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such offender, being thereof duly convicted, shall, for every such offence, be fined, not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprisoned, not exceeding six months, or both, according to the circumstances and aggravation of the offence. And, if any person, employed as aforesaid, shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy, any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters, with which he or she shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his or her possession, and are intended to be conveyed by post, containing any bank note, or bank post bill, bill of exchange, warrant of the Treasury of the United States, note of assignment of stock in the funds, letters of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, or for selling stocks in the funds, or for receiving the interest thereof, or any letter of credit, or note for, or relating to, payment of moneys, or any bond, or warrant, draft, bill, or promissory note, covenant, contract, or agreement whatsover, for, or relating to, the payment of money, or the delivery of any articles of value, or the performance of any act, matter, or thing, or any receipt, release, acquittance, or discharge of, or frem, any debt, covenant, or demand, or any part thereof; or any copy of any record of any judgment, or decree, in any court of law or chancery, or any execution which may have issued thereon; or any copy of any other record, or any other article of value, or any writing representing the same; or if any such person, employed as aforesaid, shall steal or take any of the same out of any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters that shall come to his or her possession, such person shall, on conviction for any such offence, be imprisoned not less than ten years, nor exceeding twenty-one years; and if any person who shall have taken charge of the mails of the United States, shall quit or desert the same before such person delivers it into the Post Office kept at the termination of the route, or some known mail carrier, or agent of the General Post Office, authorized to receive the same, every such person, so offending, shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for every such offence; and if any such person concerned in carrying the mail of the United States, shall collect, receive, or carry any letter or packet, or shall cause or procure the same to be done, contrary to this act, every such offender shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars.

Sec. 22. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall rob any carrier of the mail of the United States, or other person entrusted therewith, of such mail, or any part thereof, such offender or offenders shall, on conviction, be imprisoned not less than five years, nor exceeding ten years; and, if convicted a second time of a like of fence, he or they shall suffer death; or if, in effecting such robbery of the mail the first time, the offender shall wound the person having custody thereof, or put his life in jeopardy, by the use of dangerous weapons, such offender or offenders shall suffer death. And if any person shall attempt to rob the mail of the United States, by assaulting the person having custody thereof, shooting at him or his horse or mule, or threatening him with dan gerous weapons, and the robbery is not effected, every such offender, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment, not less than two years, nor exceeding ten years And, if any person shall steal the mail, or shall steal or take from, or out of, any mail, or from or out of any Post Office, any letter or packet; or, if any person shall take the mail, or any letter or packet therefrom, or from any Post Office, whether with or without the consent of the person having custody thereof, and shall open, embezzle, or destroy, any such mail, letter, or packet, the same containing any article of value, or evidence of any debt, due, demand, right, or claim, or any release, receipt, acquittance, or discharge, or any other article, paper, or thing mentioned and described in the twenty first section of this act; or, if any person shall, by fraud or deception, obtain from any person having custody thereof, any mail, letter, or packet, containing any article of value, or evidence thereof, or either of the writings referred to, or next above ment.oned, such offender or offenders, on conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned not less than two, nor exceeding ten years. And if any person shall take any letter, or packet, not containing any article of value, or evidence thereof, out of any Post Office, or shall open any letter or packet, which shall have been in a Post Office, or in custody of a mail carrier, before it shall have been delivered to the person to whom it is directed, with a design to obstruct the correspondence, to pry into another's business or secrets; or shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy, any such mail letter, or packet, such offender, upon conviction, shall pay for every such offence, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, and be imprisoned not exceeding twelve months.

Sec. 23. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall rip, cut, tear, burn, or otherwise injure, any valise, portmanteau, or other bag, used, or designed to be used, by any person acting under the authority of the Postmaster General, or any person in whom his powers are vested, in a conveyance of any mail, letter, packet, or newspaper, or pamphlet; or shall draw or break any staple, or loosen any part of any lock, chain, or strap, attached to, or belonging to any such valise, portmanteau, or bag, with an intent to rob, or steal any mail, letter, packet, newspaper, or pamphlet, or to render either of the same insecure, every such offender, upon conviction, shall, for every such offence, pay a sum not less than one hundred dollars, nor exceeding five hundred dollars, er be imprisoned, not less than one year, nor exceeding three years, at the discretion of the court before whom such conviction is had.

