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From this statement it appears that there were in commission 4 ships of the line, 1 razee, 6 frigates, 14 sloops, 4 brigs, 4 schooners, 8 steamers, 6 store-ships. Total 47.

The following is a statement of vessels in ordinary at the same date:

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There were thus in ordinary 3 ships of the line, 6 frigates, 8 sloops of war, 3 steamers, 1 store ship. Total 21.

The following is a statement of vessels on the stocks, and in progress of construction at the same date:

At Kittery, Me., the Alabama ship of the line, the Santee frigate, and the Saranac steamer, of the first class.

At Charlestown, Mass., the Virginia ship of the line.

At New York, the Sabine frigate, and the San Jacinto steamer, of the first class.

At Hoboken, N. J., an iron steamer is in process of construction.

At Philadelphia, the Susquehanna, a steamer of the first class.

At Gosport, Va., the New York ship of the line, and the Powhattan steamer, of the first class.

At Sackett's Harbour, the New Orleans ship of the line.

There are thus 4 ships of the line, 2 frigates, and 5 steamers-total 11-on the stocks, and in progress of construction.

The following is a statement of vessels broken up, sold, or lost, since the last annual report:

Broken up-As unworthy of repairs, the Austin sloop of war, at Pensacola. Sold-Brig Boxer; Experiment, Bonito, Reefer, Mahonese, Falcon, and Tampico, schooners; Ætna, Stromboli, Vesuvius, and Hecla, bomb vessels; Spitfire, Scorpion, and Scourge, steamers, at Philadelphia.

Lost-On-ka-hy-e schooner, on Caicos Reef; Petrita, (captured from Mexico,) at Alvarado.

Making in all 1 sloop, 1 brig, 7 schooners, 4 bomb vessels, and 4 steamers Total 17.

THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

(From the official report of the adjutant general.)

The authorized regular force of the army consists of 865 commissioned officers, and 8940 enlisted men-aggregate 9805: and is constituted as follows:

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Aggregate troops of the line,

One company of engineer soldiers, (sappers, miners,

and pontoniers,)

Ordnance sergeants,

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Aggregate of the authorized military establishment, 921|

100 100
53 53

8940 9878

The authorized number of troops of the line, consisting of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, (15 regiments,) is 8,789 non-commissioned officers and men. The actual force in service, non-commissioned officers and men, is 8,458— leaving a deficiency of 329 to be recruited.

The mechanics and labourers belonging to the ordnance department not being restricted in number by law, are not included in the foregoing exhibit. The number now in service is 495.

Immediately after the President's proclamation of July 4, 1848, announcing the termination of the war between the United States and the republic of Mexico, prompt measures were taken by the department for the withdrawal of all the troops from the field, and the disbanding of both regulars and volunteers raised for the period of the war, who were honourably discharged the service as soon after their arrival at the places of rendezvous within the

The actual number of commissioned officers is 865; fifty-six hold commissions both in the staff and line, are counted twice, and should be deducted from the number 921, obtained by adding the full number allowed by each regiment and corps. This number (921) does not include the military store-keepers, (17,) but these are accounted for in the column of “aggregate."

United States as was practicable. The measures adopted may be best seen by reference to "general orders," Nos. 25, 35, and 36, respectively dated June 8, July 6, and July 7, 1848, submitted with the report.

The accompanying returns show the number of regulars and volunteer troops in service at the termination of the late war, as follows:

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Of the regular force in service at the close of the war, (enlisted men,) 9,418 were recruited for five years, and 13,277 for the period of the war.

POST OFFICE STATISTICS.

(From the tables accompanying the Report of the Post Master General.)

The entire length of post routes in operation during the year ending 30th June, 1848, was 163,208 miles. The aggregate transportation of the mails over these routes during the year was 41,012,579 miles; and the cost for the year was $2,394,703.

The following table will show what amount of the above aggregate of mail service was performed in steamboats, and by railroads, and also the proportion of cost which was paid for those kinds of mail service:

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Some of the results shown by these tables are:

I. The average cost of transporting the mails, taking all the modes together, is not quite six cents per mile.

II. The average cost of transportation in all modes, exclusive of steamboats and railroads, is thirteen and a half cents per mile.

