to be allowed his moiety of the forfeiture of a vessel called the Nedeshda, condemned on information given by him.

Mr. Mallary presented a petition of Stewart and Matthews, of the State of Vermont, praying that the amount received into the Treasury on account of a forfeiture of four hogsheads of whiskey, may be refunded to them.

Mr. Stewart presented a petition of Benjamin Wells, praying to be indemnified in costs and charges incurred in defending suits instituted by the United States against him, in the course of which it was found that the United States were indebted to him.

Ordered, That these petitions be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

On motion of Mr. Ward,

Ordered, That the memorials of the officers of the army in the late war with Great Britain, praying for grants of land, presented at former sessions, together with the report of the select committee thereon, be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. Blake presented a petition of Deborah Sutliff, of the State of Indiana, complaining of an error of an officer in the Land Office at Crawfordsville, in said State, by which she has sustained loss, and praying redress; which was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. Barber, of Connecticut. presented a memorial of inhabitants of Norwich, in Connecticut, praying that a survey may be made of their ri ver and Larbor, as also of a proposed canal route from Norwich, to intersect the Massachusetts Worcester Canal; which memorial was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Woodcock presented a petition of George P. Frost, of the State of New York. praying for a grant of the land to which he is entitled as a Captain in the army of the Revolution; which petition was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion of Mr. Hinds,

Ordered. That the petition of the heirs of John Ellis, deceased, presented on 9th January, 1826, be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims

Mr. Hoffman presented a petition of Louisa Booth, widow of Benjamin Waller Booth. deceased, late a master commandant in the Navy of the United States, praying to be placed on the list of Naval pensioners.

Mr. White presented a petition of Alexander Claxton, master commandant in the Navy of the United States, praying that so much of the duties paid on the cargo of the British ship James Mitchell, as will be equal to the salvage to which he conceives himself entitled for saving said ship from total loss by shipwreck, may be paid to him.

Ordered, That these petitions be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Markell presented petitions of inhabitants of the county of Montgomery, in the State of New York, against the transportation of mails on the Sabbath day.

Mr. Fry presented a petition of inhabitants of the State of Pennsylvania. for the establishment of a post route.

Mr. Duncan presented a petition of inhabitants of the county of Adams, in the State of Illinois, praying for the establishment of a post route.

Ordered, That these petitions be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Sergeant presented a petition of David Thomas, of Philadelphia, a marine, engaged in 1805 with General Eaton, in his expedition by land from Egypt against the dominions of Tripoli, and who was wounded in the battle at Derne, praying for a grant of land; which petition was referred to the Committee on Military Affaris.

Mr. Newton presented a petition of George Taylor, of the District of Columbia, praying indemnity for captures by French cruisers previous to 1800, his claims for which, on the Government of France, have been relinquished by the United States.

Mr. White presented a petition of F. M. Arredondo, on behalf of himself and others, praying that provision may be made for the adjudication of all claims embraced by the 9th articie of the Florida treaty.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Sutherland presented a petition of Catherine Robertson, late Ritter, praying to be paid for iron work, for the Revolutionary army, done by her former husband, Jacob Ritter.

Mr. Carson presented a petition of Frederick Johnson, of the State of North Carolina, praying for a grant of his bounty land, for services in the army of the Revolution.

Mr. McDuffie presented a petition of John Hodges, of South Carolina, who states that he was engaged in many conflicts in the Revolutionary war; that he has not received his compensation for his services; that many have received the bounty of the Government who had less claims, and were less needy; that he is the father of twenty children; and, therefore, prays for further compensation for his revolutionary services.

Mr. Vinton presented a petition of Almond C. Laire and Jacob Laire, of the State of Ohio, heirs of Jacob Laire, deceased, a soldier in the army of the Revolution, praying for a grant of the bounty land due for the services of their father.

Ordered, That these petitions be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. McLean presented a petition of William Hayman and William C. Lipscomb, executors and trustees of Catharine Redmond, deceased, praying that all right which the United States may eventually possess in certain lots in Georgetown, may be relinquished to them for purposes mentioned in the will of the said Catharine; which petition was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

Mr. Beecher presented a petition of inhabitants of the State of Ohio, praying that provision may be made for the construction of a National Road from Ohio to some point within the State of Alabama; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Mr. White presented resolutions of the Legislative Council of Florida, in relation to the settlement of the boundary between that Territory and the State of Georgia; which resolutions were laid on the table

Mr. P. P. Barbour, from the Committee on the Judiciary, made an unfavorable report on the petition of the members at the bar at Wythe Court House in Virginia; which was read, and laid on the table.

Mr. P. P. Barbour, from the Committee on the Judiciary, made an un

favorable report of the petitions of the executor of John Hawkins, deceased, and of James Linsey; which were read, and laid on the table.

Mr. Smith, of Indiana, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, made a report on the case of Cecille Boyer and the children of Mu-ta-ma-go-quo, accompanied by a bill [No. 315] for their relief; which bill was read the first and second time, and committed to a Committee of the whole House to-morrow.

Mr. M'Coy, from the Committee of Claims, made an unfavorable report on the petition of Samuel Philips; which was read, and laid on the table.

Mr. M'Intyre from the Committee of Claims, made an unfavorable report on the petition of John McCarty; which was read, and laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the consideration of the petition of Nathaniel Bird, and that it be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Jennings, from the Committee on the Public Lands, made a report on the petition of Elijah Carr, accompanied by a bill [No. 316] for his relief; which bill was read the first and second times, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

'Mr. Whittlesey, from the Committee of Claims, made an unfavorable report on the petition of William Kinney; which was read, and laid on the table.

Ordered, That the Committee of Ways and Means be discharged from the consideration of the petition of Samuel D. Walker; and that it be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to report thereon.

