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 tler country on articles imported from

 the other, than on the same articles i'm

 ported from any other place. In 1886, rough

 rlce, by act of Parliament, was admitted from

 the coast of Africa into Great Britain on the payment of duty of one penny quarter

 While the same article from all other coun-

 tries, including the United States, was subiec-

 ted to the payment of a duty of twenty shil-

 lmgs quarter. Our Minister at London has

 from time to time brought this subject to the

 consideration of the British Government, but

 so tar without success. He is instructed to

 renew his representations upon it.

 Some years since claim was preferred against the British Government on the part

 of certain American merchants, for the re-

 turn of export duties paid by them on ship ments of woollen goods to the United States. after the duty on similar articles exported to other countries had been repealed, and con-

 consequently in contravention of the com merclal convention between the two nations securing to us equality in such cases The

 principle on which the claim rests has long since been virtually admitted by Great Brit

 an, but obstacles to a settlement have from time to time been interposed, so that large portion of the amount claimed has not been refunded. Our minister is now engaged in the prosecution of the claim, and l cannot but persuade myself that the British Government will no longer delay its adjustment,

 l am happy to be able to say that nothing has occurred to disturb in any degree the re- latlons of amity which exist between the

 United States and France, Austria and Rus sla, as well as with the other Powers of Eu- rope, since the adjournment of Congress- Spaln has been agitated with internal convulslons for many years, from the effects of which 1t is to be hoped she is des- tined speedily to recover-when, under a more liberal system of commercial policy on her part, our trade with her may again fill Its old and so far as her continental posses sions are concerned, its almost forsaken channels, thereby adding to the mutual pros perity of the two countries.

 The Germanic Association of Customs and Commerce, which, since its establishment in 1853, has been steadily growing in power and importance, and consists at this time of more than twenty German States and en- braces population of 27,000,000 of people united for all the purposes of commercial in- tercourse with each other and with foreign states, offers to the latter the most valuable exchanges on principles more liberal than are offered in the fiscal system of any other European power. From its origin, the im- portance of the German Union has never been lost sight of by the United States The industry, morality and other valuable quail ties of the German nation, have always been well known and appreciated. On this sub ject l invite the attention of Congress to the report of the Secretary of State, from which it will be seen that while our cotton is ad- mltted free of duty, and the duty on rice has been much reduced, which has already led to greatly increased consumption, a strong disposition has been recently evinced by that great body to reduce, upon certain conditions, thelr present duty upon tobacco. This be- ing the first mtimation of a concession on this interesting subject ever made by any European power, cannot but regard it as well calculated to remove the only impedi- ment which has so far existed to the most liberal commercial intercourse between us and them. In this view, our minister at Ber- lin, who has heretofore industriously pur- sued the subject, has been instructed to en- ter upon the negotiation of commercial treaty, which, while it will open new advan- tages to the agricultural interests of the Uni ted States, and a more free and expanded field for commercial operations, will affect injuri- ously no existing interest of the Union.- Should the negotiation be crowned with suc- cess, 1t results will be communicated to both Houses of Congress.

 communicate herewith certain despatches received from our Minister at Mexico, and also correspondence which has recently oc- cured between the Envoy from that Repub- lie and the Secretary of State It must be re- garded as not little extraordinary that the government of Mexico, in anticipation of public discussion, which it has been pleased to infer from newspaper publications, as like ly to take place ill Congress, relating to the annexation of Texas to the United States, should have so far anticipated the result of such discussion as to have announced its de- termination to visit any such anticipated de- cision by formal declaration of war against the United States. If designed to prevent Congress from introducing that question as a fit subject for its calm. deliberation and i- nal judgment, the Executive has no reason to doubt that it will entirely fail of its object The Representatives of brave and patriotic people will suffer no apprehension of future consequences to embarrass them in the course of their proposed deliberations. Nor will the Executive Department of the Government fail, for any such cause, to discharge it's whole duty tO the country

 The war which has existed for so long time between Mexico and Texas has, since the battle of San Jacinto, consisted for the most part of predatory mcursions, which, while they have been attended with much of suffering to individuals, and have kept the borders of the two countries in state of constant alarm, have failed to approach to any definite result Mexico has fitted out no formidable armament by land or by sea for the subjugation of Texas. Eight years have now elapsed since Texas declared her inde- pendence of Mexico, and during that time she has been recognised as a sovereign power by