No. 458.
Mr. Foster
to Mr. Fish.
Mexico, January 7, 1874. (Received January 28.)
Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of the annual report of the Mexican minister of finance, (Hacienda y crédito público,) Hon. Francisco Mejia, [Page 721] for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, which is very comprehensive, and presents a valuable compilation of statistical information. The total receipts of the national treasury for the year aggregate $20,271,460, of which the two principal items are, from import-customs, $9,265,700 and from stamps $2,217,274. The total expenditures are $20,689,345. The public internal debt is stated at $11,464,273. The foreign debt is recognized in the report as follows: English, $63,498,130; convention, $4,351,348; Spanish, $7,400,000; Padre Moran, $800,000; American claims adjudged by the mixed commission, $401,685.19; making a total of $76,452,163.19, which the minister estimates as $8.48 per capita of the inhabitants of the republic. I have found no classification or specific mention of the bonds issued by the republican government during the war of intervention, and now held by citizens of the United States. The coinage of the republic for the year ending June 30, 1872, was $19,891,928, of which amount $18,864,936 was of silver.
I am, &c.,