No. 298.

Mr. Hunter to Mr. Nelson

No. 188.]

Sir: Your dispatches, numbered 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, and 440, have been received.

With reference to the first of these dispatches, accompanied by correspondence between the Mexican government and the authorities of the custom-house at Tampico, in which the latter are ordered to exact a second payment of duties from the merchants of that city, I have to inform you that your intention to protest against this arbitrary exaction, so far as it may affect the rights of citizens of the United States, meets with the approval of this Department.

I am, &c.,

W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary.