of
Germany under one Government and the increasing commercial and personal
intercourse between the two countries will also add to the labors and
the responsibilities of the legation.

I therefore recommend that the salaries of the minister and of the
secretary of legation at Berlin be respectively increased to the same
amounts as are allowed to those at London and Paris.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 7, 1871_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

In answer to that part of your resolution of the 4th of January last
requesting copies of "instructions to the commander of our naval
squadron in the waters of the island [of San Domingo] since the
commencement of the late negotiations, with the reports and
correspondence of such commander," I herewith transmit a report, with
accompanying papers, received from the Secretary of the Navy.

U.S. GRANT.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 8, 1871_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I transmit herewith an extract of a paper addressed to the President,
the Secretary of the Interior, and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs by
the committee of Friends on Indian affairs having charge of the northern
superintendency, in relation to a desire of certain Indian tribes to
sell a portion of the lands owned by them, with a view of locating on
other lands that they may be able to purchase, together with the report
of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs thereon and a letter of the
Secretary of the Interior Department approving the report of the
Commissioner.

I submit the draft of a bill which has been prepared, and which it is
believed will effect the object desired by the committee, and request
the consideration thereof by Congress.

U.S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, _February 9, 1871_.

_To the Senate:_

The British minister accredited to this Government recently, in
compliance with instructions from his Government, submitted a proposal
for the appointment of a "joint high commission," to be composed of
members to be named by each Government, to hold its session at
Washington, and to treat and discuss the mode of settling the different
questions which have arisen out of the fisheries, as well as those which
affect the relations of the United States toward the British possessions
in North America.

I did not deem it expedient to agree to the proposal unless the
consideration of the questions growing out of the acts committed by
the vessels which h