Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[Reported for the Alexandria Gazette.]

WEDNESDAY, February 3

Mr. Richardson presented the petition of Seth Wright and others, merchants of Boston, stating that since the declaration of war they have imported goods from the dependencies of Great Britain, and praying a remission of the penalty incurred by so doing. Referred to the committee of the whole house reported by the committee of ways and means on that subject.

Mr. Archer presented a petition, complaining of extortions on the part of Oliver Evans, in respect to his patent right for machinery in mills. and praying a repeal or modification of the law granting him the right. Referred to the committee of commerce and manufactures.

Mr. Gholson, from the committee of claims, reported the bill from the senate for the relief of Washington Glebe, without amendment. It was referred to a committee of the whole house for to-morrow.

Mr. Cheves from the committee of ways and means, reported a bill regulating the value of gold coins and for other purposes, which was twice read and referred to a committee of the whole house for to-morrow.

Mr. Rhea from the committee on post offices and post roads, reported a bill in addition to an act regulating the post office establishment.

The bill provides that the postmaster general may contract with the proprietors of steam boats for carrying the mail. Read twice and referred to a committee of the whole house.

Mr. Goldsborough from the select committee to whom was referred the petition of Solomon Frazier and Mary Eccleston, made a favorable report, which was read and referred to the committee of ways & means.

Mr. Lacock offered the following :

Resolved, that the committee of commerce and manufactures be instructed to enquire into the expediency of bringing in a bill in confirmation of an act of the legislature of Pennsylvania, establishing a board of wardens and pilots for the port of Philadelphia. Adopted.

Mr. Widgery offered the following:

Resolved, that a committee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of altering the time of holding the district courts of the U. States in the district of Maine, now holden on the 2d Monday in March, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Adopted and a committee of 3 ordered.

An engrossed bill giving further time to the purchasers of public lands to complete their payments was read a third time and passed.

An engrossed bill authorising an encrease of the capital stock of the bank of Washington, was read a third time and passed.

An engrossed bill to impose a duty on the importation of iron wire was read a third time and passed.

The House in committee of the whole, Mr. Nelson in the chair, on a bill for the regulation of seamen on board the public vessels and in the merchant service of the U. S.

Mr. Grundy rose and gave an exposition of the views of the majority of the committee of Foreign Relations in reporting this bill.

Mr. Wright followed in opposition to the bill.

The committee rose, reported progress, and had leave to sit again.

The House resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday. The question on agreeing with the report of the committee of the whole house in their disagreement to the report of the select committee in favor of granting lands to the officers and soldiers of the Virginia state line.

The question was decided by ayes and noes as follow--Yeas 66 Nays 71.

Adjourned.