Sec. 24. And be it further enacted, That every person, who, from and after the passage of this act, shall procure, and advise, or assist, in the doing or perpetration of any of the acts or crimes by this act forbidden, shall be subject to the same penalties and punishments as the persons are subject to, who shall actually do or perpetrate any of the said acts or crimes, according to the provision of this act.

Sec. 25. And be it further enacted, That every person who shall be imprisoned by a judgment of court, under and by virtue of the twenty-first, twenty-second, twenty-third, or twenty-fourth sections of this act, shall be kept at hard labor during the period of such imprisonment.

Sec. 26. And be it further enacted, That the Postmasters shall, respectively, publish, at the expiration of every three months, or oftener, when the Postmaster General shall so direct, in one of the newspapers published at or nearest the place of his residence, for three successive weeks, a list of all the letters remaining in their respective offices, or, instead thereof, shall make out a number of such lists, and cause them to be posted at such public places in their vicinity, as shall appear to them best adapted for the information of the parties concerned; and, at the expiration of the next three months, shall send such of the said letters as then remain on hand, as dead letters, to the General Post Office, where the same shall be opened and inspected; and if any valuable papers or matters of consequence shall be found therein, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to return such letter to the writer thereof, or cause a descriptive list thereof to be inserted in one of the newspapers published at the place most convenient to the supposed residence of the owner, if within the United States; and such letter, and the contents, shall be preserved, to be delivered to the person to whom the same shall be addressed, upon payment of the postage and expense of publication. And if such letter contain money, the Postmaster General may appropriate it to the use of the Department, keeping an account thereof, and the amount shall be paid by the Department to the rightful claimant so soon as he shall be found.

Sec. 27. And be it further enacted, That letters and packets to and from the following officers of the United

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States, shall be received and conveyed by post, free of postage. Each Postmaster, provided each of his letters or packets shall not exceed half an ounce in weight; each member of the Senate, and each member and delegate of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, the Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives, provided each letter or packet, (except documents printed by the order of either House of Congress,) shall not exceed two ounces in weight, and during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and sixty days before and after such session; and in case of excess of weight, that excess alone shall be paid for; the President of the United States, Vice President, the Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, of War, of the Navy, Attorney General, Postmaster General, and the Assistants Postmaster General, the Comptrollers of the Treasury, Auditors, Register, Treasurer, and Commissioner of the General Land Office, and such individuals who shall have been, or may hereafter be, President of the United States, and each may receive newspapers by post, free of postage: Provided, That Postmasters shall not receive, free of postage, more than one daily newspaper, each, or what is equivalent thereto; nor shall members of the Senate, or of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House, or Secretary of the Senate, receive newspapers, free of postage, after their privilege of franking shall cease.

Sec. 28. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall frank any letter or letters, other than those written by himself, or by his order, on the business of his office, he shall, on conviction thereof, pay a fine of ten dollars, and it shall be the especial duty of Postmasters to prosecute for said offence: Provided, That the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, and Postmaster General, may frank letters or packets on official business, prepared in any other public office, in the absence of the principal thereof. And if any person, having the right to receive his letters free of postage, shall receive enclosed to him any letter or packet addressed to a person not having that right, it shall be his duty to return the same to the post office, marking thereon the place from whence it came, that it may be charged with postage. And if any person shall counterfeit the hand writing or frank of any person, or cause the same to be done, in order to avoid the payment of postage, each person, so offending, shall pay for every such offence, five hundred dollars.

Sec. 29. And be it further enacted, That every printer of newspapers may send one paper to each and ev ery other printer of newspapers within the United States, free of postage, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall provide.

