of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and for other purposes," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon,

Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

A petition of Michael Jackson, late colonel in the eighth Massachusetts regiment, was presented to the House and read, praying to be placed on the list of pensioners, in consideration of a wound received in the service of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills supplementary to an act, entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the bank of the United States;" and that Mr. Smith, (of South Carolina,) Mr. Williamson, and Mr. Vining, be of the said committee.

Mr. Floyd, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, this day, wait on the President of the United States, and present, for his approbation, an enrolled bill, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and for other purposes."

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning ten o'clock.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10.

A bill for increasing the penalty contained in an act passed the second session of Congress, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned," was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Saturday next.

A bill to continue, for a limited time, the act regulating processes in the courts of the United States, was read the second time, and ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.

A petition and remonstrance of John Fitch, was presented to the House and read, complaining of the injurious operation which the bill now depending before Congress, entitled "A bill to amend the act to promote the progress of useful arts," will have on his interest, should the same be passed into a law.

Ordered, That the said petition and remonstrance do lie on the table.

A petition of sundry masters of vessels in the port of Charleston, South Carolina, was presented to the House and read, praying that Congress will adopt measures to relieve them from the injury they suffer, by the preference given in that place to foreign vessels in the carrying trade.

Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

On a motion made and seconded, "That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills repealing so much of the act, entitled "An act to provide more effectually for the collection of the duties imposed by law on goods, wares, and merchandise, imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships or vessels, as hath rated the rix dollar of Denmark at one hundred cents:"

Ordered, That the said motion be committed to Mr. Bourn, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Thatcher.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills supplementary to the act, entitled “An act to establish the Treasury Department;" and that Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Fitzsimons, and Mr. Ames, be of the said committee.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill authorizing the President of the United States to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid and discharged; and, after some time spent - therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Boudinot reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under consideration, and made no amendment thereto.

Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the bill to establish offices for the purpose of granting lands within the Territory of the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Boudinot reported that the committee had, according to or der, had the said bill under consideration, and made some progress therein.

Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the said bill.

Mr. Smith, (of South Carolina,) from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill supplementary to the act, entitled "An act to incorporate the subscri bers to the bank of the United States;" which was received, and read the first time.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering his report on the petition of the merchants of Philadelphia, trading to India and China, made pursuant to an order of this House, of the twentieth of January last; which were read, and ordered to lie on the lable.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning ten o'clock.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11.

An engrossed bill to continue in force, for a limited time, an act, entitled "An act to regulate processes in the courts of the United States," was read the third time. Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, an act to regulate processes in the courts of the United States." Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

An engrossed bill authorizing the President of the United States to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid and discharged, was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act authorizing the President of the United States to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid and discharged."

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

A bill supplementary to the act, entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the bank of the United States," was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, notifying that the President did, this day, approve and sign an act, entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of Government, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and for other purposes."

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

A petition of Ebenezer Fielding was presented to the House and read, praying to be placed on the list of pensioners, as a disabled soldier in the service of the United States, during the late war. Also,

The petitions of Francis Proctor and John Henderson, respectively praying compensation for services rendered to the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction

to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

Mr. Sedgwick, from the committee appointed, presented, according to order, a bill providing compensations for clerks, marshals, and jurors; which was received, and read the first time.

On motion,

The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday next.

The House, according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the bill to establish offices for the purpose of granting lands, within the Territories of the United States; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Boudinot reported that the committee had, according to order, again had the said bill under consideration, and made several amendments thereto; which he delivered in at the Clerk's table, where the same were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

An engrossed bill to alter the time of the meeting of the next session of Congress was read the third time, and the blank therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be, "An act to alter the time of the meeting of the next session of Congress."

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

Ordered, That the petition of the masters of vessels employed in the carrying trade in the port of Charleston, South Carolina, which was presented yesterday, be referred to the committee appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills to amend the laws concerning the trade and navigation of the United States.

A memorial of Thomas Walley, William Smith, and Joseph Ward, was presented to the House and read, praying that certain bills issued under the authority of the former Congress, of which the petitioners are possessed, the interest whereof was payable in sterling bills of exchange in Europe, may be liquidated, and the arrears of interest paid, or the principal and interest of the said bills funded in like manner with loan office certificates.

Ordered, That the said memorial do lie on the table.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to report whether any, and what, farther provision is necessary to secure the due accounting for the moneys expended in the Department of War:

And a committee was appointed, of Mr. Fitzsimons, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Gilman.
The several orders of the day were farther postponed until to-morrow.
And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning ten o'clock.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12.

A petition of Aquila Giles, on behalf of sundry inhabitants of Long Island, in the State of New York, was presented to the House and read, praying the liquidation and payment of certain claims against the United States. Also,

A petition of the gaugers of the city of New York, praying compensation for cer tain services which they have rendered, and for which no provision hath been made by ław.

Also,

A petition of Peter Miller, of Vincent Township, Chester county, and State of Pennsylvania, praying compensation for damages sustained in his property, by the Army of the United States, during the late war. Also,

The petitions of the ministers and trustees of the Lutheran church, Pikeland Township, Chester county, and of the wardens of the Calvanist Church, in Vincent Township, Chester county, in the State of Pennsylvania, respectively praying compensation for damages done to their churches, by the Army of the United States, during the

late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions, together with the petition of the inspectors of New York, which lay on the table, be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

A petition of Ebenezer Stevens, late a lieutenant colonel in the Army of the United States, was presented to the House and read, praying that the resolution of the late Congress, of the twenty-eighth of February, one thousand seven hundred and seventynine, granting an extra allowance to a certain description of officers of artillery, may be extended to him.

