midnight on every day of the year; together with Occultations of stars and planets by the moon, and much other useful information important to the practical navigator. The labor of preparing and publishing this work is very great, while its usefulness is incalculable to those whose home is on the seas.

7. HYDROGRAPHY.

The Bureau of Navigation has charge of hydrographic surveys, which are designed to secure accurate charts of the sea, and its relations to the coasts; and other matters of interest to the navigator. Such charts show the coast, its headlands, indentations; the rivers and streams that are emptied into the ocean; the reefs, rocks, and islands that are found; the depth of the water and character of the bottom, as well as the hills, mountains, and lowlands, lighthouses and other prominent objects on shore. On these charts are noted the latitude and longitude; the tides and surfs, currents and counter and undercurrents; the prevailing winds at different seasons; the extremes of heat and cold; and also the fogs, icebergs, and all other local matters that are found which have a bearing upon the interests of navigation.

When these charts are rendered as perfect as possible, they are engraved and printed for the use of the navy. Merchantmen are supplied with copies at cost. As further knowledge is obtained, the engraved plates are altered and improved, and new copies of

the charts are furnished. The importance of this branch of the duties of the Bureau of Navigation can not be overestimated, whether we consider the value of the commerce afloat on the ocean, or the lives of those who are borne upon it as passengers and sailors, or the success of the star-spangled banner on the ocean wave.

8. THE NAVAL ASYLUM.

This benevolent institution is under the control of the Bureau of Docks and Yards. It constitutes the home provided by the federal government for "disabled and decrepit naval officers, seamen, and marines" who have served twenty years in the navy. They are discharged when convicted of misconduct, such as drunkenness, fighting, abusive and profane language.

The officers consist of a governor, not below the rank of a captain in the navy, and a commander, a lieutenant, a surgeon, and chaplain, taken from their respective ranks; together with a secretary to the institution, a master-at-arms, a matron, cooks, watchmen, and attendants. Divine service is performed at the institution every Sunday.

There are naval asylums at Washington, Norfolk, Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, and Pensacola.

I.

CHAPTER XLIV.

THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OR GENERAL

POST-OFFICE.

OUR mail establishment, first created by the act of 1789, was a simple affair, then managed, under the direction of the President, by a postmaster-general and an assistant or clerk, in conformity with regulations prescribed by the confederacy. There has never been any statute establishing a post-office department, although the extent of our mail business and its disconnection from other branches of the public service, as well as its general usefulness, would fully authorize its being thus organized and designated. It is first spoken of as a Post-Office Department in the title of an act in 1825. From 1856, when the post-office establishment ceased to be self-sustaining, there have been annual appropriations for the "PostOffice Department." All other laws speak of it as a General Post-Office." But it is generally spoken of as the "Post-Office Department." It is of more universal interest to all our citizens than any other department. It serves alike the old and young, the rich and poor.

It is not the creature of commerce,

finance, trade, manufactures, or agriculture; but serves each as required. Its operations tend more to enlighten and ameliorate the condition of the people than any other department of the government. Its business reaches the hearts of the people, and enables distant minds to indulge in affectionate and useful communications at a nominal expense. Since the introduction of cheap postage and free delivery, it visits the homes of all, and is the servant of the whole people. It is the unostentatious sentinel warning the people of threatened danger, or cheering them with intelligence of their safety. It is through it that man speaks to man, and the press to the world.

2. Posts were originated by a French monarch, to secure the rapid transmission of government letters, and celerity in the movement of officials and public agents. Masters of the posts were appointed to supply horses and conductors, and to secure prompt dispatch. Subsequently, these posts conveyed in like manner private letters and such persons as wished to travel by such conveyance. This system spread over Europe, and eventually reached the American colonies. In 1753, Dr. Franklin was appointed the General Master of the Posts, or Postmaster-General, which office he held until 1774, when he was removed by the British government.

At a later day, in England, stage-coaches, whose business it was to carry passengers, were first employed to carry the mails. The passenger and mail business thus became united, and still continue so in

many parts of the world, and especially in our owa country, except where superseded by steamboats and railroads. Some idea can be formed of the speed of posts in early days, when it is known that Dr. Franklin startled the people of the colonies by proposing to run a stage-wagon to carry the mail from Philadelphia to Boston once a week, starting from each city on Monday morning, and reaching its destination Saturday night.

Among the arrangements in 1775, preparatory to the Revolutionary war, Dr. Franklin was elected, by the Continental Congress, Postmaster-General, which office he held until 1776, when, in consequence of his continued absence on other public duty, his sonin-law and assistant, Richard Bache, was appointed. He held the office until 1782, when Ebenezer Hazzard was elected.

At the organization for the constitutional government, in 1789, the law concerning the general postoffice was temporary. Numerous laws have since been passed on the subject. That of 1825 gave it so much system that it mostly controls its organization and business. It is now better organized than most of the other departments. In General Jackson's time, it was made by law an excellent working machine.