PUBLIC DEBT.

No. 1-Shews the amount of the public debt on the 1st October, 1823, which was
No. 2-Gives the amount on the 1st January, 1824, at
[On the 1st January, 1823, it was

Three per cent. stock
Exchanged six per cent. stock

$90,451,864 03 90,173,014 90

90,777,027 86]

No. 3.

$13,296,231 45

2,668,974 99

$90,697,071 54

JOSEPH NOURSE, Register.

Treasury department, register's office, Dec. 23, 1824.
NOTE. The amount of the debt on the 1st October, 1823, per estimate (No. 3.) which ac-
companied the secretary's report, of the 31st December, 1823, was stated at
The reimbursement of the deferred stock, to that day, inclusive, was over es-

timated

Amount of the debt on the 1st of October, 1823, per statement No. 1. herewith
Add treasury note six per cent. stock, issued in the 4th quarter, 1823

Deduct reimbursement of deferred stock, on the 31st December, 1823

$90,451,834 24

29 79

90,451,864 03 716 75

90,452,580 78

274,565 88

90,178,014 90

Amount of the debt on the 1st January, 1824, per statement No. 2. herewith
Add four and a half per cent, stock, (issued under the act of the 24th May, 1924) 5,000,000 00

95,178,014 90

Deduct reimbursement of deferred stock, during the three first quar-
ters of 1824

And the 7 per cent. stock, purchased under the act of 22d Jan. 1834,

357,546 26 4,123,397 10

4,480,943 36

Amount of the debt on the 1st of October, 1924, as above stated
Add estimated amount of four and a half per cent. stock, proposed to be issued
during the fourth quarter of the present year, under the act of 26th May, 1824

No. 4-Shews that there are outstanding of treasury notes No. 5-Statement of the stock issued under the act of congress, entitled "an act supplementary to the act for the indem▾ nification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi territory," passed the 3d March, 1815.

There has been issued, since the first of October last, under the act of the 26th May, 1824, certificates of four and a half per cent. stock, in exchange for an equal amount of the six per cent. stocks of 1813, subscribed prior to that day, the sum of

$3,308,307 45

and often miry. On the one side of the route was the Big and Little Blue rivers, and the Kansas; and, oa the other, the Osage, the Neocio, and the Verdigrise. Their tributaries are numerous, almost beyond precedent; and many of them appear nearly as large as their principals, at an equal distance above their

Trade between Missouri & Mexico. Presented to the SENATE, JAN. 3, BY MR. BENTON. Answers of Augustus Storrs to queries addressed to him by the hon. Thomas H. Benton, senator in congress from the state of Missouri, upon the origin, present state, and future prospect, of trade and intercourse between Mis-junction. The situation of the ground often causes souri and the internal provinces of Mexico. Question, 1. Do you know whether a commercial intercourse has been carried on between Missouri and the internal provinces of Mexico? If so, at what time did it commence?

them to pass beyond each other, and interlock. The wagons often meet with detention, it being absolutely necessary to dig the banks down with spades and hoes, and, in some instances, to cover the bottom with saplings and brush. The prairie here, in the Answer. Messrs. McNight, Beard, and others, of month of May, is adorned with a great variety of flowSt. Louis, were the first adventurers in this trade, in ers, and, probably, presents some of the most distant the year 1812. Their misfortunes and sufferings are and beautiful views on earth. The grass, having atwell known to the American people. In 1817, Mr. tained its growth, is high; and, in the bottoms, was, Chouteau, of the same place, successfully accomplish- in some places, several inches taller than a person's ed the expedition. But the government of Spain head, on horseback, when we returned. On approachviewed, with extreme jealousy, an intercourse of ing the Arkansas, bordering its bottom, are sand hills other nations with her American dependencies, and of an average width of seven miles They are formed the different American administrations, no doubt, in of pure sand, congregated by the winds, and which conformity with instructions from that court, threw yields, from the pressure of the foot, like snow. In in its way every discouragement and obstacle in their some instances, they are thinly covered with vegetapower. Personal danger, and the risk of introducing tion; in others, they are destitute of a single blade of goods, amounted almost to a prohibition. The revo- grass for miles. My first view of them was distant, lution, however, which eventuated in the indepen- over a level plain. They were perfectly destitute of dence of Mexico, entirely altered its policy in this vegetation, and the sand of a yellow color, which, unrespect. Subsequently to that event, Messrs. Glenn, der the reflection and gleaming of the sun, exhibited of Ohio, and Becknell, of this state, were the first precisely the appearance of a dim flame of fire, fifwho went out in the year 1821. They were receiv-teen or twenty feet in height. My eager inquiry for ed with hospitality by the citizens, and with much courtesy and friendship by the officers of government. Since that time, a small capital has been annually employed in this trade.

Q. 2. Have you been engaged in that intercourse yourself? If so, at what time, and with what accompaniment of men horses, and carriages?

