CHAPTER XLVII. AN ACT cencerning the Naval Establishment. Certain frigates to be re paired and mission. put into com BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorised and empowered to cause to be immediately repaired, equipped and put into actual service, the frigates Chesapeake, Constel. lation and Adams; and that a sum not ex- Appropria ceeding three hundred thousand dollars be, tion. and is hereby appropriated for that purpose. the navy may Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the officers and seamen of the navy may be in- Officers of creased so far as may be necessary to officer, be increased man and equip the vessels so to be put into accordingly. service, any law to the contrary notwithstanding. An annual appropriation terials adapt. repair of Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, annually, for three years, viz: one thousand eight for the purhundred and twelve, one thousand eight hun. chase of madred and thirteen and one thousand eight hun- ed to the dred and fourteen, be appropriated towards rebuilding & the purchase and supply of a stock of every certain fridescription of timber required for ship build- gates. ing and other navy purposes; and that the first appropriation thereof be made in the purchase of timber suitable for rebuilding the frigates Philadelphia, General Greene, New York and Boston. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the sums herein specifically appropriated shall be paid out of any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. M How the sums appropriated are to be paid. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That Gun boats to as soon as it shall be deemed compatible with be distributed the good of the public service, the gun boats now in commission be laid up, and with those not in commission, be distributed in the seve. ral harbors of the maritime frontier which are most exposed to attack, to be carefully kept and used as circumstances may require. to be used as circumstances may require. Pursers to be with the Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the pursers in the navy of the United States appointed by shall be appointed by the President of the Uthe President nited States, by and with the advice and conapprobation sent of the Senate; and that from and after the of the Senate. first day of May next, no person shall act in the character of purser, who shall not have been thus first nominated and appointed, excepting pursers on distant service who shall not remain in service after the first day of July next, unless nominated and appointed as aforesaid. And every purser, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall give bond, with two or more sufficient sureties, in the penalty of ten thousand dollars, conditioned faithfully to perform all the duties of purser in the navy of the United States. H. CLAY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. WM. H. CRAWFORD, President of the Senate, pro-tempore. March 30, 1812. APPROVED, JAMES MADISON, CHAPTER XLVIII. AN ACT granting to the Corporation of the City of New Orleans the use and possession af a lot in the said City. portion of Orleans ceded to the BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of AmeRight of the rica in Congress assembled, That all the right United States and claim of the United States to the use, pos- to a certain session and occupancy of a space of one hun- ground in the dred and fifty by one hundred and twenty five City of New feet of a vacant lot of ground, in the city of New Orleans, bounded by Bienville and Cus- City. tom house streets, and by Levee street and the high road be, and the same is hereby vested in the corporation of the said city. And the said corporation is authorised to use, possess and occupy the same, for the purpose of erecting or causing to be erected and kept in operation a steam engine, or engines, for conveying water into the said city, and all buildings necessary to the said purpose: Provided, Proviso. That if the said space of ground shall not be occupied for the said purpose, within the term of three years, from and after the passing of this act, or shall at any time thereafter cease to be so occupied, for the term of three years, the right and claim of the United States therete, shall remain unimpaired: And provided Proviso. also, That this act shall not affect the claim, or claims of any individual or individuals, if any such there be. H. CLAY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. WM. H. CRAWFORD, April 3, 1812. APPROVED, JAMES MADISON. for ninety days. CHAPTER XLXIX. AN ACT laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States, for a limited time. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That an embarEmbargo laid go be, and hereby is laid for the term of ninety days from and after the passing of this act, on all ships and vessels in the ports and places within the limits or jurisdiction of the United States, cleared or not cleared, bound to any foreign port or place; and that no clearance be furnished to any ship or vessel bound to such foreign port or place, except vessels in ballast, with the consent of the President of the United States; and that the President be authorised to give such instructions to the officers of the revenue, and of the navy and revenue cutters of the United States, as shall appear best adapted for carrying the same into full effect: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the departure of any foreign ship or vessel, either in ballast or with the goods, wares and merchandise on board of such foreign ship or vessel when notified of this act. Proviso. Bond: to be given that all goods, &c. &c. shipped in the ports of the United States shall be relanded in others of the United States. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That during the continuance of this act, no registered or sea letter vessel shall be allowed to depart from any one port of the United States to any other within the same, unless the master, owner, consignee or factor of such vessel, shall first give bond, with one or more sureties, to the collector of the district from which she is bound to depart, in a sum of double the value of the vessel and cargo, conditioned that the goods, wares or merchandise, with which she shall be laden, shall be relanded in some port of the United States. Penalties for going to fo reign ports. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That if any ship or vessel shall, during the continuance of this act, depart from any port of the United States, without a clearance or permit, or if any ship or vessel shall, contrary to the provisions of this act, proceed to a foreign port or place, or trade with, or put on board of any other ship or vessel, any goods, wares or merchandise, of foreign or domestic growth or manufacture, such ships or vessels, goods, wares and merchandise shall be wholly forfeited, and, if the same shall not be seized, the owner or owners, agent, freighter or factors, of any such ship or vessel, shall for every such offence forfeit and pay a sum equal to double the value of the ship or vessel and cargo, and shall never thereafter be allowed a credit for duties on any goods, wares or merchandise, imported by him or them into any of the ports of the United States; and the master or commander of such ship or vessel, as well as all other persons who shall knowingly be concerned in such prohibited foreign voyage, shall each respectively forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding twenty thousand, nor less than one thousand dollars for every such offence, whether the vessel be seized and condemned or not; and the oath or affirmation of any master or commander, knowingly offending against the provisions of this section, shall ever thereafter be inadmissible before any collector of the customs of the United States. Penalties, Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That how to be reall penalties and forfeitures arising under, or distributed, incurred by virtue of, this act, may be sued &c. &c. covered, |