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could, I believe, be supplied to you from store on your demand, and the cost of these articles could be defrayed by you.

It would be advisable for you to obtain permission for me to prepare a few bullet-moulds-say 3, and also to contract for a good number of iron cups.

E. Wallerstein, Esq.

I have, &c.

M. H. DIXON.

List of Arms, Stores, &c. recommended to be obtained by Mr. Wallerstein, Consul-General for the Republic of Costa Rica.

SIR,

Muzzle-stoppers
Bayonet-scabbards

Number.

Arms:-Musket, rifled, pattern 1842 ..

2,000

Implements: Nipple-wrench, ball drawer,
brace, in the proportion issued with the

above arms.

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Spare nipples

Ammunition made up, rounds

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:

Paper Cartridge of sorts, sufficient for
making up 2,000,000 cartridges.

Grease:-Mixture of tallow and bee's-wax, for
dipping ends of cartridges into, 20 kegs.
Twine, balls of

M. H. DIXON.

(Inclosure 2.)—Mr. Drewry to Mr. Wallerstein,

War Department, Pall Mall, March 18, 1856. IN reference to the conversation which you have had with Lieutenant-Colonel Dixon, Superintendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, relative to the selection of muskets for service of the Government of Costa Rica, I am directed to acquaint you that Lord Panmure has approved of the proposal of LieutenantColonel Dixon, that 2,000 smooth-bored muskets be repaired, rifled, and sighted, and presented to you for the Government of Costa Rica, on payment of the expenses of the alterations; also of the supply of the ammunition and necessaries, on payment being made for them; and his Lordship has given orders for the same to be carried into effect. I am, &c. H. R. DREWRY.

E. Wallerstein, Esq.

No. 20. Mr. Wallerstein to the Earl of Clarendon.-(Rec. May 1.) Consulate-General of Costa Rica,

MY LORD,

2, Warwick Crescent, Harrow Road, April 30, 1856. You are aware that I had solicited and obtained from your Lordship, on account of the Government of Costa Rica, 2,000 muskets, with respect to the payment for which I addressed your Lordship on the 28th March last.

Since this period, General Walker is at war with my Government. General Walker has also declared that the Mosquito coast, under the protection of Great Britain, is annexed by him to the State of Nicaragua.

In the meantime he is constantly receiving supplies through Greytown, a portion of the Mosquito territory; and the position he is thus enabled to occupy between Costa Rica and Greytown, renders all communication with Costa Rica of extreme difficulty.

I venture to hope that, under these circumstances, I am not presuming too much on the friendly relations which have always existed between my Government and that of Her Majesty, if I venture to call your Lordship's attention to this state of things.

The conduct pursued by General Walker, insulting to Great Britain, by menacing the Power she protects, is also prejudicial to British interests, which are deeply involved, as I have already pointed out to your Lordship, in the tranquillity and prosperity of Costa Rica; and, at all events, it would be some satisfaction and some guide to me, if I were enabled to ascertain, through your Lordship's goodness, the policy which Great Britain is disposed to pursue towards this adventurer, who, denounced by the Government of the State to which he belongs, is nevertheless making war on his own account, and threatening the peace and well-being of the whole Central American continent. I have, &c.

The Earl of Clarendon

E. WALLERSTEIN.

ACT of Congress of The United States "to authorize Protection to be given to Citizens of The United States who may discover Deposits of Guano."

[Chap. 164.]

[August 18, 1856.]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of The United States of America in Congress assembled, that when any citizen or citizens of The United States may have discovered, or shall hereafter discover, a deposit of guano on any island, rock, or key not within the lawful jurisdiction of any other Government, and

Neither the above-mentioned muskets nor the mortars referred to in No. 5 have yet been issued from Her Majesty's stores.

not occupied by the citizens of any other Government, and shall take peaceable possession thereof, and occupy the same, said island, rock, or key may, at the discretion of the President of the United States, be considered as appertaining to The United States: Provided, however, that notice be given by such discoverer or discoverers, as soon as practicable, to the State Department of The United States, of such discovery, occupation, and possession, verified by affidavit, describing said island, rock, or key, and the latitude and longitude thereof, as near as may be, and showing that such possession was taken in the name of The United States, and that satisfactory evidence be furnished to the State Department that such island, rock, or key was not, at the time of the discovery thereof, or of the taking possession and occupation thereof by the claimants, in the possession or occupation of any other Government, or of the citizens of any other Government.

II. And be it further enacted, that the said discoverer or discoverers, or his or their assigns, being citizens of The United States, may be allowed, at the pleasure of Congress, the exclusive right of occupying said islands, rocks, or keys, for the purpose of obtaining said guano, and of selling and delivering the same to citizens of The United States, for the purpose of being used therein, and may be allowed to charge and receive for every ton thereof delivered alongside a vessel, in proper tubs, within reach of ship's tackle, a sum not exceeding 8 dollars per ton for the best quality, or 4 dollars per ton in its native place of deposit: Provided, however, that no guano shall be taken from said island, rock, or key, except for the use of the citizens of The United States, or of persons resident therein, as aforesaid. And provided, also, that said discoverer or discoverers, or his or their assigns, shall first enter into bonds, with such penalties or securities as may be required by the President, to deliver the said guano to citizens of The United States, for the purpose of being used therein, and to none others, and at the price aforesaid, and to provide all necessary facilities for that purpose within a time to be fixed in said bond. And any breach of the provisions thereof shall be taken and deemed a forfeiture of all rights accruing under and by virtue of this Act.

