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nel of these islands; and unless the bay of Passamaquoddy be a part of the bay of Fundy, this further adjustment of boundary will be necessary. But it is apprehended that this will not be a matter of any difficulty.

Such progress has been made in the examination and decision of cases of captures and condemnations of American vessels, which were the subject of the seventh article of the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, between the United States and Great Britain, that it is supposed the commission ers will be able to bring their business to a conclusion in August of the ensuing year.

. The commissioners acting under the twenty-fifth article of the treaty between the United States and Spain have adjusted most of the claims of our citizens, for losses sustained in consequence of their vessels and cargoes having been taken by the subjects of his catholic majesty, during the late war between France and Spain.

a recent period. It will afford you satisfaction to infer the great extent and solidity of the public resources from the prosperous state of the finances, notwithstanding the unexampled embarrassments which have attended commerce. When you reflect on the conspicuous examples of patriotism and liberality which have been exhibited by our mercantile fellow-citizens, and how great a proportion of the public resources depends on their enterprise, you will naturally consider whether their convenience cannot be promoted and reconciled with the security of the revenue by a revision of the system by which the collection is at present regulated.,

During your recess, measures have been steadily pursued for effecting the valuations and returns directed by the act of the last session, preliminary to the assessment and collection of a direct tax. No other delays or obstacles have been experienced, except such as were expected to arise from the great extent of our country, and the magnitude and novelty of the operation, and enough has been accomplished to assure the fulfilment of the views of the legislature.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and
Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives,

Various circumstances have concurred to delay the execution of the law for augmenting the military establishment.-Among these is the desire of obtaining the fullest information to direct the best selection of officers. As this object will now be speedily accomplished, it is ex- I cannot close this address, withpected that the raising and organs out once more adverting to our po ing of the troops will proceed with litical situation, and inculcating the out obstacle and with effect. essential importance of uniting in. Gentlemen of the House of the maintenance of our dearest inRepresentatives, terests; and I trust, that by the temper and wisdom of your proceedings, and by a harmony of measures, we shall secure to our country that weight and respect to which it is so justly entitled.

I have directed an estimate of the appropriations which will be necessary for the service of the ensuing year to be laid before you, accompanied with a view of the public receipts and expenditures to

JOHN ADAMS.

Public Acts passed in the Second Session of the Eighteenth Parliament of Great Britain.

December 30, 1797.

Act for raising a certain sum of money by loans on exchequer bills for the service of the year 1798.

For continuing the additional duties on distilleries in the highlands of Scotland.

For the regulation of his majesy's marine forces when on shore.

For regulating the exportation and carrying coastwise of wheat and rye, &c.

To continue the act relating to the admission of certain articles of merchandise in neutral ships, and for making regulations respecting the trade to and from the Cape of Good Hope.

Annual indemnity act for persons holding places and neglecting to qualify.

Act to enlarge the time for raising a militia in Scotland.

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To permit the importation of salt from Portugal in neutral ships. For reculying mistakes in the land-tax act.

April 5.

Act for reviving and continuing the duties on distilleries in the highlands of Scotland.

For providing for the defence of the realm, and for indemnifying persons who may suffer in their property by such measures as may be necessary for that purpose.

For disallowing the bounty on sail-cloth or canvas, the manufacture of Great Britain, exported to Ireland.

To continue the laws respecting the bounties on British and Irish linens, and for regulating the duties on tobacco-pipe clay, rape seed, Greenland fisheries, manufactures of flax and cotton, &c.

For reviving an act authorising his majesty to permit the exportation of wheat, &c. to Guernsey, Jersey, and Alderney.

To prevent, during the war, persons residing in Great Britain from advancing money or effects for the purchase, or on the credit of debts Owing to the government of the United Provinces, without licence, and for extending the act to prevent traitorous correspondence with the said provinces.

For the regulation of quarantine, and goods removed from one ship to another.

For increasing the rates of subsistence to be paid by iun-keepers and others on quartering soldiers. April 21.

Act to empower his majesty to secure and detain such persons as are suspected of conspiring against his person and government. May 7. Act for raising the sum of 17,000,0001. by way of annuities. (R)

For

For enlarging the time of appealing in prize causes.

For amending the act relative to the importation and exportation of certain goods in Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, and New Providence. May 10.

For granting additional duties on salt.

For granting additional duties of excise on tea.

For repealing the duties on houses, windows, and lights, inhabited houses, clocks and watches, and granting other duties on all these, excepting clocks and watches. For repealing the duties upon male servants, carriages, &c. and granting other duties in lieu of the

same.

To prevent commercial connexion with Switzerland, without licence.

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Act to continue the alien act. To regulate the trial of causes, indictment, and other proceedings within the counties of certain cities and towns corporate.

For authorising the billetting of such troops of yeomanry cavalry as may be desirous of assembling for the purpose of being trained together, and for exempting from the payment of certain duties persons providing horses for the said yeomanry cavalry.

June 21. Act for the redemption of the land-tax.

For raising money by lottery. For a duty on armorial bearings. For regulating the duties on spices.

For enabling his majesty to accept the services of such militia as may offer to serve in Ireland.

For regulating the draw-backs and bounty on Sugar.

To amend the laws of excise relating to coach-makers, auctioneers, beer, cyder, and certain stamps on hides and skins, draw-backs on wine and sweets.

To revive and continue the act which prohibits the importation of light silver coin of this realm from foreign countries into Great Britain and Ireland.

For allowing gold wares to be manufactured at a standard lower than is now allowed by law.

To prevent the exportation of base coin to the West Indies.

For defraying the charge of the pay and clothing of the militia of England.

To continue the act for the more effectual encouragement of the British fisheries.

For amending an act to prevent frauds in weighing and packing

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To authorise exchequer bills to be issued on the credit of the loan of 17 millions.

To enable the lords of the treasury to issue exehequer bills on the credit of the money raised by contribution.

For regulating the salt duties. For the better execution of the act granting his majesty an aid and contribution for the prosecution of the war.

For extending the duties of velJum, parchment, and paper stamps, to all other materials.

For abolishing certain offices in the customs.

For preventing the mischiefs arising from the printing and publishing newspapers, and papers of a like nature, by persons not known, and for regulating the printing,

&c. of such papers in other respects.

To prevent his majesty's subjects from going to or remaining in France, or carrying on correspondence there.

To amend the act respecting aliens.

For regulating the shipping and carrying of slaves in British vessels from Africa. June 29.

For raising the sum of three millions by loans or exchequer bills.

For reviving and continuing the duties on distilleries in the highlan's of Scotland, until April 10, 1799.

For ascertaining the duty payable on taxed carts.

For the regulation of the provi sional cavalry.

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