U.S.  GRANT.

[Footnote 56:  Relative to the number of consular and commercial agents of the United States abroad who speak or write the language of the country in which their districts are situated.]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 15, 1872.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I have the honor herewith to transmit to Congress a recommendation from Hon. M.D.  Leggett, Commissioner of Patents, for the reorganization of his office, and also the letter of the Secretary of the Interior accompanying it.

I concur with the Secretary of the Interior in the views expressed in his letter, and recommend the careful consideration of Congress to the subject of this communication, and action which will secure a more efficient performance of the duties of the Patent Office than is practicable under present legislation.

U.S.  GRANT.

WASHINGTON, March 16, 1872.

To the House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith a report,[57] dated the 16th instant, received from the Secretary of State, in compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th instant.

U.S.  GRANT.

[Footnote 57:  Stating that there are no papers in the Department of State to show that the inhabitants of the Navigators Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, have made application to have the protection of the United States extended over said islands.]

WASHINGTON, March 19, 1872.

To the Senate of the United States:

I transmit to the Senate, for consideration with a view to its ratification, a “general convention of friendship, commerce, and extradition” between the United States and the Orange Free State, signed at Bloemfontein on the 22d of December last by W.W.  Edgcomb, consul of the United States at Cape Town, acting on behalf of this Government, and by Mr. F.K.  Hoehne on behalf of the Orange Free State.

U.S.  GRANT.

WASHINGTON, March 20, 1872.

To the House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith a report,[58] dated the 20th instant, received from the Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 28th ultimo.

U.S.  GRANT.

[Footnote 58:  Transmitting a translation of the Spanish royal decree of July 6, 1860, prescribing regulations for the introduction of Chinese laborers into Cuba, and translation of a decree of Count Valmaseda, Captain-General of Cuba, of December 13, 1871, relative to the decree of July 6, 1860.]

WASHINGTON, March 23, 1872.

To the House of Representatives of the United States:

In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 20th instant, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, with a list of the newspapers[59] which accompanied it.

U.S.  GRANT.