Mr. Smith, of Md. presented a petition of Camillus Grifith, tate cont: actor for supplying the troops of the United States, within the States of Maryland and Delaware, and the District of Columbia, praying to be allowed in the settlement of his accounts an addition to his contract price for rations, as in consequence of the great number of troops unexpectedly calied into service in his d strict, he was compelled to purchase provisions at exorbitant prices.

Mr Caldwell presented a petition of Charles Williams, praying to be paid for a wagon and team lost in the military service of the United States.

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

Mr Crawford, from the joint committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined enrolled bills of the following titles, to wit:

An act to extend the provisions of the act to authorize certain officers and other persons to administer oaths, approved May the 3d, 1798;

An act to amend the act entitled, Act authorizing the payment of a sum of money to Joseph Stewart and others; and

An act for the relief of Henry Malcolm;

And had found the same to be truly enrolled: When,

The Speaker signed the said bills.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

Mr. Yancey, from the committee of Claims, made a report on the petition of Archibald MIlvain, which was read and the resolution therein contained was concurred in by the House as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner. ought not to be granted.

Mr. Yancey, from the same committee, made a report on the petition of Park Holland, which was read: When,

Mr. Yancey reported a bill for the relief of Park Holland, which was read the first and second time and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time

to-morrow,

Mr. Yancey also made a report on the petition of George Buckmaster, which was read: When,

Mr. Yancey reported a bill for the relief of George Buckmaster, which was read the first and second time and committed to the committee of the whole House on the bill for the relief of Caze and Richaud.

Mr. Yancey also made a report on the petition of Paul Robinson, which was read, and the resolution therein contained is in the following words:

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

A motion was made by Mr. Lyon, to lay the said report on the table.

And the question being taken thereon,

It was determined in the negative.

Another motion was made by Mr. Lyon, to amend the said resolution by striking out the word

not.

And the question being taken on striking out this word,

It passed in the affirmative.

A motion was then made by Mr. Yancey, that the said report lie on the table, which motion was rejected.

The question was then stated to agree to the resolution as amended: When it was

Ordered, That the said report be committed to a committee of the whole House to-morrow. Ordered, That the committee of Claims be

discharged from a further consideration of the petition of Fletcher and Taylor.

Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of Ways and Means, to which have been referred the petition of Thomas Cook, rollector of the district of Edgartown; the petition of Joseph Stohrer, collector of the district of Kenne bunk; the petition of Alexander Wolcott, collector of the district of Middletown, and the petition of Levi Fagan, collector of the district of Plymouth, in North-Carolina; made a report on the said petitions, which was read: When,

Mr. Lowndes, reported a bill respecting the compensation of the collectors therein mentioned, which was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole House to-mor

row.

Mr. Lowndes also reported a bill making additional appropriations to defray the expenses of the army and militia during the late war with Great Britain, which was read the first and second time and committed to the committee of the whole House on the bill making appropriations for the support of the government during the year 1817.

Mr. Lowndes also reported a bill making a propriations for the support of the military e-tabishment of the United States, for the year 1817, which was read the first and second time and committed to the committee of the whole House last mentioned.

Mr. Taylor, of N. Y. from the committee of Elections, made the following report:

That they have examined the certificate of elec tion of Zadock Cook, who is returned as a representative for the State of Georgia, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resination of Aified Cuthbert, and find the same sufficient to entitle him to a seat in, this House.

Mr. Chappell, from the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, made an unfavourable report on the petition of John Minor, administrator of Reuben Minor, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Chappell also made a report on the petition of Allan M-Lane, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Nelson, from the committee on the Judiciary, to which was recommitted the bill authorizing the appointment of circuit judges, and for other purposes, reported the sa.ne with an amendment, which was read, and together with the biil committed to a committee of the whole House to-inor

row

Mr. Johnson, from the committee on Military Affairs, who were instructed to inquire into the expediency of paying the general staff of governor Elwards, reported a bill for the relief cf certain officers, which was read the first and second time, and cuminitted to the committee of the whole House on the bill for the relief of the infirm, disabled and superannuated officers and soldiers.

Mr. Lowndes, from the committee to which was referred the bill from the Senate entitled, “ An act to provide for the prompt settlement of public accounts," reported the same with sundry amendments, which were read, and together with the bill committed to the committee of the whole House on the bill for the redemption of the public debt.

Ordered. That the select committee to which was referred the petition of William Thorn, be discharged from a further consideration thereof, and that it be referred to the committee of Claims.

The Speaker laid before the House the annual report of the commissioners of the sinking fund, detailing their operations subsequent to their re

port of the 7th of February, 1816, so far as the same have been completed, which were ordered to lie on the table

The message received yesterday from the President of the United States was read, and is as follows:

To the Senate and House of Representatives,

of the United States:.

On comparing the 4th section of the act of Congress passed March 31, 1814, providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi Territory, with the article of agreenent and cession between the United States, and State of Georgia, bearing date April 30, 1802, it appears that the engagements entered into with the claimants interfere with the rights and interests secured to that State; I recommend to Congress that provision be made by law for payments to the State of Georgia, equal to the amount of Mississippi stock which shall be paid into the Treasury, until the stipulated sum of 1,250,000 doilars shall be completed.

February 6, 1817.

JAMES MADISON.

Ordered. That the said message be referred to Mr. Hall, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Wilde, Mr. Williams, and ir. Atherton.

On motion of Mr. Hahn,

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be instructed to report to this House, the reasons why the militia fines incurred by delinquents, under the late call of the militia into the service of the United States, are not finally collected.

The bill from the Senate entitled, "An act directing the discharge of Lewis Olmsted from