which their countrymen may be concerned, but they should take no part in litigation between citizens. They should countenance and protect them before the authorities of the country in all cases in which they may be injured or oppressed, but their efforts should not be extended to those who have been wilfully guilty of an infraction of the local laws. It is their duty to endeavour, on all occasions, to maintain and promote all their rightful interests, and to protect them in all privileges that are provided for by treaty or are conceded by usage. If representations are made to the local authorities and fail to secure the proper redress, the case should be reported to the ConsulGeneral, if there be one, or to the Diplomatic Representative, if there be no Consul-General, and to their Department of Foreign Affairs. * affairs. Most clause. 13°. It being the principal duties of the Con-Commercial sular officer to protect and to promote the lawful favoured nation commerce of his country and to maintain the rights of its traders in foreign countries, it is his official obligation, that, whenever it may happen that subjects, products, shipping or cargoes of any other nation obtain new facilities or favours at the hands of the local Custom-house authorities or any other rights from local institutions, which are not also granted or extended to his countrymen, when they may be entitled to claim them under the clause of treaties known as "the most favoured nation clause," to report this, at once to his chiefs and to the Diplomatic Representative of his country. Notice must also be given by him to his Government of all special occurrences of a public nature in the domain of commerce and industry in his district, such as the modification of tariffs of * Consul. Reg. of the U. S. of America, § 460. Information as to Lighthouses, etc. import and export, excises, Custom-house regulations, and the like. He will communicate any useful and interesting information relating to agriculture, manufactures, population, and public works. In all that relates to scientific discoveries, to progress in the useful arts, and to general statistics in foreign countries, Consular officers are expected to communicate freely and frequently with their department, and to note all events occurring within their Consular districts which affect beneficially or otherwise the navigation and commerce of their country; the establishment of new branches of industry; the increase or decline of those before established; and communicate all the information which they may be enabled to obtain calculated to benefit the commerce and other interests of their country, and the best means of removing any impediments that may have retarded their advancement. 14°. Consular officers are expected to report Buoys, Shoals, to their Government all matters that may come to their knowledge affecting the navigation of waters in their districts, or that may be of public interest or advantage to shipping. All notices of the erection of new light-houses, removals or changes in those established, the discovery or survey of shoal and reefs, changes in channels, the fixing of new buoys and beacons, and all subjects that concern the interests of navigation, should be communicated promptly to their Government. If published notices are sent, two copies should be furnished; and if they are in a foreign language, they must be accompanied by accurate and trustworthy translations. * Ascertaining of nationality before 15°. In all cases wherein his Consular protecgiving protection. tion is claimed, the Consular officer shall make * Consul. Reg. of the U. S. of America, §§ 436 &, 438, strict inquiries after the proofs of nationality. The passports and other documents constituting these proofs shall be registered, signed and sealed by the Consul and returned to the owner. If the Consul entertains any doubt that the claimed nationality is not bonâ fide proved, he will submit the affair to the Diplomatic Agent, after having given due notice to the claimant, to send up his request, with all documents relating to the same. Nationality. All foreigners, in order to be entitled to Con- Register of sular protection, must have their names duly registered in the register of nationality at their respective Consulate. This registration contains : a. The names and surnames in full. c. The date of birth or approximate age. e. What was their last profession in the f. What date they left their last residence in nies. g. Their present profession, and, in the case h. For a minor, (that is, a person who has residence and profession, and, if both be dead, the name, in full, the present residence and profession of the guardian. Every registration must be signed by the registered person and the Consul, in the register of nationality. In cases of birth or death, at a port where the Consul is not specially appointed as Registrar of Civil State, in conformity with the Laws of his country, the declaration of birth or death of a subject or citizen of his country is noted in the register of nationality. 16°. When a subject dies abroad, the administration of his property at the place of his decease must, as a rule, be left to his heirs or the executors of his will. The Consular officer shall protect such property, if necessary. If, however, the heirs or executors are absent or unknown, the Consular officer shall take the requisite steps for the security of the estate, so far as the laws of the land are not opposed thereto. If a convention, by which the intervention of the Consul in the matter of unadministered estates is regulated, exists between his country and the country where the death has taken place, he will act in accordance with the stipulations of that convention. The Consul shall never omit to report to his Department of Foreign Affairs, and, in so doing, to add all such information as may be necessary to explain the case or may serve to trace out unknown heirs. The Consular function with regard to the sealing up, taking inventories, taking care of property, etc., is only indispensable in case no heir or executor of the deceased is present or duly represented on the spot; unless the Consular officer is expressly requested by the heirs or executors to perform these functions. 17°. The Consular officer shall render the ne- Duties with regard to the cessary services to ships of war of his nationality Navy. Consular officers are authorized to call in the aid of the commanding officers of the naval forces, upon the responsibility of the latter and in accordance with the existing regulations, also with respect to the transport of accused and indigent persons. To a Consular officer of the rank of ConsulGeneral or Consul, the officer in command gen |