PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. AT the late session of Congress, an act was passed to regulate the diplomatic and consular systems of the United States. This act is of a most comprehensive character, and enters into much detail in relation to consular affairs, prescribing duties to be observed by merchants engaged in foreign trade, shipowners and shipmasters, collectors of customs, and American travellers in European countries; repeals many of the provisions of existing laws, and revives others, intimately affecting the shipping interests of the country, which were adopted more than half a century ago, and were subsequently repealed; abolishes all fees heretofore received by consuls, prescribes a new tariff of consular fees, and imposes heavy penalties for malfeasance and for neglecting the observance of the requisitions of the statute. The importance of these provisions, affecting as they do so many classes of the community, has suggested the publication of this volume for general information. It embraces, as will be perceived, the regulations of the Department of State for consular officers, and forms to be observed in the transaction of consular business. It is believed that this work will be found useful to persons seeking appointments as consular officers, in furnishing them with information requisite for the discharge of consular duties, as well as to those engaged in foreign commerce. To shipmasters, especially, much of the information which it contains is indispensable under the provisions of recent statutes. In the exercise of their arduous and responsible vocation, they have frequent occasion for the services and assistance of consular officers, which must be rendered in accordance with the laws of the United States and the instructions of the Department of State, with both of which, so far as they relate to their own duties, shipmasters should be fully acquainted. WASHINGTON, December, 1856. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE |