The value of the merchandise imported from the United States of America, 593,525 dollars 14 cents; Great Britain and Ireland, 51,059 dollars 89 cents'; British West Indies, 3,624 dollars 10 cents; Spanish West Indies, 148 dollars 87 cents; France, 5584 dollars 58 cents; Hanse Towns, 27,494 dollars 54 cents; the Austrian Adriatic dominions, 1185 dollars 86 cents; Yucatan, 663 dollars 57 cents. Total, 686,503 dollars 3 cents.

The rate of per centage which the gross amount of impost duties bears to the total amount of merchandise imported, is above twenty-six and a half per

cent.

Official statement of revenue collected at the Custom-house, port of Galveston, for the year commencing November 1, 1843, and ending October 31, 1844:

TREATIES OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN STATES.

THE first treaty of commerce and amity, which was negotiated by the United States, was with Holland in 1778, and lead to declaration of war by England against the latter country. After the peace of 1783, treaties of peace and amity were negotiated between the United States and various foreign countries. It would be tedious and useless to enumerate all these treaties. According to a report published (April, 1840) by the Department of State of the United States, in obedience to a resolution adopted by the Senate at the last session of Congress, showing the nature and extent of the privileges and restrictions of the commercial intercourse of the United States with foreign nations, it is stated that twelve nations, viz., Austria,

Brazil, Central America, Denmark, Ecuador, Greece, the Hanseatic cities, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, Sweden, and Venezuela, have met the propositions of America in a spirit of liberality. In the ports of all these countries American vessels, with their cargoes, whether the produce of the United States or not, are admitted on the same terms as the vessels of those countries respectively. If outward bound, they are entitled to the same drawback or bounties on goods exported, as domestic vessels are. The report then observes,

"With Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Texas, our commercial relations are of a more restricted character. These nations severally confine the principle of equality to the direct trade. That is to say, Great Britain admits the vessels of the United States into her ports on payment of the same tonnage duties and charges as British vessels, with these conditions: First, that the vessel be built and owned in the United States, and navigated by a master and crew, three-fourths of which are citizens of the United States; and second, that the goods composing the cargo be the produce of the United States, which in practice limits the import trade to the direct intercourse between one country and the other. The trade of the United States with the British colonial possessions is regulated by treaty stipulations or by diplomatic arrangement. In all cases, however, some restrictions are observed, giving an advantage in general trade, to British bottoms. The importation from the United States of all goods but those of their own produce is mostly prohibited.

"France adinits the vessels of the United States into her ports on payment of a discriminating duty of five francs, or ninety-four cents, per ton over and above that paid by French vessels. In the importation of articles, the produce of the United States, no difference is made between French and American vessels; but in reference to other articles the discriminating duty prevails in favour of French bottoms.

"In the Java trade, under the government of the Netherlands, the productions of the United States, and of other countries, are admitted at a duty of seven and four-fifths per cent ad valorem, if imported in Dutch vessels, and fifteen and three-fifths per cent ad valorem, if imported in vessels belonging to the United States.

"Chili and the Ottoman dominions admit our vessels and productions upon the footing of the most favoured nations, reserving the privilege of giving a preference to their own. Five Powers, viz., the Argentine confederation, Belgium, China, Hayti, New Grenada, Portugal Spain, the Two Sicilies, and Uraguay, are left free to deal with the commerce and the navigation of the United States as they may think proper, without any other check than our countervailing legislative provisions. With three of them, however, Belgium, Portugal, and the two Sicilies, negotiations are on foot for the conclusion of commercial treaties."

Since the publication of that report, treaties of navigation and commerce have been ratified between the United States and the following countries, viz., China, Belgium, Hanover, and Portugal.

TREATIES OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM

AND THE UNITED STATES.

Treaties of peace and amity between the United Kingdom and the United States, and for the suppression of the slave trade treaty (by which the United States stipulates with England to consider that trade piracy) have at different times been concluded. The following treaties contain the stipulations agreed upon for regulating the trade and navigation between the United States and the United Kingdom and British dominions.

The treaty of commerce of the 3rd of July, 1815 has been interrupted by absurdly conceived British orders in council, and president's proclamations; but that treaty and other conventions, now in force, are those under which the trading intercourse between both countries is regulated.

