to them to be sold, or the United States will advance the necessary amount upon a guaranty and pledge of an equal amount of their stocks.”  The compact before referred to having been ratified by the President and Senate, it was doubted whether that was not a virtual consent to the application of so much of the stock as would be required to pay for the land and privileges contracted for by the said compact, and an authority for the transfer of it.  The question was referred to the Attorney-General, who was of opinion that the transfer could not be legally made without the assent of the President and Senate to the particular act.

I have therefore respectfully to request that you will lay the matter before the President, that if he concurs in the propriety of so doing he may give his own and ask the consent of the Senate to the proposed proceeding.

Very respectfully, your most obedient,

T. HARTLEY CRAWFORD.

WASHINGTON, December 10, 1840.

To the Senate: 

I communicate a report[82] of the Secretary of State, with the documents accompanying it, in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 20th of July last.

M. VAN BUREN.

[Footnote 82:  Relating to sales and donations of public lots in Washington, D.C.]

WASHINGTON, December 21, 1840.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit herewith, for the consideration of the Senate with a view to its ratification, a treaty of commerce and navigation between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the Belgians, signed at Washington on the 29th day of March, 1840.

M. VAN BUREN.

WASHINGTON, December 23, 1840.

To the House of Representatives of the United States: 

Herewith I transmit a communication[83] from the Secretary of the Treasury and also copies of certain papers accompanying it, which are believed to embrace the information contemplated by a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 17th instant.

M. VAN BUREN.

[Footnote 83:  Relating to the suspension of appropriations made at the last session of Congress.]

WASHINGTON, December 28, 1840.

To the House of Representatives of the United States: 

I herewith transmit to the House of Representatives a report[84] from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers, in answer to their resolution of the 21st instant.

M. VAN BUREN.

[Footnote 84:  Transmitting correspondence with Great Britain relative to the burning of the steamboat Caroline at Schlosser, N.Y., December 29, 1837.]

WASHINGTON, December 28, 1840.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit herewith, for the consideration of the Senate with a view to its ratification, a treaty of commerce and navigation between the United States and Portugal, signed at Lisbon on the 26th day of August, 1840, and certain letters relating thereto, of which a list is annexed.