STATUTE I. CHAP. CXXXII.-An Act providing for the sale of the tract of land, at the April 27, 1816. British fort at the Miami of the Lake, at the foot of the Rapids, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That so much of the tract of land of twelve miles square, at the "British Fort of the Miami of the Lake, at the foot of the Rapids," ceded by the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanoes, Ottawas, Chippewas, Patawatamies, Miamis, Eel River, Weeas, Kickapoos, Piankshaws, and Kaskaskias tribes of Indians, to the United States, by the treaty of Greenville, of the third of August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, shall, under the direction of the surveyor general, be laid off into town lots, streets, and avenues, and into out lots, in such manner and of such dimensions, as he may judge proper: Provided, the tract so to be laid off shall not exceed the quantity of land contained in two entire sections, nor the town lots one quarter of an acre each. When the survey of the lots shall be completed, a plat thereof shall be returned to the surveyor general, on which the town lots and out lots shall, respectively, be designated, by progressive numbers, who shall cause two copies to be made, one to be transmitted, with a copy of the field notes, to the commissioner of the general land office, and the other to the register of the land office at Wooster. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That previously to the disposal at public sale of the before-mentioned tract of land, the surveyor general shall, and he is hereby directed, to re-survey and mark the exterior lines of the said tract, conformably to the survey made in December, one thousand eight hundred and five, by virtue of the act of the third of March, one thousand eight hundred and five, and also to cause divisional lines to be run through each section and fractional section binding on the said river, so that each subdivision may contain, as nearly as may be, one hundred and sixty acres each. And in like manner to cause the "Great Island," lying at the foot of the rapids, in the said river, to be surveyed, and by lines, running north and south, to divide the same, as nearly as may be, into six equal parts, that is to say, that part of the said island, described in the survey of the said cession, as lying in township number three, in four parts; and that part of the said island lying in township number four, into two parts; Provided, That in running the subdivisional lines no interference shall be made affecting or impairing the rights of persons to whom letters patent have been granted for land lying within the limits of the said twelve miles square, nor affecting the selection or location hereafter to be made under the direction of the Secretary of War, for military purposes: Provided, also, That in no case shall the subdivisional lines be so run as to extend to, or embrace the bed of the river, which shall be deemed, and is hereby declared to be a public highway: And provided, also, That the whole expense of re-surveying and marking the exterior lines of the said cession and of the subdivisional lines of the sections, lying adjacent to the river, shall not exceed three dollars for every mile actually surveyed, re-surveyed, and marked, by virtue of this and the preceding section. Lands to be where. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all the land contained within the aforesaid cession of twelve miles square, not excepted by virtue of sold; when and any section of this act, shall, with the exception of number sixteen, which shall be reserved in each township, for the support of schools within the same, and with the exception also of the salt springs and land reserved for the use of the same, be offered for sale to the highest bidder, at Wooster, in the state of Ohio, under the direction of the register and receiver of the land office, and on such day or days as shall, by a public proclamation of the President of the United States, be designated for that purpose. The sale for the quarter sections, fractional quarter sections, and of the STATUTE I. town lots and out lots, shall remain open at Wooster, for seven days and no longer. The quarter sections and fractional quarter sections, shall not be sold for less than two dollars an acre; the in lots for less than twenty dollars each, nor any out lot for less than at the rate of five dollars per acre; and shall, in every other respect, be sold on the same terms and conditions as have been, or may be, by law, provided for the lands sold north of the river Ohio, and above the mouth of Kentucky river. All the lands other than the reserved sections and those excepted as above mentioned, remaining unsold at the closing of the public sales, may be disposed of at private sale by the register of the land office, at Wooster, agreeably [to] the provisions of this act, and in the same manner, under the same regulations and conditions as are, or may be provided by law, for the sale of the lands of the United States, north of the Ohio river, and above the mouth of Kentucky river. And patents shall be obtained for all lands granted or sold within the said cession, in the same manner, and on the same terms, as are or may be provided by law for land sold in the state of Ohio. The superintendents of the public sales, directed by this section, shall receive four dollars each, for each day's attendance on the said sales. APPROVED, April 27, 1816. April 29, 1816. CHAP. CXXXV.—An Act concerning the annual sum appropriated for arming [Obsolete.] Annual appropriation for the militia. Act of April 23, 1808, ch. 55. Appropriation. 