been committed. the "bill directing the discharge of John Ricaud from imprisonment," and the hill directing the discharge of Nathaniel Taft froni imprisonment," and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Desha reported the said bills without amendment.

Ordered, That the bill first mentioned lie проц the table, and that the two latter be engrossed and read the third time on Thursday next.

Ordered, That when this House adjourns, it will adjourn until Thursday next.

And then the House adjourned.

THURSDAY, December 26, 1816.

On motion of Mr. Reed,

Ordered, That the petition of sundry inhabi tants of the State of Massachusetts, presented on the 15th of January, 1816, for a lighthouse on Holmes' Hole, be referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures

Mr. King presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Lincoln county. in the District of Maine, complaining of the advantages enjoyed by British vessels over vessels of the United States, in the commerce carried on between Great Britain and the United States, and praying that such measures may be adopted as will secure to the shipping interest of this country the advantages to which they conceive it to be entitled, or shall remedy the evils of which they complain.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Hammond presented a petition of Jeptha Brown.

Mr. Southard presented a petition of George Bowler.

Mr. Johnson, of Ky. presented a petition of Willian Arnold, respectively praying to be placed on the pension list of the United States.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Archer presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the State of Maryland, praying that the distillation of spirits from grain and the exportation of bread stulls may be prohibited for a limited

tiine.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Pleasants presented a petition of John C. Shindle, late master at arms on board the frigate "Congress," praying compensation for extra services performed by him in the capacity aforesaid.

The Speaker presented a petition of Elizabeth Matilda Shubrick, widow of the late captain John T. Shubrick, of the navy of the United States, who commanded the brig Epervier, and was lost with that vessel on the passage from the Mediterranean to the United States, praying that some provision may be made for the support of herself and the infant son of the said captain Shubrick.

Ordered. That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion of Mr. Clark, of N. C.

Ordered. That the petition of Levi Fagan, presented on the 30th December, 1811, be referred to the committee of Ways and Means.

The Speaker also presented a petition of D. W. Boudet, portrait and historical painter, stating that he has, for some years past, been making arrange ments for establishing in the city of Washington. a Museum of natural and artificial curiosities, and praying that he may, under such regulations and

to pre

restrictions as Congress may think proper scribe, have permission to collect such of the national trophies, presents, and other articles of curiosity, as are the property of the public, for the purpose of arranging and displaying them in his Museum when established. and that such other aid and encouragement may be given him as Cougress may deem proper.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee for the District of Columbia.

Mr. Alexander presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Montgomery county, in the State of Ohio, praying, for the reasons stated in the petition, that they may be permitted to purchase from the Delaware Indians a tract of land not exceeding one township in extent, which, after settlement, shall be subject to the laws and government of the United States.

Mr. Hendricks presented a petition of Joseph Summers and John Allen, praying permission to change their locations of certain lands purchased of the United States, having, through the mistake of the surveyor, located tracts different from those they selected and intended to purchase.

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

Mr. Tallmadge, from the committee appointed on the petition of John Delafield, by leave of the House, reported a bill for the relief of John Dela field, which was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday next.

A message from the Senate by Mr. Cutts, their Secretary:

Mr Speaker The Senate have passed a bill "for the relief of the heirs of Landon Carter," in which they ask the concurrence of this House. And he withdrew.

A message in writing was received from the President of the United States; by Mr. Todd, his Secretary, which is as follows:

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.

It is found that the existing laws have not the efficacy necessary to prevent violations of the obligations of the United States as a nation at peace towards belligerant parties, and other unlawful acts on the high seas, by armed vessels equipped within the waters of the United States.

With a view to maintain, more effectually, the respect due to the laws, to the character, and to the neutral and pacific relations of the United States, I recommend to the consideration of Congress the expediency of such further legislative provisions as may be requisite for detaining vessels actually equipped, or in a course of equipment with a warlike force, within the jurisdiction of the United States; or, as the case may be, for obtaining from the owners or commanders of such vessels adequate securities against the abuse of their armaments, with the exceptions in such provisions, proper for the cases of merchant vessels furnished with the defensive armaments usual on distant and dangerous expeditions, and of a private commerce in military stores permitted by our laws, and which the law of nations does not require the United States to prohibit.

December 26, 1816.

JAMES MADISON.

The said Message was read and referred to the committee on Foreign Relations.

On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Resolved, That the committee on Military Af

fairs be directed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the President of the United States to establish a manufactory of small arms near Newport. in Kentucky, on Licking River:

Mr. Culpeper, submitted the following resolution, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Resolved, That this House shall, during the remaining part of the session, be adjourned to meet at 11 o'clock,

On motion of Mr. Harrison,

Resolved, That the committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expedi ency of granting a sum of money to be expended, under the direction of the President of the United States, in removing the obstruction to the navigation of the Ohio river, created by the falls near Louisville, in Kentucky.

Mr. Desha, submitted the following resolution: Resolved, As the lands south of Green river, now within the limits of the State of Kentucky, was, by the State of Virginia, set apart for the purpose of satisfying claims for revolutionary services, and a portion of which lands has since been, by the general government, ceded by treaty to the Chickasaw tribe of Indians, by which cession many of the revolutionary patriots have been dcprived of the benefit arising from grants obtained for meritorious services-that the President of the United States be requested to take the necessary steps to have the Indian title to the land lying within the limits of the State of Kentucky extinguished as soon as practicable.

The said resolution was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The bill from the Senate "for the relief of the heirs of Landon Carter," was read the first and