AI was engaged in that intercourse during the last summer. The company consisted of eighty-one men, who had one hundred and fifty-six horses and mules; twenty three four-wheeled vehicles, one of which was a common road wagon, and one piece of field artillery. The company adopted rules and regulations for its government; which rules created three offices, and specified the duties of the incumbents. They also regulated the conduct of the members towards each other, and their intercourse with the Indians.

Q3. Over what road did you travel?

A. From the western limit of Missouri, near Fort Osage, our course to the Arkansas river was W. S. W. thence, up that river, considerably north of west, 240 miles; thence, 40 miles due south, to the Semerone, river; thence, up the Semerone, nearly a due west course, 100 miles; thence, S. W. to Taos, the first Mexican settlement which this course reaches. Allowance must be made for numerous deviations from these general courses, occasioned by the winding of

streams.

Q. 4. What was the face of the country, and the means of subsistence for men and horses?

an explanation of the cause, was answered that they were sand hills, of which I had before heard much as a natural curiosity. Their shapes are various and fanciful, and the travelling over them is slow and laborious. On this side of the river, however, they only extend twenty-five miles above our usual point of striking the Arkansas; and they will hereafter be avoided by bearing a more northern course, which will strike the river above them. The route up the Arkansas is wholly over a dry, solid, and level bottom, which is not intersected by gullies, and by only three creeks, which have gravel bottoms, and are crossed without difficulty. The only timber here is cotton wood, of which there are groves of large and scattering trees, at different intervals. On leaving this river, we pass over sand hills ten miles; and thence, over a high and perfectly level plain to the Semerone. On this river there is no obstruction, except occasionally the inconvenience of sand. At the point where we leave the Semerone, is the first appearance of rocks and cliffs. We next fall on the Canadian Fork, at a distance of thirty-five miles. Its southern bank is, regularly, almost a perpendicular wall of rock, of a dark color, and forty feet high thence, there are small mountains, composed principally of the same kind of rock, rising out of the level prairie. These increase, both in frequency and height, to the base of the grand chain of the Rocky Mountains. Our course, however, wholly avoids them, and thus far there is not a single hill of consequence, or which presents difficulty to the progress of a wagon. The distance across the mountain is forty miles, on a road considerably used, but in places of steep ascent.

A. The face of the country, through which this route passes, is open, level and free from impediments, to the base of the Rocky Mountains. The character of the soil, the growth of timber, and the appearance of I have before remarked a general difference in the the water courses, between the Missouri and the Ar-face of the country north and south of the Arkansas. kansas, are essentially different from the character Its northern bluff, however, adjoining the bottom, which they assume beyond that river. The soil is may more properly be taken as the line of demarkaextremely fertile, of a dark color, and loose. The tion. South of this line, the whole county, to the timber is the same with that of Missouri, with the ex-foot of the mountains, is, generally speaking, an arid ception of a peculiar kind of ash, which I have not sand and gravel. The rains are periodical, and not witnessed elsewhere. It grows thickly immediately copious. The sand absorbs them, as they fall, so reaon the banks of streams, and sometimes extends a short distance upon the bottoms. In consequence of the richness and looseness of the soil, and there being very little sand or gravel in its composition, the banks of the streams are steep, and the channels deep

dily, that there are neither runs no gullies. The average width of the Arkansas rivers, at least, threo hundred yards. Its water is mudy and turbid, like that of the Missouri, and it appears little less formidable than that river, although our wagons crossed it

sand.