1809, March 3, ch. 28. and equipping the militia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the annual sum of two hundred thousand dollars, as appropriated for the purpose of providing arms and military equipments for the militia, either by purchase or manufacture, according to the act of the twenty-third of April, one thousand eight hundred and eight, entitled "An act making provision for arming and equipping the whole body of the militia of the United States," shall be paid, for each year, respectively, out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sum appropriated, to be paid as aforesaid, shall be applied for the purpose, and according to the intention specified in said act, without being liable at any time to be carried to the account of the surplus fund. And nothing in the act of the third of March, one thousand eight hundred and nine, entitled "An act further to amend the several acts for the establishment and regulation of the treasury, war and navy departments," shall be construed to authorize the transferring of the sum annually appropriated as aforesaid, or any portion thereof, to any other branch of expenditure. APPROVED, April 29, 1816. STATUTE I. April 29, 1816. [Repealed.] Act of Dec. 23, 1817, ch. 1. Reduction of duties. Act of Dec. 23, 1814, ch. 16. CHAP. CXXXVII.—An Act for reducing the duties on licenses to retailers of wines, spirituous liquors, and foreign merchandise. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That from and after the thirtyfirst day of December next, the additional duties laid on licenses to retailers of wines, spirituous liquors and foreign merchandise, by the third section of the act, entitled "An act to provide additional revenues for defraying the expenses of government and maintaining the public credit, by laying duties on sales at auction, and on licenses to retail wines, spirituous liquors and foreign merchandise, and for increasing the rates of postage," passed on the twenty-third day of December, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, shall cease and determine, and in case of any application for a license to retail, between the thirtieth day of June, CHAP. CXXXVIII.—An Act for the gradual increase of the Navy of the United Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That for the gradual increase of the navy of the United States, the sum of one million of dollars per annum, for eight years, is hereby appropriated, including the sum of two hundred thousand dollars per annum, for three years, or the unexpended balance thereof, appropriated by an act approved on the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, entitled "An act concerning the naval establishment." Act of May 17, 1826, ch. 64. 1813, ch. 6. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United Ships to be built. States be, and he is hereby authorized, to cause to be built nine ships, to rate not less than seventy-four guns each, and twelve ships, to rate not less than forty-four guns each, including one seventy-four and three forty-four gun ships, authorized to be built by an act bearing date on the second day of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, entitled "An act to increase the navy of the United States;" and in carrying this act into effect, the President shall be, and he is hereby authorized as soon as the timber and other necessary materials are procured, and the timber properly seasoned, to cause the said ships to be built and equipped; or, if in his judgment, it will more conduce to the public interest, he may cause the said ships to be framed and remain on the stocks, and kept in the best state of preservation, to be prepared for service in the shortest time practicable, when the public exigency may require them. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That for the defence of the ports and harbours of the United States, the President shall be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be procured the steam engines, and all the imperishable materials necessary for building and equipping three steam batteries, on the most approved plan, and best calculated for the waters in which they are to act: and such materials shall be secured in the best manner, to insure the completing such batteries in the shortest time practicable, when they, or either of them, in the opinion of the President, may be required for the public service; and the President is further authorized to cause to be completed and kept in the best state of preservation, the block ship now on the stocks near New Orleans. Three steam batteries to be harbour deprocured for fence. The block Orleans to be ship at New completed. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the moneys appropriated by Appropriation. this act shall not be transferred to any other object of expenditure, nor shall any part thereof be carried to the fund denominated "the surplus fund." APPROVED, April 29, 1816. VOL. III.-41 STATUTE I. April 29, 1816. CHAP. CXXXIX.-An Act regulating the currency within the United States, of the gold coins of Great Britain, France, Portugal, and Spain, and the crowns of France, and five-franc pieces. (u) Act of March Regulations as to the cur rency. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 3, 1819, ch. 97. States of America, in Congress assembled, That from the passage of this act and for three years thereafter, and no longer, the following gold and silver coins shall pass current as money within the United States, and be a legal tender for the payment of all debts and demands, at the several and respective rates following, and not otherwise, videlicet: the gold coins of Great Britain and Portugal, of their present standard, at the rate of one hundred cents for every seventy-seven grains, or eighty-eight cents and eight-ninths per pennyweight; the gold coins of France, of their present standard, at the rate of one hundred cents for every twentyseven and a half grains, or eighty-seven and a quarter cents per penny3, 1821, ch. 53. weight: the gold coins of Spain, at the rate of one hundred cents for every twenty-eight and a half grains, or eighty-four cents per pennyweight; the crowns of France, at the rate of one hundred and seventeen cents and six-tenths per ounce, or one hundred and ten cents for each crown weighing eighteen pennyweights and seventeen grains; the five-franc pieces at the rate of one hundred and sixteen cents per ounce, or ninety-three cents and three mills for each five-franc piece, weighing sixteen pennyweights and two grains. Act of March Assays of gold and silver cur rency to be made. