Partridge to To His Excellency Viscount de Caravellas, April 16, 1874

No. 57. Mr. Partridge to Mr. Fish.

Sir: In my No. 108 (April 24, 1873) I sent to the Department a copy (annex) of a note I addressed, at that time, to the foreign office here, in view of the then proposed revision of the Brazilian tariff, in which I showed the greatly exaggerated pauto, or custom-house valuation of imports from the United States into Brazil; the heavy duties, both export and import, levied by Brazil on that commerce; and begged that, in the proposed revision and correction, the liberality of the United States in abolishing the duty on coffee, inuring to the very great advantage of this country, might be responded to by a reciprocal lowering, at least, of those heavy duties here.

At various times since then the Viscount de Caravellas has said to me that they hoped this could be and would be done in the new tariff.

This last, to go into effect after the 1st July next, has just been publislied, (31 March,) and of which I will send a copy as soon as a suitable one can be procured.

On considering its provisions, I was surprised, after what they had said, to find that there was to be no diminution whatever in the (pauta) valuation or duty on any article from the United States, except a small reduction in that on kerosene, which is largely imported.

On lard there is to be actually an increased duty of 17/20 of a cent per pound, making the whole duty (new) equal to 4¾ cents per pound.

On the following articles there is no change, viz:

Flour remains at 987 reis, i. e., 52 to 54 cents, per barrel.

Lumber about $7 per 1,000 feet.

Rosin at $1.15 per barrel.

Turpentine about 9½ cents per gallon.

In view of this, and hoping that there still remains an opportunity, before the 1st July, to have some return for our liberality, I addressed a note on the 15th instant to the Viscount de Caravellas, of which the annex hereto is a copy.

Certainly so excellent an opportunity for this Government to do something for the benefit of our interests, and in return for what has been done for theirs in the United States, ought not to be allowed to pass and still hoping that I may be able to accomplish something in this direction, for which I have been making efforts ever since my first arrival, I trust this note and what I have done may meet your approval.

I am, &c.,