408 
 
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
of the Old World; its trade embraces nearly all countries; it is a city of
about 
1509000 inhabitants,-of whom about 50,000 "enjoy the rights of nationality,"

as it is called; that is to say, are excepted from the operation of the local
laws, 
being subject to the jurisdiction of the seventeen consulates general. It
is plain 
that no proper municipal government can be had with jurisdictionsso diverse.

It must be recollected that one of the incidents of this system is the complete

exemption from taxation of all the fifly thousand Franks, comprising the
most 
wealthy of the inhabitants of the town. The government cannot with justice

keep the streets drained, swept, paved and lighted, either at the expense
of the 
poor rayahs, nor assess the cost upon the general revenues of the country.

It follows that the streets are always in a most filthy and dangerous condition;

life and limb are insecure, and the advantages of civilization are lost amonga

numerous and wealthy community. The European residents are generally not

only willing to be taxed for municipal purposes, but earnestly ask for the-muni-

cipality. It is only desired that there shall be due safeguards to prevent
op- 
pression and to secure the proper application of the moneys raised. 
In Constantinople, and it is believed also, someof the -large towns of China

where the . ..esystem of exterritoriality prevails, the adoption of a municipality
of 
some kind has been found necessary, and has received the assent of the rep-

resentatives of the Christian powers, including our own. 
There was an entire accord among the consuls general present at the meeting

to-day (which included representatives of all except Portugal and Brazil)
in 
accepting the principle of the mnieipality, and a memorandum to this effect

was signed by us all. With reference to the details of the plan, in which
much 
difference of opinion exists, it was agreed that the consuls general should
meet 
to compare opinions on the 1st of December. 
The United States have here few permanent residents to be affezted by the

scheme, and the opinion of these I shall be careful to gather; the important

interests of the missionaries will be protected by the exemption from taxation

which it is proposed to allow to property used for religious purposes; while
all 
American travellers will be benefited, without cost, by the public improvements

which the plan, if successfully carried out, will give to the town.  "

You understand, of course, that nothing is proposed, which will be inconsist-

ent with the express terms of the famous "capitulations" orof existing
treaties, 
and nothing which is inconsistent in principle with the ,ystem already adopted

for Constantinople, with the assent of the Christian powers. 
Great care in arrnging the details. of the plan will .unquestionably be exer-

cised by the reprjesentatives of powers, who have here numerous colonies
of 
subjects, some of them counted by thousands; and I trust that it may be agree-

able to the department to authorize me to acquiesce in behalf of the United
States 
in the adoption of such plan, not inconsistent with the important limitations

already expressed, as may appear satisfactory after consultation with our
cit- 
izens here, and not objectionable to the representatives of powers having
greater 
interests involved. In view of the distance of America, to ask a. delay for

communication at each step in the proceedings, when we have but few citizens

here, would be distasteful to the Viceroy's government, which takes a deep

interest in the plan, and is anxious for its speedy adoption. Indeed, its
forbear- 
ance in hearing objections is remarkable. 
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 3 in

reference to the acknowledgment of a generous contribution in Egypt in aid

of the widows and orphans of the defenders of the Union, and to report that
I 
expressed the thanks of the government by a-letter addressed directly to
the 
committee of the- donors. 
The term of service of Captain G. Frank Stevens, appointed provisionally

vice-consul at Cairo, was honorably ended upon the arrival of Mr. Taylor.