exceeded the current expenses of the government, including the interest on the public debt.

For the

purpose of reimbursing at the end of the year three millions seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars of the principal, a loan, as authorized by law, had been negotiated to that amount; but has since been reduced to two millions seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars; the reduction being permitted by the state of the treasury; in which there will be a balance remaining at the end of the year, estimated at two millions of dollars. For the probable receipts of the next year, and other details, I refer to statements which will be transmitted from the treasury, and which will enable you to judge what further provisions may be necessary for the ensuing years.

Reserving for future occasions, in the course of the session, whatever other communications may claim your attention, I close the present, by expressing my reliance, under the blessing of Divine Providence, on the judgment and patriotism which will guide your measures, at a period particularly calling for united councils, and inflexible exertions, for the welfare of our country, and by assuring you of the fidelity and alacrity with which my co operation will be afforded. "JAMES MADISON.” "Washington, Dec. 5, 1810."

The documents accompanying the said message having been read, in part,

The House adjourned until to-morrow morning, cleven o'clock.

THURSDAY, December 6, 1610.

The House resumed the reading of the documents accompanying the President's inessage of yesterday, and having gone through the same: It was

Ordered, That the said message and documents be committed to the committee of the whole House

on the state of the union, and that three thousand copies thereof be printed for the use of the members of this House.

The Speaker lid before the House a report of the Secretary of War on the petition of Sampson Bell, of the state of New Hampshire, referred to him at the last session of Congress, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

A motion was made by Mr. W. Alston and seconded, that the House do now proceed to the ap pointment of the standing committees, pursuant to the rules and orders of the House: Whereupon,

A Committee of Elections was appointed, consisting of Mr. Findley, Mr. Clay. Mr. Sturges, Mr. Troup, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Van Rensselaer, and Mr. Taggart.

A Committee of Ways and Means was appointed, consisting of Mr. Eppes, Mr. W. Alston, Mr. Tallmadge, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Smilie, and Mr. Johnson.

A Committee of Commerce and Manufactures was appointed, consisting of Mr. Newton, Mr. Mitchi!!, Mr. Cutts, Mr. Pi:kin, Mr. M·Kim, Mr. Seybert, and Mr. Bibb.

A Committee of Claims was appointed, consisting of Mr. Root, Mr. Butler, Mr. Brown, Mr. Stanley, Mr. Gholson, Mr. Goldsborough, and Mr. Shaw.

A Committee on the Public Lands was appointed, consisting of Mr. Morrow, Mr. Goodwyn, Mr. Ely, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Gold, Mr. Cobb, and Mr. M'Kee.

A Committee for the District of Columbia was appointed, consisting of Mr. Van Horn, Mr. L. Alston, Mr. Weakley, Mr. G. Smith, Mr. J. C. Chainberlain, Mr. Tracey, and Mr. Breckenridge.

A Committee on the Post-office and Post roads was appointed, consisting of Mr. Rhea,' (T.) Mr. Thompson, Mr. Desha, Mr. Stanford, Mr. Troup, Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Morrow, Mr. Davenport, Mr.

Chittenden, Mr. Key, M.. Whitehill, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Potter, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Seaver, and Mr. Hufty.

A Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business was appointed, consisting of Mr. Southard, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Witherspoon.

A Committee of Accounts was appointed, consisting of Mr. N. R. Moore, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Kenan.

Mr. Southard presented to the House certain proceedings of the legislature of the state of New Jersey, disapproving of three amendments proposed to the constitution of the United States, to wit: One by the legislature of the state of Massachusetts, limiting the duration of any act laying an embargo within the United States; one by the legislature of Virginia, "that the Senators in Congress may be removed from office by the vote of a majority of the whole number of the members of the respective state legislatures by which the said Senators have been or may be appointed," and the other by the legislature of Pennsylvania, "That an impartial tribunal may be established to determine disputes between the general and state governments," which were read and order. ed to lie on the table.

Mr Johnson presented a petition of Richard Taylor, senior, of the state of Kentucky, praying compensation for services rendered, wounds received, and expenses incurred whilst a captain in the revo lutionary war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Bacon,

Resolved, That the Committee on Post-offices and Post roads be instructed to report a bill authorizing the members of the Senate and House of Representa tives to frank the President's message and accompa nying documents, transmitted to both Houses at the opening of the present session, notwithstanding the

same may weigh more than two ounces avoirdupois: Provided, That each member so franking shall endorse on the wrapper, in substance, that the enclosure contains the said message and documents and them only, and subscribe his name to such endorse

ment.

A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, that the House do now resolve itself into the committee of the whole House on the state of the union. And the question being taken,

It was determined in the negative.

The Speaker laid before the House certificates of the election of Ebenezer Huntington, of Connecticut; John A. Scudder, of New Jersey; Robert Wright, of Maryland; and William M.Kinley, returned to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of John G. Jackson, of Virginia, which were referred to the Committee of Elections.

The House then adjourned until to-morrow morning, eleven o'clock.

FRIDAY, December 7, 1810.

Another member, to wit: from New Jersey, William Helms, appeared and took his seat in the House; also, a new member, to wit: From Maryland, Samuel Ringgold, returned to serve in the place of Roger Nelson, resigned, appeared, produced his credentials and took his seat in the House; the oath to support the constitution of the United States being first administered to him by Mr. Speaker, according to law.

Mr. Lewis presented a petition of the president and directors of the Farmer's Bank of Alexandria, signed by Richard M. Scott, their president, praying that a charter of incorporation may be granted, according to the terms of their association, or upon such other terins as Congress may think proper to prescribe, which was read, and referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

On motion of Mr. Turner,

Ordered, That the petition of sundry merchants and other inhabitants of Plymouth, Massachusetts, presented on the twenty-sixth of February, one thousand eight hundred and ten, be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

On motion of Mr. Sevbert,

Ordered, That the petition of George Armroyd and company, of Philadelphia, presented on the eighth of January, one thousand eight hundred and ten, be referred to the same Committee.

On motion of Mr. Dawson,

Ordered, That the memorial of the merchants and other inhabitants of Fredericksburg and Falmouth, in Virginia, presented on the twenty-sixth of December, one thousand eight hundred and six, be referred to the same Committee.

On motion of Mr. Seybert,

Ordered, That the petitions of Ludwig Kuhn, and Philip Wilson, senior, presented on the sixth and twelfth of November, one thousand cight hundred and seven, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Brown presented a petition of Thomas Scotland, of the state of Pennsylvania, praying to be placed on the pension list in consideration of wounds received whilst a soldier in the revolutionary war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Montgomery,

Ordered, That the petition of Edward Kean, of Maryland, presented on the ninth of April, one thousand eight hundred and ten, be referred to the same Committee.

On motion of Mr. Goldsborough,

Ordered, That the petition of John Murray, of Maryland, presented on the fourth of February, one thousand Light hundred and eight, be referred to the same committee.