Convention of Commerce between Great Britain and the United States. Signed at London, 3rd July, 1815. Renewed by Convention signed at London, 6th of August, 1827.

I. There shall be between all the territories of his Britannic Majesty in Europe, and the territories of the United States, a reciprocal liberty of commerce. The inhabitants of the two countries respectively shall have liberty freely and securely to come with their ships and cargoes to all such places, ports, and rivers in the territories aforesaid, to which other foreigners are permitted to come, to enter into the same, and to remain and reside in any parts of the said territories respectively; also to hire and occupy houses and warehouses for the purposes of their commerce; and generally the merchants and traders of each nation respectively shall enjoy the most complete protection and security for their commerce; but subject always to the laws and statutes of the two countries respectively.

II. No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into the territories of his Britannic Majesty in Europe, of any articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, and no higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into the United States, of any articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of his Britannic Majesty's territories in Europe, than are or shall be payable on the like articles, being the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other foreign country, produce, or manufacture of either country respectively, the amount of the said drawbacks shall be the same whether the said goods shall have been originally imported in a British or American vessel; but when such re-exportation shall take place from the United States in a British vessel, or from the territories of his Britannic Majesty in Europe in an American vessel, to any other foreign nation, the two contracting parties reserve to themselves, respectively, the right of regulating or diminishing, in such case, the amount of the said drawback.

The intercourse between the United States and his Britannic Majesty's possessions in the West Indies, and on the continent of North America, shall not be affected by any of the provisions of this article, but each party shall remain in the complete possession of its rights, with respect to such an intercourse.

III. His Britannic Majesty agrees that the vessels of the United States of America shall be admitted, and hospitably received, at the principal settlements of the British dominions in the East Indies, viz., Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, and Prince of Wales's Island, and that the citizens of the said United States may freely carry on trade between the said principal settlements and the said United States, in all articles of which the importation and exportation, respectively, to and from the said territories, shall not be entirely prohibited: provided only, that it shall not be lawful for them in any time of war between the British government and any state or power whatever, to export from the said territories, without the special permission of the British government, any military stores, or naval stores, or rice. The citizens of the United States shall pay for their vessels, when admitted, no higher or other duty or charge than shall be payable on the vessels of the most favoured European nations, and they shall pay no higher or other duties or charges on the importation or exportation of the cargoes of the said vessels, than shall be payable on the same articles when imported or exported in the vessels of the most favoured European nations.

But it is expressly agreed, that the vessels of the United States shall not carry any articles from the said principal settlements to any port or place, except to some port or place in the United States of America, where the same shall be unladen.

It is also understood, that the permission granted by this article is not to extend to allow the vessels of the United States to carry on any part of the coasting trade of the said British territories, but the vessels of the United States having, in the first instance, proceeded to one of the said principal settlements of the British dominions in the East Indies, and then going with their original cargoes, or any part thereof, from one of the said principal settlements to another, shall not be considered as carrying on the coasting trade. The vessels of the United States may also touch, for refreshment, but not for commerce, in the course of their voyage to or from the British territories in India, or to or from the dominions of the Emperor of China, at the Cape of Good Hope, the island of St. Helena, or such other places as may be in the possession of Great Britain, in the African or Indian seas; it being well understood that in all that regards this article the citizens of the United States shall be subject, in all respects, to the laws and regulations of the British government, from time to time established.

IV. It shall be free for each of the two contracting parties, respectively, to appoint consuls for the protection of trade, to reside in the dominions and territories of the other party; but before any consul shall act as such, he shall in the usual form be approved and admitted by the government to which he is sent; and it is hereby declared, that in case of illegal or improper conduct towards the laws or government of the country to which he is sent, such consul may either be punished according to law, if the laws will will reach the case, or be sent back, the offended government assigning to the other the reasons for the same.

It is hereby declared, that either of the contracting parties may except from the residence of consuls such particular places as such party shall judge fit to be so excepted.

V. This convention, when the same shall have been duly ratified by his Britannic Majesty and by the president of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of their senate, and the respective ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be binding and obligatory on his Majesty and on the said United States for four years from the date of its signature; and the ratifications shall be exchanged in six months from this time, or sooner if possible.

Convention between Great Britain and the United States. Signed at London, the 20th of October, 1818; renewed by Convention, Signed at London, the 6th of August, 1827.

I. Whereas differences have arisen respecting the liberty claimed by the United States, for the inhabitants thereof, to take, dry, and cure fish, on certain coasts, bays, harbours, and creeks, of his Britannic Majesty's dominions in America, it is agreed between the high contracting parties, that the inhabitants of the said United States shall have, for ever, in common with the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, the liberty to take fish of every kind, on that part of the southern coast of Newfoundland which extends from Cape Ray to the Rameau Islands, on the western and northern coast of Newfoundland, from the said Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands, on the shores of the Magdalen Islands, and also on the coasts, bays, harbours, and creeks, from Mount Joly, on the southern coast of Labrador, to and through the straits of Belleisle, and thence northwardly indefinitely along the coast, without prejudice, however, to any of the exclusive rights of the Hudson's Bay Company: and that the American fishermen shall also have liberty, for ever, to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbours, and creeks, of the southern part of the coast of Newfoundland hereabove described, and of the coast of Labrador; but so soon as the same, or any portion thereof, shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such portion so settled, without previous agreement for such purpose, with the inhabitants, proprietors, or possessors of the ground. And the United States hereby renounce for ever any liberty heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants thereof, to take, dry, or cure fish, on or within three marine miles of any of the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbours of his Britannic Majesty's dominions in America, not included within the abovementioned limits:

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TREATIES OF NAVIGATION AND COMMERCE.

1265

provided, however, that the American fishermen shall be admitted to enter such bays or harbours, for the purpose of shelter and of repairing damages therein, of purchasing wood, and obtaining water, and for no other purpose whatever. But they shall be under such restrictions as may be necessary to prevent their taking, drying, or curing fish therein, or in any other manner whatever abusing the privileges hereby reserved to them.

Act of Congress "concerning the Convention to regulate the Commerce between the Territories of the United States and his Britannic Majesty." Approved the 1st of March, 1816.

Be it enacted and declared by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that so much of any act as imposes a higher duty of tonnage or of impost, on vessels, and articles imported in vessels, of Great Britain, than on vessels, and articles imported in vessels, of the United States, contrary to the provisions of the convention between the United States and his Britannic Majesty, the ratifications whereof were mutually exchanged the 22nd day of December, 1815, be, from and after the date of the ratification of the said convention, and during the continuance thereof, deemed and taken to be of no force or effect.

Act of the British Parliament "to carry into effect a Convention of Commerce concluded between his Majesty and the United States of America, and a Treaty with the Prince Regent of Portugal."

VI. And whereas it is expedient that vessels built in the countries belonging to the United States of America, or any of them, or condemned as prize there, and being owned and navigated as herein-before mentioned, should be allowed to clear out from any part of the United Kingdom for the principal settlements of the British dominions in the East Indies; viz., Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, and Prince of Wales's Island, with any articles which may legally be exported from the United Kingdom to the said settlements in British-built ships; be it therefore further enacted, that all vessels built in the said United States of America, or any of them, or condemned as prize there, and being owned and navigated as herein before mentioned, shall be allowed to clear out from any port of the United Kingdom for the following principal settlements of the British dominions in the East Indies, viz., Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, and Prince of Wales's Island, with any goods, wares, or merchandise which may be legally exported from the United Kingdom to the said settlements in British-built vessels, subject to the like rules and regulations, restrictions, penalties, and forfeitures as are now by law imposed upon the exportation of such goods to the said settlements in British-built ships, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

VII. And be it further enacted, that nothing in this act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend to repeal or in anywise alter the duties of package, scavage, bailage, or portage, or any other duties payable to the mayor and commonalty, and citizens of the city of London, or to the Lord Mayor of the said city for the time being, or to any other city or town corporate within Great Britain, or any other special privilege or exemption to which any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, is or are now entitled by law in respect of goods imported and exported, but the same shall be continued as heretofore.

Convention of Commerce, signed at London, August 6, 1827.

ART. I.-All the provisions of the convention concluded between his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States of America, on the 3rd of July, 1815, and further continued for the term of ten years by the fourth article of the convention of the 20th of October, 1818, with the exception therein contained as to St. Helena, are hereby further indefinitely, and without the said exception, extended and continued in force, from the date of the expiration of the said 7 Y

VOL. II.