A petition of John Rogers, in behalf of himself, James Meriwether, and John Thurston, of the state of Virginia, was prefented to the House and read, praying that the commutation of half pay may be allowed to them, as officers in a corps of dragoons, in the Illinois country during the late war, and to which they conceive themselves entitled, under the act of ceffion of that country, made by the said state of Virginia, to the United States.

Ordered, That the faid petition be referred to the Secretary at War, with instruction to examine the fame, and report his opinion thereupon to the House. The House, according to the order of the day, refolved itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill to provide for the remiffion or mitigation of fines, forfeitures and penalties, in certain cafes.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Benson took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Benfon reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the faid 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 on Monday next.

The House, according to the order of the day, again refolved itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill to promote the progrefs of useful arts. Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Benson took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Benfon reported, that the committee had, according to order, again 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 on Monday next.

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

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have paffed a bill, entitled, " An act to accept a ceffion of the claims of the state of North-Carolina, to a certain district of western country," to which they deûre the concurrence of this House. The Senate have also agreed to a refolution, "That the respective collectors in the feveral ports of the United States, be directed not to grant a clearance for any fhip or veffel, having articles on board, subject to inspection, by the laws of the State, from which fuch fhip or vessel shall be about to depart, without having previously obtained fuch manifefts, and other documents, as are enjoined by the faid laws;" to which they defire the concurrence of this House: And then he withdrew.

The House proceeded to confider the report of the committee, to whom was referred the letter from the Commiffioners for fettling the accounts between the United States, and individual States: Whereupon,

Ordered, That the faid report be re-committed to the fame committee, with inftruction to prepare and bring in a bill or bills, pursuant thereto.

The several orders of the day for the House to refolve itself into a committee of the whole House, on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, relative to a provifion for the fupport of the public credit; alfo, on the bill fent from the Senate, entitled, "An act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States;" on the bill for regulating the poft-office of the United States; and on the bill for the encouragement of learning, by fecuring the copies of maps, charts, books, and other writings, to the authors and proprietors of fuch copies, during the times therein mentioned; were read, and postponed until Monday next.

And then the House adjourned until Monday morning eleven o'clock.

MONDAY, March 8.

Another member, to wit, John Vining, from Delaware, appeared and took his feat.

An engroffed bill to provide for the remiffion or mitigation of fines, forfei tures and penalties, in certain cases, was read the third time, and a blank therein filled up.

Refolved, That the faid bill do pafs; and that the title be," An act to provide for the remiffion or mitigation of fines, forfeitures and penalties, in certain cafes."

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

The bill fent from the Senate, entitled, " An act to accept a ceffion of the claims of the state of North-Carolina to a certain district of Western Territory," was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House on Thursday next.

The House proceeded to confider the resolution sent from the Senate on Friday laft, to prevent the exportation of goods, not duly inspected according to the laws of the feveral States: Whereupon,

Ordered, That the faid refolution be committed to Mr. White, Mr. Tucker, and Mr. Contee, with inftruction to prepare and bring in a bill or bills purfuant thereto.

Mr. Gerry, from the committee appointed, prefented, according to order, a bill for encreasing the falaries of Clerks in the office of the Commiffioners for fettling accounts between the United States and individual States; which was received and read the firft time.

Mr. Livermore, from the committee appointed, prefented, according to order, a bill making appropriations for the fupport of government; which was received and read the firft time.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter and report from the Secretary at War, on the petition of John Ely, which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter and report from the Secretary of the Treafury, on the feveral petitions of William Mumford, Samuel Armftrong, and the weighers, measurers and gaugers of the diftrict of Portland and Falmouth, in the state of Maffachusetts; which were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. White, from the committee appointed, prefented, according to order, a bill to prevent the exportation of goods not duly infpected according to the laws of the feveral States; which was received and read the first time.

A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear his Secretary, who delivered in the fame, together with the papers therein referred to, and then withdrew.

The faid message and papers were read, and are as follow:

UNITED STATES, March 8, 1790.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives,

I HAVE received from his Excellency Joshua Clayton, Prefident of the state of Delaware, the articles propofed by Congress to the Legiflatures of the feveral States, as Amendments to the Conftitution of the United States; which articles were tranfmitted to him for the confideration of the Legislature of Delaware, and are now returned, with the following refolutions annexed to them, viz.

N

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF DELAWARE, HAVING taken into their confideration the above Amendments proposed by Congress to the respective Legislatures of the several States,

Refolved, That the first article be postponed.

Refolved, That the General Affembly do agree to the fecond, third, fourth, fifth, fixth, feventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth articles; and we do hereby affent to, ratify and confirm the fame, as part of the Constitution of the United States.

In teftimony whereof, We have caufed the great feal of the State to be hereunto affixed, this twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety, and in the fourteenth year of the Independence of the Delaware State.

Signed by Order of the Council,

GEO. MITCHELL, Speaker.

Signed by Order of the House of Assembly,

JEHU DAVIS, Speaker.

I HAVE directed a Copy of the Letter which accompanied the faid Articles, from his Excellency Joshua Clayton, to the Prefident of the United States, to be laid before you.

The before mentioned Articles, and the Original of the Letter will be lodged in the office of the Secretary of State.

G. WASHINGTON.

(Copy.)

