WASHINGTON, _February 1, 1849_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I communicate herewith reports from the Secretary of State, the
Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of
the Navy, together with the accompanying documents, in answer to a
resolution of the Senate of the 15th January, 1849, "that the petition
and papers of John B. Emerson be referred to the President of the United
States, and that he be requested to cause a report thereon to be made to
the Senate, wherein the public officer making such report shall state
in what cases, if any, the United States have used or employed the
invention of said Emerson contrary to law, and, further, whether any
compensation therefor is justly due to said Emerson, and, if so, to what
amount in each case."