the duty of three cents per pound, imposed on cotton imported from foreign countries, may be taken off, and that an additional duty may be laid on the importation of cotton goods into the United States. Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures. Mr. Parker, one of the members from Virginia, presented to the House certain papers relative to the impressment of John Underwood, John Lloyd, Lewis Moore, and John Osborne, American scamen, on board of a British ship of war; which were received, read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the bill for the relief and protection of American seamen. Mr. Gilman, from the Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business, to whom it was referred to inquire into the number of clerks now employed in the different offices in the Treasury Department, in the Department of State, and in the War Department; also, to examine into the number of clerks that, in their opinion, may be actually necessary to perform the services annexed to those several Departments and Offices, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Mr. New, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill lay ing duties on carriages for the conveyance of persons, and repealing the former act for that purpose; which was received, and 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. The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the motion of the seventh instant, "requesting the President of the United States to lay before this House a copy of the instructions, correspondence, and other documents, relative to the treaty lately concluded between the United States and Great Britain ;" and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said motion 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 motion. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to whom were referred the several memorials and petitions of the Marine Society of Salem, of the merchants and others of the towns of Beverly and Marblehead; of Edward Simpson and others; of Messrs Valck and Company; and of George Kno wel Jackson; 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 report under consideration, and come to several resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follow: 1st. Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to provide, by contract, which shall be approved by the President of the United States, for building a lighthouse on Baker's Island, near the entrance into the harbor of Salem and Beverly, in the State of Massachusetts; (as soon as a cession of the jurisdiction to the United States over the land proper for the purpose is made by the said State,) and to furnish the same with all necessary supplies; and, also, to agree for the salaries or wages of the person or persons who may be appointed by the President for the superintend ance and care of the same: and that the President be authorized to make the said appointments. That the number or disposition of the light or lights, in the said lighthouse, be such as may tend to distinguish it from others, as far as is practicable: And dollars be appropriated for the same. that 2d. Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Edward Simpson and others ought not to be granted; and that the petitioners have leave to withdraw the same. 3d. Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Messrs Valck and Company ought not to be granted; and that the petitioners have leave to withdraw the same. 4th. Resolved, That, if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Collector of the District of Boston and Charlestown, that a quantity of household furniture was imported into the said district on board the ship Minerva, James Scott, master, from Great Britain, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, belonging to George Knowel Jackson, on which duties have been paid; and that the said Jackson was prevented from coming to this country, on board the said ship, on account of the sickness of his family; then, and in that case, the said Collector shall be authorized to reimburse the duties which may have been paid on the same. Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the first and last resolutions; and that the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures do prepare and bring in the same. On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills to continue an act declaring the consent of Congress to certain acts of the States of Maryland, Georgia, and Rhode Island. Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Smith, Mr. Malbone, and Mr. Milledge, be appointed a committee pursuant to the said resolution. The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1796. A petition of John White, late an inspector of the port of Philadelphia, was presented to the House and read, praying that he may be allowed an additional compensation to reimburse the extraordinary expenses which he incurred in discharging his official |