second class, thirty-six guns; eighteen sloops of war, sixteen to twenty guns; two brigs of war, ten guns; four schooners, four to ten guns; four steamers; three store ships; three receiving vessels, and five small schooners, making in all sixtyseven vessels.

There are two dry docks, one at Norfolk and one at Charlestown, constructed of hewn granite. The former cost $872,220, and the latter $652,482.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S Office.

This office was created in 1789. The Attorney General is a member of the cabinet, and holds his office at the will of the President. It is his duty to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court, in which the Government is concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law, when required by the President, or requested by the heads of any of the departments, touching any matter that may concern their departments. His salary is $4,000 per annum.

POSTMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE.

This office was organized in 1789, and is under the superintendence of the Postmaster General, who is now a member of the cabinet. He is aided in the discharge of his duties by two Assistants, who are appointed by the President and Senate. He has the sole appointment of all Postmasters throughout the United States; the making of all contracts for carrying the mails; the superintendence of the business connected with mail

depredations; the payment of balances due by Postmasters; the bank accounts of the department, and all other matters in relation to its administration, not committed to his Assistants. His salary is $6,000 per annum.

The First Assistant Postmaster General arranges the connexions of the mails on all the mail routes in the United States; regulates their speed, the frequency of their trips, and mode of conveyance; advertises for mail service; receives proposals, and prepares them for the action of the Postmaster General. He attends to the execution of contracts; prepares for decision all propositions for changes in mail service; fixes on the location of distributing post offices; provides and sends out mail bags, locks and keys, and performs all acts appertaining to post roads, &c. All letters relating to these several duties are addressed to this officer. His salary is $2,500 per annum; and his office is called the Contract Office.

The Second Assistant Postmaster General attends to all matters relating to the establishment and discontinuance of post offices, changes of sites and names, appointment and removal of Postmasters, under the direction of the Postmaster General, and all matters relating to the reception, proper management, and distribution of the mails. He is appointed by the President and Senate; and all letters relating to the duties abovementioned, and all recommendations of, and complaints against Postmasters, are to be addressed to him. His salary is $2,500 per annum, and his office is called the Appointment Office.

Third Assistant Postmaster General. This officer receives and sends letters and packages in relation to the business of the office, free of postage. His salary is $2,500 per annum, and his office is called the Inspection Office.

The Auditor of the General Post Office is appointed by the President and Senate, and receives $3,000 per annum. His duty is to audit and settle all accounts of the Post Office Department, and to certify the balances to the Postmaster General; he is required to report to the Postmaster General the official forms of papers to be used by Postmasters and other officers of the department; the manner and form of keeping and stating its accounts; to keep and preserve all accounts, with the vouchers, after settlement; to report promptly all delinquences of Postmasters; close the account of the department quarterly, and transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury quarterly statements of its receipts and expenditures; enforce prompt payment of moneys due to the department; institute suits for the recovery of balances due, and cause them to be prosecuted to judgment and execution, or direct suits in chancery, &c.

All Postmasters whose pay exceeds one thousand dollars per annum, must be appointed by the President and Senate.

POSTAGE.

Rates of postage, as established by the act of Congress of 3d March, 1825, and the amendatory act of 2d March, 1827.

For single letters composed of one piece of paper:

Over 150,
Over 400,

Double letters, or those composed of two pieces of paper, are charged with double those rates. Triple letters, or those composed of three pieces of paper, are charged with triple those rates.

Quadruple letters, or those composed of four pieces of paper, are charged with quadruple those

rates.

One or more pieces of paper, mailed as a letter, weighing one ounce, are charged with quadruple postage, and at the same rate should the weight be greater; and quadruple postage is charged on all packets containing four pieces of paper.

Newspaper postage. For each newspaper, not carried out of the State, but carried not over one hundred miles, one cent. Over one hundred miles, and out of the State in which it is published, oneand-a-half cents.

Magazines and Pamphlets, if published periodically, distance not exceeding one hundred miles, - 14 cents per sheet.

Ditto.

over 100 miles, 24

do.

If not published periodically, distance not exceeding 100 miles, Ditto.

4

over 100 miles, 6

do.

do.

Small pamphlets, printed on a half or quarter sheet of royal, or less size, are charged with half those rates. Eight pages quarto are rated as one sheet, and all other sizes in the same proportion.

The number of sheets which it contains must be printed or written on one of the outer pages of every pamphlet or magazine to be sent by mail. Where the number of sheets is not truly stated, double postage is charged.

Every thing not coming under the denomination of newspapers or pamphlets, is charged with letter postage.

Letters to Canada are forwarded through the agents of the United States at Kingston, Upper Canada, and Montreal, Lower Canada.

The postage on ship letters, if delivered at the office where the vessel arrives, is six cents; if conveyed by post, two cents in addition to the ordinary postage.

Any person, other than the Postmaster General, or his authorized agents, who shall set up a foot or horse post, for the conveyance of letters and packets, upon any post road, which is, or may be established as such by law, shall incur a penalty of not exceeding fifty dollars for every letter or packet so carried.

Privilege of Franking.

Letters and packets to and from the following officers of the Government, are by law received and conveyed by post, free of postage:

The President and Vice President of the United States; Secretaries of State, Treasury, War and Navy; Attorney General; Postmaster General and Assistant Postmasters General; Comptrollers, Auditors, Register and Solicitor of the Treasury; Treasurer; Commissioner of General Land Office;