Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-12-18
----rs s,.S :h>---
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRE- ENT.d1IYRS.
Tasen for the Alesandria Gazette
MONDAY, Dec. II.

HkoSDaAs 4IL(s ~
Mr.. Pogderas moved that the petition of
the legislature of New Orleans Territory,
PRAYING to be admitted into the union,
which was presented to Congress the last
session, should now be referred to a selec,
committee. Carried, and committee of
seven appointed.
A cemmunit arion was received from the
Secretary of the Navy, containing stale
public yefIels, Sc. and another communi-
canon, stating the change O! appropriations
made the last year, from one object TO ano-
,hcr. Retired to tic committee on the
navy.
A communication was received from the
Secretary of the Treasury, containing
s.atem, nj oil the amount OF duties on draw
back Tor the years 1907, 1903 and 1909.
o der@d to be printed.
! Mr.. Enpes presented bill providing a
salary tor he additional assistant Post
! Master General. Read twice and referred
10 the committee of the whole for tomor-
row.
Mr.. Norrozv off red resolution for the
appointment OF committee to enquire IN
to the expedirncy OF making certain roads
in Ohio on motion the subject vas refer.
rcd 10 the land committee.
The bill fixing the rases of repre- seuta,ion
! according 10 the third census was cali d.
| vi Sturges moved for I'D indefinite post
| ponement After some debate tne yeas
and NAYS were called, aud were:
For an indefinite postponement Sc
Againsy it 81
! Mr.. p;tkin then moved tina, the bill be
j postponed alt tn. Sd Monday 10 February.
! After considerable bate, the yeas and
nays were taken, and were:
For the motion sc
| Against it 81
Ad;oulGed at S O'clock.
! Comparing the several accounts recently
,recrived from Portugal, there seems to be
/ little probability, that Masscna Will be able
very speedily &c drive the English into the
sea, agreeable to this ordets. They are
strongly entrenchrd, and ne French have
quietly occupied positions inme distely in
their vicinity tor some ,im- But this cir
cumstance gives little prospect OF any ia
liogton should End himsdlf competent 20
make the attack. Massena is an expert
enced general end W. have no reason to
d.oht his Judgment H wall no, risk a
conflict where the chance is sgaiese him..
# lord Wellington acts only Oh the d cfrn-
sivr, there will be no grand engagement.
unless Niassena is powerfully reinforced &,
or compelled by want Of provisions TO haz.
ard battle or passiveiv sssrve. II Masse-
mas situation is really perilous will Bona
parse suffer it to be long so? The loss Of
an army of seventy Thousand would Dc no
tifiing misfortune, even TO the conqueror
of Europe. Surely then it must be the
!. policy Of the combined army to attack in
turn soon, or tn odds against them will be
na;,ltiplied.- Lord Wellington cannot be
contented to meet the soiicitlde OF his own
poverntners with continued assurances that
he is securely pcssed, well provided, and
his army ia good spirits. As the French
army cannot be in fossresses.i it is problem
whether the advantage Of making the as
sauss, which the French have found as
great on land as tsr British have by sea,
would not be a couaterbalaace tc any local
! obstacle.
From these considerations we feel conf