The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

Congress of the United States.
House of Representatives.
Friday, December 24, 1802.

A communication was received from the Secretary of State containing an abstract of the collectors' returns pursuant to the act for the relief and protection of American seamen, also extracts from the communications received from the agents in foreign countries for the relief of American Seamen.

Mr. Thatcher presented a petition from sundry inhabitants of Maine, praying for a division of the district of Waldoborough.
Referred to committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Greene called up the resolution offered by him yesterday, instructing the committee of Commerce and Manufactures to enquire into the expediency of providing by law, for fixing the port of entry for the Mississippi Territory at Fort Adams, and the port of delivery at the Natchez.
On the suggestion of Mr. Griswold the resolution was so modified, as to confine it to an enquiry into the expediency of making the Natchez a port of delivery, in which shape it passed.

Mr. Van Rensselaer moved the appointment of a committee to bring in a bill for erecting a monument to the memory of General Herkimer, pursuant to a resolution of Congress passed the 4th October, 1777.
Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Thomas called the attention of the House to a part of the unfinished business of the last session. A bill to extinguish the claims of the United States for balances reported against certain states, &c. was postponed during the last session to the 4th Monday in November. He moved the reference of so much of the report of the committee of Revisal and Unfinished business as related to this subject, to a select committee.
Ayes 26—Noes.

Mr. Morris observed that, if in order, he would move the reference of so much of the report of Revisal and Unfinished business as related to the petition of C. L'Enfant, to the Secretary of State.
The Speaker said this would be irregular, as it would involve the reference of a report of the committee of Claims to the Secretary, which was contrary to the practice of the House.

Mr. Morris, afterwards, moved the reference of the Report of the Committee of claims on the petition of Mr. L'Enfant to a committee of the whole on Monday week—Carried.

Mr. Morris then moved that the Secretary of State be directed to furnish this House with such documents as are in his possession, relating to the claim of C. L'Enfant for services rendered in laying out the city of Washington under the direction of the President of the United States.
Agreed to.

Mr. Rutledge presented the petition of Thomas Shubrick, of South Carolina, praying to be released from a contract made by him in 1799 for supplying timber for the building of 74's.
Mr. Rutledge stated at considerable length the circumstances attending the case, and moved a reference of the petition to the Secretary of the Navy.
Agreed to.

Mr. Lowndes presented the petition of Adam Tunno and others, assignees of M'Farlane, &c. praying to be released from the payment of duties on goods destroyed by fire.
Referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

We are desired to state Mr. Morris to have observed, on Wednesday, that the necessity of his motion to prolong the time of selling lands for the non-payment of taxes arose from the confused manner in which the assessment had been made in a part of the state he represented, instead of in that part of the state he represented.