Mosier, guardian of the children of Thomas Howard, deceased, 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.

Ordered, That the committee on Military Affairs be discharged from a further consideration of the petition of John Smith, and that it be referred to the Secretary of War.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Acting Secretary of War, in answer to the resolution requesting him to report 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, which letter was read and ordered to lie on the table.

The Speaker also laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a statement showing the quantity of public lands sold, and the receipts therefor, in the States of Ohio and Indiana, and the Illinois and Mississippi Territories, during the year ending on the 30th of September, 1816, which was referred to the committee on the Public Lands.

On motion of Mr. Parris,

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to lay before this House, any information in the possession of that Department relative to the claims of the State of Massachusetts, for pay. ment of the expenses of the militia ordered out by the executive authority of that State during the late war.

The following resolution was submitted by Mr.

Williams:

Resolved, That the internal duties be repealed,

and that the committee of Ways and Means be directed to report a bill for that purpose.

And on the question-" Will the House now consider this resolution ?"

It passed in the affirmative,

The

Yeas.........84

Nays........34

yeas and nays being required by one fifth

of the members present.

A motion was made by Mr. Smith, of Md. to lay the said resolution on the table. And debate arising thereon,

A motion was made by Mr. Lowndes, that the House do now proceed to the orders of the day. And the question being taken thereon,

Yeas..........73

It passed in the affirmative, Nay......72

The yeas and nays being required by one fifth of the members present,

Mr. Cannon moved to lay the unfinished business of yesterday on the table, for the purpose of taking into consideration the resolution submitted by him to reduce the army of the United States. And the question being taken thereon,

It was determined in the negative. And The House then proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the committee of the whole House, to the bill making appropriations