The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-23
AMERICAN DIPLOMATS ABROAD.
The Expenses OF the American Lsxsti
Abroad.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the Expenses Of the American Legations
LETTER FROM J. 8. PKNDLErON.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED HrArRs, !
BUKNos AYRBs, Jan n, 1852
Sui had the honor to receive, BY tho last ARR
val from the United States your circular letter OF
the 4th of November, 1851.
1t requires me to state what Is the amount of Ak
penses incident to my official residence ct this oour
take leave, in the first place, very respectfully
to suggest that you have conversation with NJ
William A. Harris, my immediate predecessor. 10
lived here for years. and can explain fully the whoS
subject, and particularly the effect on any given
amount Of salary Of the strange nuctustions Of cur
rency peculiar to this country He is In Washing
ton, suppose; at any rate he will be there occs.
sionally, If not permanently, during the present
year.
living within my salary by perhaps Thousand dol
drsd dollars will probably cover all my expsuses.
To do this, however, have to leave my family in
the United States; to take just 30 many rooms a.
am obliged to have for my own personal acoommo.
dation and that Of servant, my own slave, whom
brought from tho United States; to breakfast at
my own quarters, and to dine ut hotel.
do not keep . carriage OF any sort, and do not
pretend to that ~ stem of hospitality and entertain
ments, maintained in greater or less degree, BY a
have any knowledge, except such of those Of the
United States are not able, or being able, not
willing to draw literally upon their private means
In order to perfectly clear statement, l may add
might confne his expenses to three thousand dollars
per annum. do not think that any young gentle
man living hero, either for business pleasure and
assocatng in tho first class Of society, can or does
suppose that double the sum expend-shs. is,
seven thousand dollars . years. the very lowest
amount for which diplomatic agent Of any grade
could live in this city, as gentle nan Of such rank
1svn ouiu I'M fam
ing respectable house in the best part and heash
est of the city, with appropriate furniture, carriage
and single span Of horses, and observing in all thing,
as much economy as could possibly be practised,
without mourning the imputaton of Aeanness,
which, however it might be despised by private
gentleman very materially Affects the influence Of
an official one in these countries.
But rs / take your object and that of the Senate
to be rather to know what ought to be allowed than
how little can DO got along upon, have requested
some American gentlemen, old residents and men Of
the highest standing, to make . statement for me,
have no intimation whatever Of the opinion Of any
one Of them rs vet AS soon as their report Is made
to me will inclose it with this depaseh
There is another point comprehended, suppose,
in the range of the inquiry of the Senate, on which
l can speak with more confidence; for the reason
that having resided officially at two of the courts
and having been very well acquainted with several
Others In South America. have had more than or.
binary opportunities to fern coHe,t opinion.
think that the nominal rank Of the mission is Of
A minister plenipot entiary or minister resident
has, at any court Of South America, being merely
. decent man, more influence (the mere evidence of
his official rsnk) than any degree whatever Of talent
or address can insure for any man of the grade OF
charge and therefore l hold it to BIO more impor-
tant to eev to the grade than TO increase the saia
ry for Ii Congress continue the policy Of Compel
ing ell the diplomatic agents OF the government OF
the United States to live upon their own means, or
to live SO merely to be the subjects of unpleasant
criticism, it is sill, in my opinion, better tor the
public interest thst the grade DO raised, as the
government can much more easily fnt men with
money than with talents and learning; and Ii is
hardly possible to find one so low in intellect not
to be able, with the advantage of rank to be more
useful in these South nercan courts than charges
be their Intelligence address vigilance, what it
may.
fectly, and has profted and is prs6ting BY CONT
nuing to keep its ministers always In position Of
precedence.
At this court it has during the whole period of
the Argentine Confederation kept . minister plen
potentiary With q liberal salary, and has for the
whole time net Influenced, but controlled, the ad-
ministratioD.
Having made > most favorable and perpetual
treaty, she has just now changed her miss on with
out changing its position for the point OF
The ne y diplomst is charge d'afaires and csnsul-
general, with salary in his first character of two
Thousand three hundred pounds sterling and in all
not lees than sixteen or seventeen thousand dollars
per annum.
minister resident would rank him, and this,
with respectable compensation, would be the appro
pirate arrangement for this court as also for Chill
and Peru.
have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your
obedient servant, JOHN PENDLEToS
Hon DANIEL WEBSTER, Secretary Of State.
LITTER FROM r. SCHROEDER.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
STOCKHOLM, December TO- 1851
The salary having been established at 81 800,
consequently judge the intention Of the government
to be that the appearance of its agent should cores
pond with that sum. Accordingly, as soon as possi-
Bile after my arrival, rented house-su as .
gentleman in Washington under similar oircum .
stances would probably inhabit. And should add,
that the journey with my family from home, and the
furnishing the house i had rented, msre than sb-
sorbed the customary ou.6t
The frat of October may be considered the DOM.
mencement Of the domestic yeAr in this country 1t
is the date of almost all contracts OF house rent aud
CT the yearly engagement of servants, VINO decline,
usually 70 accept places for less space Of time.
The anrua, expenses incident to my residence,
can, therefore, best be estimated from my account
book after the first October last year; and the fol-
Lowing statement compile accordingly from exact
memoranda;
House rent S530 w
Servants wages Observation-Disclosures. 456 90
Laundress .................... $50 90
Fuel-44 cords of wood .................. l62 90
Provisions and groceries, (family) $3.50. 920 90
Carriage and two horses, (keepieg, Soy. $40 90
Wines consumed in official hos ptality..... I78 90
Oil and candles Observation-Disclosures. So 90
Physicians fees. ........... az w
Apothecary's fees. $500. Ia 90
Residue of official resources applicable to
official Inequalities. personal family ex-