John Potter, who died of disease, contracted while performing a tour of militia duty, in the service of the United States, raying that provision may be made, for the support of herself, and the children of the deceased.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on so much of the President's message, as relates to the Militia. Mr. Scott presented a petition of Christian Fenter, praying a confirmation of his title, to a tract of land in the territory of Missou

ri.

Mr, Scott, also presented a petition of the heirs of William Reed, deceased, by Thomas Tucker. Mark Manning, and Levi Hagen, praying that additional lands may be granted to them, to make up a deficiency, existing in the quantity heretofore confirmed to them, by the board of land commissioners, in the territory of Missouri. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion of Mr. Parris,

Ordered, That the petitions of Thomas Malone, presented on the 12th January, 1816, John Johnson, presented on the 10th Fcbruary, 1817, and Josiah Carney, and John Flood M Grew, presented on the 14th January, 1817, be referred to the same committee.

On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky,

Ordered, That the petition of the heirs of Dominick Robert, presented on the 3d March, 1817, be also referred to the same committee.

Ordered, That the committee on the Public Lands be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Gabriel Winter, and that it be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion of Mr. Parris,

Resolved, That the committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of altering the rank and emoluments of surgeons in the navy of the United States.

On motion of Mr. Scott,

Resolved, That the committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law, for the establishment of land offices, for the sale of the public lands in the Missouri territory, at the following places; at the town of Arkansas. in the county of Arkansas; at the town of Jackson, in the county of Cape Girardeau; at the seat of Justice, in the county of Lawrence, and at the seat of Justice, in the county of Howard.

On motion of Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts,

Resolved, That the committee on so much of the President's message, as relates to Roads, Canals, and Seminaries of Learning, be instructed to inquire into the expediency, of providing by law, for constructing a navigable canal, to unite the waters of Lake Michigar, with the waters of the Mississippi,

Resolved, That the same committee be instructed to inquire in

to the expediency, of providing by law, for constructing a navigable canal, to unite the waters of Tennessee river, with the waters of the Tombigbee.

Resolved, That the same committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law, for improving the navigation of the Tennessee river,

On motion of Mr. Sampson,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post road, direct from the cast parish of Bridgewater, through Halifax, Plympton, and Kingston, to Plymouth in Massachusetts.

On motion of Mr. Hendricks,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing William Samuel, of Harrison county, in the state of Indiana, on the pension list.

Resolved, That the same committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing James Andrew, of the county of Orange, and state of Indiana, on the pension list.

Mr. Bassett submitted the following proposition of amendment to the standing rules and orders, which was read and laid on the table until to-morrow.

When any motion or proposition is made, the question," Will the House now consider it?" shall not be put unless it is demanded by some member, or is deemed necessary by the Speaker.

On motion of Mr. Bassett,

Resolved, That the committee of Accounts inquire into the manner in which the contractor performs his engagement for printing and for stationery to this House; and report thereon.

On motion of Mr. Forsyth,

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to lay before this House, the account of the sums awarded to the different claimants, by the commissioner, under the act, entitled "An act, author izing the payment for property lost, captured or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes," passed the 9th of April, 1816; and the Act to amend the said act, passed the 3d of March, 1317, the species of property for which they were respectively awarded, distinguishing what sums have been paid, and the causes which delay or prevent the payment of the residue.

On-metion of Mr. Marr.

Resolved, That the Military committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency, of making provision for such officers and soldiers of the militia, as have become disabled in consequence of diseases, contracted while in the service of the United States, and for the widows and orphans of those officers and soldiers, who, from fike causes, have died since their return home.

On motion of Mr. Spencer,

Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire whether any, and if any, what legal provisions are necessary to prescribe the effect which the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of each state, shall have in the courts of every other state. And that the same committee, be also directed to inquire, whether any, and if any, what further provisions by law are necessary to insure a more prompt publication of the laws of the United States, and a more speedy and general distribution of them throughout the Union.

On motion of Mr. Mercer,

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House, a return of the present strength of the army of the United States, with the distribution thereof among the several military posts, which it is designed to protect; together with any information which he may be able to afford, respecting the competency of such force to preserve and defend the fortifications among which it is distributed, and to aid in constructing and to defend such other military works, if any, as it may be in the contemplation of the government to erect for the more effectual security of the United States, and of the several territories thereof.

Mr. Mercer and Mr. Shaw were appointed a committee, to present the foregoing resolution to the President of the United States.

On motion of Mr. Cobb,

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the claims of certain detachments of the militia of Georgia, for services performed in the defence of that state, during the years 1793, and 1794, by order from the executive of that state, under a discretionary power communicated by the War Department; with leave to report by bill, or otherwise.

Mr. Cobb, Mr. Alexander Smyth, Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, Mr. Terrill, Mr. Mason, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Earle, were appointed a committee pursuant to the foregoing resolution.

On motion of Mr. Smith, of Maryland,

Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be directed to inquire whether any, and if any, wl at amendments, are necessary to the act, entitled "An act to regulate the duties on imports and tonnage."

An engrossed bill, entitled "An act to abolish the internal duties," was read the third time;

And on the question, shall the bill pass?

Yeas.....................161,

It passed in the affirmative, {Nay...

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

Those who voted in the affirmative, are

Ordered, That the title be as aforesaid, and that the Clerk carry the said bill to the Senate, and ask their concurrence therein. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Cutts, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have appointed the reverend William Hawley, a chaplain to Congress on their part; and they have received official information, that the President did, yesterday, approve and sign the resolution authorizing the admission of the state of Mississippi into the Union. And then he withdrew.

The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill supplementary to the act establishing the Mint, and the act concerning the Mint; and after some time spent thereon, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Pitkin reported the same, with an amendment, which was read and concurred in by the House.

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

And then the House adjourned.

FRIDAY, December 12, 1817.

Mr. Adams presented a petition of Lemuel Briggs, praying for a pension.

Mr. Mason, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of James Price, only son and heir of James Price, deceased, a merchant at Montreal, in the British province of Canada, at the commencement of the revolutionary war, stating, that whilst his said father acted as deputy commissary general to the American forces in Canada, he contracted many debts on public account, which he was afterwards compelled to pay; that he never received any compensation for his services; that in consequence of his attachment to, and exertions in, the cause of the United States, his property to a large amount, was confiscated by the Bristish government; gand that he advanced a large sum of money to general Gates, for the use of the American army, which has never been returned to him; and that he sustained many other and heavy losses in his exertions, in the cause of his adopted country; and praying that the case may be taken into consideration, and such relief granted him as Congress may think just and proper.

Mr. Hendricks presented documents in support of the applications of William Samuel, and James Andrew, for pensions.

Ordered, That the said petitions and documents be referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Folger presented a petition of Richard Mitchell, jr. Alex