The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

Nrtott,ipApßit
• •
and the divisions of the predominating par -
uniting in favour of the Government, it is al `I
that most of the suggestions contained in the realsiip ••
report will be adopted.
.11. 11 S
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
The actual strength of the United States army is only
10,417 men, 8378 of whom are employed on the frontiers
of Mexico, or on their march thither. The authorised
strength of the army is 13,821 men. Except in Cali.
fornia and Oregon, Indian depredations are becoming
less frequent, and new posts for better protection are to
be established. The depredations in Texas have been
mostly committed by Indians from Mexico. It is the
intention of the department to strengthen the force on
the Rio Grande, for although a peaoe has been gained
there, no assurance of its continuance can be bad, except
by the presence of a large force. With an army three
times as large as ours, it would be impossible to protect
the frontiers, and the department intends to concentrate
large bodies of troops on important points, and have a
less number of small detachments.
More adequate appropriations for fortifications are
urged, and arrangements for Texas and the Pacific are
immediately necessary. Better means for conveying
public stores are also needed, and 4,600 recruits are
required.
The Secretary then recommends at length an increased
pay to the soldiers.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
This document advocates a re-organisation of the
navy, and recommends the appropriation of five millions
for building several steam-propeller frigates. He says
there are not forty vessels which could be brought into
service in ninety days, if needed. In advocating the
construction of steam-propellers, he continues :
"I recommend, therefore, that the department be
authorised to have constructed at least six first-class
steam frigates—propellers. The opinion is entertained
that that number may be built in our several yards in
addition to the work now going on, and the repairs
usually needed on the return of vessels from longvoyages.
It is estimated that they will cost between four and five
millions of dollars, and can be built in about 20 months.
With the exception of some deficiency in the supply of
white oak and yellow pine, which can be without much
difficulty procured, we have on hand at the various
yards, ample materials to accomplish what is recom-
mended. It will be perceived, on referring to the esti-
mates of the Bureau of Construction, that an estimate is
made of the entire cost?"
Several unfinished vessels onthe stocks are to be com-
pleted according to modern improvements, and he says :
—"Should these recommendations be adopted our naval
force will be strengthened by the addition of two first-
class sailing frigates, and of seven first-class steam
frigates, capable of mounting 50 guns each, there being
no steamer at present of more than ten guns. My
opinion is, it would be sound policy to dispose of such
vessels as are deemed unfit for service as vessels of war."
This branch of the report concludes with a recommenda-
tion for tho establishment of machine shops, and an in-
crease of enlistment men from the present number-
-7,500—t0 10,000.
Under the head "Re-organisation of the Navy,"
Secretary Dobbin recommends a retired list, on reduced
pay, for the faithful who have become firm ; the dis-
charge of the inefficient who have no claim on the bounty
of their Government for services rendered ; promotion
regulated by capacity and merit, and not by mere senio-
rity of commission ; pay to some extent controlled by
sea service. A board of officers of various grades, to be
selected by the President, can be convened periodically,
to report to him the names of those who, in their judg-
ment, should be made subjects of the rules prescribed ;
but their report to be binding on the President only so
far as he deems proper. A system of rewards and
punishments to the sailors, and honourable discharge, is
suggested as a means of encouraging more permanent
enlistments, &c.
The Secretary is decidedly opposed to the restoration
of flogging in the navy. He also calls attention to the
Naval Academy, navy yards, &c., and, with regard to
the basin and railway at San Francisco, for which an
appropriation was made last Congress, leaving the con-
struction of the work discretionary with the Secretary
of the Navy, he considers, although it would be useful,
it is not necessary.
THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S REPORT.
The expenditures of this department for the year have
been $7,932,756 50c.; the gross revenue, including ap-
propriation of $700,000, has been $5,940,724 70c. The
chief items of expenditure were $4,906,308 for transpor-
tion • $1,406,477 for compensation to postmasters;
$414',525 for additional compensation, under act of 1851;
$502,820 for clerks of offices ; $113,017 for letter carriers ;
$139,592 for British postages ; $76,346 for advertising;
$71,056 for blanks; $49,303 for mail bags, &c. The
means to supply the deficiency of revenue fell short by
the sum of $545, 445. The revenue from newspapers,
pamphlets, &c., which had risen from $608,765, in
1845, to $1,035,130, in 1851, fell off after the reduction
of rates in that year to $789,246 in 1852, and in 1853
was only $611,333. It is therefore stated that the act
of 1851 has not met the expectations of its friends, and
at the same time the expenses of transportation have in-
creased from $3,538,063 in 1351, to $4,906,308.
There are 23,320 post-offices in the United States, 255
of which are of a high class.
At the close of the fiscal year, ending the 30th June
last, there were in operation within the United States,
6,692 mail routes. The aggregate length wa.c 9.17,743
miles, and 5,583 contracts employed thereon.
The annual transportation of the mails on those routes
was 61,392,542 miles, and the annual cost thereof,
$4,495,968 ; being about seven cents two mills per
mile. Of these 61,892,542 miles of annual transporta-
tion, 12,986,705 miles are required to be performed on
railroads, at a cost of $1,601,321, being about twelve
cents three mills per mile; 6,685,065 miles in steam-
boats, at a cost of $632,368, being about nine cents
four mills per mile ; 21,330,326 miles in mchesy at a
cost of $1,206,958, being about five cents six mills per
mile ; and 20,890,446 miles in modes not specified, at a
cost of $1,055,313, being about five cents per milk
The expenditures of the department during the last
fiscal year were, $7,982,758. The gross revenue 4-0 m
all sources was $5,940,724.
It appears from the foregoing statement that th,
gross revenue of the year ending June 30, 1853, falls
short of the expenditure by the sum of $2,042,031.
Thus we find the cheap postage system creating an
actual deficit in the revenue of the department of nearly
$3,000,000. The last Cheap Postage Act gives post-
masters, in certain cases, an extra commission of 20 per
cent., which costs about half a million a year. The Eu-
ropean mail service has cost immensely more than the
receipts amount to, and the Californian mail service costs
two-thirds more than it pays. Postages on newspapers,
under last reduction, have fallen off $400,000. But what
of all this ? Better the Treasury should pay than the
diffusion of intelligence be suspended.
The following will be found interesting in Eng-
land, France, and Germany, particularly so to the
proprietors and shareholders in the lines of ocean
steamers :
The cost of mail service and the amounts of postage
on the various steam-ship lines, during the year ending
June 30, 1853, was as follows :

