December 28.-Mr. Poindexter moved a resolution, which was finally modified to read as follows:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of admitting the Mississippi Territory into the union, as a seperate and independent state.

This resolution occasioned a debate of some length, it was opposed by Messrs. Pitkin, Tallmage, Goldsborough and others; and supported, by Messrs. Macon, Smilie, Wright and others The question was finally taken by ayes and nees, and carried— ayes 77, noes 37.

The WEST FLORIDA business was before the senate this day, and an interesting debate took place. Messrs. Horsey and Clay spoke on the subject and I am told that their speeches were inferior to none that have been lately delivered in that house.

December 29. Mr. M'Kim presented the petition of Wm. Patterson and others, merchants of Baltimore, stating that they had loaded two ships with valuable goods, with an intent to send them to the North of Europe, but not being able to obtain insurance on them, they had not dispatched them, and they now pray to have the privilege to reland the goods, for the purpose of shipping them in smaller vessels, as occasion and opportunity may offer. Referred to the committee of commerce and manufac

tures.

Several orders of the day were called for but none were taken up-and at 12 o'clock the house adjourned.

December 31.-Mr. Southard, from the committee to whom the subject was referred, reported a bill prescribing the mode of taking evidence in cases of contested elections of members of congress, and for compelling the attendance of witnesses. Referred to a committee of the whole on Wednesday next.

January 1-Only TEN members appeared this day, of course no business was done.

January 2.-A resolution introduced by Mr. Stanley, was adopted that the committee of commerce and manufactures, be instructed to enquire into the expediency of providing by law for the remission of penalties involuntarily incurred in infractions of the non-intercourse law.

Mr. Root offered a resolution which was adopted, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to lay before this house the whole expence of the mint to the United States since its first establishment, &c.

The bill respecting foreign coins, was read a third time and passed. The ayes and noes being taken, there were 82 ayes and

20 noes.

The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill respecting the admission of the Territory of Orleans as a state into the Union; Mr. Bassett in the chair. After some time spent and considerable debate, the chairman reported progress, and asked liberty for the committee to sit again. This was objected to by Mr. Bigelow, and before the question was taken, the house adjourned, at about 4 o'clock.

January 3.-Mr. Bibb offered the following resolution,Resolved, that a committee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of annexing to the territory of Mississippi, or erecting into a separate state, the tract of land south of the 31st deg. of N. lat. and west of the Perdido, commonly called West-Florida. A debate ensuing, when

A confidential message was received from the President, the galleries were cleared, and remained closed two hours and a half; after which the house adjourned.

January 24-Mr. Burwell, chairman of the committee, to whom was referred the petition of the Stockholders of the Bank of the United States, reported a bill upon the subject, which was read the first time. Mr. Bassett then rose and moved that the bill be rejected; he was supported by Mr. Burwell the chairman, who reported the bill, both stating that in their opinion a renewal would be contrary to the constitution of the United States. A motion was then made, that the bill, with Mr. Bassett's motion for rejection, should lie on the table. Mr. Bassett then withdrew his motion, and moved that the motion for rejection be postponed till Monday. Mr.Mitchell objected to the postponement, and expressed a wish that the bill might take the usual course and go to a committee of the whole house. Mr. Gholson then renewed the motion for rejecting the bill. Mr. Sheffey moved to postpone this question. The Speaker decided that Mr. Sheffey's motion for postponement was not in order-Mr. Gholson declining to withdraw his motion. Many desultory remarks were made by different gentlemen, viz. Messrs. Burwell, Bassett, Macon, Southard, Seybert, Dawson, Bacon, Smilie, Wright, M'Kee and Goldsborough.-Messrs. Southard, Seybert, Dawson, Bacon, Smilie, Wright, and M'Kee, observed that although at present they were against the renewal of the charter on the ground of the constitutional objection, yet they should vote against the motion for the rejection, that the subject might have a full discussion before a committee of the whole house.

Mr. Gholson withdrew the motion, and on the question being put, Mr. Bassett objected to a second reading on this day; it was however carried, 73 in the affirmative, and committed to a committee of the whole house, and made the order of the day for Monday next.

Mr. Macon, Chairman of the Committee to whom was recommitted his resolution, proposing certain amendments to the

Constitution of the United States, reported the same again, amended, which were committed to a committee of the whole house.

Mr. Sturges moved a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the President of the United States to lay before the house a copy of the proclamation issued on the 2d of Nov. 1810, and also a copy of the Circular letter of the Secretary of the Treasury, to the collectors of the customs, in pursuance of said proclamation.

