A message, in writing, was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Todd, his Secretary, as follows:

To the Senate and House of

Representatives of the United States,

I lay before Congress copies of a proclamation notifying the convention concluded with Great Britain on the 3d day of July last, and that the same has been duly ratified: and I recommend to Congress such legislative provisions as the conven tion may call for on the part of the United States. JAMES MADISON.

December 23, 1815.

Ordered, That the said message and convention be referred to the committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Taylor, of New-York, from the committee of Elections, made a report on the petition of Erastus Root, contesting the election of John Adams, one of the members for the State of NewYork, which was read, and the resolutions therein contained were concurred in by the House, as follows:

1. Resolved, That John Adams is not entitled to a seat in this house.

2. Resolved, That Erastus Root is entitled to a seat in this house.

The said Erastus Root, thereupon appeared and took his seat, the oath to support the constitu tion of the United States being first administered to him by Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, from the committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill making provi sion for three additional military academies, which was read the first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole House on Thursday

next.

An engrossed bill, entitled “ An act for the relief of Thomas and John Clifford, Elisha Fisher and Company, Thomas Clifford, and Thomas Clifford and Son," was read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the title be as aforesaid, and that the clerk do carry the said bill to the Senate and desire their concurrence therein.

On motion of Mr. Ross,

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be directed to communicate to the House, if any thing, and what has been done in pursuance of the act of Congress, of the 18th of April, 1814, entitled "An act authorizing a subscription to the laws of the United States, and for the distribution thereof," and if any thing has occurred to delay or prevent the preparation, execution or distribution of the work, to whom, or to what cause it is attributable.

On motion of Mr. Lovett,

Resolved, That the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims be instructed to inquire whether Joshua Merrill is not entitled to an increase of pension from the grade of his disability, supported by documents heretofore presented to Congress.

The orders were postponed.

And the house adjourned until to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, December 27, 1815.

Mr. Strong presented a petition of Benjamin Randall praying for an increase of the pension heretofore granted to him.

Mr. Yates presented a petition of Joseph J. Van Driesen, praying for a pension.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. King, of Massachusetts, presented a petition of the York Cotton Factory Company, in the State of Massachusetts, praying that such protec tion 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 militia, or vol

unteers, 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 be claimed, for the use and risk of the same, may 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.

The

Yeas 54. Nays 83. yeas and nays being required by one fifth

of the members present,

Those who voted in the affirmative, were