The bill from the Senate "authorizing the sale of certain grounds belonging to the United States, in the city of Washington," was read the first and second time, and referred to the committee for the District of Columbia.

The House again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill allowing compensation to the members of Congress and delegates from Territories, and to repeal all other acts contrary thereto; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the char, and Mr. Brecken ridge, reported the same with amendments, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table.

Mr. Crawford, from the joint committee for enrolled bills, reported that the committee had examined enrolled bills, entitled,

An act for the relief of William Haslett.

An act to authorize a new edition of the laws respecting the public lands; and found the same to be truly enrolled: When

Mr. Speaker signed the said bills.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

And then the House adjourned.

FRIDAY, January 17, 1817.

Mr. Sturges, presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Connecticut, against the practice of transporting and opening the mails on Sunday, which was referred to the committee appointed on a similar petition from the inhabitants of Southan pton, in Massachusetts.

Mr. Law, presented a petition of Oliver Champlin, surveyor of the customs for the port of NewLondon, praying for an increase of compen

sation.

Mr. Hooks, presented a petition of sundry grocers, inhabitants of the town of Wilmington, in North-Carolina, praying that the act imposing duties on retailers of groceries may be repealed.

Mr. Alexander, presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the Mississippi Territory, residing adjacent to the Tombigbee and Mobile rivers, praying that a commissioner may be appointed to reside in the said Territory, to ascertain the amount of losses sustained by them during the late war, between the United States, and Great Britain and the Creek Indians, and that the amount thereof may be paid to them by the United States.

Mr. M.Lean, presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Muhlenburg and Christian counties, in the State of 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. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. Lattimore, presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Mobile, in the Missis sippi Territory, praying that their respective titles to the alluvion land lying in front of their lots may be confirmed to them.

Mr. Lattimore, also presented a petition of Sylvaint Mottus, also praying that his title to the alluvion land in front of his lot in the said town of Mobile, may be confirmed.

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

Mr. Yancey, from the committee of Claims made a report on the petition of Renner and Heath, which was read and committed to a committec of the whole House to-morrow.

Mr. Yancey, moved that the committee of Claims, be discharged from a further considera. tion of the petition ot Alexander McCormick, and that he have leave to withdraw the same.

And the question thereon being taken.
It was determined in the negative.

Ordered, That the committee on Private Land Claims be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of John Smith, and that he have leave to withdraw his petition.

Mr. Sharp, from the committee on Private Land Claims, made a repert on the petition of Francis Stinger, which was read and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House as follows:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner is unreasonable and ought not to be granted.

Mr. Sharp, also made a report on the petition of John Snodgrass, which was read and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House, as follows:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner is unreasonable and ought not to be granted.

Mr. Robertson, from the committee on the Public Lands, made a report on the petition of the Legislature of the Territory of Missouri, respecting the county town of Lawrence county, which was read and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House as follows:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition ought not to be granted.

Mr. Robertson, also made a report on the petition of David Wheeler, which was read and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House as follows:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner aught not to be granted.

Mr. Chappell, from the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, made a report on the petition of Sarah Dewees, and others, which was read and referred to a committee of the whole on Monday next.

Mr. Chappell, also made a report in part on the applications for pensions and increase of pensions of Peter Larkin, Joshua Patricks, Michael Pendergrass, and Nathan Farmsby, transmitted to this House by the Acting Secretary of War, in his report of the 2d instant, which was read and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House af follows:

Resolved, That the applicants have leave to withdraw their papers and documents.

Ordered, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of John Halfpenny, and that he have leave to withdraw the

same.

Mr. Harrison, from the committee appointed on that part of the President's message which relates to a re-organization of the militia, made a detailed report, which was read: When,

Mr. Harrison, reported a bill for organizing, classing, and arming the militia, and for calling them forth to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurtections, and repel invasion, and to repeal laws heretofore passed for those purposes; which was read the first and second time, and together with the report, committed to a comnittee of the whole House on Monday next.

Mr. Pickens, from the committee appointed on the 9th instaut, on a memorial of a convention of delegates from fifteen counties of the Mississippi

Territory, made a detailed report, which was read: When,

Mr. Pickens, reported a bill to enable the people of the Mississippi Territory to form a constisution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union, on an equal footing with the original States; which was read the first and second time, and committed to the committee of the whole House, on the bill to enable the people of the western division of the Mississippi Territory to form a constitution and State government and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting the annual statement of the district tonnage of the United States on the 31st of December, 1815, which were ordered to lie on the table.

The Speaker also laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, transmitting the annual report of the commissioners of the navy pension fund, which were ordered to lie on the table.

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

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have passed the bill entitled," An act directing the discharge of Oliver Spellman, from imprisonment," and the bill entitled, "An act directing the discharge of John Ricaud, from imprisonment," with amendments to the latter, 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 he delivered in at the Speaker's table. And he withdrew.