tition of the President and Directors of the Farmers' Bank of Alexandria, presented on the 16th of January, 1816, be referred to the committee for the District of Columbia.

On motion of Mr. Herbert,

Ordered, That the petition of the Columbian Insurance Company of Alexandria, presented on the 2d of January, 1816, be referred to the same com

mittee.

The Speaker presented sundry documents transmitted to him by Rufus Easton, in relation to the election and return of John Scott, as the Delegate in this House from the Territory of Missouri; which were referred to the committee of Elections. The following resolutions were submitted by Mr. Williams:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the decisions of Richard Bland Lee, esquire, Commissioner, appointed under the act of Congress, entitled, "An 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," passed the 9th of April, 1816.

Resolved, further, That the said committee have leave to send for persons and papers.

The said resolutions were read and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion of Mr. Wilkin,

Resolved, That this House will, this day, at half past 12 o'clock, proceed to the election of a Chaplain, on their part.

On motion of Mr. Lowndes,

Resolved, That the committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the act, entitled, "An act to regulate

the duties on imports and tonnage,” as far as it re-. lates to the duty on tonnage.

The House then proceeded to the election of a Chaplain to Congress, for the present session, on their part; and, upon an examination of the ballots, it appeared that the reverend Burgess Allison was duly elected.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

And then the House adjourned until twelve o'clock to-moriow.

FRIDAY, December 6th, 1816.

Three other members, to wit: from Massachusetts, Elijah H. Mills; from Pennsylvania, John Ross; and from Delaware, Thomas Cooper; appeared and took their seats.

On motion of Mr. Parris,

Ordered, That the petition of Samuel Tucker, presented on the 18th day of March, 1816, be re

ferred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Ŏn motion of Mr. Edwards,

Ordered, That the petitions of John Minor, administrator of Reuben Minor, deceased, presented on the 28th November, 1794, the 27th of April, 1802, and 4th of February, 1814, be referred to the same committee.

Mr. Wilde presented a petition of John Dent, praying payment of a Loan-Office certificate, issued in the revolutionary war.

Mr. Johnson presented a petition of Richard Taylor, senior, an officer in the revolutionary war, praying to be allowed and paid his commutation of half pay; that he may be allowed to change the location of such part of the land which has

been granted to him for his services in the capacity aforesaid, as lies within the Indian territory, on other public lands to which the Indian title is extinguished; that he may be placed on the pension list of the United States, and that he may be reimbursed his expenditures incurred in endeavoring to cure his wounds.

The Speaker, presented petitions of George Shannon and of Andrew Green, respectively praying for an increase of the pensions heretofore grant ed to them.

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

On motion of Mr. Tallmadge,

Ordered, That the petition of John Delafield, presented on the 29th December, 1815, be referred to a select committee.

Mr. Tallmadge, Mr. Chappell, Mr. Grosvenor, Mr. Yancey, and Mr. Sturges, were appointed the

said committee.

Mr. Thomas Wilson, presented a petition of James Gibson, stating that at a late sale of public property, in the city of Pittsburgh, he purchased two lots, the lines of which, when accurately run, differed from the lines as laid down by the commissioners appointed to make the sale, and praying relief in the premises.

The Speaker, presented a petition of the heirs and representatives of Peter Stutes, deceased, praying to be confirmed in their titles to certain lands in the State of Louisiana.

Ordered. That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Private Land Claims.

Mr. Thomas Wilson, presented a petition of Pentland, Hegins & Steele, late contractors for supplying the troops in the States of Pennsylvania

and Ohio, and the Territory of Michigan, praying to be relieved from the payment of import duties on a quantity of flour, which they were compelled to import from the British province of Canada for the use of the army.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.

On motion of Mr. Peter,

Ordered, That the petition of the President and Directors of the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank of Georgetown, presented on the 19th of February, 1814, be referred to the committee for the District of Columbia.

Mr. Lewis, presented a petition of John Tayloe, on behalf of the Central Bank of Georgetown and Washington, praying that the said bank may be chartered by act of Congress.

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

On motion of Mr Dickens.

Ordered, That the petition of Jacob Greer, presented on the 14th of December, 1815, be referred to the committee of Claims.

Mr. Johnson presented a petition of Samuel Lowry, praying compensation for his horse and other property which he lost whilst a volunteer in the army commanded by General Wilkinson against the Indians in the year 1792.

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

The Speaker presented a petition of the Kentucky Abolition Society, praying for an allotment of public lands for free persons of colour.

Mr. Lattimore presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of that part of the Territory of Missis sippi formerly included within the province of West Florida, praying that further and more enlarged

provisions may be made for confirming claims to lands lying within that part of the Territory aforesaid in which the petitioners reside.

Mr. Lattimore also presented a petition of John Burnett, senior, praying that his title to certain lands therein described may be confirmed.

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

The Speaker presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Somerset county, in Maryland, praying that the town of Princess Anne may be established as a port of entry.

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

Mr. Johnson, of Ky presented a petition of Rufus Easton, complaining of the undue election and return of John Scott, as the Delegate in this House, for the Territory of Missouri, and praying to be admitted to a seat in the place of the said John Scott.

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

Mr. Johnson, of Ky. also presented a petition of Nimrod Young, praying to be reimbursed the expenses incurred by his son, Morgan S. Young, who, whilst a volunteer in the military service during the late war, was taken sick and died, which expenses he has been obliged to pay.

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

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

To the Senate and House of Representatives

of the United States,

The 9th section of the act passed at the last session of Congress "to authorize the payment for