Table showing the dates of the commencement and termination of each Session of Congress, held according to the Constitution and Laws, with the number of days in each scssion, o'r. Year of In- Number of Speakers of the House of Representatives. 2 2 3 2 4 1 2 5 1 2 3 6 1 8 9 2 10 117 11 3 12 Mar. 4, 1789 Sept. 29, 1789 13 210 Fred. A. Muhlenberg. 6, 1790 Mar. 3, 1791 / 15 88 17 Jonathan Trumbull. 118 Fred. A.Muhlenberg. Jonathan Dayton. 89S 90 165 Nov. 17, 1800 Mar., 3, 1801 25 107 Theodore Sedgwick. 148 88 Nathaniel Macon. 163 Nathaniel Macon. Joseph B. Varnum. 1, 1810 3+ 156 Josephi B. Varnum. Dec. 3, 1810 Mar. 3, 1811 35 91 Nov. 4, 1811 July 6, 1812 36 216 Henry Clay. 22u Clay', to Jan 13, Langdon Cheeves. 4, 1815 April 30, 1816 40 149 Henry Clay ? Henry Clay. 157 Philip P. Barbour. 92 Dec. 1, 1823 May 27, 1824 48 179 Dec. 6, 1824 | Mar. 3, 1825 Henry Clay. 49 88 Dec. 5, 1825 May 22, 1826 50 169 Jolin W. Taylor. 90 Andrew Stevenson. Andrew Stevenson. Andrew Stevenson. 122) DEPARTMENT OF STATE. JOHN FORSYTH, of Georgia, Secretary, $6000 per annum. The Department of State was created by the act of 15th September, 1789. Previous to that period, by act of 27th July, 1789, it was denominated the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary is, ex-officio, a Cominissioner of the Sinking Fund, and, by usage, a member of the cabinet. He conducts the negotiation of all treaties between the United States and foreign powers; and corresponds, officially, with the public ministers of the United States at foreign courts, and with the ministers of foreign powers resident in the United States. He performs also the main duties of what, in other Governments, is called the Home Department. He has the charge of the seal of the United States, but cannot affix it to any commission until sigued by the President, nor to any other instrument or act, without the special authority of the President. He is, by law, entrusted with the publication and distribution of all the acts and resolutions of Congress, and all treaties with foreigu nations and Indian tribes. He preserves, also the original of all laws and treaties and of public correspondence growing out of the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations ; and is required to procure and preserve copies of the statutes of the several States. He grants passports to American citizens visiting foreign countries; preserves the evidence of copy rights, and has control of the office which issues patents for useful inventions. He holds his office at the will of the President. CLERKS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. ASBURY DICKINS, Chief Clerk.. $2000 00 William S. Derrick........ 1600-00 Aaron Ogden Daylon...... Diplomatic Bureau. 1500 00 William Hunter, Jr....... 1400 00 Francis Markoe, Jr....... 1400 00 Benjamin C. Vail... Consular Bureau.. 1400 00 Thomas W. Dickins.......... 1000 00 Andrew T. McCormick....... 1400 00 George Hill................... 1400 00 Home Bureau....... Robert Smith Chew.......... 900 CO Jacob Broom...... 800 00 Thomas P. Jones, Keeper of Archives........ .........1400 00 Robert Greenhow, Translator and Librarian.... .........1600 00 Edward Stubbs, Disbursing agent*.. ..1450 00 Jonas P. Keller ............... S 700 00 John Gibbons....... 350 00 • Mr. Stubbs is also Superintendent of the building occupied by the Department, for which he receives an annual compensation of 8250. PATENT OFFICE. H. L. ELLSWORTH, Superintendent... $ 1500 00 Thomas Johns, Clerk.............................................1000 00 Robert Mills, Clerk.............................................. ..1000 00 John J. Roane, Clerk.......................................... 800 00 Charles M. Keller, Machinist................................... 700 00 Henry Bishop, Messenger... ....................................... 400 00 } Messengers........ ....... ...... PATENTS. (The following acts in relation to Patents were passed at the last session of Congress. Though modifications of the patent law in these special cases only, they will probably be found useful for future reference.] An Act to authorise the Secretary of State to issue lellers patent to James Jones. Be il enacted by the Senate and House of Representatires of the Uniled States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of State be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to issue letters patent, in the usual form, to James-Jones, for his invention of " certain improvements in the making of rovings, spinning and doubling of cotton, silk, fax, and other fibrous substances," upon his complying with all the Iprovisions of the existing laws, except so far as they require on the part of aliens a residence of two years in the United States. Approred, Narch 3d, 1935. An Act lo authorise lellers .palent to be issued .lo Francis B. Ogden. Be il enacled by the Senale and House of Representatives of the Uniied States of America in Congress assembled, That letters patent be issued, in the usual form, to Francis B. Ogilen, a citizen of the United States, for “an engine for producing motive power, whereby a greater quantity of power is obtained by a given quantity of fuel than hereto fore," upon his complying with all the provisions of the several acts of Congress relative to the issuing of letters patent: Provided, That, instead of the oaih required by law 10 be inade by an inventor, it shall be sufficient for the said Francis B. Ogden to swear or affirm that he does verily believe ihat he, in conjunction with one John Ericsson, a subject of the King of Sweden, is the true inventor of said engine :' And prorided, also, That he shall further swear or affirm “that the said Johu Ericsson hath made to hiin a bona fide assignment of all the right, title, and interest, of him, the said John, in and to the said invention in ihe United States of America." SECTION 2. And be il further enacted, That the saiof letters patent, and all the privileges thereby granted to the said Francis B. Ogderi, shall cease, determine, aud become absolutely null and void, without resort to legal process, to repeal, annul, or cancel the same, in case the said Francis B. Ogden or his assigns shall fail to introduce the said invention into public use in the United