III. The average cost of transportation in steamboats is six cents per mile. IV. The average cost of transportation by railroads is thirteen and a half cents per mile.

V. If the cost of transportation by railroads were at the same rate as by other modes, (and the uniform result of the substitution of steamboats and railroads for other modes of conveyance, has been in all cases, except that of the mail, a reduction in the prices of passage and freight) then the cost of transportation for the past year would have been $1,966,218 instead of $2,394,703, being a difference of $428,485.

The post office army directly under the control of the post office department, numbers twenty thousand four hundred and twenty-four.

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And this is entirely irrespective of the immense army of drivers, owners of coaches, teams, &c., indirectly under the influence of the department. It is not, therefore, wonderful that the people should be jealous of the manner in which such a powerful department is controlled.

The immense mass of business performed in the office of the post office auditor, may be imagined from the following statement of the number of accounts, &c., during the last fiscal year:

The number of quarterly accounts of postmasters examined, was

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62,048

፡፡ contractors examined, was
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9,688

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An idea may be formed of the immense number of letters and packets received and sent, by reflecting that they averaged four hundred and ninety for every day in the year, except Sundays.

THE COAST SURVEY.

From the report of Professor Bache, superintendent of the coast survey, we gather the subjoined results of the last four years' labours. The work has been carried into every state on the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, with ́one exception, and surveying parties are now on their way to the Pacific

coast:

The differences of longitude of New York and Cambridge, New York and Philadelphia, and Philadelphia and Washington, have been ascertained by telegraph. The primary reconnaissance and triangulation have been carried from the south-west part of Rhode Island into Maine. A base line of verification, of eleven miles in length, has been measured. The topography has been carried from Point Judith to Cape Cod, and has included the shores of Boston harbour and its approaches.

The map of New York bay and harbour and its environs, in six sheets, and the smaller map in one sheet, have been published. Five charts of harbours of refuge, &c., in Long Island Sound, have been published. One large sheet of the chart of Long Island Sound has been published, and another is well advanced toward completion. The complete chart of Delaware bay and river, in three sheets, has been published. The off-shore chart, from Cape May to Point Judith, is nearly completed. One sheet of the south side of Long Island, delayed for work of verification, is nearly completed.

The primary triangulation has been extended across from the Delaware to the Chesapeake, and down the bay to the Virginia line. The triangulation of all the rivers emptying into the Chesapeake, north of the Patuxent, and part of the Patuxent, has been made. The triangulation has extended over Albemarle, Croatan and Roanoke Sounds. The triangulation of the rivers emptying into the north and south sides of Albemarle Sound has been made, and the topography of the shores (with one exception) and of the Sound, has been completed.

A general reconnaissance has been made of the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. Also a part of the coast of Florida. A complete reconnaissance has been made of the coast of Alabama, Mississippi, and part of Louisiana. The topography of the shores of Mississippi Sound, as far west as Pascagoula, is complete, and of Dauphin, Petit Bois, Round, Ship, and Cat Islands. The hydrography of the entrance to Mobile Bay, and of Cat and Ship Island Harbours, and their approaches, and of part of Mississippi Sound, is complete. The computations and reductions have been kept up, and charts of the entrance to Mobile Bay and of Cat and Ship Island Harbours, are in preparation. During this period, an area of 17,555 square miles has been triangulated; the topographical surveys, with the plane table, have covered 2,318 square miles, and embraced an extent of shore line, roads, &c. of 7,179 miles. The hydrography has covered an area of 20,086 square miles, of which 16,824 were principally off shore or deep sea work. Four thousand four hundred and four copies of maps and charts have been distributed to literary and scientific institutions in our country, and to departments of our own and foreign governments. In the estimates for the next fiscal year, the total sum asked is $186,000.

In answer to a call from the senate, the president sent in the following statement of appropriations for the coast survey from the commencement of the work.

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