effect of the eighth section of the first article of the constitution of government of the United States: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed, to vest in the United States any right of property in the soil, as to affect the rights of individuals therein, otherwise than the same shall or may be transferred by such individuals to the United States; and, Provided also, That the jurisdiction of the laws of this state over the persons and property of individuals, residing within the limits of the cession aforesaid, shall not cease, or determine, until Congress shall by law provide for the government thereof, under their jurisdiction, in manner provided by the article of the constitution before recited."

By this law the state of Maryland had parted with its right of sovereignty, as well of soil as of persons, within that part of the District of Columbia which lay within the state of Maryland, within which the land claimed by the petitioner lies, to the Congress and the government of the United States. In this law is also a proviso, that nothing therein contained shall vest in the United States any right of property in the soil, so as to affect the right of individuals therein. But the land which the petitioner asks for was unappropriated. No individual had any right whatever thereto; nor can such a construction of this proviso in the law of cession, by the state of Maryland, be admitted, that the right was yet preserved by the state of Maryland to continue to grant such lands as might be vacant. The right and sovereignty of the soil is expressly ceded to the United States, unless where the rights of individuals were concerned. The petitioner dates his first pretensions to claim in October, 1799, at which time the state of Maryland had parted with the soil, and vested the right thereof, to all intents and purposes, in the United States.

The committee are therefore of opinion that the petitioner is entitled to no relief.

IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,

FEBRUARY 13, 1821.

Mr. MILLS, from the Committee on the Judiciary, made the following

REPORT:

The Judiciary Committee, to whom was referred the petition of Samuel Parker, have had the same under consideration, and ask leave to report,

That the petitioner states, that he obtained from the government of the United States, by letters patent, bearing date on the ninth day of July, 1808, and the 26th of April, 1809, a grant of the exclusive right and privilege of making, constructing, using, and vending to others to be used, a certain new and useful improvement in currying and finishing leather of all kinds; that the said improvement was his original invention and discovery; that it is of great public utility, and would have been a source of great profit and advantage to the said Parker, but for the reasons hereafter mentioned.

The petitioner further states, that, on the 8th day of May, 1809, and on the 1st day of November, 1810, letters patent were granted by the government to one John Woodcock and one Philip White, respectively, for the same improvement, under the false representation that they were the original inventors and discoverers thereof, and that, by reason of this improvident grant to the said Woodcock, the petitioner has been involved in two law suits with said Woodcock to maintain and defend his exclusive right to said improvement, by which he has been subjected to great expense of money and loss of time; that, previous to, and during the pendency of, said suits, the sales of the petitioner were greatly impeded and his title discredited, so that he has not only been deprived of all the profit which might have been derived from his said patents, but has actually sustained a great pecuniary loss in consequence of the act of the government. He, therefore, prays for an extension of the term for his said patents.

From a full consideration of the petition and the evidence offered in support of it the committee are fully satisfied that the said Parker was the true inventor and discoverer of the said improvements, and that they are of great public utility; that the said patents to the said Woodcock and White were improperly obtained; and that the

petitioner has sustained great injury thereby. Inasmuch, therefore, as the said Parker has, by his ingenuity and talents, benefitted the public, and has, in some degree, by the act of the government, been deprived of the fruits of his labor and the rights of his discovery, and has suffered great loss both of time and money, the committee are of opinion that he has an equitable claim for an extension of the time limited in his patents.

They, therefore, respectfully report a bill for his relief.

IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

FEBRUARY 14, 1821.

MR. VAN DYKE, from the Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the petition of P. P. Saint Guirons, and others, French emigrants engaged in the cultivation of the vine and olive, praying an alteration of the terms of the act of Congress, by which four townships of land were granted to them on certain conditions,

REPORTED:

That, in the opinion of the Committee, the act of Congress of the 3d March, 1817, conferred on the persons therein contemplated a most beneficial privilege, upon terms extremely liberal, and the Committee do not perceive any reason that will induce them to recommend any alteration in the contract referred to by the petitioners. The committee recommend the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted.