DEAR SIR: The pressure of business arising from the departure of the steamer, will plead my excuse for not having more promptly acknowledged the receipt of your favor of the 12th instant. For the kindly feelings manifested towards myself personally, and for the generous offer to co-operate with me in the discharge of the important and responsible duties 1 have assumed as collector of this distriet, accept, I pray you, my sincere thanks. Much shall I stand in need of the counsel and advice of one whose large experience in the commercial concerns of the nations of the world has made him familiar with the various and important questions arising out of the execution and enforcement of the revenue laws of the country.

My worthy predecessor has made known to me what has been done by himself, under the advice of the military and naval commanders on this station, in relation to the granting of licenses to vessels, other than those built in the United States, to trade within the bay of San Francisco and its tributaries. I am aware also of the necessity which seemed to justify the exercise of that discretion. It must be admitted, however, that it was in violation of the revenue laws.

I should exceedingly regret that the strict enforcement of those laws should inflict injury upon any portion of my countrymen, but I am not vested with discretionary powers upon such subjects. I must abide by the law, whatever it may be. When those licenses were granted, no collection district had been created in California by act of Congress, and that discretion might be properly exercised by the then authorities. It may be, and no doubt is true, that freights must necessarily advance by the revoking of the licenses granted to foreign vessels to engage in the coasting trade. But, while I may lament that any portion of our countrymen who are engaged in the mining district should feel the effects in the increased price of provisions, we have, on the other hand, the satisfaction of knowing that another class, that of the American ship-builders and ship-owners, will enjoy that protection which the law intended to give them, that the great interests of our own commerce will be promoted, and that the law of the land is respected and maintained.

Entertaining these views, I must abide by the decision I have already made upon the subject. Congress will soon assemble, and to that tribunal must these questions be submitted.

With high regard, I am your obedient servant,

J. COLLIER, Collector.

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Valparaiso, December 8, 1848.

DEAR SIR: Understanding that our government has not provided you with the acts of Congress containing the treaties with foreign nations, I take the liberty of sending you the acts of the 23d Congress, which con

tains the treaty between the United States and Chili, and also with Russia You will perceive that Chili has not a full and free treaty of commercia reciprocity. The conventions with Chili were officially ratified on the 29th April, 1844, and the 2d article of the first of these conventions provides among other stipulations, that

"The United States of America and the republic of Chili, desiring to live in peace and harmony with all the other nations of the earth-by means of a policy frank and friendly with all-engage mutually not to grant any particular favor to other nations in respect to commerce and navigation, which shall not immediately become common to the othe party, who shall enjoy the same freely, if the concession were freely made-or on allowing the same compensation, if the concession were con ditional, &c."

In somewhat more than two years after the ratification of the conven tions with Chili, to wit: on the 21st of May, 1836, a treaty was rati fied between the United States and Venezuela, the fourth article of which provides: "They likewise agree that whatever kind of produce, manufac tures, or merchandise of any foreign country, can be, from time to time lawfully imported into the United States in her own vessels, may be also imported in vessels of the republic of Venezuela, and that no higher of other duties upon the tonnage of the vessels and their cargoes shall be levied and collected, whether the importation be made in the vessels of the one country or of the other; and, in like manner, that whatever kind of produce, manufacture, or merchandise of any foreign country, can be, from time to time, lawfully imported into the republic of Venezuela in its own vessels, may be also imported in vessels of the United States, and that no other or higher duties upon the tonnage of their vessels and their cargoes shall be levied or collected, whether the importation be made in the ves sels of one country or of the other; and they agree that, whateve may be lawfully exported or re-exported from the one country, in its own vessels, to any foreign country, may, in like manner, be exported of re-exported in the vessels of the other country. And the same bounties duties, and drawbacks shall be collected, whether such exportation or re exportation be made in the vessels of the United States or of the republi of Venezuela."

Provisions either exactly the same, or of precisely similar import, are to be found in a number of the treaties made between the United States and other nations, at subsequent dates, as these references will show.

Under these references, the question-as far as Chili is interested-re curs: May Chili avail herself of the privileges and immunities which thes treaties reciprocally confer on the contracting parties? Without a doub she may, upon precisely the terms under which Venezuela and the othe contracting parties enjoy the same; that is to say, by Chili's reciprocall conferring the like privileges and immunities upon the commerce an navigation of the United States in her ports. This is all that is exacted and all that is conferred; and though the condition is not to be dispense with, a compliance with its terms is all that can be required. The con ditions which these treaties mutually impose upon the contracting partie thereto, consist in the reciprocities they exact, in consideration of the ad vantages they bestow. Now Chili has granted nothing to the flag c the United States which she withholds from that of any other nation upo

earth, and reserves to her own vessels the exclusive right of commerce at afixed rate of duties. As, for instance, a vessel built in the United States, owned by a citizen of Chili, pays 10 per cent. more upon the duties than is charged to a vessel owned by the same parties, built in Chili. A veses. sel built in, and owned by citizens of the United States, is charged 20 per cent. upon the duties charged upon Chilian vessels. This, of course, is upon foreign products, and does not apply to American goods. It amounts to this: that our vessels employed in the China trade are required to pay 20 per cent. upon the duties charged to Chilian vessels, employed in the same trade, in the ports of Chili.

Therefore, I conclude that the Chilian flag is not entitled to any special privileges in the ports of the United States, and if permitted to enter at all, should be subject to a discriminating duty; otherwise, those nations who concluded a perfect treaty of reciprocity with the United States would not be fairly treated.

I offer this for your consideration, and only regret that I am so much occupied that I could not go more into detail.

With sentiments of respect and esteem I remain, your obedient servant,
WM. G. MOORHEAD,
Consul of the United States of America.

Captain J. L. FOLSOM,

Collector of the port of San Francisco, &c.

MONTHLY SUMMARY STATEMENT.

4th quarter, 1849.

4th quarter, 1849.

113,942 60

113,942 60

COAST SURVEY OFFICE,

Washington, March 16, 1849.

DEAR SIR: Under date of August 17, 1848, I received from the Secretary of the Treasury the letter of which the following is a copy:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, August 17, 1848.

SIR: Enclosed you will find a bill, passed during the last session of Congress, extending the laws of the United States over the territory of Oregon, to which I invite your attention, with a view to the commencement of a survey of the coast of the United States on the Pacific.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. J. WALKER,
Secretary of the Treasury.

Prof. A. D. BACHE,

Superintendent U. S. C. S.

In conference with the Secretary of the Treasury, the plans for com- . mencing the survey were submitted, and I received oral directions to mature them, and to take the preparatory steps. These executed, I communicated with the department on the 21st October, and received the following reply:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, October 23, 1848.

SIR: Your letter of the 21st instant, communicating the execution of my oral instructions of August last, is received, and the arrangements which you have made approved. The department also approves of the following recommendations:

1. The detail of assistant Jas. S. Williams and sub-assistant Geo. Davidson for section X of the coast survey, to commence such work as may be designated in the instructions of the superintendent, and the furnishing of the parties with all instruments needful to the work.

2. The employment of such aids and such hands in the parties as may be necessary, and the allowance of the requisite outfits. The persons to receive the pay and allowances fixed by the department for the Gulf of Mexico, or as may be necessary and usual on the western coast to secure good hands, and as may be approved by the superintendent. The officers to receive the allowances which apply to the sections on the Gulf of Mexico.

3. The general disbursing agent of coast survey is authorized to advance for the expenses and pay of this party, up to July 1, 1849, a sum not to exceed eight thousand dollars, which sum he shall receive from the treasury in addition to the usual advance.

4. The organization of a hydrographical party, under the command of Lieutenant Ŵ. P. McArthur, United States navy, assistant in the coast survey, to accompany, or to follow as soon as practicable, the land party. A copy of a letter relating to light-houses, beacons, buoys, &c., on the western coast, from the Fifth Auditor, is herewith transmitted.

The department requests that you will further the views of that officer, as far as practicable, by directing immediately such surveys as may be necessary for placing buoys and beacons, or locating light houses, as may not interfere with the general plan of the work-reporting the results to