Sec. 30. And be it further enacted, That all newspapers conveyed in the mail shall be under cover, open at one end, and charged with a postage of one cent each, for any distance not more than one hundred miles, and one and a half cents for any greater distance: Provided, That the postage of a single newspaper from any one place to another in the same state, shall not exceed one cent, and the Postmaster General shall require those who re ceive newspapers by post, to pay always the amount of one quarter's postage in advance; and should the publisher of any newspaper, after being three months previously notified that his paper is not taken out of the office, to which it is sent for delivery, continue to forward such paper in the mail, the postmaster to whose office such paper is sent, may dispose of the same for the postage, unless the publisher shall pay it. If any person employed in any department of the post office, shall improperly detain, delay, embezzle, or destroy any newspaper, or shall permit any other person to do the like, or shall open, or permit any other to open, any inail or packet of newspapers, not directed to the office where he is employed, such offender shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit a sum, not exceeding fifty dollars, for every such offence. And if any other person shall open any mail or packet of newspapers, or shall embezzle or destroy the same, not being directed to such person, or not being authorized to receive or open the same, such offender shall, on conviction thereof, pay a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, for every such offence. And if any person shall take, or steal, any packet, bag, or mail of newspapers, from or out of any post office, or from any person having custody thereof, such person shall, on conviction, be imprisoned, not exceeding three months, for every such offence, to be kept at hard labor during the period of such imprisonment. If any person shall enclose or conceal a letter, or other thing, or any memorandum in writing, in a news paper, pamphlet, or magazine, or in any package of newspapers, pamphlets, or magazines, or make any writing or memorandum thereon, which he shall have delivered into any post office, or to any person for that purpose, in or der that the same may be carried by post free of letter postage, he shall forfeit the sum of five dollars for every such offence and the letter, newspaper, package, memorandum, or other thing, shall not be delivered to the person to whom it is directed, until the amount of single letter postage is paid for each article of which the package is composed. No newspapers shall be received by the Postmasters, to be conveyed by post, unless they are sufficiently dried, and enclosed in proper wrappers, on which, besides the direction, shall be noted the number of papers which are enclosed for subscribers, and the number for printers: Provided, that the number need not be endorsed if the publisher shall agree to furnish the postmaster, at the close of each quarter, a certified statement of the number of papers sent in the mail chargcable with postage.

The Postmaster General, in any contract he may enter into for the conveyance of the mail, may authorize the person with whom such contract is to be made, to carry newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets, other than those conveyed in the mail: Provided, That no preference shall be given to the publisher of one newspaper over that of another, in the same place. When the mode of conveyance, and the size of the mail, will admit of it, such ma gazines and pamphlets as are published periodically, may be transported in the mail, to subscribers, at one and a hall cents a sheet, for any distance not exceeding one hundred miles, and two and a half cents for any greater distance. And such magazines and pamphlets as are not published periodically, if sent in the mail, shall be charged with a postage of four cents on each sheet, for any distance not exceeding one hundred miles, and six cents for any greater distance.

Sec. 31. And be it further enacted, That, if any Postmaster, or other person authorized to receive the postage of letters and packets, shall neglect or refuse to render his accounts, and pay over to the Postmaster General the bal ance by him due, at the end of every three months, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to cause a suit to be commenced against the person or persons so neglecting or refusing. That all suits, which shall be hereafter commenced, for the recovery of debts or balances due to the General Post Office, whether they appear by bond or obligations, made in the name of the existing, or any preceding Postmaster General, or otherwise, shall be instituted in the name of the "Postmaster General of the United States." That certified statements, under the seal of the General Post Office, of the accounts of the several Postmasters and contractors, after the same shall have been examined and adjusted at that office, shall be admitted as evidence in all suits brought by the Postmaster General for the recovery of balances or debts due from Postmasters or contractors; and also, certified copies of the quarterly accounts of Postmasters; or, if lodged in the Treasury, copies, certified by the Register, under the seal of his office, shall be admitted as evidence.

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Sec. 32. And be it further enacted, That, if any Postmaster shall neglect to render his accounts for one month after the time, and in the form and manner prescribed by law, and by the Postmaster General's instructions, conformable therewith, he shall forfeit double the value of the postages which shall have arisen at the same office in any equal portion of time previous or subsequent thereto; or, in case no account shall have been rendered at the time of trial of such case, then such sum as the Court and jury shall estimate, equivalent thereto, to be recovered by the Postmaster General, in an action of debt, on a bond against the Postmaster and his securities, and for which the securities shall be liable.

Sec. 33. And be it further enacted, That all pecuniary penalties and forfeitures, incurred under this act, shall be one half for the use of the person or persons informing and prosecuting for the same, and the other half to the use of the United States, and shall be paid over to the Postmaster General, and accounted for by him as other moneys of the Department.

