second time and committed to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Engrossed bills, of the following titles, to wit: An act directing the discharge of Nathaniel Taft from imprisonment;

An act directing the discharge of John Ricaud from imprisonment;

Were severally read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the titles be as aforesaid, and that the Clerk carry the said bills to the Senate and ask their concurrence therein.

An engrossed bill for the relief of William Haslett, was read the third time and ordered to lie on the table.

The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill to provide for the publication of the decisions of the supreme court of the United States; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Bassett reported the same with an amendment, to wit: Strike out the first section. Which amendinent was concurred in by the House.

And the question being put-" Shall the bill as amended be engrossed and read a third time?" It was determined in the negative. And so the said bill was rejected. And then the House adjourned.

FRIDAY, December 27, 1816.

Two other members, to wit, from the State of New-York, Thomas R. Gold and Moss Kent, appeared and took their seats.

Mr. Mills presented a petition of the officers of the fifth regiment of the second brigade of the fourth division of the militia of Massachusetts, praying that the militia laws of the United States

may be revised, and that certain parts thereof, relating to the uniforming and equipping of non-commissioned officers and soldiers, may be repealed.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on that part of the President's Message which relates to a re-organization of the militia.

Mr. Ward, of Mass. presented a petition of sundry manufacturers of umbrellas and parasols in Boston, praying that a specific duty may be inposed on those articles imported into the United States.

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

On motion of Mr. Robertson,

Ordered, That the petition of Daniel S. Dexfer, presented on the 14th of March, 1816, be referred to the same committee.

Mr. Law presented a petition of John Fanning, praying to be allowed and paid the commutation of half pay, to which he conceives himself entitled for his services as an officer in the hospital depart ment of the revolutionary army.

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

Mr. Newton presented a petition of Paul D. Luke, keeper of the light house at Old Point Comfort, praying for increase of his salary.

Ordered, That the said petition he referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactares.

Mr. Hardin presented a petition of sundry inhabitents of Hardin and Breckenridge counties, in Kentucky, praying for the establishment of a post

route.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

The Speaker presented a petition of Joshua Wilder, stating that at the commencement of the late war with Great Britain he was a resident of the province of Canada, which he abandoned, leaving behind property of a considerable value, which has been confiscated; and that he then entered into the military service of the United States, finding his own horse and accoutrements, and praying compensation therefor.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to

the committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Robertson,

Ordered, That the petition of Thomas Shields, presented on the 14th of March, 1816, be referred to the committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion of Mr. Robertson,

Ordered, That the petition of Richard Claiborne, presented on the 15th of February, 1816, be referred to the committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Lattimore presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Monroe county, in the Mississippi Territory, praying that a pre-emption right in the purchase of a certain tract of land, in said county, inay be given to John Bradford, upon condition of his erecting a grist and saw mill upon the same.

Mr. Lattimore also presented a petition of Diego M.Voy. praying to be placed on the same footing, with respect to his title to a tract of land in the Mississippi Territory, as if his title papers to the same had been filed with the land commissioners in due time.

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

Mr. Telfair presented a petition of Jonas Fauche, stating that in the years 1793, and 1794, he commanded a troop of militia dragoons, in the service of the United States, during which time

the said troop furnished themselves with arms, horses, camp equipage, and clothing, he prays that himself and the men under his command may be allowed and paid such compensation for their ser vices, and the use and risk of their equipments, as may be just and proper, which was referred to

a select committee.

Mr. Telfair, Mr. Love, Mr. Huger, Mr. Hulbert, and Mr. Hawes, were appointed the said committee.

Ordered, That the committee on Naval Affairs, be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Stephen Rudd, and that it be referred to the Secretary of the Navy.

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

Resolved, That the committee on the Public Lands, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of laying off, and establishing a separate surveyor's district within the Mississippi Territory, adjoining the southern boundary of the State of Tennessee, and including the late purchases made from the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians, and to provide for the appointment of a principal surveyor for said district; also a register and receiver of public moneys; and make such further provision as may be necessary to have the lands within the same, to which the Indian title has been extinguished, surveyed and offered for sale as soon as it is practicable.

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

Resolved, That the committee on Military Affairs, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the act, making further provision for military services during the late war, and for other purposes, passed April 6, 1816, as to require a relinquishment of land bounty on the part

of the heirs and representatives of volunteers, enlisted under the act, authorizing the President of the United States to accept and organize, certain volunteer military corps, passed February 6, 1812, previous to placing the widows or children of said volunteers upon the pension list, under the firstmentioned act.

On motion of Mr. Hendricks,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-route from Velonia, by Brownstown to New-Natchez, all in the county of Jackson and State of Indiana.

Resolved, That the said committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-route in the state of Indiana, from Lexington in the county of Jefferson, by the way of Salem in the county of Washington to Paoli, in the county of Orange.

Resolved, That the said committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-route from Corydon, in the county of Harrison to Salem, in the county of Washington.

Resolved, That the said committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-route from Frankfort in the State of Kentucky, to Madison in the State of Indiana.

On motion of Mr. Lyon,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-route from Craftsborough through Kellyvale and Montgomery, to Richford in the State of Vermont. On motion of Mr. Mills,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of discontinuing the post-road from