Mr. King, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of the York Cotton Factory Company, in the State of Massachusetts, praying that such protection and encouragement may be extended to the manufacturing establishments within the United States, as may, in the wisdom of Congress, seem meet and proper.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Chipman presented a petition of John H. Peaslee, Nathan B. Haswell, and Russell Jones, praying to be discharged from imprisonment, being confined on executions issued at the suit of the United States.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. Chipman, Mr. Root, Mr. Smith, of Virginia, Mr. Cilley, and Mr. Noyes.

Mr. Lyle presented a petition of Sampson S. King, late a major in the army of the United States, stating that he is unable to settle his accounts, because of the loss of his vouchers by water, and praying that the accounting officers may be directed to settle his accounts in such manner as will be just and proper.

Mr. Desha presented a petition of Elihu Mather, late an adjutant in the militia service of the United States, praying compensation for his services as

such.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Claims.

On motion of Mr. Thomas Wilson,

Ordered, that the petition of Peter Audrain, presented on the 16th December, 1811, be referred to the committee of Claims.

Mr. Ross presented petitions of sundry inhabitants of the county of Lehigh, in the State of Pennsylvania, praying that the several acts imposing

duties on distilleries, on domestic manfactures, and on retailers may be repealed, and that the direct tax may be augmented.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. McKee presented a petition of John Bate, praying that his lease for the United States saline, near the mouth of the Wabash River, in the territory of Illinois, may be extended, for reasons stated in the petition.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to Mr. McKee, Mr. Powell, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Baylies, and Mr. Moffit.

Mr. Pleasants from the committee on Naval Affairs, reported a resolution requesting the President of the United States to present medals to Captain James Biddle, and the officers of the sloop of war Hornet, which was read the first and second time, and committed to a committee of the whole House on Friday next.

Mr. Pleasants also reported a bill rewarding the officers and crew of the sloop of war Hornet, for the capture and destruction of the British sloop of war Penguin; which was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole House on Friday next.

The House resumed the consideration of the amendments reported by the committee of the whole House to the bill making compensation for property lost, captured, or destroyed while in the military service of the United States; and the said amendments being again read, were concurred in by the House.

A motion was then made, by Mr. Yancey, further to amend the said bill by inserting the following section:

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That any person, whether of cavalry, mounted militja, or vol

anteers, who, in the late war aforesaid, has sustained damage by the loss of a horse, in consequence of the owner being dismounted, or separated and detached from the same, by order of the commanding officer; or in consequence of the rider being killed or wounded in battle, shall be allowed and paid the value of such horse, at the time he was received into the public service; deducting therefrom, the amount which has been paid, or may be claimed, for the use and risk of the same, while in the service aforesaid,

A motion was then made by Mr. Desha, to amend the said amendment by striking out the following words: " deducting therefrom the amount which has been paid or may be claimed for the use and risk of the same while in the service aforesaid."

And the question being taken thereon

It was determined in the negative. Nays 83. The yeas and nays being required by one fifth of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, were

The said bill being further amended, was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time to

morrow.

On motion of Mr. Thomas,

Resolved, That the committee on military affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting donations of 160 acres of land to all persons under the age of 18 years, and over 45 years, that have enlisted as regular soldiers in the army of the United States, to serve for five years, or during the late war; and who have, or shall receive an honourable discharge.

On motion of Mr. Root,

Resolved, That the committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of discontinuing the post-road from Delhi to Meridith, and extending the Stamford and Roseville post-road to the village of Delhi, in the county of Delaware, and State of New-York. On motion of Mr. Thomas,

Resolved, That the committee on Military Affairs, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the equitable liquidation of all claims against the quarter-master's department, for rations and forage furnished to any of the troops of the United States, either volunteers, militia, or regulars, by a citizen whose accounts or vouchers are informal.