Sec. 34. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to make provision, where it may be necessary, for the receipt of all letters and packets intended to be conveyed by any ship or vessel beyond sea, or from any port in the United States to another port therein; and the letters so received shall be formed into a mail, sealed up, and directed to the Postmaster of the port to which such ship or vesse! shall be bound; and for every letter or packet so received, there shall be paid, at the time of its reception, a postage of one cent, which shall be for the use of the Postmasters respectively receiving the same. And the Postmaster General may make arrangements with the Postmasters in any foreign country, for the reciprocal receipt and delivery of letters and packets through the Post Office.

Sec. 35. And be it further enacted, That the Postmasters, Post riders, and drivers of the mail stages, shall be exempt from militia duties, and serving on juries, or any fine or penalty for neglect thereof.

Sec 36. And be it further enacted, That letter carriers shall be employed at such Post Offices as the Postmaster General shall direct, for the delivery of letters in the places, respectively, where such Post Offices are established; and, for the delivery of each such letter, the letter carrier may receive, of the person to whom the delivery is made, two cents: Provided, That no letter shall be delivered to such letter carrier for delivery, addressed to any person who shall have lodged at the Post Office a written request that the letters shall be detained in the office. And, for every letter lodged at any Post Office, not to be carried by post, but to be delivered at the place where it is so lodged, the Postmaster shall receive one cent of the person to whom it shall be delivered.

Sec. 37. And be it further enacted, That all causes of action arising under this act, may be sued, and all offenders against this act, may be prosecuted, before the justices of the peace, magistrates, or other judicial courts of the several states, and of the several territories of the United States, they having competent jurisdiction, by the laws of such states or territories, to the trial of claims and demands of as great value, and of the prosecutions, where the punishments are of as great extent; and such justices, magistrates, or judiciary, shall take cognizance thereof, and proceed to judgment and execution, as in other cases.

Sec. 38. And be it further enacted, That, in all suits or causes arising under this act, the Court shall proceed to trial, and render judgment the first term after such suit shall be commenced: Provided, always, That, whenever service of the process shall not have been made twenty days at least previous to the return day of such term, the defendant shall be entitled to one continuance, if the Court, on the statement of such defendant, shall judge it expedient: Provided, also, That, if the defendant in such suits shall make affidavit that he has a claim against the General Post Office, not allowed by the Postmaster General, although submitted to him conformably to the regulations of the Post Office, and shall specify such claim in the affidavit, and that he could not be prepared for the trial at such term, for want of evidence, the Court, in such case, being satisfied in those respects, may grant a continuance until the next succeeding term; and the Postmaster General shall be authorized to discharge from imprisonment any person confined in jail, on any judgment in a civil case, obtained in behalf of the Department: Provided, It be made to appear that the defendant has no property of any description: And, provided, That such release shall not bar a subsequent execution against the property of the defendant.

Sec. 39. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to report, annually, to Congress, every post road which shall not, after the second year from its establishment, have produced one-third of the expense of carrying the mail on the same.

Sec. 40. And be it further enacted, That the Adjutant General of the Militia of each state and territory shall have right to receive, by mail, free of postage, from any Major General or Brigadier General thereof, and to transmit to said Generals, any letter or packet, relating solely to the militia of such state or territory: Provided, always, That every such officer, before he delivers any such letter or package for transmission, shall, in his own proper hand writing, on the outside thereof, endorse the nature of the papers enclosed, and thereto subscribe his name and office; and shall previously furnish the Postmaster of the office where he shall deposite the same, with a specimen of his signature. And if any such officer shall frank any such letter or package, in which shall be contained any thing relative to any subject, other than of the militia of such state or territory, every such offender shall, on conviction of every such offence, forfeit and pay a fine of fifty dollars.

Sec. 41. And be it further enacted, That, whenever the annual emoluments of any Postmaster, after deducting therefrom the necessary expenditures incident to his office shall amount to more than two thousand dollars, the surplus shall be accounted for, and paid to the Postmaster General, and by him to be accounted for in the same manner as other moneys accruing from the Post Office establishment.

Sec. 42. And be it further enacted, That no Postmaster, Assistant Postmaster, or Clerk, employed in any Post Office, shall be a contractor, or concerned in a contract for carrying the mail: Provided, That this section shall not interfere with contracts heretofore made.

