Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

From our Correspondent. Washington, December 16.
You know I never stuff my letters with such things as resolutions, unless one happens to present some matter interesting to your part of the country. Whether the following do so or not, I cannot tell; but yet I send them, such as they are, for this once.
On motion of Mr. Newton, it was resolved that the committee on commerce and manufactures be directed to inquire into the expediency of erecting a light-house on Windmill Point, at the mouth of the Rappahannock river, and also of placing a floating light on Willoughby's Shoals, between Lynnhaven bay and Hampton Roads.
On motion of Mr. Hall, of North Carolina, it was resolved that the committee on post offices and post roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a mail boat to ply between Washington, N. C. and Steel Castle, at Ocracoke Bar.
The affair of Arbuthnot and Ambrister was again brought before the house this day, in a resolution proposed by Mr. Colston to call upon the president to cause to be laid before the house any correspondence which might have taken place between our government and that of Great Britain, relative to the trial and execution of those unfortunate men. Mr. Smith of Md. however, objected to it, asking Mr. Colston whether he had had any intimation of such a correspondence having taken place; to which Mr. Colston answered in the negative--but presumed, from the very nature of the case, that a correspondence respecting it was likely to have taken place--and therefore wished to have it come before the house--the more so because no bad consequence could be expected to arise from it. Mr. Rich moved that the resolution should lie on the table, which was granted.
Mr. Hopkinson again introduced the proposition about calling for the instructions and correspondence between our cabinet and our minister at Madrid, which was modified, on the suggestion of Mr. Holmes, into a shape which rendered it sufficiently palatable for the assent of the house; so it passed to this effect, viz: that the president be requested to cause to be communicated to this house such further correspondence and proceeding in relation to our affairs with Spain, as in his opinion shall not be inconsistent with the public interest to divulge.
A message was received from the president with judge Bland's report about South America, and with the papers of Mr. Porter on the same subject.
General Harrison's bill in favor of the widows of officers, &c. killed in the late war, which was debated the day before, and the question on engrossing of which was passed by but one vote, was yesterday passed, and presents in a retrospect of the various questions that were put upon it, the most singular succession of even balanced voting that, perhaps, ever occurred on any one measure. On Monday the question of engrossing was carried by one, and it is supposed that if one gentleman who had gone out when the house was calling over, had remained within, it would have fallen to the speaker to give the casting vote. Yesterday three questions were taken upon it, all by ayes and noes:--the first was for indefinite postponement, and was 79 ayes to 79 noes--the speaker voted against the postponement:--the second, which was for a recommitment, was 62 against 97:--the third was on the final passage, which was carried by 82 to 79.
I apprehend that the business of Arbuthnot and Ambrister will not be laid at rest till the whole affair is diligently canvassed: House adjourned.