Q. 9. Have duties been paid on the merchandise carried out? If so, to what amount upon the value of the goods?

without difficulty. Its bottom is a pure quick-sand, which almost as naturally seeks an equilibrium as the water itself. If the current forces a channel, the A. The duty imposed by the government of the insand immediately rolls in from every side, until it attains a level. Consequently, the bottom is uniform, ternal provinces upon dry goods, imported therein, and the water shallow. I have not observed the Se-and paid by the Americans, was 25 per cent. ad vamerone traced on any map, although its length and pe- lorem. The Americans, universally suspected that culiarity deservedly entitle it to that distinction. Its this duty was arbitrarily imposed by the governor of source is in the mountains, west of the Arkansas, and New Mexico, without law; and the following circumit runs nearly parallel with that river, upwards of stances strengthened the suspicion. 1st. The ignorance of the best informed citizens of 400 miles. In ascending it, there was no running, We never failed ob- the province, of the existence of such a duty. 2d. and very little standing water. taining it, however, by digging eighteen inches in the The declaration of don Manuel Almeha, a member of sand. When we returned there was a strong cur- the congresss at Chihuahua, made to myself, that he rent, and its banks were every where overflowed. had no knowledge of it, and that he entertained a full Its water is strongly impregnated with nitric or saline belief of its illegality 3d. The custom-house officer, qualities, and its bottoms exhibit numerous appear-being called upon for his authority, could produce no ances of the same substance, in a state of incrusta- commission, or other evidence, of his being legally tion. Its disemboguement is not known, and there is authorized to demand or receive it. The duty on the almost an universal belief that it loses itself in the article of tobacco, is four dollars per pound, being intended as a prohibition. It was endeavored to be exWith regard to the natural means of subsistence, acted from a gentleman of our company, who took there is, probably, no other equal extent of wilder-out a small quantity, for the use of himself and others ness in the world so well supplied. Deer are scarce, in his employment: but, after some discussion and but buffalo, elk and antelopes, are abundant. Buffa- delay, it was relinquished. During my continuance lo meat is, generally, esteemed superior to beef; and in New Mexico, the governor told Mr. Anderson, of that of the antelope, both in flavor and appearance, St. Louis, that, probably, hereafter, the duty would The certain object of this increase is has a strong affinity to mutton. Our company had an be 50 per cent. ample supply of fresh meat, almost every day. The to place their commerce, from the south, on a more grasses, in the two descriptions of country before de- equal footing with that of the Americans, and the scribed, are as different as the soil. Between our measure, I have no doubt, is strongly urged by a few, settlements and the Arkansas, is the common tall who have, heretofore, monopolized the sales and fixed prairie grass of Missouri. Beyond, the buffalo grass the prices of the country. I would here take the prevails wholly. It is short and fine. Its nutricious liberty of stating my opinion, that there is very little qualities and superiority for pasturage, are admitted system or consistency in the political arrangements by all. I have no doubt that its introduction into our of this provincial government; and that, without any fields would be highly beneficial. Beyond that river, just or enlightened views of the benefits of intercourse also, nearly all the rain of the year falls in July and and trade, they look to temporary expedients, rather August. The growth of vegetation commences only than permanent and general results. Q. 10. Are the inhabitants of the internal provinces with the rainy season; therefore, on the first of July, annually, the uplands are brown with the decayed favorable to the continuance of this commerce? A. The affirmative of this question is beyond a growth of the previous year. In September they are clothed with a new growth, which is fresh, and ap- doubt. Their professions of respect for our national character, and of attachment to our principles, pears beautifully verdant at that time of the year. Q. 5. What time was occupied in going, accom-are universal; and their actions are a suflicient proof plishing the object of the expedition, and returning? A. Four months and ten days.

Q. 6. What kinds of merchandise are principally carried out to the internal provinces?

of sincerity. The door of hospitality is opened with a cheerful welcome, and every office of friendship and kindness, which might be expected from intimate acquaintance, is voluntarily proffered by a A. Cotton goods, consisting of coarse and fine stranger. In all their principal towns the arrival of cambrics, calicoes, domestic, shawls, handkerchiefs, the Americans is a source of pleasure, and the steam-loom shirtings, and cotton hose. A few wool-evening is dedicated to dancing and festivity. Almost ten goods, consisting of super blues, stroudings, pelisse cloths, and shawis, crapes, bombazettes, some light articles of cutlery, silk shawls, and looking glasses. In addition to these, many other articles, necessary for the purposes of an assortment.

Q. 7. What is received, and brought back, in exchange for merchandise carried out?

A. Spanish milled dollars, a small amount of gold and silver, in bullion, beaver fur, and some mules. Q. 9. What amount in silver, mules, and furs, are returned in a given period-say for the year 1824? A. In responding to this query, I shall include all the returns for merchandise, transported to Mexico, during the present year, although these returns will not be complete until the year 1825. One company, conveying 18,000 dollars worth of goods, did not leave this state until the 10th November, ultimo; consequently, the returns will not take place until the next summer. Agreeably to this construction of the question, the returas, at the lowest estimates, will amount to 180,000 dollars. They consist, principally, in Spanish dollars and bullion. Exclusive of this, furs, taken in that country, by Americans, have already been returned, amounting, by actual sales, to 10,044 dollars,

without an exception, likewise, they denounce the duty as an act of injustice and extortion, and openly lavish their censure upon its authors. Their accounmodations are generally indifferent, but they deserve much praise for their kindness, urbanity and hospitality. Few nations practice these virtues to a greater

extent.

Q. 11. Through what seaports have foreign goods been heretofore imported into the internal provinces?

A. Vera Cruz, Wymos, Tampico, Acapulco and San Blas; more than a year since the royalists have had possession of the fortification, which commands the harbor of Vera Cruz, which circumstance converted a part of its trade to Wymos.

Q. 12. Over what route, and by what means of conveyance, have foreign goods been, heretofore, brought into the internal provinces?

4. They were introduced from different parts of the vice royalty and principally from Vera Cruz, and the city of Mexico. The route is altogether over land, by the way of San Louis, Potosi, Zacate cas and Durango; and the goods, as well as every thing else transported in that country, are carried on mules. This manner of transportation is universal,

2