The first seven articles are allowed to be deposited, and if re-exported no duty is exacted; but the last three are not allowed this privilege. Supplementary tariff of municipal duties exacted on the three articles of kerosene and all coal oils, butter, and ice, since July 1, 1864, they having been before that date exempt from taxation. The first article is allowed to be deposited, and if not consumed in the place pays no duty; but the last two are not allowed this privilege. TRINIDAD DE CUBA-WILLIAM H. RUSSELL, Consul. OCTOBER 1, 1864. The probable total amount of exports from this entire consulate, for the current year, comprising Cienfuegos and Santa Espiritus or Zuza, will probably reach the sum of seven millions of dollars. The largest amounts, perhaps, approximating to fifty per cent., have been shipped or exported from Cienfuegos. * The agricultural, commercial, and monetary condition of this part of the island remain almost identical as at the same period last year. There has been no particular change in commercial operations, or with anything else within my consulate, growing out of new treaties or construction of old ones everything remains upon the precise basis as I found them on my arrival three years ago. I am pleased to be enabled to state that, under the *trict vigilance of the present captain general of her Catholic Majesty at Havana, the infamous traffic in the African race has been materially abridged. I have heard of no arrival of slaves on this part of the island for a considerable length of time, and the last resulted in the recapture of the unfortunate kidnaps. I also report, with much satisfaction, that no injury has been done to our commerce by privateers, or casualties of any kind, since the date of my last annual report; and I do not consider our merchantmen in the slightest danger in their transits to and from any part of the United States and the southern side of Cuba. * * * * From the 1st of July, 1864, the different port charges at present in force on all vessels arriving at this island shall be substituted by one sole duty, as follows: 1. All vessels entering and clearing with cargo pay per each 2. All vessels entering with cargo and leaving in ballast. All vessels with coal only, but less than their registered ton- All vessels with less coal than their tonnage, and, more- Foreign. National. And on the rest of the cargo... 5. All vessels entering in ballast and clearing loaded with a full cargo of molasses .. 50 73 37 6. All vessels arriving in ballast, and only loading fruits of this country, per each ton of cargo And for every ton unoccupied... 7. All vessels coming and leaving in ballast.. 8. All vessels arriving in transit or in distress. 5 5 9. All steamers engaged in the regular trade with this island, of whatever flag or place of departure, shall be exempt from all dues provided they neither take away nor bring more than six tons of cargo; and, when carrying a mail, they are to have all preference in clearance. 10. All steamers, under the foregoing circumstances, but bringing or taking away cargo exceeding the prescribed six tons, shall pay, per foreign flag, $1 62 and 62 cents national flag. 11. The Spanish mail steamers shall pay tonnage in accordance with their special contracts with the government. 12. All steamers not coming within schedules 9, 10, and 11, shall pay tonnage, according to flag and place of departure, deducting the number of tons occupied by the engine and coal-bunkers from the total tonnage. PORTUGUESE DOMINIONS. LISBON-C. A. MUNRO, Consul. DECEMBER 31, 1863. Statement showing the description and value of the exports of Lisbon to New York, and where produced, during the quarter ended December 31, 1863. Statement showing the description and value of the exports of Lisbon, where produced, and whither sent, during the quarter ended March 31, 1864. Spain and Portugal.. New York.. 1 case, 42 bottles, sherry wine, and 1 5 pipes and 25 fifths pipes red wine and 7 pipes and 25 fifths pipes white wine.. 148 moyos salt and 18 packages gum 318 bundles and 1 parcel corkwood.... 10 barrels of white Lisbon wine. 97 bags of unwashed wool 4 barrels containing argols 13 barrels, 16 bags, and 2 cases gum 414 moyos salt and 1,190 mats.. 42 bags black and 2 sacks white wool.. 44..do......do................ Portuguese colonies. Portugal. do.... Portuguese colonies. .do... .do.... ...do.... ..do..... Portuguese colonies. Portugal. $458 95 ...do.. Rs. 486, 900 ..do.. 903, 660 Rs. 1,877, 495 35 bundles corkwood .do.. 277,830 677,497 140 packages of gum .do.. 875, 085 88 bags of wool... 289,400 ST. PAUL DE LOANDO-JOHN T. BRADBERRY, Commercial Agent. DECEMBER 31, 1863. I have the honor to state that clearing vessels from this port is a perplexing operation. First, notice of eight days must be given; second, a bond with two sureties (merchants) in the sum of four thousand milreis francos ($2,675 59,) must be entered into as a guarantee that the vessel will not engage in the slave trade. This is well where suspicion attaches to any vessel, but it is exacted indiscriminately previous to granting a clearance, not that there is any fear that a well-known vessel will engage in the slave trade, but that the merchants who sign the bonds may realize the fee, which is forty-five pounds, or one hundred and twenty-five dollars, for so doing. * The merchants established here sign the bond for each other, but an American vessel arriving here for the first time encounters much trouble and expense in consequence of such bond. She must also select a consignee, if not previously consigned, which obliges her to pay a further sum of one hundred milreis a mark-bancos, or $66 663. I have not succeeded in obtaining a copy of duties on imports for this province. The present duties are based upon the tariff law of 1842, modified for colonial purposes, but I have the assurance that on the first of February next a new tariff will be published, based on. the tariff of 1863, with colonial modifications, which will, I understand, increase the duties on both imports and exports. I will forward it as soon as possible. At Benguela, Messamidis, and Loando, duties must be paid; all other trading stations are free. I feel it to be my duty to mention the fact that the iron lighters here, belonging to the government, are nearly valueless, being rusted through in many places. Cargoes that would sink (coal, for instance) cannot be transported in them with safety. In fact, they are not well adapted to this navigation either in model or material. Lighters for this harbor should be of wood, forty-five to fifty feet long, and coppered-the models such as are used at Havre de Grace, Maryland-very strong, cheap, light draught of water, burdensome, easily managed, and will sail well when sail is put upon them. I have no doubt such lighters could be sent here-all parts precisely fitted, and put together here-for one thousand dollars each. I am informed that freights alone on one of these lighters now here amounted to twelve hundred dollars, and her term of service has been very short. For two years last past, trade with the interior has been much obstructed in consequence of a war between the Portuguese and the King (Guga) of Cassango, one of the most powerful potentates of the interior of Africa, and whose dominions border on the Portuguese possessions. On the 29th of August last a treaty of peace was entered into between the belligerents, the Guga of Cassango agreeing to pay the whole expenses of the war. On the 26th of September the ambassador of the Guga was received at the palace of the governor general, when the treaty was ratified; in consequence, it is expected that trade with the interior will revive and importation increase. Our own unhappy civil war has a very depressing effect upon American trade here, in consequence of the high price of cotton, heretofore the most profitable article of American manufacture imported into this country; also an important auxiliary to all other articles of sale or barter. Under present circumstances the English, who have only one house here, sell goods for at least 30 per cent. less than the same article can be bought for in the United States. |