and more efficient provisions may be adopted to prevent smuggling, false invoices and other frauds on the revenue-that a duty of 10 per cent. be laid on auction sales of foreign goods-and that such additional aid and protection may be extended to them generally, as will place them beyond that foreign influence which aims at their destruc tion.

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

Mr. Hopkinson presented a petition of Catharine Robertson, late the widow of Jacob Ritter, praying compensation for supplies furnished by the said Jacob Ritter to the revolutionary army.

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

Mr. Smith, of Md. presented a petition of Zebulon Hollingsworth, stating that a judgment was ir regularly and improperly obtained against him at the suit of the United States, and that he is now in confinement under said judgment, and praying that he may be released from his confinement; that the said judgment may be rescinded and that he may be permitted to plead the general issue; by which course alone, he states that he can obtain that justice which is the right of every American citizen.

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

The Speaker presented a petition of the second convention of the Manumission Society of Tennessee, praying that the objects of their association may be taken into the serious consideration of Congress, and that such aid may be afforded to them as may be within the constitutional powers of the

general government; which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Robertson presented petitions of Jacques Villerie, Antonio Bienvenue and Peter Lacoste, respectively stating that a considerable number of their negro slaves were carried out of the United States by the British army upon its retreat from the neighbourhood of New-Orleans, and praying such relief in the premises as Congress may think proper to grant.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of State.

Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of Ways and Means, inade a report on the petition of Robert Burnside; which was read: When,

Mr. Lowndes reported a bill for the relief of Robert Burnside; which was read the first and second time and committed to the committee of the whole House on the bill supplementary to the act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt.

Mr Lowndes, from the same committee, which were instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation to satisfy the claims of the friendly Creek Indians, whose property was plundered by the hostile Creeks, in consequence of their attachment to the United States, made a report thereon; which was read: When,

Mr. Lowndes reported a bill for the relief of certain Creck Indians; which was read the first and second time and committed to the committee of the whole House last mentioned.

Mr. Robertson, from the committee on Public Lands, made a report on the petition of William Miller and others, which was read: When,

Mr. Robertson reported a bill confirming the title of Miller and Futton to a tract of land on the Bayou Boeuff, in the State of Louisiana; which

was read the first and second time and committed to the committee of the whole House on the bill for the location of the lands reserved by treaty to certain chiefs and warriors of the Creek nation of Indians.

Mr. Sharp, from the committee on Private Land Claims, reported a bill for the relief of William Daniel; which was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole House to-morrow.

Mr. Chappell, from the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims. made reports on the petitions of Christiana Ulmer, Sarah Athenson and Robert Mitchell; which were read and the resolutions therein contained, were severally concurred in by the House, as follows:

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Christiana Ulmer be rejected.

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Sarah Athenson ought to be rejected.

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition of Robert Mitchell is unsupported and ought not to be granted.

Mr. Chappell also made unfavourable reports on the applications of Thomas Edwards and Armstead Whitehead for pensions; which were read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Chappell, from the same committee, also reported a bill concerning invalid pensioners; which was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole House to

morrow.

On motion of Mr. Findley,

Resolved, That the committee on the PostOffice and Post-Roads be directed to inquire into the expediency of changing the post-route from Greensburgh to Indiana in Pennsylvania, so that a

post-office may be established at the great salt works on Connemack river.

On motion of Mr. Atherton,

Resolved, That the committee on the PostOffice and Post-Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-route from the town of Groton, in Massachusetts, through the towns of Pepperell and Holles to the town of Amherst, in New-Hampshire.

On motion of Mr. Sheffey,

Resolved, That the committee on the PostOffice and Post-Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-road from the Boat-Yard in Sullivan county, Tennessee, to Scott Court-House, in Virginia.

Mr. Peter submitted the following resolution: which was read and rejected:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the conduct of George N. Thomas, in the service of the House of Representatives, with powers to send for persons and papers.

An engrossed bill to prevent citizens of the United States from selling vessels of war to citizens or subjects of any foreign power, and more effectually to prevent the arming and equipping vessels of war in the ports of the United States, intended to be used against nations in amity with the United States; was read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the title be "An act more ef fectually to preserve the neutral relations of the United States," and that the Clerk carry the said bill to the Senate, and ask their concurrence therein.

The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole House to which have been committed the bill to prohibit all commercial intercourse with ports or

places into or with which the vessels of the United States are not ordinarily permitted to enter and trade; and the bill to amend the acts for the government and regulation of seamen in the merchant service; and for the relief of distressed and destitute American seamen in foreign ports; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Breckenridge reported the firstmentioned bill with an amendment, but that the committee not having time to go through the whole order, had directed him to ask leave to sit again. Ordered, That the committee of the whole House have leave to sit again on the residue of the said order.

The amendment reported to the first-mentioned bill was then read and concurred in by the House: And,

Mr. Lowndes moved further to amend the bill by the addition of five sections.

Ordered, That the bill and amendments lie on the table.

And then the House adjourned.

THURSDAY, January 30, 1817.

Mr. Bradbury presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Portland, in the District of Maine, complaining of the loss in a great degree of their foreign commerce occasioned by the recent commercial restrictions adopted by sundry foreign nations and praying that such measures may be adopted at the present session of Congress, as will ensure to the people of the United States, their due participation in the commerce of the world.

Ordered, That the said petiton be referred to the committee of the whole House on the bill to prohibit all commercial intercourse with ports or