The resolution moved by Mr. Blake on the 12th instant, was read, considered, and agreed to by the House.

The resolution moved by Mr. Sevier on the 12th instant, was read, considered, and agreed to by the House.

The resolution moved by Mr. Taylor on the 12th instant, was read, considered, and agreed to by the House.

On motion of Mr. Drayton,

Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the Secretary of the Navy, upon just and equitable principles, to settle the accounts, and to allow the claims, of Navy agents and other disbursing officers in his Department, founded upon the depreciation of Treasury notes, placed in their hands as available funds; and which they were under the necessity of selling, or negotiating, at a discount, in order to meet the exigencies of the Government.

On motion of Mr. Wickliffe,

Resolved, That the adverse reports, made at the last session, be reinstated on the orders of the day, as they originally were placed.

Mr. Whittlesey moved the following resolution; which was read, and laid on the table:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War report to this House his proceedings, if any have been had, under the 4th section of the act entitled, "An act for the relief of Nimrod Farrow and Richard Harris," passed 3d March, 1825; and, if any money has been paid by by virtue of said 4th section, that he report the evidence on which the allowance was made.

On motion of Mr. Stewart,

Resolved, That the Committee of Claims be instructed to inquire inte the expediency of granting relief to Jesse Lincoln, late a contractor on the Cumberland Road.

On motion of Mr. Sergeant,

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of making further provision for the support and extension of the Mint establishment.

And Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Coulter, Mr. Mitchell, of South Carolina, Mr. Davenport, of Virginia, and Mr. Chilton, were appointed said committee. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the First Comptroller of the Treasury, transmitting,

1st. A statement of the names of such officers as have not rendered their accounts within the year, or have balances unaccounted for, advanced one year prior to 30th September last.

2d. A statement of accounts which have remained unsettled, or on which balances have been due, more than three years;

3d. Abstract of moneys advanced prior to the 3d of March, 1809, on the books of the late accountant of the War Department, and which remained to be accounted for on the books of the Third Auditor, on the 30th September last.

A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. John Adams, his Private Secretary, as follows:

To the House of Representatives of the United States :

WASHINGTON, December 15, 1828.

In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 8th inst., referring to a negotiation of the British Government, by virtue of a resolution of the House of the 10th of May last, relative to the surrender of fugitive slaves. I transmit, herewith, a report from the Secretary of State, with copies of instructions and correspondence, containing the desired information.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

Ordered, That the said message and accompanying documents be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Ordered, That the engrossed bill [No. 39] to continue the present mode of supplying the Army of the United States, and for other purposes appertaining to the same, be recommitted to the Committee on Military Affairs. The House resumed the consideration of the bill [No. 47] allowing an additional drawback on sugar refined in the United States, and exported therefrom; and,

On motion of Mr. Cambreleng,

The said bill was amended, by adding thereto the following proviso: "Provided, that this act shall not alter or repeal any law now in force, regulating the exportation of sugar refined in the United States, except to change the rate of drawback, when so exported."

The question upon the engrossment of the said bill was then stated; and after debate thereon,

The House adjourned.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1828.

Another member, to wit: Lewis Williams, from North Carolina, appeared and took his seat.

Mr. Bailey presented a petition of Eli Smith, of Medfield, in the State of Massachusetts;

Mr. Barber, of Connecticut, presented a petition of Robert Hullam, of the State of Connecticut ;

Mr. Garnsey presented a petition of Robert Kane, of the State of New York;

Mr. Findlay presented a petition of Reuben Carter, of the State of Ohio; severally praying for pensions.

Mr. Leffler presented a petition of Lewis Miller, of the State of Virginia, praying to be allowed arrearages of pension.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Military Pensions.

Mr. Phelps presented a petition of merchants, traders, and other inhabitants, of Hartford, in the State of Connecticut ;

Mr. Barnard presented a petition of merchants, traders, and other inhabitants, of Pittsford, in the State of New York;

Mr. Sawyer presented a petition of merchants, traders, and other inhabitants, of Edenton, in the State of North Carolina;

Mr. Bell presented a petition of merchants, traders, and other inhabitants, of Nashville, in the State of Tennessee;

severally praying for the imposition of a duty on certain sales at auction.

Mr. Bartley presented a petition of J. W. Hollester and Company, merchants, and George Anderson, physician, of Sandusky, in the State of Ohio, praying that the amount of duties which they were compelled to pay on certain merchandise, shipped from Buffalo to Sandusky, by reason of the vessel's touching at a port on the Canadian side of the Lake during her voyage, may be refunded to them.

Ordered, That these petitions be referred to the Committe of Ways and Means.

Mr. Van Renssalaer presented a memorial of inhabitants of Albany, in the State of New York, against the transportation of the mails on the Sabbath day.

Mr. Barnard presented a similar memorial of inhabitants of the town of Pittsford, in the State of New York.

Ordered, That these memorials be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Mercer presented a petition of the President and Directors of the Northern Turnpike Road Company, in the State of Virginia, for the construction of a road from Leesburg, in Virginia, to Cumberland, in Maryland, praying for a subscription of their stock by the Government of the United States; which petition was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

The Speaker presented a memorial of Moritz Furst, an artist, praying Congress to purchase from him a number of medallions, on one side of which is the likeness of General Andrew Jackson, and on the other a representation of the battle of New Orleans; which memorial was referred to the Committee on Manufactures.

Mr. Wing presented a petition of James Porlier, and a petition of Alexander Gardipier, John B. Vine, and Joseph Jourdain, all of the Ter ritory of Michigan, severally praying that their titles to lands on Green Bay may be confirmed.

Mr. Moore, of Alabama, presented a petition of Joseph Elliot, Sutton