On the question whether the committee of the whole house shall have liberty to sit again on the Bill for admitting the Territory of Orleans into the Union, it was carried in the affirmative. The committee, after some time spent therein, reported progress and asked leave to sit again, which was granted.

January 5.-On motion of Mr. Montgomery, the galleries were cleared. The house after being in secret nearly the whole day, ordered the doors to be opened, and adjourned until Monday morning 11 o'clock.

January 7.-A report from the Secretary of the Navy was received respecting the bills of exchange, drawn on Degen, Purviance, & Co. as mentioned in Mr. Swoope's resolutions, and was ordered to lie on the table to wait for the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the same subject.

Mr. Swoope moved that the house take up the order of the day, and that they resolve themselves into a committee of the whole on the bill for a renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United States-negatived, 44 ayes, nays 46.

Mr. Rhea moved that the House resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, on the bill for admitting the territory of Orleans into the Union-negatived, only 26 in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. Montgomery, the galleries were cleared, and, after being in conclave till 4 o'clock P. M. the house adjourned till to-morrow, at 11 o'clock.

January 8. The House commenced their sitting with closed doors, and remained in conclave till half past four o'clock this evening; when they adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning with doors open.

January 9.—Mr. Poindexter, chairman of the committee to whom was referred the petition of the people of the Mississippi Territory, to be admitted into the Union, made a report favourable thereto which report was committed to a committee. of the whole house and made the order of the day for Friday next. A motion was made that the house resolve itself into a committee of the whole house on the bill for the renewal of the Bank of the United States.-Negatived.

THE

BALTIMORE REPERTORY,

OF PAPERS ON LITERARY AND OTHER TOPICS:

BY A SOCIETY OF GENTLEMEN.

La maxime n'est point fausse, qu'il n'y a si méchant livre d'ont on ne puisse tirer quelque chose de bon; aux uns on loüe la doctrine, aux autres les expressions. S'il n'y a rien de bon de l'auteur, il rapporte possible quelque chose de rare qu'il a pris d'ailleurs.

DE LA CONNOISSANCE DES BONS LIVRES.

Vol. I.

MAY, 1811.

AGRARIUS DENTERVILLE;

OR, THE VICTIM OF DISCONTENT.-A TALE.

Laudet diversa sequentes... Horace.

(Continued from Page 170.)

No. 5.

DENTERVILLE had scarcely been elected member of parliament, before he became resolutely determined to assume a very opposite character from that which had hitherto distinguished him. He was perfectly sensible that, without eloquence and abilities to introduce and support him, he should always be considered but a cypher in that house of which he was become a member; and both his pride and ambition, two qualities which he inherited without diminution from his father, would never permit him to appear in a subordinate situation.

No sooner, therefore, was he settled in the capital, than he commenced his studies, with more assiduity, and much VOL. 1 No. 5

Dd

greater success, than he had formerly done. He read with attention those numerous volumes which illustrate the history, the polity, and constitution of our own country; nor did he forbear to explore, with a sagacious and penetrating eye, the different institutions and political machines of the governments of the other European states. It was now he laboured and with success, to subdue the habitual indolency of his disposition; the sparks of genius that lay latent in his mind he sedulously drew from their obscure situation; he roused and invigorated, with persevering resolution, the torpid faculties of his soul; and the intenseness of his application was soon rewarded with the honours it deserved.

It has been already observed that Denterville was gifted, by the kindness of nature, with a good understanding, and some great cause, sufficient to impel it to action, was every thing that was now requisite. When he had formerly, in a momentary fit of disquietude, determined to study, it was only the design of altering, in some measure, the disagreeable monotony of his life; of consuming his leisure and wearisome hours; but now, when he had a fixed object continually in his view, when the incitements that animated him were so much increased, and when he for ever imagined he should derive a glory proportionable to the extent of his assiduity, it can be no matter of wonder if all his endeavours should become considerably more strenuous. In a short time he obtained a superficial knowledge in politics; and when this knowledge, shallow as indeed it was, was united to a flowing oratory and graceful person, (with both of which qualities he was endowed in a very eminent degree) it made him appear with no inconsiderable lustre in all the debates of the house of commons. Denterville was possessed of the fortunate method of being always able to display his abilities to the greatest advantage.

By the judicious and economical use that he made of his slender store of knowledge, people were hastily induced to