SIR,

AGREEABLY to the directions of the General Affemby of this State, I do myself the honor to inclose your Excellency the Ratification of the Articles proposed by Congrefs to be added to the Conftitution of the United States, and am, With every Sentiment of Efteem,

SIR,

Your Excellency's most obedient,
Humble Servant,

(Signed.)

JOSHUA CLAYTON.

Delaware, February 19, 1790.

His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON,

Prefident of the United States.

ON,}

UNITED STATES, March 8, 1790.

I hereby certify that the above Letter is a true Copy from the Original. TOBIAS LEAR, Secretary to the Prefident of the United States.

Ordered, That the said message and papers do lie on the table.

A petition of John Watson, of the state of Connecticut, was prefented to the House and read, praying further relief in confideration of wounds received in the fervice of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the faid petition be referred to the Secretary at War, that he do examine the matter thereof, and report the fame, with his opinion thereupon to the House.

A petition of David Oliphant, late Director to the Hofpitals in the Southern Department, was presented to the House and read, praying that his claim to further compenfation and emoluments may be examined and allowed.

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

A petition of Gifford Dalley, door-keeper to the Houfe, was prefented and read, praying compensation for services rendered during the late recefs.

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

The House proceeded to confider the report of the committee on the memorials of the people called Quakers, and of the Pennsylvania fociety for the abolition of flavery: Whereupon,

Ordered, That the faid report be referred to the confideration of the committee of the whole House on Tuesday fe'nnight.

The House then, according to the order of the day, again refolved itself into a committee of the whole Houfe, on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, relative to a provifion for the support of the public credit.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Benson took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Benfon reported, that the committee had, according to order, again had the faid report under confideration, and made a farther progrefs therein.

Refolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again refolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the faid report.

Mr. Livermore, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Gifford Dalley, made a report, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. Ordered, That Mr. Clymer have leave to be absent from the fervice of this House until Friday fe'nnight.

The feveral orders of the day for the House to refolve itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill fent from the Senate, entitled, "An act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States;" on the bill for regulating the post-office of the United States; and on the bill for the encouragement of learning, by fecuring the copies of maps, charts, books and other writings, to the authors and proprietors of fuch copies, during the times therein mentioned, were read, and postponed until to-morrow.

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

TUESDAY, March 9.

A bill to encrease the salaries of Clerks in the office of the Coinmiffioners for fettling accounts between the United States and individual States, was read the fecond time, and ordered to be engroffed, and read the third time.

A bill making appropriations for the support of Government, was read the fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House on Thursday next.

A bill to prevent the exportation of goods, not duly inspected according to the laws of the feveral States, was read the fecond time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House to-morrow.

A petition of William Bedlow, late Deputy-Postmaster in the city of NewYork, was prefented to the House and read, praying that time may be granted him to make payment of a judgment obtained against him on behalf of the United States, by the Postmaster-General, for certain arrearages due to the public. Also,

A petition of John Mills, late a captain in the army of the United States, praying to be reimbursed for certain advances of recruiting money, which, during the late war, he paid on behalf of the United States.

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

A petition of William Oliver, of the state of New-Jersey, was prefented to the House and read, praying relief in confideration of wounds received in the service of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the faid petition be referred to the Secretary at War, with instruction to examine the fame, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

The House then, according to the order of the day, again refolved itself into a committee of the whole Houfe, on the report of the Secretary of the Treafury, relative to a provifion for the fupport of the public credit.

Mr. Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Benson took the chair of the committee.

Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Benson reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the faid report under confideration, and made a farther progrefs therein.

Refolved, That this Houfe will, to-morrow, again refolve itself into a committee of the whole Houfe on the faid report.

Mr. Madison, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of Robert Morris, made a report, which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. The feveral orders of the day for the House to refolve itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill fent from the Senate, entitled, "An act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States;" on the bill for regulating the poft-office of the United States; and on the bill for the encouragement of learning, by fecuring the copies of maps, charts, books and other writings, to the authors and proprietors of fuch copies, during the times therein mentioned, were read, and poftponed until to-morrow.

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

WEDNESDAY, March 10.

An engroffed bill to encrease the falaries of the Clerks in the office of the Commiffioners for fettling accounts between the United States and individual States, was read the third time.

Refolved, That the faid bill do pass; and that the title be, "An a&t to encrease the falaries of the Clerks in the office of the Commiffioners for fettling accounts between the United States and individual States."

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

A petition of William M'Kennan, late a captain in the Delaware regiment, was prefented to the House and read, praying further relief in confideration of his having been wounded and difabled in the fervice of his country. Also,

A petition of Pitman Collins, of the state of Connecticut, praying to be reimburfed the value of a veffel, the property of the petitioner, which was impreffed for the fervice of the United States, and taken by the enemy during the late war. Alfo, a memorial of Anthony Walton White, late colonel of the first regiment of dragoons in the fervice of the United States, during the late war, praying to be reimbursed for monies advanced for the fupport of the faid regiment. Ordered, That the faid petitions and memorial do lie on the table. Ordered, That the petition of John Mills, which was prefented yesterday, be referred to the Secretary at War, with instruction to examine the fame, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

The House proceeded to confider the report of the Secretary of the Treafury, on the petition of Samuel Armstrong: Whereupon,

Ordered, That the petitioner have leave to withdraw his faid petition. Ordered, That the petition of William Bedlow, which was prefented yefterday, be referred to Mr. Benson, Mr. Fitzfimons, and Mr. Ames, that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the fame, with their opinion thereupon, to the House