On motion,

The faid bill was read the fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House to-morrow.

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

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have paffed the bill, intituled, "An act to compenfate Thomas Barclay, for various public fervices," with several amendments, to which they defire the concurrence of this Houfe: And then he withdrew.

The several orders of the day were farther poftponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning ten o'clock.

SATURDAY, August 7.

A bill for the appointment of a Surveyor-General for the United States, was read the fecond time; and on the question that the faid bill be engroffed and read the third time,

It paffed in the negative.

And fo the faid bill was rejected.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter and report from the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied with statements of additional fums neceffary to be provided for the fupport of government by farther appropriations, which were read, and ordered to be referred to the committee of the whole Houfe on the ftate of the Union.

A meffage from the Senate by Mr. Otis their Secretary.

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have disagreed to the refolution of this House refpecting the claim of Francis Mentges; alfo to the bill, intituled, " An act for adding two commiffioners to the board established for fettling the accounts between the United States and individual States:" The Senate have also paffed the bill, intituled, "An act for the relief of difabled foldiers and feamen, lately in the fervice of the United States, and of certain other perfons," with feveral amendments, to which they defire the concurrence of this Houfe And then he withdrew.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treafury, covering his report on the subject matter of fundry petitions, praying a renewal of continental loan-office certificates destroyed through accident, which were read, and ordered lie on the table.

The House then, according to the standing order of the day, refolved itself into a committee of the whole Houfe on the ftate of the Union. Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Seney took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Sency reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the ftate of the Union under confideration, and come to several refolutions thereupon, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the fame were feverally twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follow:

Refolved, That the fum of fifty thousand dollars, out of the monies arifing from the duties on imports and tonnage, be referved and appropriated for fatisfying demands against the United States, not otherwife fpecially provided for ; and that an act for that purpose ought to be paffed the present feffion.

Refolved, That out of the monies referved during the present session for the fupport of government, from the duties on imports and tonnage, a fum not exceeding thirty-eight thoufand eight hundred ninety-two dollars and feventyfive cents, be appropriated for the payment of the debts contracted by Abraham Skinner late commiffary of prifoners, for the fubfiftence of the officers of the late army while in captivity.

Refolved, That provifion by law fhould be immediately made for the appropriation of the furplus fum which fhall remain in the treafury after all the appropriations, made during the prefent feffion, fhall be fatisfied, in conformity to the tenor of the report of the Secretary of the Treasury.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the faid refolutions, and that Mr. Fitzsimons, Mr. Vining, Mr. Madison, Mr. Ames, and Mr. Benfon, do prepare and bring in the fame.

A meffage from the Senate by Mr. Otis their Secretary.

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have agreed to the amendments proposed by this Houfe to their amendments to the bill, intituled, "An act making further provifion for the payment of the debts of the United States." The Senate have alfo paffed the bill, intituled, "An act authorifing the Secretary of the Treasury to finish the light-houfe on Portland-Head, in the diftrict of Maine. Alfo the bill, intituled, "An act to enable the officers and foldiers of the Virginia line, on continental establishment, to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west of the river Ohio, between the Little Miami and Sciota," with feveral amendments, to which they defire the concurrence of this Houfe: And then he withdrew.

The House proceeded to confider the faid amendments, and the fame being read, were agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this Houfe do acquaint the Senate therewith. The House, according to the order of the day, refolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the bill for the relief of Adam Caldwell. Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Seney took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Seney reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the faid bill under confideration, and made seve ral amendments thereto, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the fame were feverally twice read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the faid bill, with the amendments, be engroffed, and read the third time on Monday next.

A meffage from the Senate by Mr. Otis their Secretary.

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have agreed to the refolution of this House, of the fixth inftant, authorizing the Speaker of the House of Reprefentatives; and the Prefident of the Senate to close the prefent feffion of Congrefs, by adjourning their respective Houses on Tuesday next, to meet again the first Monday in December next: And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That Mr. Partridge have leave to be abfent from the fervice of this House for the remainder of the feffion.

The several orders of the day were farther poftponed until Monday next. And then the Houfe adjourned until Monday morning ten o'clock.

MONDAY, August 9.

An engroffed bill for the relief of Adam Caldwell, was read the third time. Refolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, " An act for the relief of Adam Caldwell.

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

Mr. Gilman from the joint committee for inrolled bills reported, that the committee had examined three inrolled bills, one intituled, "An a& making further provifion for the payment of the debts of the United States;" another intituled, "An act to enable the officers and foldiers of the Virginia line on continental establishment, to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west of the river Ohio, between the Miami and Sciota;" and another intituled, “An

act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to finish the light-houfe on Portland-head, in the district of Maine," and had found the fame to be truly inrolled: Whereupon,

Mr. Speaker figned the faid inrolled bills.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. Mr. Fitzsimons, from the committee appointed, prefented, according to order, a bill making certain appropriations therein mentioned, which was received and read the first time.

On motion,

The faid bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House to-day.

The House proceeded to confider the amendments propofed by the Senate to the bill, intituled, "An act for the relief of difabled foldiers and feamen lately in the fervice of the United States, and of certain other persons ;" and the fame being read, were agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this Houfe do acquaint the Senate therewith. Mr. Fitzsimons, from the committee appointed, prefented, according to or der, a bill making provifion for the reduction of the public debt, which was received and read the first time.

On motion,

The faid bill was read the fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House to-day.

A meffage from the Senate by Mr. Otis their Secretary.

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have paffed the bill, intituled, "An act making an appropriation for difcharging the claim of Sarah Alexander, the widow of the late major-general Lord Stirling, who died in the fervice of the United States," with feveral amendments, to which they defire the concurrence of this House: And then he withdrew.

