were referred, reports that he has examined the same, and finds them to be in accordance with the treaty, and, in his opinion, sufficient for all the purposes intended, and recommends that they be approved by your excellency in council.

The committee concur in opinion with the minister of customs, and advise that the regulations submitted and hereunto annexed be approved accordingly. Certified:

W. A. HIMSWORTH,

Clerk Privy Council, Canada.

Copy of a report of a committee of the honorable the privy council, approved by his excellency the governor-general on the 4th day of November, 1874.

The committee of the privy council have had under consideration a memorandum dated 27th October, 1874, from the honorable the minister of customs, submitting with reference to the regulations adopted by the Treasury Department of the Government of the United States governing the transportation of dutiable merchandise between the Dominion of Canada and the United States under the treaty of Washington, and with special reference to article 19 of said regulations governing the transit of merchandise from one American port to another through this Dominion, a draft, hereunto annexed, of corresponding regulations governing the transit of Canadian dutiable goods from one port of the Dominion to another through the territory of the United States, and recommending that an order in council do pass authorizing the adoption thereof. The committee advise that the draught regulations herewith submitted be approved and adopted. Certified:

W. A. HIMSWORTH,

Clerk Privy Council, Canada.

Regulations governing the transportation of Canadian merchandise from one port of the Dominion to another through the territory of the United States, under article 30 of the treaty of Washington, and the act 35 Victoria, chapter 2, giving effect thereto.

ARTICLE 1. Goods, wares, and merchandise in transit from one port or place within the Dominion of Canada to another by a route a part of which is by land-carriage through the territory of the United States, and a part by the great lakes and the rivers connecting the same, or by the river St. Lawrence, may be transported by water in either American or British vessels from ports on the Canadian frontier to ports on the northern frontier of the United States for transshipment to railway-cars, and from points on the said northern frontier of the United States at the termini of railway transportation to ports on the Canadian frontier in either American or British vessels. ART. 2. If the goods are subject to duty, they must be shipped under the ordinary transportation entry and bond, and, if the character of the goods will admit of it, must be duly corded and sealed.

ART. 3. Special manifests, in triplicate, shall be prepared at the port of shipment, for merchandise forwarded in this manner, describing the merchandise and setting forth the route over which it is to pass, one copy of which shall accompany the merchandise and be kept in the custody of the master of the vessel, or conductor of the car, as the case may be, one copy retained by the customs officer at the port or place of shipment, and the third copy forwarded to the customs officer at the port or place where the merchandise shall be returned to Canada.

ART. 4. At the first port or place of transshipment in the United States, the merchandise, or the packages thereof, if corded and sealed, shall be examined and compared with the special manifest accompanying the same, and the result thereof certified to by some officer of the Canadian or United States customs; the manifests shall then be passed over to the conductor of the cars into which the merchandise shall be laden for transportation through the United States.

Examination in the same manner shall be had at the second place of transshipment, or at the terminus of railway transportation, and at the port or place where the merchandise shall be returned into the Dominion of Canada. On arrival of the merchandise at the first port in Canada, after the transit, it must be immediately reported to the collector or other chief officer of the customs, by the delivery of the manifest sent with the goods, with notice of such arrival, and of the wharf, depot, or place where the vessel and merchandise are to be found, indorsed thereon, to be signed by the master of the vessel or consignee of the goods, and such merchandise shall be delivered into the actual custody of the proper officer of the customs.

ART. 5. If the goods, wares, or merchandise to be removed, under these regulations, consist of spirituous liquors or wine, the packages containing the same shall be regauged and the contents tested, so as to ascertain the percentage of proof-spirit, by Sykes's hydrometer, and the contents in proof-gallons shall be clearly stated on the face of the manifest and legibly marked upon each package, and, if considered necessary by the proper officer of customs, shall be again gauged and tested in like manner on arrival at the destined Canadian port.

GREECE.

No. 349.

Mr. Francis to Mr. Fish.

[Extract.]

No. 125.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Athens, May 24, 1873. (Received June 16.)

SIR: Among the recent measures of the Greek government awaiting the action of the chamber is the following:

That part of the eccolades which was claimed by the late Franco-Italian Company, as lying within the area of the mine conceded to them, has now been conceded to the new Laurium Company (see my dispatch numbered 114) by a convention signed on the 11th instant. The principal provisions of this convention are as follows: The company is to smelt down the ecvolades, together with the scoria, which already belong to them, and on the lead from which they now pay the state a roy alty of 10 per cent., when the scoria is taken from private lands, and 30 per cent. when taken from national lands. The lead produced in the future from the joint smelting, both of the scoria and ecvolades, is to pay 44 cent., after deducting the working expenses. This 44 per cent. is to be paid either in metal or in cash at the option of the government. The company binds itself to erect within two years twelve additional furnaces, making thirty altogether, twenty of which are to be kept constantly at work producing a minimum quantity of 12,000 tons of lead annually. The company is to be governed by a board of twelve directors, two of whom, possessing three votes, will be named by the govern ment; the government also to appoint a royal commission to inspect the work at Laurium. As regards the ecvolades lying in other parts of Laurium, and which are of vastly greater extent than those conceded as above, it is stipulated that if up to the time of the ratification of this convention by the chamber no better offers be made, they will also be conceded to the company, and in that case the company will pay a royalty on all the lead produced of 50 instead of 44 per cent., and will erect twelve more furnaces, making in all forty-two furnaces. Under this convention, even if the latter part of the agreement is not availed of, it is estimated that the income of the government from the Laurium mines will not be less than 2,000,000 drachma, or some $330,000 annually. Last year the income of the government from this source was about $38,000.

The Greek army has been reduced 1,000 men, leaving the whole number about 10,000. This is a saving of 500,000 drachma, or about $82,000,

a year.

One of the two Greek iron-clads, the King George, is being dismantled, and will be laid up. This is a saving of 100,000 drachma, or over $16,500, a year.

I am, &c.,

JOHN M. FRANCIS.

* *

*

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have been requested by many highly respectable and influential citizens to pray the Govern ment not to increase the duty upon dried currants. A number of Greek and American merchants have lately learned that a proposition is before the House of Representatives to double this importation

tax.

Commending the subject anew to the favorable notice of the Department, and referring to previous elaborate communications upon this subject,

Athens, May 3, 1874. (Received May 25.) SIR: I have the honor to report that the Bulgaris ministry tendered its resignation on the 27th of April at 12 o'clock meridian.

Parliament had adjourned on the 8th of April for the Easter holidays, and the cabinet decided to retire from office a few hours before it reassembled. The cause alleged was the want of a working majority in the chamber.

The house met the same day at 2 p. m., but it adjourned upon being informed by its president, Mr. Zaïmis, that the ministers had withdrawn. Upon the following day, Mr. Zaïmis was invited to the palace to give his opinion upon the relative strength and position of parties in Parliament. He was also asked to point out to the King the gentleman possessing the best chance of support as the head of a new ministry. Mr. Zaïmis named Mr. Coumoundouros. Thereupon, His Majesty requested the latter to form a cabinet. Mr. Coumoundouros demanded twentyfour hours for consultation with his friends, which was granted. As the result, it is reported, on the 29th ultimo, Mr. Coumoundouros agreed to undertake the government upon the following conditions, which he submitted in writing:

1. Entire liberty of action in administration; that is to say, the power to change every public officer in Greece holding his appointment from the Crown, without the interference or remonstrance of the King.

2. Reform in the foreign policy; particularly the establishment of more friendly relations with Russia.

3. The full recognition of the fact that ministers are the only counselors of the Crown.

It is rumored that the King, after a brief delay, necessary for the examination of the propositions of Mr. Coumoundouros, declined to bind

himself to accede to all these demands without recourse. He could not, for instance, it is said, regard with indifference the removal of men of approved integrity and honor, or the appointment of manifestly improper persons to office. In such an event he must reserve to himself the right to speak.

Mr. Zaïmis endeavored to persuade Mr. Coumoundouros to accept without exacting so much. But the latter refused to act, unless the terms already referred to were accepted, without alteration, by the sovereign.

It is said by some persons that the conditions imposed by Mr. Cou moundouros originated with Mr. Lombardos, whose hostility to the King is well known.

