Our diplomatic intercourse has been enlarged by the establishment of relations with the new Kingdom of Servia, by the creation of a mission to Siam, and by the restoration of the mission to Greece.  The Shah of Persia has expressed his gratification that a charge d’affaires will shortly be sent to that country, where the rights of our citizens have been hitherto courteously guarded by the representatives of Great Britain.

I renew my recommendation of such legislation as will place the United States in harmony with other maritime powers with respect to the international rules for the prevention of collisions at sea.

In conformity with your joint resolution of the 3d of August last, I have directed the Secretary of State to address foreign governments in respect to a proposed conference for considering the subject of the universal adoption of a common prime meridian to be used in the reckoning of longitude and in the regulation of time throughout the civilized world.  Their replies will in due time be laid before you.

An agreement was reached at Paris in 1875 between the principal powers for the interchange of official publications through the medium of their respective foreign departments.

The admirable system which has been built up by the enterprise of the Smithsonian Institution affords a practical basis for our cooperation in this scheme, and an arrangement has been effected by which that institution will perform the necessary labor, under the direction of the Department of State.  A reasonable compensation therefor should be provided by law.

A clause in the act making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service contemplates the reorganization of both branches of such service on a salaried basis, leaving fees to inure to the benefit of the Treasury.  I cordially favor such a project, as likely to correct abuses in the present system.  The Secretary of State will present to you at an early day a plan for such reorganization.

A full and interesting exhibit of the operations of the Treasury Department is afforded by the report of the Secretary.

It appears that the ordinary revenues from all sources for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1882, were as follows: 

From customs — $220,410,730.25

From internal revenue — 146,497,595.45

From sales of public lands — 4,753,140.37

From tax on circulation and deposits of national banks — 8,956,794.45

From repayment of interest by Pacific Railway companies — 840,554.37

From sinking fund for Pacific Railway companies — 796,271.42

From customs fees, fines, penalties, etc. — 1,343,348.00

From fees—­consular, letters patent, and lands — 2,638,990.97

From proceeds of sales of Government property — 314,959.85

From profits on coinage, bullion deposits, and assays — 4,116,693.73

From Indian trust funds — 5,705,243.22