Doc. No. 75. 311 



fas, and such other parts as shall be nearer thereto than to the residence 

 of any other consul or vice-consul of the United States within the same 

 allegiance; and do authorize and empower him to have and to hold the 

 said office, and to exercise and enjoy all the rights, pre-eminences, privi- 

 leges, and authorities to the same of right appertaining, during the pleas- 

 ure of the President of the United States, for the time being — he demand- 

 ing and receiving no fees or perquisites of office whatever which shall not 

 be expressly established by some law of the said United States. And I 

 do hereby enjoin all captains, masters, and commanders of ships and other 

 vessels, armed or unarmed, sailing under the flag of the said States, as 

 well as all other of their citizens, to acknowledge and consider him, the 

 said Christopher Hempstead, accordingly. And I do hereby pray and re- 

 quest her Britannic Majesty, her governors and officers, to permit the said 

 Christopher Hempstead fully and peaceably to enjoy and exercise the said 

 office, without giving or suffering to be given unto him any molestation 

 or trouble- but, on the contrary, to afford him all proper countenance and 

 assistance — I offering to do the same for all those who shall in like man- 

 ner be recommended to me by her said Majesty. 



In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters to be made patent, 

 and the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. 



Given under my hand , at the city of Washington^ the third day of 

 |. n March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 

 ^ * forty-seven, and of the independence of the United States of 

 America the seventy -first. 



JAMES K. Pij}LK. 



By the President: 



James Buchanan, Secretary of SMe. 



Belize, February 12, 1848. 

 Sir: Permit me to inform you that my commission, together with her 

 Britannic Majesty's exequatur," has at length arrived, and I have 

 commenced to act as United States consul for this port. 

 1 am waiting the arrival of the seal, coat of arms, flag, (fee. 

 Will you have the kindness to have letters for me come direct from 

 New York, instead of via St. Thomas, as by the latter way they are sub- 

 jected to expensive postage, at the same time they are from fo^ur to six 

 weeks longer in reaching me. 



I am, dear sir, respectfully, yaur obedient servant, 



C. HEMPSTEAD. 



To the Hon. James Buchanan, 



Seoretary of State, 



Department of State, 



Washington^ March 7, 1848. 

 Sir: Your letter of the 19th of January last, transmitting your official 

 bond, has been received. 



In reply to your inquiries, respecting your commission, I have to state 

 that, as you were informed in your letter of appointment, it was trans- 



