No. 279.
Mr. Reed to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

No. 121.]

Sir: Referring to Mr. Hamlin’s No. 10, and to your instructions Nos. 24, 28, and 30, relating to the exaction, by Spanish consuls in the United States, of ten cents per ton on the cargo of vessels clearing for Spanish ports, I now have the honor to inclose for your information, a copy of a futher note upon the subject, addressed by me to the minister of state, dated the 17th ultimo.

In this connection, I deem it proper to state that a few days after sending the above note I had occasion to see Mr. Mendez de Vigo (the minister of state being absent) in regard to another matter, and in the course of conversation the question of this charge came up. As no reply had been received to either Mr. Hamlin’s or to my note, I thought the occasion a proper one to express to him verbally the importance attached to the subject by the Government of the United States and to request an early reply. This I did, and Mr. Mendez de Vigo replied that he had already had two or three conversations with the minister of hacienda in regard to the matter, but as it was a grave question they had not been able to come to any decision, adding that it was still under consideration, and that the result when reached would at once be communicated to me.

This conversation took place about a month ago, I have not communicated it to you or transmitted a copy of my note, for the reason that I have been expecting from day to day to receive the reply of the minister of state, but as the reply does not seem to come, I have thought best to now report the conversation, and to transmit a copy of my note above referred to.

I have the honor. &c.,

DWIGHT T. REED.
[Page 463]
[Inclosure in No. 121.]

Mr. Reed to the Marquis de la Vega de Armijo.

Excellency: Referring to Mr. Hamlin’s note of the 7th ultimo, relating to the charge made by Spanish consuls in the ports of the United States of ten cents per ton on the cargoes of vessels clearing for Spanish ports, I have now the honor to inform your excellency that since the above note was written, the legation has received from the Department of State, at Washington, copies of communications addressed to that Department by the Marine Association of New York, and by the merchants and ship-owners of Baltimore and Boston, strongly protesting against said charge.

I have the honor to communicate the above to your excellency in connection with Mr. Hamlin’s note of the 7th ultimo, and in view of the great importance attached to the subject by my government, your excellency will permit me to recall your attention to the above-mentioned note, and to express the hope that such steps may be taken as will lead to the discontinuance of the charge in question.

I gladly avail myself of this occasion, &c., &c.

DWIGHT T. REED.