making further provision for military services during the late war and for other purposes;" And

An act respecting the pay and emoluments of certain officers of the army of the United States. Were severally read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the titles thereof be as aforesaid, and that the Clerk carry the said bills to the Senate and ask their concurrence therein.

The bill from the Senate entitled, "An act granting a pension to commodore Richard Tayfor," was read the third time, as amended, and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

The House resumed the consideration of the bill concerning the invalids of the revolutionary war, and the widows and children of the militia and the soldiers of the army during the late war; and the question recurred on the motion made yesterday by Mr. Taylor, of N. Y. to postpone the said bill indefinitely.

And being taken,

It passed in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. Reynolds,

The House took up the bill making an appropriation for opening and cutting out a road therein described: When,

A motion was made by Mr. Cady, that the said bill be postponed indefinitely; which motion was rejected by the House.

A motion was then made by Mr. King, that the bill be recommitted to the committee of the whole House; this motion was also rejected by the House.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time on Monday next.

Mr. Goldsborough, from the committee ap

pointed on the 20th instant, to present a resolution to the President of the United States, adopted on that day, reported that the committee had performed that service, and that the President answered, that it would not be in his power to comply with the request contained in the resolution, but that he had no doubt his successor in office would bestow upon it that attention which its importance required.

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

Mr. Speaker-The Senate have concurred in the amendments proposed by this House to the bill entitled, "An act granting a pension to commodore Richard Taylor." They have passed bills of the following titles, to wit: An act to provide for the purchase and distribution of the laws of the United States:" and "An act for the relief of the legal representatives of Francis Cazeau, late merchant at Montreal," in which bills they request the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew.

The House again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill for the relief of infirm, disabled and superannuated officers and soldiers, and on the several other bills committed thereto; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Condict reported the bill for the relief of certain officers; the bill making donations of land to the disbanded officers of the late army of the United States; and the bill to amend the act entitled, "An act grauting bounties in land and extra pay to certain Canadian volunteers," passed on the 5th of March, 1816, with amendments to the latter; and asked leave for the committee of the whole House to sit again.

Ordered, That the bill for the relief of certain

officers be engrossed and read a third time on Monday next.

The amendments reported by the committee of the whole House to the bill to amend the act entitled "An act granting bounties in land and extra pay to certain Canadian volunteers; were read and concurred in by the House; and the bill was ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time ou Monday next.

Ordered. That the bill making donations of land to the disbanded officers of the late army of the United States, lie on the table.

The Speaker laid before the House, a letter from the Acting Secretary of War, transmitting the application of Isaac Durand for an increase of his pension; which were referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

The Speaker also laid before the House a report on the petition of sundry inhabitants of the State of Maryland, referred to him on the 14th instant; which was read and referred to the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

And then the House adjourned.

MONDAY, February 24, 1817.

Mr. Marsh presented petitions from sundry in

habitants of the towns of Brookfield and Montpelier, in the State of Vermont, praying that the mails may not be opened or transported on Sundays.

Mr. Bateman presented a similiar petition from sundry inhabitants of the county of Cumberland, in the State of New-Jersey, which petitions were referred to the committee appointed on a similar petition from the inhabitants of Southampton, in Massachusetts

Mr. Marsh presented a petition of Levi Bellows, of the State of Vermont. praying for the remission of a part of the duties imposed on his distillery, for the reasons stated in his petition, which was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr Smith, of Md. presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Baltimore, praying for the aid and protection of the general government in favour of the mercantile and manufacturing interest of the country

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

Mr. Hendricks presented a petition of Bernhard Steiner, of Switzerland, in Europe, praying permission to purchase two townships of land in the State of Indiana, on condition of his settling the same with emigrants from his country; and paying one eighth part of the money for the same at the time of purchase, one eighth in two years, and the balance in ten years.

Ordered, That the said petition lie on the table.

Mr. Pope presented a resolution of the legislature of the Terrritory of Missouri, requesting that certain companies of rangers raised in said Territory, may be allowed their full pay; aud that certain other rangers may also be allowed some compensation, as they were discharged in consequence of a greater number having enlisted than was required by law.

Mr. Pope presented another resolution of the legislature of the said Territory, requesting that the right of pre-emption in the purchase of land may be extended to such of the inhabitants of that Territory, as lost their property by removing from the frontiers by order of governor Howard. Mr. Pope also presented another resolution of

the legislature of the said Territory, soliciting the establishment of additional post-routes therein. Ordered, That the said resolutions lie on the table.

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Mr. Lowndes, from the committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill supplementary to "An act to regulate the duties on imports and tonnage,' which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Acting Secretary of War, transmitting a statement showing the expenditure of the moneys appropriated for the contingent expenses of the military establishment for the year 1816, which were ordered to lic on the table.

On motion of Mr. Harrison,

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby instructed to report to this House at their next session, the number and conditions of the contracts which have been made for the supply of arms for the United States, since the adop tion of the present constitution, specifying the loss, if any, which the public have sustained by the nonfulfilment of such contracts, or by the advance of money on account of the same; together with any other information he may possess tending to show the advantages or disadvantages attending that mode of obtaining arms, compared with that of national armouries; and that he report therewith, the amount of money expended in each of the present national armouries, the number and species of arms there manufactured, and the number and species of arms repaired.

On motion of Mr. Smith, of Md.

Resolved, That a joint committe of the two Houses of Congress, be appointed to examine and report to their respective Houses what business is