3. Number of Post-Offices, Extent of Post-Roads, and Revenue and Expenditures of the Post-Office Department; with the Amount paid to Postmasters and for Transportation of the Mail.

The preceding statistics all relate to the Post-Office operations under the

old law; the new law went into operation July 1st, 1845.

4. Decrease of Revenue under the New Law.

The following is an exact statement, as ascertained at the department, of the revenue derived from 926 of the larger offices in the United States for the quarter ending the 30th of September, 1845, compared with the quarter ending the 30th of September, 1844:

Revenue for the quarter ending the 30th of Sept. 1844,
The same for the quarter ending Sept. 30th, 1845,

Deficiency, about 41 per cent.,

$464,481

271,473

$193,008

Out of 925 post-offices, which, under the old law, paid $100 net and upwards per quarter, 10 only exhibit an increase. These show an aggregate increase of $119. These 10 are in comparatively small towns, which have of late rapidly increased in population.

The preceding statement relates to the first three months under the new law; what follows is an official statement respecting the operation of the new law during the second three months, viz: from October 1, 1845, to January 1, 1846.

The Revenue in fifty of the large Post-Offices for the fourth quarter of 1845, compared with that which accrued in the same Offices during the fourth quarter of 1844.

Fifty Post-Offices show a deficit of $58,484, being a fraction less than 40 per cent.

Returns made from each post-office, of the number of letters received in the month of October, 1845. 1,953 offices, paying about one seventh of the revenue of the Department, failed to comply with the order. The following is the result from the offices making returns:

Letters reduced to single rates, taxed and free, at 5 cents,
Letters reduced to single rates, taxed and free, at 10 cents,
Ship letters for delivery, at 2 cents,

Dropped letters at 2 cents,

There were 2,139,203 five cent rates, and 771,669 ten cent rates — not so many separate letters.

The gross revenue, including the postages paid by the Executive Departments, for the half year ending 31st December, 1845, was, The expenditures and liabilities same period,

$1,646,638

2,063,168

$416,530

Deficiency for half year,

or at the rate of about $833,060 a year.

5. RATES OF POSTAGE.

For a letter, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, (avoirdupois,) sent not exceeding 300 miles,

Sent over 300 miles,

For every half ounce, and any excess over every half ounce, the same
rates of postage; and when advertised, two cents on each letter;
or four cents, if the advertising cost so much, additional.
For drop letters, (not to be mailed) each

For any printed circular, handbill, or advertisement, on quarto post,
single cap, or paper not larger than single cap, unsealed, sent any
distance,

For any pamphlet, magazine, periodical, or other matter of every kind, that is transmittable by mail, and has no written communication on it, of one ounce or less, or for a newspaper exceeding 1,900 square inches of surface,

For each additional ounce, or an excess greater than a half ounce, Newspapers of 1,900 square inches or less, sent by Editors or Publishers, from their offices of publication, any distance not exceeding 30 miles,

For any other newspaper, sent over 30, and not more than 100 miles, or any distance within the same State,

Sent over such distance,

Where the circular is on a sheet larger than single cap, it is to be rated as a pamphlet. As the postage on these articles is chargeable on each copy,

postmasters will carefully examine all packets, and rate the postage accordingly. When the article to be mailed is a circular, pamphlet, or newspaper, it should be so enveloped, or folded, that it can be distinctly seen at the office to be such, and also that it contain no writing, marks, or signs, to serve the purpose of written communications. If not done up so as to open at the end, it is to be charged as a letter, by weight.

No packet can be mailed which weighs more than three pounds. Bound books of any size are not included in the term "mailable matter," except books sent by Governors of States.

The establishment of private expresses for the conveyance of any letters, packets, or packages of letters, or other matter transmittable in the United States mail, (newspapers, pamphlets, magazines, and periodicals excepted,) from one city, town, or other place, to any other city, town, or place in the United States, between which the United States mail is regularly transported, is prohibited.

6. PRIVILEGE OF FRANKING.

1. The President, ex-Presidents, and Mrs. Madison, and Mrs. Harrison, retain the franking privilege, as regulated by former laws.

2. The Vice-President, members of Congress, and delegates from Territories

May transmit public documents free during their official terms;

May send and receive free, newspapers, letters, or packets, weighing under two ounces, during the session of Congress, and for thirty days before the commencement and thirty days after the close of any session;

May receive letters free, not weighing over two ounces, during the recess. This does not include the interval from the close of one Congress to the commencement of the next;

May transmit free written letters from themselves the whole year- that is, from sixty days before the commencement of any session, until the meeting of the next Congress.

3. The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives

May send free public documents during their official terms;

May send and receive free letters, newspapers, and packages, not weighing over two ounces, during the session of Congress, and for thirty days before and after;

May send free letters written by themselves during their official terms.

4. The governors of States may send free the laws, records, and documents of the legislature, to the governors of other States.

5. The three assistant postmasters general

May send free letters, packages, or other matters, relating exclusively to their official duties, or the business of the Post-Office Department;

May receive all such letters and documents as relate to their own duties, or that of the department, and have the postages remitted at the city postoffice.

6. Deputy postmasters may send free all such letters and packages as may relate exclusively to the business of their respective offices, and may have allowed all postages paid or charged to them in the settlement of their accounts.

7. Exchange newspapers between editors pass free.

8. Editors or publishers of newspapers may send their papers free within thirty miles of the place of publication.

9.

Communications addressed to the officers of the government, heretofore having the franking privilege, touching the business of their respective offices, are to be paid for out of the contingent fund provided for their offices, or out of the treasury.

VIII. MINT.

It is lawful for any person or persons to bring to the Mint gold and silver bullion to be coined; and the bullion so brought is there assayed and coined, as speedily as may be after the receipt thereof; and if of the standard of the United States, free of expense to the person or persons by whom it shall have been brought. But the Treasurer of the Mint is not obliged to receive, for the purpose of refining and coining, any deposit of less value than one hundred dollars, nor any bullion so base as to be unsuitable for minting. And there must be retained from every deposit of bullion below the standard, such sum as shall be equivalent to the expense incurred in refining, toughening, and alloying the same; an accurate account of which expense, on every deposit, is kept, and of the sums retained on account of the same, which are accounted for by the Treasurer of the Mint with the Treasurer of the United States.