ACTS OF CONGRESS CREATING A STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to lay before Congress, annually, at the commencement of its session, in a compendious form, all such changes and modifications in the commercial systems of other nations, whether by treaties, duties on imports and exports, or other regulations, as shall have come to the knowledge of the department.

Approved August 16, 1842.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in addition to the changes and modifications in the commercial systems of other nations now required to be reported by the act approved August 16, 1842, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to lay before Congress, annually, within sixty days after the commencement of each ordinary session, as a part of said report, all other commercial information communicated to the State Department by consular and diplomatic agents of this government abroad, or contained in the official publications of other gov ernments, which he shall deem sufficiently important.

Approved August 18, 1856,

ANNUAL REPORT

ON

FOREIGN COMMERCE

FOR THE

YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1866.

FEBRUARY 8, 1867.-Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, February 7, 1867.

SIR: In compliance with the acts of Congress of August 16, 1842, and August 18, 1856, I have the honor to transmit herewith a Report on the Commercial Relations of the United States with foreign nations for the year ended September 30, 1866.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.