Mr. Williams presented the petition of Elvington Roberts, praying that an error, existing in a patent for a quarter section of land issued to him by the land officers at Washington, in Mississippi, may be corrected; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Williams presented the petition of Samuel Cobun, stating that he became the purchaser of a tract of land in Claiborne county, in Mississippi, the title to which had been confirmed by the Commissioners for adjusting land titles in that county, and that a part of it appears to be included in a tract sold by the United States to another person; and praying relief; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Benton presented the petition of H. L. Boon, of Franklin, Missouri, praying compensation for acting as Register of the Land Office during a vacancy.

He also presented the petition of William Gentry, of Saline county, in Missouri, praying that an error, existing in an entry made by him at the Land Office, of a portion of public land, may be corrected; and Ordered, That said petitions be respectively referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Eaton presented the memorial of James Leander Cathcart, praying to be reimbursed for certain deductions made from the amount of the award in his favor, of the Commissioners under the eleventh article of the Florida treaty; and that his account for salary, and other items, whilst Consul General at Algiers, and for services rendered in superintending the outfit of three vessels of war, built in Philadelphia in the year 1798, for the regency of Algiers, be allowed and paid; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. On motion by Mr. Sanford,

Ordered, That the message received from the President of the United States, on the 15th January last, relative to the purchase of the fortifications erected on Staten Island by the State of New York, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Clarke, their Clerk:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have elected the Reverend Reuben Post, Chaplain, on their part.

On motion by Mr. Bateman,

Resolved, That the Senate will, to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, proceed to elect a Chaplain, on its part.

The bill to authorize the Legislature of the State of Indiana to sell the lands heretofore appropriated for the use of schools in that State; The bill declaring the assent of Congress to an act of the State of Alabama; and,

The bill explanatory of an act, entitled "An act to reduce and fix. the military peace establishment of the United States," passed March 2d, 1821; were severally read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and

Ordered, That the first mentioned bill be referred to the Committee on Public Lands;

That the second mentioned bill be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and,

That the last mentioned bill be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

After the consideration of Executive business,

The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1827.

The Vice-President communicated the memorial of Samuel Angus, praying to be reinstated in his rank as a Captain in the Navy; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Smith, of Maryland, presented two petitions of William D. Beall, praying to be compensated for services rendered as a Brigade Major in the Revolutionary War, and for the extra pay to which he was entitled at the close of the war; and that a credit may be allowed on a judgment obtained by the United States against him as the security of the late Lloyd Beall, who was a Major in the army, commanding at Fort M'Henry, in 1813, for certain commissions claimed by the deceased on moneys disbursed by him on said Fort; and. Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Silsbee presented the petition of Thomas L. Winthrop, and others, surviving directors of an association called the New England Mississippi Land Company, stating that the claim of said Company to certain lands was released in conformity to the provisions of the act "providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands," but for which no allowance was made, in consequence of erroneous information having been given to the Commissioners appointed under said act, of the law of the State of Georgia, under which the Company claimed; and praying that the indemnity to which they are

entitled, in consideration of such release, may be made; or that the lands released may be restored; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Willey presented the petition of Simeon Webster, of Connec ticut, and the petition of William Lee, of the same State, respectively praying for a pension, in consideration of Revolutionary services; and Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr., Marks presented the petition of the sugar refiners of the city of Philadelphia, praying that the drawback upon sugars refined within the United States may be increased to 'six cents per pound; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Smith, of Maryland, presented the petition of Hickman Johnson, guardian of Juliet Sollers, praying remuneration for certain houses burnt by the British in 1814, in consequence of being occupied by troops of the United States; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Hayne presented the petition of William Withers, of Virginia, praying for a pension, in consideration of Revolutionary services and sacrifices; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Hayne presented the memorial of the City Council of Charleston, South Carolina, on the subject of the erection of a marine hospital, and the support of sick and disabled seamen; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Hayne presented the memorial of certain Lieutenants of the Navy, praying for an alteration of the laws fixing the pay and emoluments of Lieutenants in the Navy; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, presented the memorial of the Board of Managers of the Baptist General Missionary Convention for the United States, praying for the aid of Congress in their exertions to establish a place of refuge on the Elkhorn river, westwardly of Council Bluffs, for such of the Indians within the United States, and near the frontier settlements, as may be inclined to remove there; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Mr. Marks presented the petition of Thomas F. Gordon, praying Congress to purchase a number of copies of a Digest of the Laws of the United States, compiled and published by him; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Kane presented the memorial of John Edgar, praying for re

muneration for advances of provisions to the Indians from the years 1787 to 1790; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. McKinley presented the petition of John Read, late Register of the Land Office at Huntsville, in Alabama, praying to be reimbursed for certain moneys paid by him for extra clerk hire in the discharge of the duties of said office; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. McKinley presented the petition of Benjamin A. Jones, praying that the Trustees of the University of Alabama may be permitted to enter another section of land, in lieu of section 12, heretofore granted to them, and since sold by the Register of the Land Office to him by mistake; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Barton presented the petition of Isidore Moore, of Missouri, praying that his claim to a tract of land within that State may be confirmed; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

Mr. Hendricks presented the petition of John Duley, praying to be remunerated for the loss he sustained on a quantity of flour, by the interference of the commanding General at New Orleans in the year 1814; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, presented the petition of William Dellany, sen. of South Carolina, praying for a pension in consideration of Revolutionary services; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Chambers presented the petition of Henry Waller, of Maryland, praying for remuneration for the loss of a dwelling house that was burnt by the enemy, in August 1814, in consequence of the pre sence of troops of the United States in and about the house; and Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Bell presented the petition of Moses White, executor of Moses Hazen, a Brigadier General of the Revolutionary Army, praying that the claims of his testator for Revolutionary services and sacrifices may be allowed and paid; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. King presented the memorial of the Legislature of Alabama, praying that the State may be authorized to select other lands for the

use of the University, in lieu of those heretofore selected, and which have been sold and improved by individuals; and

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Kane asked, and obtained leave to bring in a bill for regulating processes in the Courts of the United States, in States admitted into the Union since the 29th of September, 1789; and a bill to authorize the Legislature of the State of Illinois to sell and convey a part of the land reserved and granted to said State for the use of the Ohio Saline. The bills were read; and

Ordered, That they severally pass to a second reading. Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Eaton asked, and obtained leave to bring in a bill to establish a Southern Judicial District in the Territory of Florida; and a bill for the relief of Wilkins Tannehill. were read; and

Ordered, That they severally pass to a second reading.

The bills

Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky from the Select Committee, to whom was referred the bill to abolish imprisonment for debt, reported it with amendments; which were read, and the bill was considered as in Committee of the Whole; and

On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky,

Ordered, That it be postponed to, and made the order of the day for Wednesday next, and that it be printed as amended.

On motion by Mr. Chandler,

Ordered, That the letter received from the Secretary of War, on the 5th instant, on the subject of printing the abstract of Infantry Tactics, with the documents accompanying it, be referred to the Committee on the Militia.

On motion by Mr. Hendricks,

Resolved, That a Select Committee, to consist of five members, be appointed on the subject of Roads and Canals, with leave to report by bill or otherwise.

Ordered, That Mr. Hendricks, Mr. Marks, Mr. Chase, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. King, be the Committee.

On motion by Mr. Benton,

Ordered, That so much of the Message of the President of the Unied States, of the 4th instant, as relates to Indian Affairs, be referred to the Committee appointed on that subject.

On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky,

Ordered, That so much of the President's Message, of the 4th instant, as relates to the Post Office Department, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.