M^r King, of Georgia, made the following Report from the Committee on Naval affairs.

Joint Resolutions.

1^st Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That immediately after the passage of these Joint Resolutions, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Navy to advertise, in the manner now [prescribed?] prescribed by law, for proposals for the transportation of the United Sates mail from Philadelphia, New York or Boston to Havre in France, in Steam Ships of not less than twenty four ^from twenty-two to twenty-five^ hundred tons burthen each, and suitable in all respects to be converted, in the shortest possible time and at the least practicable cost, into war steamers of the first class; The proposals to state the speed of said steamers per hour in a sea way, and to embrace a period of ten years service; one ship per annum to be furnished during the first five ^years^ and as many trips as many trips to be performed as the number of ships will admit of, and not less than two trips per month each way to be made during the last five years. It shall also be the duty of the Secretary of the Navy ^to advertise,^ It shall also be the in like manner, for similar proposals for the transportation of the United States mail from either of the above ports in the United States to Antwerp in Belgium, to extend to Gluichstadt at the mouth of the Elbe, during those months

of the year that the navigation of the North Sea may be considered safe. ⋄He shall also advertise for similar proposals for the transportation of the United States mail from Havanna to Tampico and Vera Cruz and back twice a month to connect with the mail from New Orleans to New York and vice versa⋄[.] All said proposals to be returned to this House at its next session.

2^d Be it further Resolved That until said proposals shall have been received received and [acted?] by this House, the Secretary of the Navy may contract with Charles H. Marshall and his associates for the transportation of the United States mail in their Steam Ship “The United States” from New York to Havre, once a month each way, Provided the compensation to be paid shall not exceed the price authorized ^by law^ to be paid, pro rata for each ship to be employed, to E. K. Collins and his associates for the transportation of the United States mail from New York to Liverpooll; Said ship to be commanded by an officer of the Navy not below the grade of Lieutenant and to receive four passed Midshipmen on board as watch officers, who shall be suitably accommodated without charge to the Government; Said officers to be selected by the owner or owners of said ship with the consent of the Secretary of the Navy.