The question was then taken on striking out the provision respecting seventy-fours, and was carried—for the amendment 56, against it 53.
Mr. Cutts moved an amendment authorizing the building of ten ships of war, of forty-four guns, and ten sloops of war.—Motion lost by a great majority.
Monday, December 21.
On motion of Mr. Bassett, the petitions of J. A. Chevallie, attorney of Amelie Eugene de Beaumarchais, presented on the 24th of December, 1805, and 2d of April, 1806, together with all the documents concerning the said claim, were referred to the Committee of Claims.
Encouragement to Privateering by Public Armed and Private Armed Vessels.
Mr. Bassett, from the Committee on the Naval Establishment, presented a bill relating to captures; which was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday next. The bill is as follows:
A Bill relating to captures.
Be it enacted, &c., That where any ship or vessel in the service of the United States shall have captured, or may hereafter capture, a ship or vessel belonging to an enemy, of equal or inferior force, and it shall become necessary to destroy such prize to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy, or for the security of such ship or vessel so in the service of the United States, the Secretary of the Navy is hereby required to issue his commission to one or more fit person or persons, who, on the best evidence that can be procured, shall proceed to estimate the value of such ship or vessel, prize as aforesaid, in the port into which the capturing vessel shall first enter, and make return on oath of said estimate or valuation to the Secretary of the Navy.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Navy shall thereon proceed to apportion the sum, which shall be equal to one-half the said valuation or estimate, as prize money, among the officers and crew making such capture, and cause the same to be paid to them accordingly.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That each commissioned officer shall receive six dollars per day for each day he shall be employed in making the aforesaid estimate: Provided, His compensation shall in no case exceed —— dollars.