At an early day the Secretary of the Treasury will lay before you accounts in detail, of the transactions at the Department during the year last past; as also the estimates of appropriations necessary for the various departments of the Government during the current year.

In conformity with a resolution of the last session of the Legislature, "authorizing the appointment of three responsible and competent persons to audit all unaudited accounts," I named Messrs. H. W. Dennis, W. A. Johnson, and R. L. Stryker to that duty. These gentlemen, with great strictness and perseverance, have carefully examined and compared vouchers, and audited all unaudited public accounts from the year 1851 to the close of the last fiscal year, September 30th; and I am authorized to say, that they have found the state of the public accounts satisfactory, and furnishing indubitable evidence of the accountability of the Treasury Department in relation to the public expenditures. The auditors' report is not quite completed, but in a few days will be laid before you.

The copper coin, ordered to be struck, according to the proposition of S. Gurney, Esquire, has arrived, and awaits the further order of the Legislature.

I am also authorized to say, that if the amount of copper coin already received is deemed insufficient for the demand, and the Government is disposed to increase the circulation, Mr. Gurney will contribute another 1007. sterling, on like condition as the first, to that object.

I would observe here, that the present mode of making returns of public money falling into the hands of agents charged with its collection, especially court and military fines, is in some respects unsatisfactory; and a large amount of these, now outstanding, might be collected by a little more vigilance on the part of the officers whose duty it is to enforce payment. With a view to some reformation in these matters, I recommend the subject to the attention of the Legislature.

Having, in this communication, given you a view of the present condition of the affairs of the Republic, and having presented to you the circumstances which have occurred since the last session of the Legislature, interesting to the public weal, and having recommended to your consideration such objects of public concern as I deemed sufficiently important to claim special and immediate attention, I shall avail myself of a subsequent occasion to bring to your notice some other matters of a public character which I consider interesting to the general good, and others of a private nature which I would submit to your consideration; among these is a matter relating to the landing of a quantity of ardent spirits at this port from the brig Haywood in April last, involving the question of

refunding an amount of duties paid on said spirits-landed under a false impression of the operation of the law of the 1st of May, and which false impression it is alleged was received from the Collector of Customs. All the facts, in regard to this case, as far as they have come to my knowledge, will in due time be transmitted to the Legislature.

Gentlemen, as the period of my retiring from office is near at hand, and this being the last occasion which will occur to me of addressing both Houses of the Legislature at the commencement of their meeting, I cannot close this communication without recording here an expression of my sincere gratitude for the many indulgencies I have received from time to time at the hands of this branch of the Government, and the same grateful acknowledgments are due for the repeated proofs of confidence manifested towards me by my fellow-citizens generally, whose support and encouragement have sustained me in the discharge of the arduous and responsible duties which have devolved upon me in the management of their public affairs. In directing these I cannot have escaped error; it is incident to imperfect nature. One thing, however, consoles me that in whatever it has been my lot to commit errors, they have been the result of my weak understanding, and not of intention.

To administer impartial justice; to maintain the honour of the Government, and the rights of my fellow-citizens; and to advance the true interests of Liberia, have been my constant aim, and the motives which prompted every action of my public life.

My thanks are also due to all the officers of the Government who have been intimately associated with me in the administration of public affairs, and I beg to be permitted on this occasion to tender to them my grateful acknowledgments for their co-operation and assistance accorded to me on all occasions, and under all circumstances, however trying or embarrassing.

I now, Gentlemen, commend you to the guidance of Almighty God, with full reliance on his merciful providence for the maintenance of our free institutions, and with earnest supplication that He will direct you in all your deliberations on the topics of general interest to which I have adverted, and such others as your more extensive knowledge of the wants of the people may suggest. Recollecting always that it becomes us to cherish a devout gratitude to that Divine Providence whose goodness has been so remarkably extended to this infant but rising nation, and to implore from the same omnipotent source a blessing on the consultations and measures about to be undertaken for the welfare of our common country, and the prosperity and happiness of our fellow-citizens. To this end I carnestly entreat that in all your deliberations and coun sels you will cultivate a spirit of harmony and unanimity of action

laying aside, if such there be, all sectional or other considerations not compatible with the general weal; and, with common zeal and common efforts, cheerfully co-operate in the adoption of such measures as will promote the supreme good of our beloved Liberia. Government House, Monrovia, December 20, 1855. To the Hon. the Senate and House of

Representatives.

J. J. ROBERTS.

TREATY of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between Liberia and the Hanse Towns.*-Signed in London, May 29, 1855.

[Ratifications exchanged at London, May 13, 1856.]

THE Republic of Liberia having through its President intimated its desire to obtain the recognition of its independence by the Free Hanseatic Republics of Lubec, Bremen and Hamburg, by the conclusion of a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation, and the said Free Hanseatic Republics being willing in the general interests of commerce to comply with the desire so expressed, have respectively nominated as their Plenipotentiaries in that behalf, to wit:

The President of the Republic of Liberia, Gerard Ralston, Esq., a citizen of the United States of North America, presently resident in Great Britain; and

The Free Hanseatic Republic of Lubeck, the Free Hanseatic Republic of Bremen, and the Free Hanseatic Republic of Hamburg (each of these States for itself in severalty), James de Colquhoun, Doctor of Laws (actually charged with their affairs at the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland);

Who having reciprocally communicated to each other their respective full powers, and which have been found in good and due form, have agreed and resolved upon the following Articles:

ART. I. There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the Republic of Liberia and the Free Hanseatic Republics, their citizens and inhabitants.

