Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-02-04
OFFICIAL.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 2, 1854
The following ordinance of the Prussan Minister Of
concerning declarations Of the value of goods
sent the United States translation of which has been
transmitted to this Department by ISAAC G. Bates ESQ.,
United States Consul at AK 10 Chapele published fol
general information:
according to the existing laws Of the United
States of North America the value Of all foreign
chandse imported into the United States must decar
ed on oath by the owner thereof.
f the merchandise be the property Of persons resd
ing in the United States and this takes place in those
where German goods purchased by commission
agents of North American commercial houses this
oath taken before the collectors Of customs in the ports
Of the United States upon arrival Of the merchandise
lft the merchandise belongs persons who do not re-
side in the United States and this will take place in the
case Of goods consigned to North America by subjects
from this side the invoice must be to by the
sr before consul commercial agent of the United
States of North America before public authority
who is authorized to receive declarations OATH
can exact compliance with these regulations, from
which many departures have taken place until now
been recently ordered by circular of the Treasury De-
partment Of the United States of North America.
The laws of this country not giving any legal
ton to oaths in confirmation of the value OF
of goods to before the consus of foreign State
residing in Prussia before any magistrate Of the
country negotiations pending for the substitu-
ton Of the affirmation, (or declaraton contained in
the 10th section of the penal code in place of the formal
oath required in vercaton Of the value of merchandise
to be exported, as tits declared in the invoices.
Meanwhile, in order to obviate any interruption Of
the very important commercial intercourse with North
America, it is necessary that the merchants this side
shall be furnished with the opportunity Of verifying the
value Of consgnmens the United States according
the provisions Of the 10th section of the penal code
magistrates and for merchants living in the country the
royal sandrathe therefore to be directed upon the
application of the Of merchandise designed be
sent on consignment to the United States receive
affirmation in the place Of oath in regard to the
rectness of the value declared in the invoices Upon the
presentation Of the invoices Of merchandise designed
be sent consignment this affirmation in place of the
oath is to be recorded in protocols or if the
affirmation in place of the oath is already written before
hand upon the invoice the protocol shall mention the
acknowledgment of this affirmation. certificate of this
transaction furnished with the official seal and signature
to be annexed to the invoice and handed back the
applicant as expeditiously possible
Before the reception acknowledgment of afr-
nation instead of oath the purport of section 129 of the
penal code shall be explicitly stated to the person making
the decaraon and that this has been done is to be noted
in the protocol.
"The invoice Of the merchandise furnished with the
ocs certificate must be sent the consgnors here
tofore for examination and authorization to the
lar authorities Of the United States living their
place Of residence in there none the
suates of the United States in the port of shipment
81 accordingly direct the Royal Regency to furnish
the authorities concerned herein with instructions
make it their special duty give quick dispatch ap-
pcations which may be made, and to bring the above
stated arrangement to the knowledge of the merchants OF
their lisfri .. F.,