MILLS, Collector to To the honorable Secretary of Treasury , Washington, D. C, June 10, 1878

Sir: I have the honor to make the following statement, and ask instructions:

The British bark Annie Mark, Captain Hamburg, cleared from New York on June 3d for Bahia, Brazil, via Richmond, Va., having taken on a portion of her cargo at New York.

The practice of this office, and as I learn of other offices in cases of this kind, is to take up the manifest from New York, file it in this office with the other papers retained on clearance, having transcribed its contents to the general outward manifest from Richmond, marking it as from New York, i. e., making the manifest sworn to at this port on clearance from Bahia contain all the cargo on board the vessel. Of course this office takes no notice of the New York portion of the cargo for statistical purposes, as it is reported to that bureau from New York. The Brazilian vice-consul, who has been recently appointed here, objects to the retention of the New York manifest in this office, but has failed to give satisfactory reasons for this objection, hence the matter is submitted for decision.

Inclosed please find the papers of the Annie Mark. The vessel will be ready to sail in four days, and I therefore respectfully ask that decision of the matter may be made, and return of the papers, within that time.

In this connection permit me to state that the German bark Pepita cleared from Boston for Brazil via Richmond about ten days ago. This vessel had on part cargo also, but the captain was informed by the Brazilian vice-consul at that port that no clearance (such as you observe attached to the inclosed manifest and clearance) was necessary, that being done for the whole of his cargo upon clearance from the last port in this country at which he would take on cargo.

It will be observed that the vice-consul’s certificate in the accompanying papers is sealed fast to the clearance and manifest, and to carry out the practice as set forth of this office, it is necessary to detach the manifest and clearance from the consular certificate or keep the whole of it intact in this office.

The late Brazilian vice-consul at this port, who still resides here, bears me out in the practice of my office, and says that it does not in any manner conflict with the requirements of the Brazilian Government.

In former years no question of this kind ever arose at this port, but as this controversy between myself and the Brazilian vice-consul here has been going on for several months, I have thought proper to make this appeal in order to a final settlement of the questions at issue.

Very respectfully,