_To the Senate of the United States_: I transmit to the Senate a copy of a dispatch of the 12th of April last, addressed by Anson Burlingame, esq., the minister of the United States to China, to the Secretary of State, relative to a modification of the twenty-first article of a treaty between the United States and China of the 18th of June, 1858, a printed copy of which is also herewith transmitted. These papers are submitted to the consideration of the Senate with a view to their advice and consent being given to the modification of the said twenty-first article, as explained in the said dispatch and its accompaniments. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _January 29, 1864_. _To the Senate of the United States_: I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, in answer to the resolution of the Senate respecting the correspondence with the authorities of Great Britain in relation to the proposed pursuit of hostile bands of the Sioux Indians into the Hudson Bay territories. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _February 4, 1864_. _To the Senate_: In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 26th ultimo, requesting "a copy of all the correspondence between the authorities of the United States and the rebel authorities on the exchange of prisoners, and the different propositions connected with that subject," I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War and the papers with which it is accompanied. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _February 5, 1864_. _To the Senate of the United States_: In answer to the resolution of the Senate of yesterday on the subject of a reciprocity treaty with the Sandwich Islands, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, to whom the resolution was referred. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _February 16, 1864_. _To the Senate and House of Representatives_: I transmit to Congress a report from the Secretary of State, with the accompanying papers, relative to the claim on this Government of the owners of the French ship _La Manche_, and recommend an appropriation for the satisfaction of the claim, pursuant to the award of the arbitrators. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _February 16, 1864_. _To the House of Representatives of the United States_: In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 8th instant, requesting information touching the arrest of the United States consul-general to the British North American Provinces, and certain official communications respecting Canadian commerce, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the documents by which it was accompanied. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _February 22, 1864_. _To the Senate and House of Representatives_: