paragraphs, ac

331. The division of the contents of a despatch Despatches to into paragraphs, each treating of a separate branch of be divided into the subject thereof, so far as classification may be cording to subconvenient, and analysis, by marginal annotation, of divisions of each paragraph, naturally facilitate the proper dis- subject. position of consular communications, and the more prompt attention to the requests of consular officers. The marginal notes should invariably be placed upon the outer side of the paper.

332. In making copies of correspondence, the blank Instructions space on a leaf at the end of one communication respecting copshould not be used to commence another. Each document should be on its own sheet, or, if brief,

on its own half sheet.

ies.

patches.

333. All despatches are to be folded like those sent Folding and from this Department. Gum, sealing-wax, or wafers sealing of desare not to be put upon the despatches or the enclosures, but only on the envelopes which cover them. Whenever despatches are to be transmitted through regions in or near the torrid zone sealing wax is not to be used. Envelopes containing consular despatches are to be addressed in a manner similar to form No. 7.

dated.

334. Despatches are never to be antedated; and Despatches not when returns which are ordered to be transmitted to be ante"quarterly," "half-yearly," or "annually," cannot be completed on the last day of the quarter, half-year, or year, as the case may be, for want of sufficient information on that date, or for any other adequate reason, the returns are to be made up to that date as soon as practicable thereafter.

335. Returns ordered to be sent "quarterly" are When returns to be made up to the 31st of March, 30th of June, are to be made 30th of September, and 31st of December. Those

up.

Mode of trans

turns.

ordered to be made up half-yearly are to be made up to the 30th of June and 31st of December; and those ordered to be "annually transmitted" are to be made up to the 31st of December.

336. Returns ordered by special instruction, or mitting re-enactment, or by different sections of the General Instructions, are to be sent as enclosures in distinct despatches, each despatch relating solely to the return as ordered to be made in such instruction, enactment, or section.

Annual return.

Officers with

correspond.

337. A return must be rendered on the 31st of December of each year, or as soon after as possible, of the number and dates of the despatches written during the year, with a brief analysis of each, and transmitted by the earliest conveyance, and, if practicable, before the consul writes any despatches in the ensuing year.

338. A consular officer will hold correspondence on whom consular public matters, independently of that which his offiofficers are to cial duties require him to conduct with the local authorities and individuals of the place where he resides and officers or others employed in our commercial marine, only with the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Comptroller, the Fifth Auditor, the Register of the Treasury, Attorneys of the United States, the United States legation in the country where he resides, other consular officers, and with naval or military officers in the service of the United States who may be employed in the neighborhood, and to whom it may be necessary to communicate immediately any event of public interest.

Forms for com

339. Consuls are provided by the Department with mercial returns printed forms, for their guidance in making the cus

and statement

of fees.

tomary commercial and other returns and statement

of fees whenever it is practicable.

be observed.

340. The convenience of the Department will be Instructions to greatly promoted by a careful attention on the part of all consular officers to the foregoing instructions, and a strict compliance with them will be expected.

CHAPTER XIX.

Compensation

COMPENSATION OF CONSULAR OFFICERS.

341. It is provided by the third section of the act regulating the diplomatic and consular systems of the schedules Band United States,1 that consuls general, consuls, and com

of consular officers named in

C.

mercial agents, appointed to the ports and places specified in schedules B and C of the same section of the act, shall be entitled to compensation for their services, respectively, at the rates per annum therein specified. It is further provided that if the President shall think proper to appoint a consul to any port or place named in the said schedules B and C for a commercial agent, instead of such commercial agent, or vice versa, and an appointment shall be made accordingly, the compensation for such consular officer (without regard to title) shall be the same in any such case as that fixed for such port or place in the schedule embracing the same; and if he shall think the public interests will be subserved by appointing to any such port or place a consul general instead of a consul or commercial agent, and an appointment shall be made accordingly, the compensation for such consul general shall be the same as that fixed for such port or place in the schedule embracing the same.2

1 Statutes at Large, vol. xi. p. 73.

2 See schedules B and C of the diplomatic and consular act for the compensation provided for the several consulates of the United States,

cers who are

342. It is provided by the fourth section of the Compensation same act, that consuls general, consuls, and commer- of consular official agents, not embraced in schedules B and C, shall not embraced be entitled, as compensation for their services, to such in schedules B fees as they may collect in pursuance of the provisions of this act, respectively.

and C.

mences and

343. The eighth section of the same act provides, When compenthat no consul general, consul, commercial agent, or sation comconsular pupil, respectively, appointed to any such terminates. office after the said act shall take effect, shall be entitled to compensation for his services therein except from the time when he shall reach his post and enter upon his official duties to the time when he shall cease to hold such office, and for such time as he shall be actually and necessarily occupied in receiving his instructions, not to exceed thirty days, and in making the transit between the place of his residence when Transit appointed and his post of duty at the commencement pensation. and termination of the period of his official service, for which he shall in all cases be allowed and paid, unless such consul general, consul, commercial agent, or consular pupil, shall have resigned, or been recalled therefrom for any malfeasance in his office, in which case no such officer as is referred to in this section shall be allowed compensation for the time so occupied in such transit at the termination of the period of his official service.

344. The proper construction of the last clause of the section above mentioned has been determined by

Statutes at Large, vol. xi. pp. 52, 54; also the act of August 2, 1861, Statutes at Large, vol. xii. p. 285; also act of February 4, 1862; see copies of these acts in the latter part of this volume.

The provision relating to the appointment of consular pupils has been repealed. Statutes at Large, vol. xi. p. 160.

com