Also,

A petition of John Knight, praying compensation for services rendered to the United States, as surgeon's mate, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

The petitions of Thomas Barclay, and of Jacob Winey, on behalf of himself and others, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying that depreciation may be allowed on certain paper money payments, made them by order of the late Congress, for the freight and valuation of two ships, the property of the petitioners, which were chartered for public service, and afterwards taken by the enemy.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to Mr. Clymer, Mr. Smith (of Maryland,ì and Mr. Partridge; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House.

A petition of John Tucker was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for his past services and expenses, as clerk to the Supreme Court of the United

States.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of the Whole House, to which is committed the bill providing compensations for clerks, marshals, and jurors. A petition of David Brubaker, of Lancaster county, in the State of Pennsylvania, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for a quantity of timber, furnished for the purpose of building stockades, huts, &c. for the use of the British prisoners, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petition do lie on the table.

On motion,

Ordered, That the committee appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills concerning the trade and navigation of the United States be discharged from further proceeding thereon.

The House proceeded to consider the report of the Secretary of State on the petition of Andrew Brown: Whereupon,

Resolved, That Andrew Brown, or any other printer, be permitted (under the direction of the Secretary of State,) to collate with and correct by the original rolls, the laws, resolutions, and treaties, of the United States, to be by him printed; and that a certificate of their having been so collated and corrected, be annexed to the said edition. Provided, That such collation and correction be at the expense of the said Andrew Brown, or such other printer, and that the person or persons to be by him or them employed in that service, be approved by the Secretary of State.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do carry the said resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.

Mr. Floyd, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the bank of the United States," and had found the same to be truly enrolled: Whereupon, Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bill.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

Mr. Sherman, from the committee to whom was referred the memorial of the public creditors holding loan-office certificates for money lent to the United States, between September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, and March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, made a report; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, covering his report on the petition of John Hollins, of the town of Baltimore, referred to him pursuant to an order of this House, of the fourth instant; which was read: Whereupon,

Ordered, That the petitioner have leave to withdraw his said petition.

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill, entitled "An act for the admission of the state of Vermont into this Union;" they have also passed a bill, entitled "An act regulating the number of Representatives to be chosen by the States of Kentucky and Vermont," to which bills they desire the concurrence of this House. I am also directed to inform this House that the President of the United States did, on the fourth instant, affix his signature to an act which originated in the Senate, entitled “An act declaring the consent of Congress that a new State be formed within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and admitted into this Union, by the name of the State of Kentucky." And then he withdrew.

The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union," was read the first time.

On motion,

The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.

The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act regulating the number of Representatives to be chosen by the States of Kentucky and Vermont," was read the first

time.

On motion,

The said bill was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House, to the bill to establish offices for the purpose of granting lands within the Territories of the United States, and made some progress therein.

The several orders of the day were further postponed until Monday next.
And then the House adjourned until Monday morning ten o'clock.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14.

A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, as followeth, to wit:

UNITED STATES, February 14th, 1791. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives :

Soon after I was called to the administration of the Government, I found it important to come to an understanding with the court of London, on several points interesting to the United States; and particularly to know whether they were disposed to enter into arrangements, by mutual consent, which might fix the commerce between the two na

VOL. I.-48

tions on principles of reciprocal advantage. For this purpose, I authorized informa! conferences with their ministers; and from these, I do not infer any disposition, on their part, to enter into any arrangements merely commercial. I have thought it proper to give you this information, as it might, at some time, have influence on matters under your consideration.

Ordered, That the said message do lie on the table.

G. WASHINGTON.

The several petitions of David Cook, Moses Sanderson, Thomas Haven, Elizabeth Parker, Charles Clingen, William Copeland and others, by Michael Connelly their agent, Mary Ripley, and Stephen Drayton, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying compensation for services rendered, or injuries sustained, in the service of the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in to explain so much of the act, entitled "An act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States," as imposes a duty on imported lead and on calicoes; and that Mr. Madison, Mr. Wadsworth, and Mr. Leonard, do prepare and bring in the same.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union;" and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Boudinot reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said bill under their consideration, and made no amendment thereto. On motion,

The said bill was read the third time; and, on the question that the same do pass, It was resolved in the affirmative.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do acquaint the Senate therewith.

Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills to give effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Vermont ; and that Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Benson, and Mr. Sturges, be of the said committee.

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled" An act repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and also upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same," with several amendments, to which they desire the concurrence of this House. And then he withdrew.

Mr. Floyd, from the Joint Committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, this day, wait on the President of the United States, and present, for his approbation, an enrolled bill, entitled “An act to incorporate the subscribers to the bank of the United States."

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, an act passed at the first session of Congress, entitled An act to regulate processes in the courts of the United States." And then he withdrew.

The House resumed the consideration of the amendments reported from the Committee of the Whole House to the bill to establish offices for the purpose of granting lands within the Territories of the United States, and made a farther progress therein The several orders of the day were farther postponed until to-morrow. And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning ten o'clock.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15.

Another member, to wit; Thomas Sumpter, from South Carolina, appeared, and took his seat in the House.

The several petitions of Nathan Stacey and others, Esther Mix, Elizabeth Kuhn, and Ann Harold, were presented to the House and read, respectively praying compensation for services rendered to the United States, during the late war.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, accompanying his reports on the several petitions of Joseph Anderson, Abraham Hunt, Samuel Shepherd, George Glentworth, Anne Roberts, the orphan children of Andrew Leitch, the orphan children of William White, Michael G. Howdin, Samuel Buffington, attor