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to cause assays of the foregoing gold and silver coins, made current by this act, to be had at the mint of the United States, at least once in every year and to make report of the result thereof to Congress. APPROVED, April 29, 1816. STATUTE I. April 29, 1816. CHAP. CXL.-An Act supplementury to an act making alterations in the Treasury and War Departments, passed the eighth day of May, 1792.(b) Act of March 3, 1817, ch. 45. Additional accountant of War Department to be appointed. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That there shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an additional accountant in the Department of War, whose duty it shall be to adjust and settle all the accounts in His duties and that department existing at the conclusion of the late war and are now unsettled. In the execution of this duty he shall conform to the regu lations which govern the accountant of the War Department, and shall receive the same compensation for his services and be entitled to the same privileges of franking. compensation. His salary and provision for clerks. Act limited to the end of the first Congress after the passage of it. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That for defraying the expenses of clerks to be employed under his direction, and for the payment of his salary, the sum of eight thousand eight hundred and seven dollars is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue in force for one year from the passing thereof, and to the end of the next session of Congress thereafter, and no longer. APPROVED, April 29, 1816. (a) The provisions of the acts of Congress in relation to the value of foreign coins will be found vol. i. pp. 167, 168, 300, 539, 673, 680. (b) See note referring to the act relative to the Treasury Department, vol. i. 279. Also see note to the act of March 3, 1817, ch. 45. STATUTE I. CHAP. CXLI.—An Act to establish a land district in Illinois territory, north of April 29, 1816. district of Kaskaskia. New land dis Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That so much of the trict created. public lands of the United States, heretofore included within the land district of Kaskaskia, and lying north of the base line in Illinois territory, shall form a new land district, for the disposal of the said lands, and for which purpose a land office shall be established at Edwardsville, Madison county, under the direction of the register of the land office and receiver of public moneys to be appointed for that purpose, who shall reside at the place: give security in the same manner and in the same sums, and whose compensation, emoluments, duties and authority shall in every respect be the same in relation to the lands which shall be disposed of at their office, as are or may be by law provided in relation to the registers and receivers of public moneys in the several offices, established for the disposal of the lands of the United States, north-west of the river Ohio. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said lands shall be disposed of in the same manner, and on the same terms and conditions, as are or may be provided by law for the sale of public lands, in the district of Kaskaskia, provided that no tract of land, excepted from the sale by virtue of any former act, shall be sold by virtue of this act. APPROVED, April 29, 1816. Terms upon which lands are to be disposed of. STATUTE I. CHAP. CXLII.—An Act to increase the compensation of the superintendents of April 29, 1816. the manufactories of arms at Springfield and Harper's Ferry. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That in addition to the pay and rations, as at present fixed, of the superintendents of the manufactories of arms, at Springfield and Harper's Ferry, they shall receive thirty dollars per month, and one ration per day. APPROVED, April 29, 1816. Compensation increased. STATUTE I. CHAP. CXLIII.—An Act authorizing the judges of the circuit court, and the April 29, 1816. attorney for the District of Columbia, to prepare a code of jurisprudence for the said district. Code of laws to be digested and formed for District of Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the judges of the circuit court, and the attorney for the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby authorized, to prepare and digest a code of jurisprudence, both Columbia. civil and criminal, for the said district, to be hereafter submitted to the Congress of the United States, to be modified, altered or adopted, as to them shall seem proper. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sum of one thousand Appropriation. five hundred dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated, to be paid to the said judges and the attorney aforesaid, as a compensation for their services in this respect, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, April 29, 1816. STATUTE I. CHAP. CXLV.-An Act authorizing payment for prisoners captured by private April 29, 1816. armed vessels. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the Secretary Bounty to officers and |