Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

CONGRESS,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY, February 8.

Mr. Gregg moved that the petition of Robert Sturgeon, late a collector of the revenue of the United States, imprisoned in the jail of Lewis County in this state, for debt due to the United States, heretofore presented, be referred to a select committee.

Mr. [blank] stated, the difficulties which this officer had undergone in the performance of his duty; that a part of the money which he had collected had been paid to the United States, and the rest expended in the performance of his duty. He also stated him as suffering considerably from his confinement, from being allowed only bread and water for his support.--Referred.

Mr. Nicholas presented a petition from the inhabitants of Stafford, in Virginia, praying for a post-office at Woodstock--Referred.

Mr. S. Smith, from the committee of commerce reported the bill to establish the compensation of officers employed in collecting the duties on imports and tonnage, and for other purposes, which was committed.

On motion of Mr. Otis, a petition from the weighers of Boston; and on that of Mr. Livingston, one of the same nature from New-York, was referred to the same committee.

Mr. D. Foster, from the committee of claims, made an unfavourable report on the petition of Seth Harding an officer in the late war, which was concurred in.

The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the bill for the augmentation of the navy, and fixing the pay of the captains of ships or vessels of war, when Mr. Gallatin's motion for striking out what relates to 74 gun ships being resumed, after some observations from Mr. Josiah Parker & Mr. Harper against it, and from Mr. Nicholas in favour of it, the question was put and negatived 50 to 40.

Mr. I. Williams then moved to strike out what relates to 18 gun vessels, on the ground that the 39 small vessels which we have are sufficient. The motion was negatived without a division.

Mr. I. Parker proposed filling up the blanks in the section fixing the pay of captains in the Navy, with an advance from 75 dollars to 100 dollars a month, to Captains of 74's, and others in proportion; except the masters of vessels under 20 guns, which were proposed to be lowered.

Some objection, however, being made to this, and particularly to the mode of doing the business, this being the first time that the subject had been before the house, the section was moved to be struck out, and carried.

The committee then rose, and the house having concurred in the amendment reported.

Mr. Nicholas renewed the motion for striking out the 74 gun ships, and called the Yeas and Nays upon it. They were taken as follow:

YEAS.

NAYS.

The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The bill for the relief of Thomas Lewis, was read the third time and passed.

On motion of Mr. I. Parker, the house resolved itself into committees of the whole on the two following bills, which were reported without debate or amendment, viz.

The bill authorizing the establishment of Docks; and

The bill, authorizing the purchase of Timber for Naval purposes.

They were severally ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.

Mr. Hartley said, that since presenting the petition which he had laid before the house from York County, praying for a repeal of certain laws, he had been written to on the subject, he gave notice; therefore, that he should call up the petition for consideration on Monday.

The Speaker saying it would be necessary to make it the order for that day, Mr. Hartley made that motion, which was carried.

Adjourned to this day.

Meffrs. Baldwin, Bard, Brent, Brown, Cabell, T. Claiborne, W. Claiborne, Clopton, Dawfon, Eggleton, Elmendorf, Findley, Fowler, Gallatin, Gillefpie, Gregg, Hanna, Harrifon, Havens, Heifter, Meffrs. Holmes, Jones, Livingston, Locke, Macon, M·Clenachan, M·Dowell, New, Nicholas, Skinner, W. Smith, Sprigg, Stanford, Sumter, A. Trigg, J. Trigg, VanCortlandt, Varnum, Venable, R. Williams,

Meifrs. Allen,	Meifrs. A. Fofter,
Bacr,	D. Fofter,
Bartlet,	J. Freeman,
Bayard,	Glen,
Brace,	Goodrich,
Brooks,	Gordon,
Bullock,	Grifwold,
Chaplin,	Grove,
Cochran,	Harper,
Craik,	Hartley,
Dana,	Hindman,
Dennis,	Hofmer,
Dent,	Imlay,
Edmend,	Kittera,
Evans,	Lyman,
Macbir,	Sinnickfon,
Matthews,	S. Smith,
Morgan,	Spaight
Otis,	Thatcher,
I. Parker	Thomas
J. Parker,	Thompfon,
Pinckney,	Tillinghaft,
Reed,	Van Allen,
Rutledge,	Wadfworth,
Schuremas,	Wain,
Sewall,	J. Williams,