Mr. Bibb presented a petition of William Gaston, merchant of Savannah, in the state of Georgia, praying to be exonerated from the payment of a bond given to the United States, upon the clearance of a brig called the Eliza and Mary, from the port of Savannah for the port of New York, laden with cotton, which vessel, unknown to him, and through the directions of her owner and commander; fraudulently proceeded for a port in Europe, in violation of the "Act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States."

Mr. Southard presented a memorial of sundry inhabitants of the state of New Jersey, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying that the town of Jersey may be made a port of entry.

Mr. Quincy presented petitions from sundry manufacturers of salt, in the state of Massachusetts, whose names are thereunto subscribed, respectively praying that duties may be imposed on salt, impor. ted from foreign places.

Mr. Wheaton presented a petition from sundry other manufacturers of salt within the said state, to the same effect.

Mr. Gardner presented similar petitions from manufacturers of salt in the towns of Brewster, Dennis and Truro, in the said state.

Mr. Say presented a memorial of Antonio Ama, a subject of his catholic majesty, and late from Vera Cruz, praying to be allowed the proceeds of an adventure of about three thousand dollars in merchandise, which he shipped on board the schooner William and Samuel, in the month of August last, which merchandise was condemned as forfeited to the United States for a violation of the laws relating to an embargo, of which as he states, he was wholly ignorant.

Mr. Dana presented a petition of Henry Mead, of New Haven, in the state of Connecticut, praying that the duty at present imposed on the importation of

camphor and borax, in its crude and unrefined state may be repealed.

Ordered that the said petitions be severally referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufac

tures.

Mr. Holland presented a petition of Frederick Sponcelar, praying to be allowed a balance of pay due for his services as a soldier in the continental army, during the revolutionary war with Great Britain.

Mr. Sturges presented a petition of Daniel Bradley, of the state of Connecticut, a major in the army of the United States, praying to be allowed the value of a horse, which was killed while in the actual dis charge of his official duty.

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

On motion of Mr. Lewis,

Ordered, That the petition of Lucy Dixon, of Winchester in the state of Virginia, presented the twenty-fifth of November, one thousand eight hundred and eight, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Love,

Ordered, That the petition of John Strother, of the state of Virginia, presented the eighth of December, one thousand eight hundred and eight, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Ordered, That Mr. Gardenier and Mr. Newbold, have leave to be absent from the service of this House for the remainder of the session.

Mr. Desha presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Bourbon, Nicholas, Fleming, Lewis and Greenup, in the state of Kentucky, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying the estabJishment of a post-road from Cyntheana, by Paris and Mount Sterling, to the Big Sandy salt works, in the said state.

Mr. Desha also presented a petition from sundry inhabitants of the counties of Bourbon, Harrison and

Montgomery, in the state of Kentucky, whose names are thereunto subscribed, to the like effect with the petition last stated.

Ordered, That the said petitions be severally referred to the committee of the whole House, on the bill to alter and establish certain post-roads

Mr. Montgomery, from the committee appointed on the second instant, presented, according to order, a bill making compensation to major Zebulon M. Pike, and his companions, which was received and read the first time, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Montgomery from the same committee, also presented a detailed report in relation to the services of major Pike and his companions in their late exploring expeditions, which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

The Speaker laid before the House a report of the attorney general of the United States, on the petitions of Edward Livingston, and of sundry inhabitants of the city and territory of Orleans, in relation to a parcel of ground adjoining the city of New Orleans, called the Batture, referred to him during the last session of Congress, which was read and referred to Mr. Macon, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Smilie, Mr. Seaver and Mr. Thompson.

On a motion made and leave given by the House, Mr. Newton, from the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, presented according to order, a bill making appropriations for re-building two light houses on Plumb island in the state of Massachusetts, which was received and read the first time.

On motion,

The said bill was read the second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House, on Wednesday next.

Mr. Southard, from the committee appointed on the first instant, presented according to order, a bill to revive and make permanent "An act to prescribe the mode of taking evidence in cases of contested

elections for members of the House of Representatives of the United States, and to compel the attendance of witnesses;" and in addition to the same, which was received and read the first time.

On motion,

The said bill was read the second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House, on Wednesday next.

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

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed the bill, entitled "An act supplementary to the act, entitled An act making appropriations for carrying into effect a treaty between the United States, and the Chickasaw tribe of Indians ;" and to establish a land-office in the Mississippi territory;" they have passed a resolution, in the form of a concurrent resolution of the two Houses, proposing an adjournment of the present session of Congress on the twentieth of the present month: And then he withdrew.

Mr. Love presented a petition of David Blackwell, of the state of Virginia, praying to be allowed the amount of a loan-office certificate issued by the treasurer of loans for the said state of Virginia, for debts contracted by the United States during the revolutionury war with Great Britain.

Mr. Mumford presented a memorial of James Connel, of the city of New York, praying relief in consideration of personal injuries received in the public service at the Navy-yard, at the said city of New York.

The said petitions were read, and severally referred to the Committee of Claims.

The Speaker presented a petition from the inhabitants of the district east of Pearl river, in the Missisippi territory, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying that the said territory may be divided into two separate governments, and that Pearl river may be the boundary line of the divisions.

The said petition was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Gholson, from the joint committee for enrolled bills, reported, that the committee had examined an enrolled bill, entitled "An act making appropriations to complete the fortifications commenced for the security of the ports and harbors of the United States, and to erect such fortifications as may be necessary for the protection of the northern and western frontiers 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.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill authorizing the discharge of John Heard, from his imprisonment; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cutts 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 proceeded to consider the joint resolu. tion from the Senate, designating the time for the adjournment of the present session of Congress; When it was

Ordered, That the consideration of the said joint resolution be postponed until Thursday next.

The bill sent from the Senate, entitled "An act for extending the benefit of a drawback of the duties upon exportation of all goods, wares and merchandise subject thereto, that may be transported by land from the district of Newport to the port of Boston, and from said Boston to said Newport," was read the first time.

On motion,