Sec. 43. And be it further enacted, That no additional allowance shall be made, by the Postmaster General, to the contractor or carrier of any mail, on any route, over or beyond the amount stipulated in the contract entered into for the transportation of the mail on such route, unless additional service shall be required; and then no additional compensation shall be allowed to exceed the exact proportion of the original amount to the additional duties required; and the Postmaster General shall, in all such cases, within thirty days thereafter, transmit to the First Comptroller of the Treasury an account of such additional services, and the compensation to be allowed therefor.

Sec. 44. And be it further enacted, That any person or persons, who shall hereafter make any proposal, in writing, to carry or transport the mail upon any route or routes, which may be adver.ised to be let, and such person or persons shall be determined by the Postmaster General to be entitled to the contract, by virtue of such

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proposition, and suca person or persons shall fail or refuse to enter into an obligation, with good and sufficient security, to perform such contract within the time required by the Postmaster General, in such advertisement, such person or persons shall forfeit and pay so much money as shall be the difference between the amount contained in such proposal, and the amount the Postmaster General shall have to pay for the same transpor tation of the mail on such route or routes; which sum may be recovered by the Postmaster General in an action on the case.

Sec. 45. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall buy, receive, or conceal, or aid in buying, receiv ing, or concealing, any article mentioned in the twenty-first section of this act, knowing the same to have been stolen or embezzled from the mail of the United States, or out of any Post Office, or from any person having the custody of the said mail, or the letters sent, or to be sent therein; or if any person shall be accessary after the fact, to any robbery of the carrier of the mail of the United States, or other persons entrusted therewith, of such mail, or of part thereof, every person, so offending, shall, on conviction thereof, pay a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and be imprisoned and confined to hard labor for any time not exceeding ten years. And such person or persons, so offending, may be tried and convicted, without the principal offender being first tried, provided such principal offender has fled from justice, or cannot be found, to be put on his trial.

Sec. 46. And be it further enacted, That all acts, and parts of acts which have been passed for the establishment and regulation of the General Post Office, shall be, and the same are hereby, repealed: Provided, That the act, entitled “An act concerning public contracts,” approved on the twenty-first of April, one thousand eight hundred and eight, shall not be affected hereby, but shall remain in full force and virtue: And provided, also, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect, or extend to, any offence committed against the laws, now in force, intended by this act to be repealed; but the same shall be prosecuted, and determined, and punished, according to the said laws; nor to affect any existing contract, or debt, or demand, due to or from the Department; but all such offences, crimes, debts, duties, demands, and contracts, shall be held in force, and adjudged, determined, and executed according to the present laws in force, as though this act had not passed; nor shall it affect any appointments to office made under the laws hereby repealed.

AN ACT for the relief of Samuel Russell.

Approved, March 3, 1825.

Be it enacted, &c. That the proper accounting officers of the Treasury Department be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to pay to Samuel Russell, late Deputy Commissary of Purchases, the sum of eighteen hundred dollars, as an allowance for clerk hire, office rent, superintending the making up of army clothing, and for issuing public supplies, during the late war; and that the same be paid out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.

AN ACT for the relief of Paul Chase.

Approved, March 3, 1825.

Be it enacted, &c. That Paul Chase, and Samuel Clark his security, be, and they are hereby, discharged from the payment of the sum of three thousand two hundred dollars due to the United States, on account of duties on merchandise imported into the United States, prior to the occupation of the town of St. Mary's, in Georgia, by the British forces under the command of Admiral Cockburn, in eighteen hundred and fifteen, which merchandise was captured and carried out of the United States by the enemy.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the United States Attorney for the District of Georgia, be, and he is hereby required to enter a credit of three thousand two hundred dollars, on any judgment or judgments hereto fore recovered, in the District Court of the United States, against the said Paul Chase and his said security, on account of duties claimed by the United States, on merchandise so imported into the United States by the said Paul Chase; and also for the costs which may have accrued thereon.

AN ACT for the relief of Moses Shepherd.

Approved, March 3, 1825.

Be it enacted, &c. That there be paid to Moses Shepherd, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of thirty-three thousand six hundred and seventy-four dollars and thirty six cents, in full for balance due him.

Approved, March 3, 1825.

AN ACT for the relief of William Little, administrator of Minor Reeves.

Be it enacted, &c. That the proper accounting officer of the Treasury be directed to settle and allow the claim of Wilham Little, administrator of Minor Reeves, for a horse and equipage lost in the campaign against the Seminoie Indians, upon the same principles that other claims have been settled, for similar losses, under the act approv ed the fourth of May, eighteen hundred and twenty-one, entitled "An act for the relief of the officers, volunteers, and other persons, engaged in the late campaign against the Seminole Indians; and that the amount, so allowed, be paid out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.

