No. 41.
Mr. Partridge to Mr. Fish.
Rio de Janeiro, June 24, 1873. (Received July 22.)
Sir: I have received your dispatch No. 75.
In a discussion of the budget in the senate the other day an effort was made by the opposition to reduce the export duty from 9 to 7 per cent. This was opposed by the ministry on the ground that the general increase of pay voted this year had so increased the expenses that there was at present no possibility of this reduction. In consequence of this increase of pay the estimated sum to be provided would be more than one hundred thousand contos of reis, or about fifty-three millions of dollars.
Baron de Sonnleithuer has been received as Austro-Hungarian minister. He was formerly and for a long time here—till 1868.
I am, &c.,