Mr. LYNCH. I will say, in reply to the Gentfrom Illinois, [ML Wasnnusnsd that this was a new vessel of 640 tons, and this charter to the Government was for her 1st voyage. The vessel was worth from 60 to 65,000 dollars. She was chartered for this trip to Port Royal, and was detained, as has been stated by the Gentfrom Illinois, [Mr. lnonnrond for 69 days. She was rechartered to go to Phi adelphia for a cargo of coal, and while waiting there she was notified that no cargo could be provided for her. She was finally discharged in May, just at the time when business was at a stand still in consequence of the colla se of the rebellion, and no freight could be Otained there and the vessel adto take a very low charter to go from there to StJohn, and there take a charter to England. Anygentlemanacquaintedwith commercial matters must know very well that a vessel on a voyage cannot afford to take demur rage for lying in port and besides all this, if the owners had had the liberty to take a charter at the time the Government chartered her, it has been shown here, and attested by the evidence of merchants in NewYork, Philadel phia, and Portland, who are well acquainted with these matters, that the owners would have made in that time more than 20,000 dollars. This is not speculative at all, but the ordinary freight of the vessel, based upon the amount she earned from the time she left Port land until the time she had discharged her cargo at Port Royal. Now, I want to say one Word further, in regard to the motion of the Gentfrom Illinois [Mr. Wasnnoans] to refer the bill to the ComCommerce. That will involvea delay of some months, and will very probably carry it beyond the close of this session. The committee of Claims have had the matterin charge from the 1st of the session. There have been no lobby agents here, for the men who own this vessel are not able to employ lobby agents. They are a few men of limited means, who have put all their means in this vessel and are new embarrassed for want of what is justly due them from the Government. There are now claims upon the vessel which.are waiting the payment of this amount which is due from the Government. I hope, at any rate, that the matter will be settled ere now, so that these parties may know what is to be their fate. I trust that the bill will not be permitted to go over to the next session, which would incvitabl be its fate if it should be referred to the comCommerce.