Ioans contracted within the last twenty-five years have all been employed in improvements which augment the wealth and develop the prosperity of the country. From the estimate which you will make of this document, and from the suggestions of your enlightened experience, you will assuredly conclude that little now remains to be done before that the improvements realized shall produce such a financial and economical result as the nation has a right to expect as the just reward of its sacrifices. The increased development of ordinary internal communication can no longer be delayed, especially in the provinces, to which the railroad has brought elements of prosperity which will fail in fruitfulness unless fed by the cheap conveyance of produce which accumulates and deteriorates at the places of its growth. On the 4th of November last the bridge over the Douro was inaugurated and with it the fifth section of the north and east railway. This ceremony, over which I had the pleasure to preside, was greeted by the country with the most lively enthusiasm, both on account of the high artistic merit of the enterprise as for the advantages resulting therefrom in facilitating and cheapening communication. With the purpose of placing the postal service in harmony with the requirements of commerce, the government has decreed important reforms in this department, acting therein in conformity with the law of February 10, 1876, an account of which will bo given you in a separate report. Improvements, the object of which you will appreciate, have been initiated at the district farm at Centra by the introduction of steam cultivation, which will give that industrial establishment practically and theoretically the means of advantageously contributing toward transforming the national system of cultivation. A scarcity of food in the Azores compelled the government, during the year just ended, not only to furnish cereals to feed the necessities of the people, but also to decree extraordinary measures for the free entry of such provisions. On the last day of the last year, a general census of the population was undertaken, and from this work, which it is hoped will present a favorable report in comparison with the preceding one, the result will be laid before you, so soon as the scrutiny is completed. In the last legislative session there awaited your deliberation several projects of laws on matters of high importance. It is expected, from your enlightenment, that you will persevere in your examination of them, and my government will so co-operate with you that all the advantage the good of the state requires may result from the measures proposed. Among them must deserve your particular attention that which aims at reforms in elementary instruction, a subject which is incessantly recommended to the care of those who have in charge the promotion of the moral and intellectual development of the nation. Other proposals of laws will be laid before you by my government, all of which tend to satisfy the pressing necessities of the public service. Among those deserves special mention that which aims at perfecting our election laws by the better arrangement of districts, by enlarging the electoral franchise, extending to a great number of citizens the right of voting, to whom, in the face of the fundamental laws of the state, it cannot be refused. Among the remaining propositions, and on a par with the general estimate of receipts and expenditures, those unquestionably take precedence which aim at perfecting the laws of taxation by rendering the sources of receipt as productive as possible, so that the indispensable equilibrium between the two may be obtained. Those measures are not without importance which aim at completing the links of the railway south of the Tagus, not only to utilize the capital at present spent unprofitably between Faro and Cazevel, but also to unite at the most fitting point the Alembejo and Algarve with the railways of the rest of Europe, and the south directly with the north of the kingdom, also to enable the government to push on to a conclusion the railways of the Minho and the Douro, and, on their being completed, to construct the Beira Alta railway, a work of the greatest importance for the development of the wealth of that fertile region. Measures will also be laid before you for the improvement of the telegraphic service, which doubtless will receive a favorable reception, considering how much there is needed for the perfection of that branch of the service so as to place it on a level with the requirements of the times. Lastly, I call your attention to a proposal which aims at meeting the urgent necessities of the population of the north of the kingdom, viz, for an artificial port giving free access and safe shelter to ships of whatever tonnage. This improvement, long needed, will assuredly receive an important impulse from your devotion to national interests. And, time permitting, my government reckons on being able to present also to you in this legislative session a proposal for the organization of secondary instruction, in which those difficult and varied problems included in this important branch of public administration will have their solution. Worthy peers of the realm and deputies of the Portuguese nation, once more I desire to express the conviction which I feel that Divine Providence will continue to inspirę you, so that in the examination of all matters brought under your deliberations you may give fresh proofs of your worth and your patriotism, and that you may use every effort to draw the greatest profit from the valuable resources of the country, so that by placing the finances of the state on a firm footing those improvements will follow at which we are yet aiming and the realization of which must place us on a level with the most advanced of nations. The session is opened. No. 184.] No. 426. Mr. Moran to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Lisbon, February 1, 1878. (Received February 21.) SIR: On Saturday last the ministry of the Marquez d'Avila met with a large adverse vote in the Cortes, and on Monday the King sent for Señor Foutes Pereira de Mello to form a new government. This change had long been expected, and the return of Señor Foutes to office surprised no one. Señor Corvo, who for several years held this post under the former leadership of Señor Foutes, notified me on the 30th instant that he had been recalled to the place of secretary of state for foreign affairs by the King; and that is the only official notice I have received touching the change of ministry. I inclose a copy and translation of this communication, which is merely a formal circular, together with my acknowledgment thereof. The new cabinet, with the exception of the ministers of justice and marine, consists of the same gentlemen who constituted the Foutes ministry on its retirement from office in March, 1877, and is as follows: President of the council and minister of war, Señor Antonio Maria Foutes Pereira de Mello. Minister of foreign affairs, Señor Joao de Andrade Corvo. Minister of public works, commerce, and industry, Señor Lorenzo Carvalho. Minister of the marine and the colonies, Señor Thomas Antonio Ribeiro. Minister of justice and ecclesiastical affairs, Señor Augusto Cesar Barjona de Freitas. I have, &c., BENJAMIN MORAN. [Inclosure 1 in No. 184.-Translation.] Señor Corvo to Mr. Moran. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, His Majesty the King having seen fit to relieve Señor the Marquez d'Avila e de Bolama from the presidency of the council of ministers and of the post of minister and secretary of state for foreign affairs ad interim, has been pleased to nominate me by decree dated yesterday minister and secretary of state for this department, of which I have the honor to inform your excellency, and to communicate the fact that the reception of the gentlemen of the diplomatic body will continue to be on Wednesday of each week from twelve till two, when not a holiday; in such cases on the day previous. At the same time I have the honor to add, if your excellency should have at any time important business with me, I will receive your excellency upon any day upon your giving me previous notice. I avail myself, &c., JOÃO DE ANDRADE CORVO, Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs. [Inclosure 2 in No. 184.] Mr. Moran to Señor Corvo. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MONSIEUR LE MINISTRE: I had the honor to receive yesterday the note which your excellency addressed to me on the 30th ultimo, announcing that His Majesty the King, having seen fit to relieve Señor the Marquez d'Avila e de Bolama from the presidency of the council of ministers and from the post of minister and secretary of state for foreign affairs ad interim, had seen fit to renominate your excellency by decree dated the 29th ultimo, minister and secretary of state for foreign affairs; and adding that the reception of the gentlemen of the diplomatic body will continue to be as heretofore on Wednesday of each week from twelve till two when not a fête or holiday, but that if I should at any time have any important business with your excellency you will receive me on any day upon my giving you previous notice. I have to thank you for this information, and although I have no important business to lay before your excellency now, I will avail myself of an early opportunity to call and pay my respects and renew an official and personal intercourse which was very agreeable to me. I scize this occasion, &c., No. 427. BENJAMIN MORAN. No. 185.] Mr. Moran to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Lisbon, February 5, 1878. (Received February 25.) SIR: Referring to my No. 177, of the 27th of December last, I have the honor to inform you that Lieut. Commander F. M. Green reported to me on the 2d instant that he had satisfactorily completed the work of measuring the difference of longitude between this point and Madeira, and desired me to express to the Portuguese Government, and especially to the officers of the Royal Observatory, his appreciation of the very courteous manner in which he has been aided in every possible way in his work at this place. This I did on the 4th instant, and I now forward copies of Captain Green's note to me, in which he made this request, and of my note to Mr. Corvo, based thereon. No pains were spared by the Portuguese authorities to lessen the labors of Captain Green and his officers, and he states that the success of his work is due in a great measure to this fact. The Guard sailed from Lisbon for Madeira on Sunday the 3d instant, at about 1 p. m., and after a few days' stay there will proceed as speedily as possible to St. Vincent, Cape Verdes, where Captain Green and his officers will begin the work of ineasuring the difference of longitude between that place and some given point on the northeastern coast of South America. I have, &c., BENJAMIN MORAN. [Inclosure 1 in No. 185.] Lieut. Commander Green to Mr. Moran. UNITED STATES SHIP "GUARD," SIR: The work of measuring the difference of longitude between this point and Madeira being completed, I desire to express my grateful