Text: C. F. Briggs (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), March 15, 1845, vol. 1, no. 11, p. ??

[page 174, column 1, continued:]

Hunt's Merchants’ Magazine.

The March number of this valuable periodical contains a paper on the consular system of the United States, which should be carefully [column 2:] read by every man who can exert the smallest degree of influence in the National councils. There are some abuses existing in the economy of our government, which all admit and none pretend to justify, but which, nevertheless, no one attempts to remove. The Consular system is the chief of them. The Consulship of Liverpool is said to be worth $20,000 per annum, while that of Cadiz, of Leghorn, of Genoa, and of many other important ports is not worth enough to pay the expenses of the Consul's office. Yet the responsibilities are as great in one port as another. It is the more remarkable that no attempts should have been made to equalize the incomes of these ports, since they might be made so large an addition to the patronage of the executive; there are not more than half a dozen consulships at present worth the acceptance of an ambitious man. But these offices might be increased to a very great extent, and the country would be a gainer, as well as political adventurers. Since Mr. Polk will be freed from the trouble. some business of securing his re-election, we trust that he will look about him to see what abuses of the government he can rectify, and we have no doubt of his attention being called to the subject of the Consular agents to begin with.

Besides this lively and important paper, there are three or four in the Merchants’ Magazine, relating to our national resources, of great ability.