States, within ćwo years from the passing of this act, or in case of his or their omission to continue such public use in the United States for the period of one entire year at any Lime after such introduction thereof. SECTION 3. And be il further enacted, That no patent heretofore granted to the said Ogden and Ericsson, or to either of them, for said invention, in any foreign country, shall have the effect to invalidate the patent to be granted under and by virtue of this act. Approred, March 30, 1835. An Act 10 eclend the patent of Robert Eastman, for a furtker period of seren years. Be il enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Uni. ted States of America in Congress assembled, That there be and hereby Vol. XIV. is, granted to Robert Eastman, a citizen of the United States, his heirs, administrators, and assigns, for the term of seven years from the fifteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, the full and exclusive right and liberty of making, constructing, using, and vending to others to be used, an invention called a “ Circular Saw Clap-board Machine," a description of which is given in a schedule annexed to letters patent granted to the said Robert Eastman and Josiah Jaquith, for the same, on the sixteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and twenty. Approved, March 3d, 1835. SINKING FUND. -, Chief Justice of the Supreme Courl. SECRETARY. { CLAIMS ON FRANCE. Board of Commissioners under the Conrention with France, concluded July 4, 1831. George W. Campbell, of Tennessee, $3000 00 John K. Kane, of Pennsylvania, Commissioners.... 3000 00 Romulus M. Saunders, of N. Car. 3000 00 John E. Frost, of District of Columbia, Secretary. ...2000 00 John H. Wheeler, of North Carolina, Clerk... ................1500 00 Nate.-For the act constituting this Board, see Vol. XI, p. 82. In compliance with the following act of Congress, this Commission terminated on the 1st of January, 1836 : An Acl further to extend the time allowed for the execution of the dulies of the Commission for carrying into effect the Conrention with France. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representalires of the Uniled States of America in Congress assembled, That the commission created by an act entitled “An act to carry into effect the convention between the United States and his Majesty the King of the French, concluded at Paris on the fourth day of July, eighteen huudred and thirty-one,” approveil July thirtieth, eighteen hundred and thiriy two, shall be and is hereby, continued until the first day of January, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, for the execution of the duties prescribed by said act. Approred, March 3d, 1835. ........... Commissioners for running Boundary Line with Mexico. 82500 00 Johu Donelson, of Tennessee, Surveyor........ 2000 00 Samuel J. Bayard, of Ohio, Clerk............. 1200 00 Note.-For Treaty of Limits with Mexico, and act of Congress to provide for carrying the treaty into effect, see Vol. XI, p. 84. TREASURY DEPARTMENT. LEVI WOODBURY, of New Hampshire, Secretary, $6,000 per annum. The office of Secretary of the Treasury was created by act of 20 September, 1789. He superintends all the fiscal concerns of the Go veroment, and, upon his own responsibility, recommends to Congress measures for improving the condition of the revenue. He holds his office at the will of the President; is, by usage, a member of the cabinet ; and ex-officio, one of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund. By an act of Congress, of the 15th May, 1820, the Treasury Department has been invested with extraordinary powers for the recovery of public moneys not accounted for, or withheld by officers receiving them, prior to such mopeys being paid into the Treasury. Warrants of distress, in the nature of executions upon judgments, are authorized upon certificates of balances from the First Comptroller, against principals and sureties in default ; and the judges of the United States are, by the same law, clothed with extensive chancery jurisdiction, with a view of ameliorating any undue severity to individuals, which may possibly occur under the warrants in question. By the act of 29th May, 1830, the office of Solicitor of the Treasury was created. A portion of the duties of this office had been previously, under the act of 15th May, 1820, performed by the Fifth Auditor, as agent of the Treasury. All accounts of the Goverminent are finally setiled at the Treasury Department ; for which purpose it is divided into the office of the Secretary (who superintends the whole, but who is not, therefore, absolute, with respect to the power of adjusting claims or paying money,) into two Comptrollers, five Auditors, a Register, a Treasurer, and a Solicitor. The Auditors of the public accounts are empowered to administer oaths or affirmations in witnesses in any case in which they may deem it necessary for the due examination of the accounts with which they are charged. CLERKS IN THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. McClintock Young, chief clerk, superintends the business of the office generally ; receives the directious of the Secretary on matters to be acted upon ; refers to the officers of the Department all matters requiring their examination ; distributes the business of the clerks, and submits to the Secretary the business prepared by them; directs remittances to foreign bankers, audits and directs the payment of the accounts for ihe contingencies of the Secretary's office and the S. E. executive buildings ; assists in preparing reports to be made to Congress by the Secretary ; reports weekly to the Secretary the state of the business of the office ; transmits to the collectors passports and sea letters ; examines all warrants before they are signed by the Secretary, and receives directions from him where they are to be paid ; prepares instructions to the Treasurer, for transfers of money from one bank to another ; and attends to miscellaneous business referred to him by the Secretary......... ...82000 00 James L. Anthony, prepares the warrants for payment into the Treasury ; issues and registers the warrants for paysnents, under the appropriations for civil, diplomatic, and miscella ........ |