The "Palingenessia," one of the organs of Mr. Coumoundouros, in its issue of yesterday, regrets that the King did not receive with favor the memorandum of Mr. Coumoundouros. It says, moreover, that it is now clear that the country is divided into two distinct parties-the one constitutional and parliamentary, of which Mr. Coumoundouros is the head, the other composed of the court and those attached to it.

After the rejection of the Coumoundouros programme the King invited to the palace Mr. Deligeorges, at 11 o'clock yesterday morning. Having explained the position of affairs, His Majesty requested Mr. Deligeorges to form a new ministry. The latter asked time to consult his party, and at 4 p. m. his friends assembled at his house in great numbers and gave him full liberty to follow the dictates of his individual judgment. Up to the present moment Mr. Deligeorges has not returned a definite answer to the King.

The situation is a most unfortunate one; for the country has been without a ministry for the last six days, the longest duration of a ministerial crisis since the accession of His Majesty, King George.

Athens, May 10, 1874. (Received June 1.) SIR: The Department will notice in the communication inclosed in my No. 21 an allusion to the increase of the duty upon dried currants. I seized the occasion a few days since to say to the minister of foreign affairs that I was not aware that final action had been taken by Con gress upon the question, and that I had written to my Government as early as the 2d of April recommending the subject to its most favorable consideration. [See my No. 15 to the Department.] A paragraph has since appeared in the Greek papers setting forth the fact, and within the last forty-eight hours several of the principal journals of Athens have mentioned in terms of warm praise the action of the American minister. Dried currants and oil are the two principal articles exported from Greece. The question of the amount of tariff duty to be imposed by the United States Government upon the former is, therefore, one of absorbing interest here.

I have, &c.,

JOHN MEREDITH READ, JR.

No. 24.]

No. 353.

Mr. Read to Mr. Fish.

UNITED STATES LEGATION, Athens, May 10, 1874. (Received June 2.) SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of dispatches, with inclosures from No. 1 to No. 8 inclusive, also circulars Nos. 47 and 53. The diplomatic corps attended the imposing religious ceremonies at the cathedral on St. George's day-the 5th instant. The King appeared in full uniform, his handsome face wearing a sad expression. The queen, always beautiful, stood by His Majesty's side, accompanied by three of the royal children-aged, respectively, six, five and four yearswho, in spite of their extreme youth, behaved with the utmost propriety. The various ecclesiastical and court dignitaries, the high officers of the state and of the army, together with the representatives of foreign powers and the cabinet ministers, were grouped near the throne. Prominent among the latter was the venerable and distinguished prime minister, Mr. Bulgaris. He was clad in long flowing robes, trimmed with costly furs, and glittering with orders. His dark eye, his clearly cut nervous features, his long white hair and moustache, his fine, intellectual brow, and the quiet repose of his manner, lent an interest and a dignity to his whole appearance which drew many eyes to the spot where he stood.

At the close of the Te Deum the King, amid hearty cheers, returned to the palace, where he received the foreign ministers.

I have, &c.,

JOHN MEREDITH READ, JR.

No. 354.

No. 25.]

Mr. Read to Mr. Fish.

UNITED STATES LEGATION,

Athens, May 12, 1874. (Received June 2.) SIR Referring to my No. 20, of the 3d instant, I have the honor to state that Mr. Deligeorges was unable to form a ministry. On the 4th instant Mr. Bulgaris was requested by the King to continue to act until the question was solved. On the 6th instant His Majesty desired Mr. Bulgaris and the other members of the cabinet to remain in office, and the sovereign promised to support them by granting a dissolution of the chamber.

In the sitting of the 8th instant the government asked a credit for the expenses of four mouths; but some excitement seemed to exist in the chamber, and various deputies began to speak upon other topics, especially concerning the cause of the long ministerial crisis. The debate was cut short by the decree of dissolution, which was read in the tribune by Mr. Bulgaris.

The elections will commence on the 5th of July. Parliament will meet by decree on the 6th of August. But as that is the period of the harvest, it is not probable that a quorum will be present. It is the general opinion that the chamber will not commence its routine business before the middle of October.

The several members of the cabinet retain their portfolios, except that it is said that Colonel Grivas will succeed Colonel Tringhetta as minister of war, and the latter will become minister of marine.

I have, &c.,

JOHN MEREDITH READ, JR.