The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-01-02 00:00:00

CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

w•sntiinvoir, nO. ov• S
The House went into Committee of the whole on
the second Report in part of the Committee of Ag-
gressions.
Mr. Bcounr, of North Carolina, moved to fill
the blank in the first resolution, appropriating a
sum of money for the repairs and ere Iron of fortifi-
cations, with 750,000 dollars. Mr. Masters, (New
York) moved to fill it with 2,500,000. Mr. Gar-
dinier (New York): moved -to fill it with 4,000.000
These several motions occasioned a debate or tome
length. They were altos-wards withdrawn. and
the resolution was agreed to by the House, without
filling up t:.e blank, in fit der that the blank might
he filled in the Bill to be brought in for the purpose.
The second resolution, appropriating dollars
for the building of gunboats, was also agreed to in
the same manner, ayes 9?. The Cotnnii:ree of the
whole then rose, add reported their agreement to
the resolutions, in which the Haase concurred, and
the resolutions were referred to the Committee who
reported them, for the purpose of bringing in a
Bill.

Mr. Coon offered s I Resolutions, calling nn
the Secretary of the Navy for information on the
state of our naval affairs, which, after some debate,
were adopted.

The Howe resolved itself into a Committee of
the whole on the second Rep ,rt of the Committee
of Aggressions. Mr. Basset in the chair. The Re-
port closed with two Resolutions—the first authoris-
ing the ereelion of fortifications—the second, the
building of gun-boats, far the purpoe of defending
our ports and harbours. After a debate, cr
tory conversation, of some length, the Report was,
with a slight amendment, agreed to, and concurred
in by the House.
In this debate there was bat little methodical
speaking, nor much that would interest the reader,
except the speeches of Messrs. Gardinier and MAY.
tern, both of New-York, on the aece.sity of mak-
ing liberal appropriations for the defence of our
ports and harbours.

DEC/MIER I.

On the motion of Mr. 12uincts. Resolved.
" That the Secretar7 for the Department of War be
diredted to lay before this House, an account of the
state of the fortifications of the respenive ports and
hari-ours of the United States ; with a statement of
the monies appropriated for fortifications remaining
unexpended; and an estimate of the sums necessary
for completing such fortifications as may be nem.
sary for the defence."

Mr. 11•NOOLPli submitted the following Reso-
lutions :--
Retoleel, That provision ought to b. made by lan fur arm.
ing and equipping the ',built body of the /mow of the Vat-
ted States.

Resolved, That prevision teraht to be trade by law frw pro.
euring a fotin.dable haul of art&Uary ter the berwsce et the
11.1oltad States.

Committed to a Committee of whole Home, and
made the order for to-morrow.

Mr. Bsovter reported a bill, authotiting the for-
tification of oar ports and harbonzs, and the build-
tog of gait-busts.

•ac. t.

We hear that Mr. Erskine, the British Minister,
has received dispatches front his Government, con-
taining the riktinetem of that Government on all die
subjeas of negociation now pending between tie
two countries. excepting the affair of the Cloesainvake.
This is to form a separate object of negociation, for
which a Minister extraordinary will be dispatched
by the British Court to this country.
We do not understand that Mr. F.rskine his laid
this eionostisa ►elore our Government, nor him: we
heard the principles which it stub, aces.