The House proceeded to confider the faid amendments, and the fame being read, were agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. The House then, according to order, refolved itself into a cominittee of the whole, on the bill making provifion for the reduction of the public debt. Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the faid bill under confideration, and made feveral amendments thereto, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the fame were feverally twice read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the faid bill, with the amendments, be engroffed, and read the third time to-day.

Mr. Gilman, from the joint committce for inrolled bills, reported, that the committee did, this day, wait on the President of the United States, and prefent for his approbation three inrolled bills; one intituled, " An act making further provifion for the payment of the debts of the United States;" another intituled, “An act to enable the officers and foldiers of the Virginia line, on continental establishment, to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west of the river Ohio, between the Little Miami and Sciota;" and another intituled, "An act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to finish the light-house on Portland-head, in the diftrict of Maine."

Mr. Smith, (of South-Carolina,) from the committee appointed to examine the accounts of the Treasurer of the United States for the two last quarters, reported that the committee had examined the fame, and found them to agree with the feveral certified statements thereon, by the Auditor, admitted by the Comptroller of the Treasury, and registered by the Register.

Ordered, That the faid report do lie on the table.

A meffage from the Senate by Mr. Otis their Secretary.

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have paffed a bill, intituled, " An act to alter the times of holding the circuit courts in the ftates of South-Carolina and Georgia," to which they defire the concurrence of this House: The Senate have alfo paffed the bill, intituled, "An act declaring the affent of Congress to certain acts of the ftates of Maryland, Georgia, and Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations," with an amendment, to which they defire the concur rence of this House: And then he withdrew.

The Houfe proceeded to confider the faid amendment, and the fame being read was agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this Houfe do acquaint the Senate therewith. On motion,

Refolved, That Mr. Gilman, Mr. White, and Mr. Smith (of South-Carolina,) be a committee to join with fuch committee as the Senate fhall appoint to wait on the Prefident of the United States, and notify him of the propofed recess of Congress.

Ordered, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to prepare and report to this Houfe on the fecond Monday of December next, fuch further provision as may, in his opinion, be necessary for establishing the public credit.

The bill fent from the Senate, intituled, "An act to alter the times of holding the circuit courts in the states of South-Carolina and Georgia," was read the first time.

On motion,

The faid bill was read the fecond time and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House to-day.

Refolved, That all furveys of lands in the Western Territory, made under the direction of the late geographer Thomas Hutchins, agreeably to contracts for a part of the faid lands made with the late Board of Treasury, be return. ed to, and perfected by the Secretary of the Treasury, fo as to compleat the faid contracts; and that the faid Secretary be, and he is hereby authorized to direct the making and compleating any other surveys that remain to be made, fo as to comply on the part of the United States with the feveral contracts aforefaid.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the faid refolution to the Senate and defire their concurrence.

The Houfe, according to order, refolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the bill fent from the Senate, intituled, "An act to alter the times of holding the circuit courts in the ftates of South-Carolina and Georgia.” Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the faid bill under confideration, and made feveral amendments thereto, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the fame were feverally twice read and agreed to by the House.

The faid bill, with the amendments, was then read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. An engroffed bill making provifion for the reduction of the public debt, was read the third time.

Refolved, That the faid bill do pafs, and that the title be, “An act making provifion for the reduction of the public debt."

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

The House then, according to order, refolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the bill making certain appropriations therein mentioned.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Livermore took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Livermore reported, that the com. mittee had, according to order, had the said bill under confideration and made an amendment thereto, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the fame was twice read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the faid bill, with the amendment, be engroffed and read the third time to-day.

Ordered, That the reprefentation from the general court of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the fubject of the whale and cod fisheries, together with the feveral papers accompanying the fame, which lay on the table, be referred to the Secretary of State, with inftruction to examine the matter thereof, and report his opinion thereupon to the next feflion of Congress.

Ordered, That the Speaker of this Houfe do tranfmit to the executive authority of each state, an authentic copy of the refolution of the eighteenth of May laft, on the report of the committee to whom it was referred, to confider and report their opinion on the queftion, "when, according to the conftitution, the terms, for which the Prefident, Vice-Prefident, Senators and Reprefentatives have been respectively chofen, fhall be deemed to have commenced."

An engroffed bill inaking certain appropriations therein mentioned, was read the third time.

Refolved, That the faid bill do pass, and that the title be, " An act making certain appropriations therein mentioned."

Ordered, That the Clerk of this Houfe do carry the faid bill to the Senate, and defire their concurrence.

The Speaker laid before the Houfe a letter and report of the Secretary of the Treasury, on the petition of Mofes Hazen, which were read and ordered to lie on the table.

The feveral orders of the day were farther poftponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning ten o'clock.

TUESDAY, August 10.

A meffage was received from the Prefident of the United States, by Mr. Lear his Secretary, notifying that the Prefident did, this day, approve and fign three acts, to wit:

An act making further provifion for the payment of the debts of the Uni

ted States.

An act to enable the officers and foldiers of the Virginia line on continental establishment to obtain titles to certain lands lying north-west of the river Ohio, between the Little Miami and Sciota.

An act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to finish the light-house on Portland-head, in the diftrict of Maine.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith. A meffage from the Senate by Mr. Otis their Secretary.

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have agreed to the amendments propofed by this House to the bill fent from the Senate, intituled, "An act to alter the time of holding the circuit courts of the United States in the ftates of South-Carolina and Georgia, and providing that the district court of Pennsylvania shall in future be held in the city of Philadelphia only. The Senate have also agreed to the refolution respecting the completion of certain furveys directed by a refolution of the late Congrefs. And then he withdrew.

Mr. Gilman, from the joint committee for inrolled bills, reported that the committee had examined four inrolled bills; one, intituled, "An act for the relief of disabled foldiers and feamen lately in the service of the United States,