III. And be it further enacted, that the introduction of guano from such islands, rocks, or keys, shall be regulated as in the coasting trade between different parts of The United States, and the same laws shall govern the vessels concerned therein.

IV. And be it further enacted, that nothing in this Act contained shall be construed obligatory on The United States to retain possession of the islands, rocks, or keys, as aforesaid, after the guano shall have been removed from the same.

V. And be it further enacted, that the President of the United

States is hereby authorized, at his discretion, to employ the land and naval forces of The United States to protect the rights of the said discoverer or discoverers or their assigns, as aforesaid.

VI. And be it further enacted, that until otherwise provided by law, all acts done, and offences or crimes committed, on every such island, rock, or key, by persons who may land thereon, or in the waters adjacent thereto, shall be held and deemed to have been done or committed on the high seas, on board a merchant ship or vessel belonging to The United States, and be punished according to the laws of The United States relating to such ships or vessels and offences on the high seas; which laws, for the purposes aforesaid, are hereby extended to and over such islands, rocks, or keys. Approved, August 18, 1856.

DECRET Impérial portant Ratification et Promulgation de l'Article qui proroge la Convention conclue, le 8 Avril, 1836, entre la France et la République Orientale de l'Uruguay.— St. Cloud, le 21 Septembre, 1855.

NAPOLEON, par la Grâce de Dieu et la volonté nationale, Empereur des Français, à tous présents et à venir, salut.

Ayant vu et examiné l'Article signé à Montevideo, le 20 Juillet dernier, portant prorogation de la Convention du 8 Avril, 1836, conclue entre la France et la République Orientale de l'Uruguay, et les 2 Gouvernements Contractants ayant approuvé ledit Article, dont la teneur suit:

Les Soussignés, M. Daniel-Pierre Martin Maillefer, Chevalier de l'Ordre Impérial de la Légion d'Honneur, etc., Consul Général et Chargé d'Affaires de Sa Majesté l'Empereur des Français, d'une part;

Et de l'autre, Son Excellence Don Francisco Agell, Ministre Secrétaire d'Etat des Finances de l'Etat Oriental de l'Uruguay, Chargé du Département des Relations Extérieures ;

Considérant que les circonstances n'ont pas permis de remplacer, par un Traité en forme, la Convention préliminaire d'Amitié, de Commerce et de Navigation conclue, le 8 Avril, 1836, entre la France et l'Etat Oriental de l'Uruguay;

Attendu, toutefois, que le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté l'Empereur des Français et celui de l'Excellentissime Président de la République attachent un égal intérêt à maintenir et à développer, par des garanties mutuelles, les relations avantageuses qui sont établies entre les 2 pays;

Attendu, en outre, que, pour remplir ses fins, la loi votée ad hoc, le 12 Juillet courant, par l'Assemblée Générale de la République,

et promulguée, le 14, par le pouvoir exécutif, requiert la sanction d'un acte diplomatique ayant le caractère et les effets d'une obligation internationale;

Les Soussignés, à ce dûment autorisés par leurs Gouvernements, ont, d'un commun accord, approuvé et adopté l'Article qui suit;

ARTICLE UNIQUE. La Convention préliminaire du 8 Avril, 1836, entre la France et l'Etat Oriental de l'Uruguay, est prorogée et maintenue, dans tous ses effets, jusqu'au 8 Octobre, 1858.

En foi de quoi, les Commissaires respectifs ont signé le présent acte, et y ont apposé leurs sceaux.

Fait en la ville de Montevideo, le 20 Juillet, 1855.

(L.S.) MARTIN MAILLEFER. (L.S.) FRANCISCO AGELL.

Sur le rapport de notre Ministre et Secrétaire d'Etat au Département des Affaires Etrangères.

Nous avons décrété et décrétons ce qui suit:

ART. I. Le susdit Article est ratifié, et recevra sa pleine et entière exécution.

II. Notre Ministre et Secrétaire d'Etat au Département des Affaires Etrangères est chargé de l'exécution du présent décret. Fait à Saint Cloud, le 21 Septembre, 1855.

Par l'Empereur:

Le Ministre Secrétaire d'Etat au Département des

Affaires Etrangères, WALEWSKI.

NAPOLEON.

DISCOURS de l'Empereur des Français, à l'Ouverture de la Session Législative.-Paris, le 3 Mars, 1856.

MESSIEURS LES SENATEURS, MESSIEURS LES DEPUTES,

La dernière fois que je vous ai convoqués, de graves préoccupations nous dominaient.

Les armées alliées s'épuisaient à un siége où l'opiniâtreté de la défense faisait douter du succès. L'Europe incertaine semblait attendre la fin de la lutte avant de se prononcer. Pour soutenir la guerre, je vous demandais un emprunt que vous votiez unanimement, quoi-qu'il pût paraître excessif. L'élévation du prix des denrées menaçait la classe laborieuse d'un malaise général, et une perturbation dans le système monétaire faisait craindre le ralentissement des transactions et du travail. Eh bien! grâce à votre concours comme à l'énergie déployée en France et en Angleterre, grâce surtout à l'appui de la Providence, ces dangers, s'ils n'ont pas entièrement disparu, sont pour la plupart conjurés.

Un grand fait d'armes est venu décider en faveur des armées

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