2Co. voyages. Cost service. Postages,
Collins line .................. 2,6 $558,000 00 $310,361 98
Bremen line ll 183,333 33 100,370 05
Havre line l2 150,000 00 100,170 18
Aspinwall line 29 284,510 00
Isthmus }
P line 29 346,680 00 263,137 58
_ 85314 00
Charleston and Havannah 24 50,,000 00 7,945 63
No. to Vera Cruz 5 . 7,750 00 630 84

Total...

$1,965,587 33 $782,616 2i

The above is not given in tabular form, but we have
placed it so for convenience. The number of letters con-
veyed between the United States and Europe was
4,611,011; of newspapers, 1,381,863; of the loiters,
2,774,423 were in the Cunard, and 1,018,345 in the
in The number of letters in the California
lines was line. The
There is a balance in savour of
Great Britain on account of postages of $151,161 75c.
—much the larger part of the mails having been carried
in the British steamers. The report goes into very mi-
nute details in refereice to this subject, which it is un-
necessary to repeat. It is recommended that the trans-
portation of the mails on the Bremen, Havre, and
Charleston and Havannah lines be provided for from the
public treasury as on the Collins and California lines, so
that they may not be a burden on the department.
Allusion is made to modifications in various postal
treaties with other countries. The basis of a postal ar-
rangement with France has been agreed upon, although
still unsettled, owing to France desiring the ounce
rate, and different charges for unpaid and prepaid letters,
while the department wishes the ounce rate, and a
uniform charge. The heavy British transit rate inter-
rupts arrangements with the continental nations, and
into
operation. the treaty with Belgium from • going
operation.

MALARIA AT CLAPHAM.—Yesterday an inquest was
Judd, aged 55, a gardener,
who resided at No. II
held before Mr. Higgs, on view of the body of John.
forms
of fetid
he died of an attack of virulent typhus fever, caused
Northumberland-place, Legham-road,_ Clapham, where'
the
a
substances in the ro. , which part of the
by the malaria arising from
parish of Lambeth. Mr. J. M Donogh, Park-road,
said
he had been attending deceased's children for
typhus fever, which was like a plague in the neighbour-
hood. Deceased fell ill of the same disease and died
from its effects. By the Coroner : It is my opinion that
deceased has been poisoned by the state of the road, in
which there is a great accumulation of decomposed
animal and vegetable matter. This is highly injurious
to the inhabitants residing near the road, as also to the
surrounding neighbourhood, engendering disease and
death. I have for the last twenty years made complaints
of the state of the road, which is in the parish of Lam-
beth, from the number of persons attacked with disease
and eruptions, in consequence of it. The jury returned
a verdict, that the deceased died of typhus fever pro-
duced by the malaria arising from the neglected state of
the road in the parish of Lambeth, and they requested
the coroner to send a strong representation to the Ge-
neral Board of Health, in order that they might give
immediate attention to the road.

ENFRANCHISEMENT Or DONCASTER - Yesterday
(Friday) the town council of Doncaster, upon the mo-
tion of Sir Isaac Marley, seconded by Mr. Marratt, one
of the county coroners, resolved to memorialise Lord
Aberdeen, praying that in any measure for parliamen-
tary reform Doncaster be included, to send one or more
members to parliament. Sir Isaac Morley stated that
there were more 101. householdez s in'Doncaster than in
any other borough in the kingdom of equal population.
Re also felt certain that it was the intention of Lord
John Russell to include Doncaster in his list of new
franchised towns. The council agreed to the memorial
unanimously.

HOLIDAYS AT THE LAW OFFICES.—In the Judges'
Chambers, and other law offices, business is suspended
until Tlauriclay morning.