THE ORIGIN AND DUTIES OF CONSULS. 283 



of their house a tablet representing a ship, with the 

 inscription, ' Consul of France or Spain.' ' 



In a speech delivered on the 3rd of March, 1838, at 

 the Academic des Sciences Morales et Politiques, 

 Prince de Talleyrand, who had to pronounce the eulo- 

 gium of Count Eeinhard, who had been consul, direc- 

 tor of foreign affairs, and ambassador, said, " How 

 many things a man must know to make a good consul, 

 for his duties are endless in their variety, and quite of 

 a different character from those of other officials of the 

 Foreign Office ; they demand a mass of practical know- 

 ledge for which special education is required. Consuls 

 should be able to fulfil, in the event of necessity, the 

 duties of judge, arbitrator, and reconciler. They must 

 be able to do the work of a notary, sometimes that of 

 a commissioner of the navy. They have to look after 

 sanitary matters, and from them is expected, owing 

 to their general relations, a clear idea of the state of 

 trade and navigation, and of the industry peculiar to 

 their place of residence. Thus, M. Eeinhard, who 

 took the utmost care to be accurate in the information 

 which he was able to give his Government, and in the 

 steps which he had to take as consular and political 

 agent, and as administrator of the navy, had made a 

 profound study of general and maritime law. This 

 study had led him to the conclusion that a time would 

 come when, by carefully prepared combinations, a 

 general system of trade and navigation would be 

 established, by means of which the interests of all 



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