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The Public Lands.-A correspondent of the
Courier and Enquirer, thus writes from Wash
ington, under date of January 81:


The pre-emption bill was ordered to be en-
crossed Gn the Senate) for third reading; it was
so read with amendments of various shapes and
sizes as to be but little resemblance to the orig-
nal. very pointed and animated discussion
grew out of an amendment offered by Mr.. MER-
RICK, Of Maryland, to exclude foreigners from a
participation in the law. This was of course
met en- i,nine (as Mr.. Calhoun says,) by the
whole representation Of the new States.


Even Mr.. BUCHANAN, let himself down, to
talk Of his being the son Of foreigner, &c. 1t
is needless to tell you the amendment was lost by
a large vote. Mr.. CLAY and Mr.. MERR1cK both
insisted, that the bill stood, it was one general
invitation to foreigners, to come and possess
themselves of the choicest spots of the public
domain, and that whatever might be their feel
ings of kindness to the oppressed of other lands,
their first duty was to their conntrymen charity,
like all other domestic virtues, should begin at
home.