them the proceedings of the Commissioner appointed under the act to authorize the payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for other purposes," as reported by the Commissioner to the Department of War. JAMES MADISON.

December 21st, 1816.

The said message was read, and together with the report, referred to the committee appointed on the 6th inst. to inquire into the decisions of the Commissioner under the act aforesaid.

On motion of Mr. Comstock,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the payment to Sylvanus Townsend of two Loan-office certificates, issued by virtue of a resolution of Congress, passed the 3d day of February, 1779.

Mr. Taul moved to discharge the committee appointed on the 6th inst. to inquire into the decisions of Richard Bland Lee, the Commissioner under the act to pay for property lost, captured, or destroyed while in the military service during the war, from all the subjects committed to their consideration.

And the question being taken-" Shall the committee be discharged?"

It was determined in the negative.

Mr. Crawford, from the joint committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill for the relief of Nathaniel Williams, and had found the same to be truly cnrolled:

The Speaker signed the said bill.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the bill supplementary to the act to encourage vaccination, and after some time spent therein Mr. Speaker resumed the chair and Mr. Pitkin reported the same with amendments, which were read and concurred in by the House:

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow.

And the House adjourned till twelve o'clock to

morrow.

TUESDAY, December 24, 1816,

Mr. Langdon presented a petition of Jacob Davy, praying to be exonerated from the paynent of the duties imposed on his distillery, as the same has been consumed by fire.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Ways and Means.

On motion of Mr. Little,

Ordered, That the petition of George Simpson, presented on the 19th day of December, 1815, be referred to the same committee.

On motion of Mr. Irving, of N. Y.

Ordered, That the petition of Isaac Lawrence and others, merchants of New-York, presented on the 22d of February, 1816, be referred to the cominittee of Commerce and Manufactures.

On motion of Mr. M-Coy,

Ordered, That the petition of Samuel Black, presented on the 12th December, 1815, be referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Reynolds presented a petition of Henry Williams, praying to be paid for two horses impressed into the military service during the late war, and which were drowned in crossing a river.

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

Mr. Fletcher presented a petition of Robert Barues, praying to be paid for a horse impressed into the military service, and never returned to

him.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Scott presented a petition of John Rice Jones, complaining of the official conduct of the land commissioners for the district of Kaskaskia, in rejecting his claim to a tract of land in said district, and charging him with forging the deed therefor, and praying to be heard in defence of his character and property.

Mr. Pope presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Shawnee town, in the Illinois Territory, praying, for reasons set forth in the said petition. that the government will relinquisl. three fourths of the amount of the purchase money on lots bought by them in said town.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on the Public Lands.

Ordered, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of James Ware, and that it be referred to the committee on Naval Affairs.

Ordered, That Mr. Grosvenor be excused from further service on the committee appointed on the petition of sundry inhabitants of the Niagara frontier, and that Mr. Pitkin be appointed of the said committee in his place.

On motion of Mr. Robertson,

Resolved, That the committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of educating, at the military schools of the United

States, the sons of all officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates who have fallen fighting the battles of their country.

On motion of Mr. Harrison,

Resolved, That the committee on Commerce and Manufactures be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making provision, by law, to authorize the importers of any goods, wares, and merchandise, brought from any foreign port or place into the port of New-Orleans, and destined for Cincinnatti, in the State of Ohio, to give bond for the payment of the duties on such goods, wares, and merchandise, made payable to a collector to be appointed at Cincinnatti; which bonds shall specify the usual terms of credit, to commence from the time of arrival on delivery of such merchandise at that place; and that the committee have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

On motion of Mr. Alexander,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing Frederick Busey, of the State of Ohio, on the list of pensioners.

On motion of Mr. Caldwell,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-road direct from the city of Washington to Wheeling, in Virginia, through Fredericktown, and Cumberland, Maryland, and Uniontown, Brownsville, and Washington, in Pennsylvania.

On motion of Mr. Pope,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing John Myers, of the Illi nois Territory, on the list of pensioners.

On motion of Mr. Creighton.

Resolved, That the committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the salary of the register and receiver of the land office, in the Marietta district.

On motion of Mr. Blount,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-route from Maryville. in Blount county, to Sevierville, in Sevier county, Tennessee.

On motion of Mr. Reynolds,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing William Reasons, of the State of Tennessce, on the list of pensioners.

An engrossed bill, entitled, "An act supplementary to the act heretofore passed for the encouragement of vaccination," was read the third time, and ordered to lie upon the table.

The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill for the relief of William Haslett; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Hugh Nelson reported the same without amendment.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time on Thursday next.

The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the "bill making an appropriation for opening and cutting out a road therein describcd," and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Condict reported the said bill with an amendment, which was read and concurred in by the House, and the said bill was then ordered to lie upon the table.

The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill for the relief of Henry Malcolm, to which committee of the whole had also