of the law of Congress of February 28, 1855, “to promote the efficiency of the Navy,” has been attended by the most advantageous results.  The law for promoting discipline among the men is found convenient and salutary.  The system of granting an honorable discharge to faithful seamen on the expiration of the period of their enlistment and permitting them to reenlist after a leave of absence of a few months without cessation of pay is highly beneficial in its influence.  The apprentice system recently adopted is evidently destined to incorporate into the service a large number of our countrymen, hitherto so difficult to procure.  Several hundred American boys are now on a three years’ cruise in our national vessels and will return well-trained seamen.  In the Ordnance Department there is a decided and gratifying indication of progress, creditable to it and to the country.  The suggestions of the Secretary of the Navy in regard to further improvement in that branch of the service I commend to your favorable action.  The new frigates ordered by Congress are now afloat and two of them in active service.  They are superior models of naval architecture, and with their formidable battery add largely to public strength and security.  I concur in the views expressed by the Secretary of the Department in favor of a still further increase of our naval force.

The report of the Secretary of the Interior presents facts and views in relation to internal affairs over which the supervision of his Department extends of much interest and importance.

The aggregate sales of the public lands during the last fiscal year amount to 9,227,878 acres, for which has been received the sum of $8,821,414.  During the same period there have been located with military scrip and land warrants and for other purposes 30,100,230 acres, thus making a total aggregate of 39,328,108 acres.  On the 30th of September last surveys had been made of 16,873,699 acres, a large proportion of which is ready for market.

The suggestions in this report in regard to the complication and progressive expansion of the business of the different bureaus of the Department, to the pension system, to the colonization of Indian tribes, and the recommendations in relation to various improvements in the District of Columbia are especially commended to your consideration.

The report of the Postmaster-General presents fully the condition of that Department of the Government.  Its expenditures for the last fiscal year were $10,407,868 and its gross receipts $7,620,801, making an excess of expenditure over receipts of $2,787,046.  The deficiency of this Department is thus $744,000 greater than for the year ending June 30, 1853.  Of this deficiency $330,000 is to be attributed to the additional compensation allowed to postmasters by the act of Congress of June 22, 1854.  The mail facilities in every part of the country have been very much increased in that period, and the large addition of railroad service, amounting to 7,908 miles, has added largely to the cost of transportation.