Office of Commissioner of Customs, November 22, 1861.

SIR: In transmitting the usual report of the business transactions of this office for the past year, I avail myself of the occasion to renew the suggestions heretofore made to your predecessors, in relation to the approval of the official bonds of collectors, naval officers, and surveyors. The approval of these bonds by the Comptroller, instead of the Commissioner of Customs, under the construction given to the 12th section of the act of the 3d of March, 1849, occasions inconvenience and delay in the business of the office, is unusual in analogous cases, and, in my opinion, unnecessary; and I apprehend no good reason exists for separating that duty from all others connected with those bonds and the transactions under them. I entirely concur in the views presented on this subject by the late Commissioner, in his report of the 20th of November, 1858, to which I would respectfully invite your attention, and hope you may find it consistent with your views of the law to direct that duty to be performed hereafter by the Commissioner, or if not, that you may deem it expedient to recommend to Congress such a modification of the 1st section of the act of 2d of March, 1799, as may effect that object.

The number of accounts of collectors of the customs, and of surveyors desig. nated as collectors, received and finally settled in this office during the year, amounts to two thousand and ninety-three.

Accounts relating to the superintendence and construction of light-houses, beacons, buoys, marine hospitals, and custom-houses, and for other miscellaneous purposes, amount to one thousand one hundred and twenty-one.

The number of bonds taken from collectors, naval officers, &c., and the notices issued thereon, amount to two hundred and sixty-six.

In disposing of this amount of business, with other matters referred by the department, four thousand eight hundred and sixty-four letters have been sent from, and three thousand two hundred and twenty received at this office.

The accounts of collectors and disbursing agents who have retired from office since the 4th of March, 1861, have, with few exceptions, been finally closed on the books of the treasury, and every exertion is being made to effect a satisfactory adjustment of the remainder at an early day.

The business of the office is in a highly satisfactory condition, and it gives me pleasure to say that the gentlemen employed in the execution of it have performed their duties with ability, promptness, and fidelity.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. FERAU,

Acting Commissioner of Customs.

Hon. S. P. CHASE,

Secretary of the Treasury.

No. 12.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

Office Light-house Board, November 26, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor, respectfully, to submit for your information and for that of Congress the report of the operations of the light-house establishment for the last fiscal year ending June 30, 1861.

At the date of the last annual report from this board for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860, it appears that there were 425 light-houses and lighted beacons on the entire coasts of the United States.

The number of light-vessels had been reduced during the year from 53 to 47, six screw pile light-houses having been erected as substitutes, in conformity to the act of Congress, making an aggregate of 472 light stations, some of which are double lights, and one having three lights for distinction.

The total number of buoys, beacons, and day-marks was upwards of 4,500. On the 18th of December, 1860, the light-house inspector at Charleston, South Carolina, (Commander T. T. Hunter, United States navy,) addressed a letter to this board stating that he had reason to believe, from a conversation he had had with Mr. Colcock, the collector of the port, that he would tender his resignation as soon as South Carolina passed her ordinance of secession, and that if required to do so he would turn over all the public property in his possession to the State authorities. The inspector asked for orders in regard to the public property in his charge within the limits of the State of South Carolina.

This letter was submitted to the then Secretary of the Treasury, who, on the 24th of the same month, replied that "the law holds that officer (the light-house inspector) accountable for all the public property and moneys under his charge as inspector of the light-house district," and "under the present condition of things the department cannot issue instructions in regard to the matter.” * * * On the 28th of December the inspector reports by telegraph, followed by a