No. 6.
Mr. Phelps to Mr. Seward.

No. 5.]

Sir: In answer to your circular of August 7, I have the honor to report that I am of opinion that the commercial relations between the United States and Bohemia can be largely developed.

The greatest obstacle to this, hitherto existing, has been the want of direct communication between the merchants and manufacturers of America and those of Bohemia.

Americans have allowed English and German merchants to be the organs of intercommunication, thus causing a loss of time and money.

There is a large market here for many of the patented articles of machinery and agricultural implements and tools, made in America by machinery, and made here by hand.

Bohemia is largely an agricultural country, and has been greatly dependent for tools on England, which has had but little competition.

American pianos and organs would find a larger sale here if the manufacturers were properly represented. In some places cottage-organs have been introduced with success into country churches.

Mineral oil.—The consumption of petroleum is large and constantly increasing. It is sold to this country mainly by houses in Hamburg, Bremen, and Antwerp. It has already supplanted the petroleum of Gallicia, in Poland, which was formerly used, and its sale could be indefinitely increased.

Resin, brought from America to Hamburg and Bremen as ballast in sailing-vessels, is used in considerable quantities by manufacturers.

Tallow and lard are much consumed by manufacturers.

Grass-seed.— The Poa pratensis is sold in the largest quantity.

But, as I have remarked the sale of American produce and manufactures [Page 17] would be largely increased in all its bran ches if agents were here to meet purchasers in person.

The preceding remarks regarding the intervention of third parties is equally applicable under this head. The raw products of Bohemia, such as talc, graphite, red-clay, goat skins, and the manufactures of glass, porcelain, garnets, woolen cloths, laces, and toys, would be greatly cheapened to the United States if obtained directly from Bohemia.

It is proper to add that some of the most elegant and costly furniture sold in London is made in Prague, some specimens of which I have recently examined. The ingenuity and beauty of the designs is largely owing to industrial schools and academies of art.

I am, &c.,

CHARLES A. PHELPS,
Consul.