A memorial of John Cleves Symmes was presented to the House and read, praying a fulfilment, on the part of the Government of the United States, of a contract entered into with the memorialist for certain lands in the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio.

Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Committee of the Whole House to whom is committed the report of the Attorney General relative to the contract entered into between the United States and John Cleves Symmes.

A memorial of Joseph Ball and others, holders of bills of credit emitted in pursuance of a resolution of Congress of the eighteenth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, was presented to the House and read, praying that such provision may be made for the payinent of the amount of the principal and interest due on the said bills of credit, as the nature of the public engagement and substantial justice will suggest.

Also, a petition of Jane Adams, praying that she may receive the amount of a prize of five hundred dollars, drawn by a ticket in the second class of the United States Lottery, during the late war; the certificate of which was lost or mislaid by the petitioner some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one.

Also, the petitions of Robert Horner and John Porter, respectively praying compensation for services rendered, or supplies furnished the Army of the United States, during the late war.

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

Mr. Swanwick, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to whom were referred the memorials and petitions of Charles White, of James Stuart, and James Barr, of David Scudder, of Eleazer Scudder, of Aaron Sheffield, of Samuel Legaré, James Theus, and Samuel Prioleau, and of Samuel Berrien and others, owners or masters of coasting vessels within the State of New York, made a report; which was read Whereupon,

Ordered, That the consideration of such parts of the said report as relate to the petitions of Aaron Sheffield and of Samuel Legaré, James Theus, and Samuel Prioleau, be postponed until Tuesday next.

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitions of Charles White, James Stuart, and James Barr, David Scudder, Eleazer Scudder, and Samuel Berrien and others, cannot be granted.

Mr. Dwight Foster, from the Committee of Claims, to whom were referred the petitions of Thomas Curtice, of Gilbert Dean, of Richard Keys, of James M'Callmont, of Thomas Miller, and of Joseph Shorb, made reports; which were severally read and considered: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitions of the said Thomas Curtice, Gilbert Dean, Richard Keys, James M'Callmont, Thomas Miller, and Joseph Shorb, cannot be granted, and that the petitioners, respectively, have leave to withdraw the same.

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 to whom was referred the memorial and representation of the Commissioners appointed under the act "for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States;" also, so much of the speech of the President of the United States to both Houses of Congress, as relates to the establishment of a National University; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Coit reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said report under consideration, and directed him to report to the House their disagreement to the same.

On motion,

Ordered, That the consideration of the said report be postponed until the second Monday in January next.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill for the relief of John Sears; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Coit reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendments there

to.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow. Ordered, That the report of the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of William Parsons, by Stephen Parsons, his attorney, which lay on the table, be committed to a Committee of the Whole House 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.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1796.

An engrossed bill for the relief of John Sears was read the third time. Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act for the relief of John Scars."

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

A petition of William Imlay, Commissioner of Loans for the State of Connecticut, was presented to the House and read, stating the insufficiency of the compensation allowed him by law and praying that the same may be increased, and rendered more adequate to his services.

Also, a memorial of Alexander Furnival, Postmaster at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, to the same effect.

Ordered, That the said petition and memorial be referred to the committee appointed to inquire wether any, or what, alterations ought to be made in the compensations allowed, by law, to the officers of the United States.

A petition of James Corrie and Samuel Briscoe, of the State of Maryland, in behalf of themselves, and Sidney George, of the said State, in behalf of Joshua Louttit, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying the liquidation and settlement of their claims for services as clerks to Donaldson Yeates, Deputy Quartermaster for the States of Delaware and Maryland, during the late war.

Also, a memorial of Anna Welsh, of New London, in the State of Connecticut, widow of John Welsh, formerly a captain of marines, in the service of the United States, praying relief, in consideration of the loss of her said husband, who was killed in the expedition against Penobscot, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition and memorial, together with the petition of Moses White, presented the eleventh of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninetytwo, 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 motion of the twenty-sixth instant, "for an allowance to the sufferers by the late fires at Savannah, in Georgia; 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 motion under consideration, and directed him to report to the House their disagreement to the same.

The House then proceeded to consider the said motion, at the Clerk's table, and, the same being read, in the words following, to wit:

"Resolved, That the sum of ought to be granted towards the relief of the sufferers by the late fires at Savannah, in Georgia:"

The question was taken, that the House do agree with the Committee of the whole House in their disagreement to the said motion:

The yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

Theodorus Bailey,

David Bard,

Thomas Blount,

Theophilus Bradbury,

Richard Brent,

Samuel J. Cabell,

Gabriel Christie,

John Clopton,

Joshua Coit,

Isaac Coles,

James Davenport,

George Dent,

Abiel Foster,
Jesse Franklin,

Nathaniel Freeman, jun.
Ezekiel Gilbert,
William B. Giles,
James Gillespie,
Nicholas Gilman,

Chauncey Goodrich,

Christopher Greenup,
Roger Griswold,
William B. Grove,

Carter B. Harrison,

John Hathorn,

Jonathan N. Havens,

James Holland,

Andrew Jackson,

George Jackson,
Aaron Kitchell,
John Wilkes Kittera,
Edward Livingston,
Samuel Lyman,
William Lyman,
Samuel Maclay,
Nathaniel Macon,
Andrew Moore,
Anthony New,

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, 1796.

Another member, to wit: George Hancock, from Virginia, appeared, and took his seat in the House.

A petition of Frederick Hebner, son of George Hebner, of Montgomery county, in the State of Pennsylvania, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for a quantity of gunpowder, furnished for the use of the American Army, during the late war.

Also, a petition of David Allshouse, of the county of Northampton, in the State of Pennsylvania, praying an augmentation of the pension allowed him by law; as, also, the arrears of pension due to him, in consideration of his services as a soldier in the Army of the United States, during the late war.

