Today's session started smoothly with an introductory speech from Speaker Stanisław Małachowski. The main topic under consideration involved legislating on the management of animal hides – a critical economic issue that impacts not only rural agricultural sectors but also urban craftsmen and various businesses. The Cabinet, particularly the Minister of Internal Affairs, Michał Mniszech, stood at the crossroads of these discussions, aiming to ensure that the legislation serves public and economic interests while maintaining transparency and fairness in enforcement.

In particular, the session covered the specifics of which hides will be taxable and how exemptions might apply to urban or rural residents. There was a general consensus on keeping the laws consistent and fair across the board. Nonetheless, an interesting proposal was made regarding urban residents and whether they should be excluded from the tax if they were slaughtering animals for their own needs, much like rural counterparts.

Matters were made complex with considerations for poorhouses and monastic orders that rely on alms for their sustenance – the session debated whether they should be exempted from the hide tax. Noble efforts were highlighted, with Antoni Rożnowski volunteering a personal donation to aid hospitals in need but emphasized the importance of fair tax distribution to ensure the sustained maintenance of the army and public services.

Toward the end of the session, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Michał Mniszech, took the floor to address the body and express his willingness to comply with any inquiries into his management of urban revenue and expenses. This act of transparency was welcomed by his colleagues, who acknowledged the importance of credible administration of public funds.

The session closed with a resolution to incorporate the new regulations into the law that governs hide taxation, ensuring uniformity in application. Thus, the law was clarified to obligate all urban citizens to surrender hides to the Treasury, similar to butchers, innkeepers, and other traders, reinforcing the necessity of equitable law for the future prosperity of the nation.

The Congress will resume its session on Thursday and is expected to further address economic matters as well as possible exemptions for charitable institutions. As the Congress adjourned, there was a sense of cautious optimism that these new measures might bolster the economy while upholding fairness and supporting the less fortunate.

There's palpable excitement within academic circles here in the Ivy League about the developments in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as they reflect broader Enlightenment ideals in governance and civic responsibility. As a case study in balancing economic drivers with societal welfare, these proceedings garner interest from students across disciplines – from economics and political science to history and sociology.

The integration of these 18th-century debates into my reports aims to bridge the gap between past and present discourses on governance, economics, and the social contract. The transparent and meticulous navigation of socio-economic policy we observe in these proceedings provides a compelling historical backdrop to our contemporary discussions on similar topics. It's another busy week in parliament, and I'll be back to report on the next session's discussions, decisions, and to provide an Ivy League perspective on the unfolding political processes.

Topics: Sejm session; Project focused on the obligations of butchers and other trade activities related to animal hides; Obligations of butchers, innkeepers, and oyster farmers; Fees for stamping hides in the context of domestic and international trade; Exemptions for villages and manor estates regarding hide fees; Peasants and townspeople in the context of new taxes and regulations; Hospitals and mendicant monasteries in relation to hide fees; Discussion on the equal application of obligations and exemptions; Opposition to additional exceptions from the hide tax; Proposals for compensation to hospitals due to new taxes; Project for reviewing the income and expenses of the city of Warsaw and the jurisdiction of the Marshal;