Approved, March 3, 1825.

AN ACT making appropriation to satisfy certain balances due to the Commissioners and Secretaries of Land

Claims in Florida.

Be it enacted, &c. That there be, and hereby is, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of three thousand three hundred and eighty-six dollars and five cents, to satisfy certain

18th CONGRESS, 24 SESSION.

Laws of the United States.

balances due to the Commissioners of Land Claims in Florida, and the several Secretaries, prior to thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four.

Approved-March 3, 1825.

AN ACT for the relief of Capt. Daniel T. Patterson, of the Navy of the United States.

Be it enacted, &c. That the proper accounting officers of the Treasury Department be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to pass to the credit of Captain Daniel T. Patterson, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, the amount with which he stands overcharged on the books of the Navy Department.

AN ACT for the relief of Priscilla Adams.

Approved-March 3, 1825.

Be it enacted, &c. That the proper accounting officers of the Treasury Department be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to ascertain and pay to Priscilla Adams, widow and administratrix of Charles Adams, deceased, late a soldier of the sixteenth regunent United States' Infantry, the amount of monthly pay and bounty, due to the said Charles Adains at the time of his death; and that the samne shall be paid out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.

AN ACT for the relief of Thomas Hewes.

Approved-March 3, 1825.

Be it enacted, &c. That the proper accounting officers of the Treasury Department be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to pay to Thomas Hewes, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the balance which will remain of the sum of four thousand one hundred and sixty-four dollars twenty-four cents, being the amount collected from him by the Marshal of the District of Louisiana, in virtue of an execution issued against him as the security of James Jones, for the District Court of the United States for the state of Vermont, after deducting the amount of duties remaining upon certain goods imported into Vermont from Canada, by said Jones, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twelve, with interest thereon, and all necessary expenses incurred by the United States, in prosecuting the suits instituted against the said Jones and Hewes, on account of the importation of said goods.

Be

Apppoved-March 3, 1825.

AN ACT granting certain rights to David late, Josiah Fletcher, and John Weatherford.

enacted, &c. That all right, title, and interest, which the United States possess, in each of the reser vations severally made to David Tate, Josiah Fletcher, and John Weatherford, of lands within the tract of country ceded to the United States by the treaty of Fort Jackson, of the ninth day of August, eighteen hundred and fourteen, with the Creek Nation of Indians, be, and the saine is hereby, vested in each occupant and claimant of the tract so reserved and occupied and claimed by him: Provided, That no one claim shall exceed the quantity of six hundred and forty acres.

AN ACT for the relief of John S. Stiles.

Approved-March 3, 1825.

Be it enacted, &c. That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to institute a re-examination of the case of three vessels, to wit: the ship Fabius, the brig Aid, and the schooner Ann, formerly owned by George Stiles, now deceased; which vessels, during the late war, were sunk for the defence of the harbor of Baltimore. And the Secretary of the Navy is hereby further authorized to allow to the legal representative of said George Stiles, such sum as, with what has already been allowed, he, the said Secretary shall deem a just and reasonable compensation for the detention of said vessels, from the seventeenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, to the time when they were delivered to the owner, and from thence to the termination of the period necessary to repair the injury done to them by sinking; according to the intent and meaning of the act of Congress, passed on the twenty-sixth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and twentytwo, entitled "An Act for the relief of sundry citizens of Baltimore; the said sum to be ascertained in such manner as the Secretary of the Navy shall direct; which sum, so allowed, shall be paid out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.

Approved-March 3, 1825.

AN ACT for the relief of Thomas L. Ogden, and others.

Be it enacted, &c. That there be paid to Thomas L. Ogden, and others, proprietors of grounds contiguous to the village of Sackett's Harbor, for wood consumed by the army of the United States during the late war, the sum of three thousand seven hundred and ten dollars, being in full of the claim made by the said Ogden, on behalf of himself and others, for property taken for public use as aforesaid, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.

AN ACT for the relief of Wm. Townsend.

Approved-March 3, 1825.

Be it enacted, &c. That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to pay to William Townsend, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of nine hundred and twenty

VOL. 1.-13

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