such petitions, matters and things touching the manufactures, as shall be presented or shall or may come in question and be referred to them by the House, and to report from time to time, their opinion thereon. The said resolution was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

A motion was made by Mr. Troup, and seconded, that the House do come to the following resolutions:

1. Resolved, That it is expedient to authorize the President, by law, to instruct the commanders of the armed vessels of the United States, to stop and bring into the ports of the same all ships or vessels, with their cargoes, the property of the subjects of the king of Great Britain, and of the emperor of France, bound to other ports than those within the colonies or dominions of either.

2. Resolved, That it is expedient further to authorize, by law, the detention of all ships or vessels with their cargoes, the property of the subjects of the king of Great Britain, until the duties to be regulated and ascertained by law shall be first levied and collected upon the goods and merchandise, whereof the said ships or vessels shall be laden, according to the rate or tariff therein prescribed, and until the said ships or vessels shall have received due license to depart.

3. Resolved, That it is expedient further to authorize by law, the detention of all ships or vessels with their cargoes, the property of the subjects of the emperor of France, brought within the ports of the United States, there to abide the final decision or order of the government in relation to the same.

4. Resolved, That an advalorum duty of be levied and collected on all goods, wares and merchandise, of British product or manufacture.

5. Resolved, That it is expedient further to authorize the President, on payment of the duties authorized to be levied and collected on the goods laden on board vessels, the property of the subjects of the king of Great Britain, forthwith to grant a license

to such vessels to depart and to proceed to the port of original destination without further hindrance or molestation.

The said resolutions were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion of Mr. Seybert,

Ordered, That the petition of John Mullowny, of the city of Philadelphia, presented on the seventeenth of February one thousand eight hundred and seven, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Samuel Smith,

Ordered, That the petition of Nathaniel Irish, and the petition of John M'Coy, presented on the thir. teenth of December one thousand eight hundred and five, and fifteenth of December one thousand eight hundred and eight, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Gardner,

Ordered, That the petition of Tristram Hussey, presented on the sixth of February one thousand eight hundred and four, be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

On motion of Mr. Poindexter,

Ordered, That the petition of John Baker, of the Mississippi territory, presented on the tenth of Feb. ruary one thousand eight hundred and seven, be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. Poindexter presented a petition of Joseph Willson, of the Mississippi territory, praying for per mission to record in the office, a certificate of pre-emp tion right to a certain tract of land in the said territory, granted him by the land commissioners east of Pearl river.

Mr. Poindexter also presented a petition of John Steele and Roger Dixon, of the Mississippi territory, executors of the last will and testament of Polser Shilling, deceased, praying that the devisces of the said deceased may be confirmed in their title to a certain tract of land which was the property of the

said Shilling at his death, lying on Fair Childs Creek in said territory.

Ordered, That the said petitions be severally referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

A motion was made by Mr. Nicholson, and seconded, that the House do come to the following resolution:

Resolved, That provision be made by law for a general national establishment of banks throughout the United States, and that the profits arising from the same, together with such surplusses of revenue as may accrue, be appropriated for the "general wellfare" in the construction of public roads and canals, and the establishment of seminaries for education throughout the United States.

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

On motion of Mr. Fisk, and seconded,

Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law, for taking the third census of the inhabitants of the United States.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolution, and that Mr. Fisk, Mr. Pitkin, Mr. Bibb, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Whitman, do prepare and bring in the same.

An engrossed bill to authorize the transportation of certain documents, free of postage, was read the third time.

Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be "An act to authorize the transportation of certain documents free of postage."

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

rence.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, eleven o'clock.

TUESDAY, December 5, 1809.

Two other members, to wit: from Maryland, John Campbell; and from Georgia, Dennis Smelt, appeared, and took their seats in the House.

On motion of Mr. Gold,

Ordered, That the petition of Elizabeth Hamilton, presented on the thirtieth of May last, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Troup presented a petition of Samuel Mims, of the Mississippi territory, praying to be confirmed in his title to two tracts of land lying on the east side of Tombigbee river, in said territory.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, as followeth:

"To the Senate and House

of Representatives of the United States.

"I now transmit a report of the Secretary of the Navy, containing statements from that department, referred to in my message of the twenty-ninth ultimo. "JAMES MADISON.

"December 4, 1809."

Ordered, That the said message, and documents which accompany the same, be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

On motion of Mr. Newton,

Ordered, That the letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting two statements of the importations in American and foreign vessels, commencing the first of October, one thousand eight hundred and six, and ending the thirtieth of September, one thousand eight hundred and seven, be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

On motion of Mr. Desha, and seconded,

Resolved, That the Con.mittee on Post-offices and Post-roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post-road from Kanhawa court house, in the state of Virginia, by the mouth of Big Sandy, Greenup court house, Lewis court house, to Flemingsburg, in the state of Kentucky.

Mr. Quincy presented a petition of Susannah Fowle, widow of Ebenezer Smith Fowle, deceased, late a lieutenant of artillery in the army of the United States, praying that such provision may be made as will be adequate for her future maintenance and support, in consequence of the services of her said decased husband, who died in the service of the public. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Bard presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of Centre county, in the state of Pennsylvania, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying for the establishment of a post-road from Lewistown to Bellefonte, in the said state.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on Post-offices and Post-roads.

Mr. Poindexter, from the committee appointed on the twenty-eighth ultimo, presented, according to order, a bill supplemental to an act, entitled "An act extending the right of suffrage in the Indiana territory, and for other purposes," which was received and read the first time.

On motion,

The said bill was read the second time, and com mitted to a committee of the whole House, to

morrow.

A motionwas made by Mr. M'Kim, and seconded, that the House do come to the following resolution:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of prohibiting, by law, vessels owned by citizens of the United States from