The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-12-15

HAFs4 daring $50 re3sa4sRE tAfee
qsaittrs 81 tbere s4aus8 ba 30 Fadae.
t0a q gle armg rsking lss ageTs ate
c1a ~ ies yeaf ceas2ffab "a excess
g umay-ibrse mHicns TIE differ
suee befHeea TIE estimate and erpea
ataH ~ le aFee last fiscal years
which base been uaaed Is thas shown
10 L. tl7d. as y83 ~ this single branch
q tie public service
TAXA MFl hNB IT'S E14Eu-
Tbs report II tho Secretary VI the
Navy exhibits Use operations 81 that de-
partment and 81 tho naYy during the
year. A caps3eraule reduction q The
force has bseu effected There are for.
ty-t4o vessels. carrying t8ur hundred
ard eleven guns 10 81 squslruus which
are established ID different ports % The
world Three q these vessels are re-
turning 10 ihs United States, and four
arc used a. st1fcships, leaving the ae-
tuai cruising force tAGyive vessels.
earring three hundred and hliy-siX
guns The total number u vessels lu
thennvy j. two hundred and SIX mount
ing seventeen hundred and forty-thrce
gdns Elghty-one vessels Of every de-
srrlptlon are ID use, and armed with
six hundred and nineiy-six guns The
number q enlisted men 10 the service,
including apprentices, has been rcduc-
ga 70 6.500 An increase " navy yard
facilities is recommended, AS a measure
which will, IN the event Of war, bo pro-
motive 81 economy and security. 4
mors thorough and systematic survey
Of the North Pacific Ocean II advised
in Yicw q or recent acquisitions, our
expanding commerce, and the increas-
ing intercourse between the Pacific
States and Asia. The naval pension
fund, which consists Of a moiety Of the
avalls Of prizes which were captured
during the war amounts 10 $l4000,-
600 Exception is taken TO the act Of
tao 23rd Of July last, which reduces
the interest on the fund loaned 10 the
government, by the Secretary, as trus-
tee, TO three per cent instead Of six per
cent, which was originally stipulated
when the investment was made. An
amendment Of the pension laws is sug-
cested 10 remedy omissions and defects
ia existing enactments. The expendi.
lures Of the department during the last
fiscal year were $50 20,39l, and the
estimate for the coming year amounts
TO $20,993.4l4
the Posr-oFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The Postmaster General report fur
uishes a full and clear exhibit of the
operations and condition Of the postal
service, The ordinary postal revenue
for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1863, was 81, 292, 600, and the total
expenditures embracing all the ser
vice for which special appropriations
have been mnde by Congress amount
ed to $22, 73O, sos, showing an excess Of
expenditures Of SO, 437 ,99l. Deductiug
from the expenditures the sum Of ST.
500, sos, the amount Of appropriations
for ocean steamship and other special
service, the excess Of expenditure was
$4,54l, 45G, BY using an unexpended
balance in the treasury Of $500, 900,
the actual sum for which a special APP
preparation ia required to meet the de.
ficiency is $74l ,456 The causes which
produced this large excess Of eXpendi-
lures over revenue, were the restora-
ton Of service in the late insurgent
states, and the putting in operation Of
sea service established by acts of Con-
gress, which amounted within the last
two years and half TO about AS 700
miles, equal TO more than one-third Of
the whole amount OF the service at the
close OF the war. The new postal con-
ventions with Great Britain, North
Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Switzerland and Italy, respectively,
have been carried into effect. Under
their provisions, important improve
meuts have resulted IN reduced rates Of
international postage and enlarged mail
facilities with European countries
The cost of the United States trans-At-
laHtic mail service since January lst,
1861, has been largely lessened under
the operation Of these new conventions,
a reduction Of over one-half having
been effected under the new arrange
ments for ocean mail steamers service,
which went into effect on that date. -
The attention Of Congress is invited to
the practical suggestions and Iecom-
meudations made in his report by the
postmaster general No important
question has occurred during the last
year in our accustomed cordial and
IN st,f
Guatemala, Honduras, San Salvador
France, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland
Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark
Sweden and Norway, Rome, Greece,
Turkey, Prussia, Egypt, Liberia, Mo-
rocco, Tripoli, Tunis, Muscat, Siam,
Borneo aud Madagascar Cordial rela-
tlons have also been maintained with
Argentine aud the Oriental republics
ORR RELATIONS WITH PARAGUAY
The expressed wish Of Congress that
our national good Offices might be ten
dered to those republics, and also to
Brazil and Paraguay, for bringing TO an
end the calamitous war which has 80
long been raging in the valley Of the La
Plata, has been asslduously complied
with ard kindly acknowledged By al
the beligerents That important nego-
tiation, however, has hus far been with
cut result Charles A. Washburn, late
United States Minister to Paraguay,
having resigned, and being DESTROYS TO
return to the United States, the Rear
Admiral commanding the South Allan
TIC squadron was early directed to send
a ship 81 war 70 ASCENSION, the capital