appreciation of the assistance received from you, and of the very courteous and friendly manner in which the authorities of the Portuguese Government, especially the officers of the Royal Observatory, have aided us in every possible way. No pains have been spared by them to lessen our labors, and the success of our work is, in a very great measure, due to their kind offices. I have requested the honorable Secretary of the Navy to express his thanks to them in a formal manner. Very respectfully, &c., F. M. GREEN, Lieutenant-Commander, Commanding. [Inclosure 2 in No. 185.] Mr. Moran to Mr. Joào de Andrade Corro. LEGATION OF, THE UNITED STATES, MONSIEUR LE MINISTRE: Referring to my correspondence with your excellency and the Marquez d'Avila on the determination by United States naval officers of the longitude of both coasts of South America from Paris, I have the pleasure to inform you, on the authority of Captain Green of the United States ship "Guard," that the work of measuring the difference of longitude between Lisbon and Madeira is completed. Captain Green sailed yesterday with the "Guard" for Madeira and the island of St. Vincent, where he will resume his work of observation. Before leaving, he desired me to express to your excellency his grateful appreciation of the very courteous and friendly manner in which the authorities of His Most Faithful Majesty's Government, especially the officers of the Royal Observatory, aided him and his officers in every possible way. No pains were spared by them to lessen his labors, and he assures me that the success of his work is in a great measure due to their kind offices. I have particular pleasure in conveying to your excellency this acknowledgment of Captain Green's appreciation of the assistance he received, and beg to express the hope that the gentlemen referred to may be made acquainted with Captain Green's recognition of their useful services. Captain Green has reported to the honorable Secretary of the Navy his sense of the obligation he is under to His Majesty's Government for the courteous assistance rendered to him while in Lisbon, and in due time I hope to receive instructions from that high officer to express to you his formal thanks for the aid which has been so promptly and effectually afforded to Captain Green. I avail myself of this occasion to renew, &c., &c., BENJAMIN MORAN. No. 198.] No. 428. Mr. Moran to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Lisbon, May 6, 1878. (Received May 27.) SIR: The Cortes terminated its sittings on the 4th instant, the session having been extended for public reasons for about a month longer than usual. There was no legislation of interest to foreign nations, and the chief measures of national importance were acts for the extension of the franchise, and for the construction of the Beira Alta Railway. It is be lieved that this desirable undertaking will now be prosecuted with energy, and that by its completion Lisbon and Paris will be brought within 48 hours of each other, a consummation which must prove highly beneficial to Portugal. As this session of the Cortes terminates the period of four years for which the members of the second house were chosen, a fresh selection of deputies will take place during the summer. The country is tolerably prosperous in the matter of trade and natural productions, and the recent rains have been beneficial to agriculture, except in the Algarve, where they came too late to save crops from the effects of the drought. But it is understood that the government will exert itself to relieve any widespread distress that may appear in that district. The national finances are not in a satisfactory state. The budget for 1878-79 presents a deficiency of more that 2,900,000 milreis, or a sum more than equal to $3,000,000 United States gold currency. And as deficiencies of this nature are of annual occurrence, and have been for more than thirty years, many patriotic people are alarmed about the future, and are devising new schemes of taxation which will, it is hoped, provide sufficient revenue for the expenses of the government, and make future financial deficiencies impossible. I have, &c., BENJAMIN MORAN. No. 429. Mr. Moran to Mr. Evarts. No. 213.] Lisbon, October 16, 1878. UNITED STATES LEGATION, (Received November 2.) SIR: For some time past political matters have been very quiet in Portugal, nothing having occurred during the summer that would be interesting to foreign nations; but on Sunday, the 13th instant, the elec tion of members of the second chamber of the Cortes took place throughout the kingdom, in accordance with the provisions of the constitutional charter. The proceedings were everywhere conducted with the greatest order, and resulted in the return of a large majority of deputies favorably disposed to the existing, or Foutes, ministry, although the opposition triumphed in one or two of the largest towns, including Oporto. But no significance is attached to these successes. The overwhelming majority of the government remains practically unchanged. The annual session of the Cortes lasts three months, and the election for deputies takes place every four years, unless in the case of a dissolution, when a new Parliament must be called together immediately. The last election took place in 1874. I have, &c., BENJAMIN MORAN. No. 215.] No. 430. Mr. Moran to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Lisbon, November 5, 1878. (Received November 23.) SIR Referring to your circular of the 23d of May, 1877, I now have the honor to report that, having been informed that General Grant would |