Also, a petition of Gassaway Watkins, of Anne Arundel county, in the State of Maryland, praying the renewal of a military warrant, for three hundred acres of land due for his services, as a captain in the American Army during the late war; which warrant was delivered to the order of the petitioner, and afterwards casually lost. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Clans.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanying an account of the receipts and expenditures of the United States, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five; which was read, and, ordered to be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. Dwight Foster, from the Committee of Claims, to whom were referred the memorials and petitions of George Calmese, of George Campbell, of Henry Roberts, and of James Rowland, executor of William Rowland, deceased, made reports; winch were severally read and considered: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitions of the said George Calmese, George Campbell, Henry Roberts, and James Rowland, cannot be granted.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a report and sundry statements, marked A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, exhibiting a view of the debts of the United States, on the first day of January, in the years one thousand seven hundred and ninety, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, in pursuance of a resolution of this House, of the first of June last; which were read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. Swanwick, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, to whom was referred the petition of Francis Coppinger, in behalf of Monsieur Reliquet, made a report; which was read and considered: Whereupon,

Resolve, That the prayer of the petition of the said Francis Coppinger cannot be granted, and 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 reports of the committees to whom were referred the pe. titions of sundry refugees from Canada and Nova Scotia; 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 reports under consideration, and come to two resolutions thereupon; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were severally read, and agreed to by the House, as follow:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners, Joseph Green and others, from Canada, praying a bounty in lands, and other pay, for services rendered in the late war with Great Britain, ought not to be granted.

Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law for donations of land to the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, pursuant to the resolves of Congress, of the twenty-third of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, and the thirteenth of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the last resolution, and that Mr. Gilman, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Greenup, do prepare and bring in the same.

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 of Commerce and Manufactures, of the fifth of May last, relative to the kidnapping of negroes and mulattoes; 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 made some progress therein.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House be discharged from the farther consideration of the said report.

On a motion made and seconded that the said report be re-committed to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures,

Ordered, That the consideration of the said motion be postponed until to-morrow. Mr. Venable, from the standing Committee of Elections, made a further report; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same was read as followeth :

"That it appears, by a certificate of the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, bearing date the nineteenth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, and under the seal of the said State, that Elisha R. Potter has been elected to serve in the House of Representatives of the United States, in the place of Benjamia Bourne, whose scat had become vacant :

"Your committee are therefore of opinion, that the said Elisha R. Potter is entitled to take his seat in this House."

Ordered, That the said report 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 report of the Secretary of War, to whom was referred the pettion of Hugh Lawson White; 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 made some progress therein.

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

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting the copy of a letter from the commissioners appointed under the act **for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States;" with sundry documents, marked A, B, C, D, E, F, exhibiting a view of the receipts and expenditures of all moneys entrusted to them; and also, of the progress and state of the business; and of the funds under their administration, from the seventeenth of May, to the eighteenth of November, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That the letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting copies of the proceedings of the accounting officers of the Treasury, upon certain claims which have not been admitted to be valid, laid before the House the twenty-fourth of Decem ber, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, be committed to a Committee of the Whole House 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, 1796.

Another member, to wit: Alexander D. Orr, from Kentucky, appeared, and took his seat in the House.

A memorial of Jeremiah Allen and others, holders of the bills of credit emitted in pursuance of a resolution of Congress, of the eighteenth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, was presented to the House and read, praying that provision may be made by law for the payment of the principal and interest due on the said bills of credit.

Also, a petition of George Colbert, one of the chiefs and warriors of the Chickasaw Nation of Indians, praying compensation for supplies furnished by the petitioner, to a detachment of volunteers, under the command of Colonel Mansker, on an expedition against the Creek Indians, some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four.

Ordered, That the said memorial and petition be referred to the Committee of Claims. A petition of Lewis H. Guerlain, of the city of New York, merchant, in behalf of Messieurs Bethman and Sons, of the city of Bourdeaux, in France, was presented to the House and read, praying a remission of the duties on a quantity of claret wine, imported in the ship Stadt Altona, and intended for exportation to the West Indies, which was consumed, together with the store-house in which it was deposited, by a late fire in the city of New York.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Dwight Foster, from the Committee of Claims, to whom were referred the petitions of Andrew Ramsay and of Nathan Smith, made reports; which were read and con sid ered: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitions of the said Andrew Ramsay and Nathan Smith cannot be granted.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the Secretary of War, to whom was referred the petition of Hugh Lawson White; 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 report under consideration, and made a farther progress therein. On motion,

Ordered, That the Committee of the Whole House be discharged from the farther consideration thereof, and that the said report be re-committed to Mr. Andrew Jackson, Mr. Jeremiah Smith, Mr. Blount, Mr. Dent, and Mr. Harper.

On motion,

Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures be instructed o inquire and report whether any, and, if any, what, alterations ought to be made in the compensation allowed by law to the officers concerned in the collection of the revenue; and that the committee appointed to inquire whether any, and what, alterations ought to be made in the compensation, allowed by law to the officers of the United States, be discharged from so much of the subject referred to them as may relate to the officers of the revenue.

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 Ways and Means, of the twenty-sixth instant, relative to the balances found by Commissioners for settling accounts between the United States and individual States, to be due from certain States to the United 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 report 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 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, JANUARY 2, 1797.

A petition of Philip Stimmel, of the city of Philadelphia, snuff manufacturer, was presented to the House and read, praying to be exonerated from the payment of the duties on a quantity of snuff, manufactured by the petitioner, which was lost and damaged by the injury done to the dam of his snuff mill, on Ridley creek, some time in the month of August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.

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 John Hughes, of the city of New York, auctioneer, was presented to the House and read, praying relief, in the case of a quantity of salmon, which was

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