The following officers are allowed to send and to reeive their letters and packets free of postage:

Every post master, provided each of his letters or packets do not exceed half an ounce in weight; every member of congress, provided each letter or pamphlet, (except documents printed by order of congress,) do not exceed two ounces in weight, during their attendance in any session of congress, and sixty days before and after such session; and all the civil officers at the seat of government: and each may receive newspapers free of postage, provided that no post master shall receive, free of postage, more than one daily newspaper, or what is equivalent thereto; nor shall members of congress receive newspapers, free of postage, after their privilege of franking shall have ceased. To frank, means to exempt a letter or packet from postage. The person entitled to this privilege, writes on the outside of the letter or packet, his name and office; and the same is sent free.

Every printer of a newspaper may send one newspaper to every other printer of a newspaper, free of post

age.

At the end of every quarter, every post master is required to publish in a newspaper, at or nearest the place of his residence, for three successive weeks, a list of all the letters remaining in his office, or shall cause a number of such lists to be posted up, in his vicinity; and at the expiration of the next three months, shall send such of the said letters as then remain on hand, as dead letters, to the general post office, where they shall be opened and examined; and such of them as shall be found to contain any matter of value, are returned to the writers thereof.

How are

Under what restrictions? What other persons receive newspapers free? Huw, and when, are letters advertised? dead letters disposed of? What commission do post masters re

Post masters are allowed, as a compensation for their services, a commission on letter postages by them received, not exceeding the following several rates on the amount received in one quarter:

On a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, thirty per

cent.:

On any sum over and above the first hundred dollars, and not exceeding four hundred, twenty-five per cent. :

On any sum over and above the first four hundred dollars, and not exceeding two thousand four hundred, twenty per cent.:

On any sum over and above the first two thousand four hundred dollars, eight per cent. :

On moneys received for the postage of newspapers, magazines and pamphlets, a commission of fifty per cent. :

Post masters whose compensation does not exceed five hundred dollars a quarter, are allowed two cents for every free letter delivered out of their offices. Whenever the yearly emoluments of any post master exceed two thousand dollars, over and above all the expenditures incident to his office, the surplus shall be paid over to the department.

The post master general renders to the secretary of the treasury, a quarterly account of all the receipts and expenditures in his department. And returns are in like manner made to the post master general, by all the depu ty post masters. The salary of the post master general is three thousand five hundred dollars a year.

ceive on moneys collected by them, for their compensation? To whom, and when, does the post master general render accounts! When, and to whom, do the deputy post masters make returns? What is the post master general's salary?

Attorney General. The act of 24th September, 1789, provides for the appointment of a meet person, learned in the law, to act as attorney general of the United States. who shall be sworn to a faithful execution of his office. His duty is to prosecute and conduct all suits in the supreme court, in which the United States shall be concerned, and give his advice upon questions of law, when required by the president, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments. His salary is three thousand five hundred dollars a year.

An

Executive Officers abroad. It is the practice of each civilized nation, to send one of its citizens, in time of peace, to reside at the scat of government of other nations. A person thus sent, is sometimes called ambassador. Ambassadors are either ordinary, or extraordinary. ambassador extraordinary, is, a person sent on some particular occasion, and who retires as soon as the affair on which he was sent is despatched. An ambassador in ordinary, is one who constantly resides at a foreign court, to maintain a good understanding, and to look to the interests of his prince or nation.

The agent sent by the United States to reside at a foreign court, is generally called minister. He is the representative of the government to which he belongs; and his duties depend on the instructions given him. Ministers of the United States are allowed nine thousand dollars a year for their personal services and expenses. charge des affaires, (French,) meaning charge of affairs, is an agent of the United States, of an inferior grade, sent abroad, charged with the management of the affairs of his nation. He is allowed for his services and experes, four

A

What are the duties of the attorney general? What is his salary? What are ambassadors? Where do they reside? What are their duties? What are the names of the different foreign agents of the W.

thousand five hundred dollars a year.

But the president may allow to a minister or charge des affaires, on going out of the United States, in addition to his salary, an outfit, equal in amount to one year's full salary.

Consuls are commercial agents residing in foreign seaports. Their duties are various. They receive the protests or declarations which captains, passengers, and merchants, citizens of the United States, may make there. They dispose of the personal estate left by citizens of the United States, who die within their consulates, leaving no legal representative, or partner in trade, to take care of their effects. They receive the registers, sea letters, or passports, of masters of United States' vessels arriving at the port where they reside. Their business is to render any assistance which merchants or ship masters of their own country may need; and they grant all certificates required by commercial regulations, or by treaty. Consuls are either paid a salary, or depend on fees fixed by law for each of the several duties they are required to perform.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Of the Judicial Power.

THE judicial power is that branch of the government, to which the administration of justice, and the interpretation of the constitution and the laws, are entrusted; and no government can be complete, without such a distinct

States? What are the duties of a minister? Of a charges des affaiers? Of a consul? What are their respective salaries?

and independent department. Without this power, a constitution could not be carried into effect; and yet, to vest the power of interpreting and applying the laws, together with the power of making and executing them, in a single man or body of men, would constitute an absolute despotism, subject to no restraint but that of brute force.

The constitution declares, that "the judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts, as the congress may, from time to time, ordain and establish. The judges both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior; and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office."

In organizing the judicial department, it was deemed ot the first importance to render the judges independent. To secure this object, provision has been made, (1.) in the mode prescribed by the constitution for their appointment. To fulfil the duties of the judicial office, men should be selected of the most inflexible justice, who could not be swerved from a faithful discharge of their duties, by considerations of fear or favor. But as the qualities requisite for this office are not the most popular, men possessing those qualities would probably too often fail to secure an election resting on universal suffrage. Their appointment was therefore vested in the executive and the senate. The independence of the jurors is secured, (2.) by the duration of their offices; which is, in effect, for life, unless sooner removed on impeachment for official delinquency. This is esteemed one of the most valuable

What is meant by the judicial power of the government? Why is this power necessary? What is particularly important in constituting the judiciary? What provisions are made by the constitution, to secure the independence of the judges? Why is not the