348 THE FARMER'S AND 



structions to foreign ambassadors and consuls ; to treat 

 with the embassadors from other powers, who reside at 

 the seat of government. 



THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY takes care of the 

 whole monetary affairs of the government. It is his duty 

 to see that the revenue is collected ; the customs properly 

 managed ; the light-house system maintained ; the avails 

 of the public lands legitimately applied, &c. He must 

 also look forward, and see that no deficiency of funds 

 takes place, and devise plans to keep up the credit and 

 resources of the nation. 



THE SECRETARY OF THE HOME DEPARTMENT attends to 

 certain portions of business heretofore transacted in the 

 State, Treasury, and War Departments ; among which, it 

 is proposed to embrace those branches connected with the 

 Patent and Land Offices, the Indian Bureau, and all other 

 matters immediately relating to internal affairs. This 

 department was created at the last session of the Thirtieth 

 Congress, and its duties have not been so clearly defined 

 as to warrant the giving of minute particulars. 



THE SECRETARY OF WAR has charge of the affairs of 

 the army, and directs its general operations. He has also 

 heretofore attended to negotiations with the Indians. 



THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY has charge of naval 

 affairs generally : such as building and equipping vessels 

 of war, planning voyages for them, and seeing that proper 

 discipline and skill are kept up throughout the navy. The 

 navy is composed of about one hundred vessels of various 

 kinds, including several war-steamers, employing some ten 

 thousand individuals, at an annual expense of nearly eight 

 millions of dollars. 



THE POSTMASTER GENERAL has the charge of the mail 

 service of the entire country, which is a most arduous 

 business. His salary is the same as that of the Secretaries 

 of Departments, six thousand dollars. The whole extent 



