IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

APRIL 28, 1858.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. IVERSON submitted the following

REPORT.

The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the petition of William L. S. Dearing, report:

The petitioner alleges, that in 1837, at the request of the late President Jackson, he raised a mounted company of Tennessee volunteers for the Florida war, and became personally responsible for a large portion of their horses and equipage. That when the company was discharged, in 1838, he was obliged to receive a transfer of the claims of the soldiers on the government to secure him against the liabilities thus incurred. That he was unable to obtain the liquidation and payment of these claims, or a large portion of them, until 1844, and in the meantime he was compelled to make great sacrifices to meet the payments which he had assumed for the service of the government. Some of the claims still remain unpaid.

He asks such relief as may comport with the principles of equity and justice.

In answer to an inquiry addressed to the department by the chairman of this committee, the following statement is made by the Third Auditor of the Treasury, viz:

"It appears from a copy of a valuation list, on file with the papers relating to Capt. Dearing's company, that the horses and equipments of all of the non-commissioned officers and privates thereof were valued at sums amounting to $9,208, and that Capt. Dearing has been paid, through this office, for horses, &c., lost by the members of his company, $6,833 16. For other horses turned over by them to a quartermaster, for the use of the United States, he also received from Captain Brant the sum of $1,965, which, being added to the payments through this office, makes $8,798 16. This amount, it will be observed, is only $109 84 less than the aggregate valuation of all the horses and equipments of all the company; and as Captain Dearing admits in his memorial that he did not furnish all, it seems to be quite probable that his entire outlay has been reimbursed to him, and that he has not suffered from his responsibility for the company, except from delay in recovering the amount for which he had become liable." The claims were principally paid prior to and during the year 1844.

There is no evidence presented of the cause of the delay; and in the absence of such evidence, the presumption is, that it was for want of the presentation of proper vouchers, and therefore no fault on the part of the government.

The committee is, therefore, of opinion that no case is presented calling for the interposition of special legislation for the relief of the claimant,

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

APRIL 28, 1858-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. CLARK submitted the following

REPORT.

The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the petition of James Hendebert, report:

The petitioner represents that he is the sole creditor (as he believes) of Captain John Hudry, to whom the United States is justly indebted for important and valuable services at the battle of New Orleans; that he supported Captain Hudry for several years prior to his death, and while engaged in prosecuting his claim before Congress, for which he has received no compensation, and as Captain Hudry left no widow or children, he asks that Congress will make an appropriation in his behalf out of the amount due to Captain Hudry, to reimburse him for the expenses thus incurred. Without assuming to express any opinion on the justice of the claim of Captain Hudry upon the government, having no evidence before them in regard to it, the committee are not aware of any principle or precedent which would justify Congress in undertaking to dispose of his estate, or to become responsible for the payment of his debts. If the government is indebted to Captain Hudry, or his estate, the presumption is that payment will be made to his legal representatives upon the presentation of the proper evidence, and they are the parties to whom this claimant must look for his remedy.

The committee submit the following resolution:

Resolved, That the allegations of the petitioner do not present any claim, on his part, against the government.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

APRIL 28, 1858.-Ordered to to be printed.

Mr. MASON made the following

REPORT.

[To accompany Joint Resolution S. 33.]

The Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the letter of the Secretary of the Navy of the 21st inst., and the correspondence accompanying it, containing information of the condition of the United States ship Susquehanna on her late arrival at Port Royal, in the Island of Jamaica, having the yellow fever on board, and of the reception and assistance extended to the officers and crew by the British naval authorities of that island, communicated to the Senate pursuant to their resolution of the 19th April, have had the same under consideration, and now report:

It appears from these documents that the United States ship Susquehanna, having on board one hundred and three cases of yellow fever of the most malignant type, including officers, engineers, and seamen, arrived at Port Royal, Jamaica, at 8 o'clock p. m., on the 5th of April. As soon as the condition of the ship was made known to Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, commanding the British naval forces on that station, the most prompt and efficient measures were taken by him at once for the relief of the infected ship. Orders were issued, and carried into immediate execution, to prepare ample accommodation for the sick at the naval hospital of the port. Surgeons volunteered, in addition to the hospital corps, and with nurses and other necessary attendants were directed to be in readiness to receive them; and so speedily were all these preparations made, that at 6 o'clock the next morning they commenced landing the sick and conveying them to the hospital; in which service they were assisted by the boats of the British squadron, bringing with them cots for the accommodation and comfort of the sick.

In speaking of it, Captain Sands says:

"I cannot finds words to express my sense of obligation to Admiral Stewart, for the kind and prompt manner in which he placed the royal naval hospital at our disposal, and furnished us with every convenience for landing the sick; nor to Dr. Kinnear, deputy medical inspector, and the medical officers under him, for their attention to the comforts of those placed under their charge. I also take great