REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION. The communication of His Excellency the Governor, in relation to the loss of the Peruvian Bark "Eliza," by one of the licensed Pilots of the State of California, has received much consideration from your committee, and they beg leave respectfully to report as follows: The note of Señor Osma, Charge d'Affaires of the Peruvian Government, at Washington, addressed to Daniel Webster, late Secretary of State of the United States, in presenting the documents upon which he requests the intervention of the Federal Government in this question, assumes, "as Morgan belonged to a company of Pilots, acting under the authority of the Government of the State of California, and as said company in virtue of their charter, must be possessed of considerable funds to meet such demands as might be made against it, the Peruvian Government, has thought it expedient to instruct the undersigned to apply to the Government of the United States, so as to obtain from the latter, that very just reparation, which in spite of the District Court of California, a Peruvian citizen has not been able to secure in that State." In reply to this portion of the argument of Señor Osma, it is proper to state, that the Pilots of California, are licensed after a satisfactory examination, and are required each to give bonds in the sum of $5000 for the faithful performance of their duties The laws of nearly all the States of this Union, providing for the establishment of Pilots, contain similar provisions. The laws of Great Britain, with the exception of limiting the number of Pilots, and allow |