An ACT *To provide for the further defence of the ports and harbours of the United States.* BE IT ENACTED *by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled,* That for fortifying certain ports and harbours of the United States, there be appropriated a sum not exceeding one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. Sect. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That the said appropriation shall be paid and discharged out of the surplus of the revenue and income beyond the appropriations heretofore charged thereon. Sect. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby empowered to authorize any of the states which were found indebted to the United States in a settlement of the accounts between them and the respective states, to expend under his direction, the sums respectively due from them, in fortifying their ports and harbours; and the sums which may be so expended, shall be passed to the credit of the said states, on account of the balances found and reported by the commissioners for settling the accounts between the United States and the individual states, to be due from the said states to the United States. *Provided* the said states shall and do cede to the United States, the lands or places on which such fortifications shall be so erected, in cases where the lands are the property of such state. JONATHAN DAYTON, *Speaker of the House of Representatives.* THOMAS JEFFERSON, *Vice-President of the United States,* *and President of the Senate.* United States, *June* 23*d*, 1797. APPROVED: JOHN ADAMS, *President of the United States.* *Deposited among the Rolls in the Office of the Department of State.* [signature: Timothy Pickering] *Secretary of State.*