II. There shall be reciprocal freedom of commerce between the Republic of Liberia and the Free Hanseatic Republics; the citizens of the Republic of Liberia shall be permitted to reside and pursue commerce in all parts of the Free Hanseatic Republics, where other foreigners now are or in future may be admitted.

They shall enjoy full protection for their persons and for their property. They shall be allowed to buy from and to sell to whom they like under the same conditions as the natives, without limitation or restriction by reason of monopolies, contracts, or any other

* Signed also in the German language,

exclusive privilege of purchase or sale, and shall moreover enjoy all rights and privileges which now are or in future may be granted to any other foreigners, citizens or subjects of the most favoured nation. In consideration whereof the citizens of the Free Hanseatic Republics shall enjoy equal protection and equal privileges in the Republic of Liberia.

III. No higher tonnage, import or other taxes or dues shall be levied in the Hanseatic Republics on Liberian vessels or on merchandize imported or exported in Liberian bottoms than those which are now or in future may be levied upon national vessels or on merchandize of like nature, imported or exported in national bottoms; aud in like manner no higher tonnage, import or other taxes or dues shall be levied in the Republic of Liberia on Hanseatic vessels or on merchandize imported or exported in such bottoms than those which now are or in future may be levied upon national vessels or on merchandize imported or exported in such.

IV. Wares or merchandize which shall be exported from the Republic of Liberia in any bottom, or which shall be imported in Liberian vessels from any country shall not be prohibited by the Hanseatic Republic nor burthened with higher duties than those wares or merchandize of like kind arriving from any other foreign country or in any other vessels whatsoever.

All products of the Hanseatic Republics or the other States forming the Germanic Confederation shall be exported from the ports of the Free Hanseatic Republic by Liberian citizens and Liberian vessels under conditions as favourable as those under which they may be exported by the subjects and vessels of any other foreign State.

And in like manner wares or merchandize which shall be exported from the Free Hanseatic Republics in any bottom, or which shall be imported in Hanseatic vessels from any country shall not be prohibited by the Republic of Liberia, nor burthened with higher duties than those wares or merchandize of like kind arriving from any other foreign country, or in any other vessels what

soever.

All products of the Republic of Liberia shall be exported thence by Hanseatic citizens and Hanseatic vessels under conditions as favourable as those under which they may be exported by the subjects and vessels of any other foreign State.

V. The protection of the Government of the Hanseatic Republic shall be granted to all Liberian ships, their officers and crews. Should any such ship suffer wreck upon the coast of the Hanscatic Republics, the local authorities shall afford them aid and protection against pillage, and care that all objects saved from the wreck be returned to the lawful owners.

And in like manner the protection of the Government of the

Republic of Liberia shall be granted to all Hanseatic ships, their officers and crews.

Should any such ship suffer wreck upon the coast of the Republic of Liberia, the local authorities shall afford them aid and protection against pillage, and care that all objects saved from the wreck be returned to the lawful owners.

The amount of the salvage charges shall in case of contention arising in respect thereof be settled by arbitrators chosen by the two parties.

VI. It being the inte..tion of the two Contracting Parties to bind themselves by the present Convention, to treat each other on the basis of the most favoured nation, it is hereby agreed between them, that every favour, every preference or every immunity which one of the Contracting Parties may now or at any future time grant to the citizens or subjects of any other State in matters of commerce or navigation shall be extended to citizens of the other Contracting Party gratuitously, if the concession in favour of such other state shall have been gratuitous, or at a consideration of as nearly as possible equal value and of equal operative effect, to be settled by mutual agreement, where the favour shall have been conditional.

VII. Each of the Contracting Parties shall be at liberty to appoint Consuls within the territory of the other for the protection of its commerce, but such shall not exercise their functions until they have been approved and admitted in the usual form by the Government to which they are accredited.

VIII. The present Treaty shall be perpetually obligatory in all that regards peace and amity, but as to those points which refer to commerce and navigation it shall remain in force for the term of 12 years, to be calculated from the date of the exchange of the ratifications, in such wise however that if neither party give to the other, a year before the expiration of this term, notice of intention to determine it, its operative effect for both parties shall continue uninterrupted until the expiration of a year after notice of determining it may have been given.

IX. Although the present Treaty shall be common to the Free Hanseatic Republics of Lubeck, Bremen and Hamburg, it is nevertheless agreed that no solidarity shall exist between the Governments of those States, and that the stipulations of the Treaty shall therefore retain their full force for the remaining Hanseatic Republics or Hanseatic Republic, although the same may have ceased to have effect in respect of one or more of them.

X. The present Treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged, in London, within 12 months from this day, or sooner if possible.