HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 101 officers, orders for the enlistment and discharge of seamen, emanate from the Secretary’s office. All the duties of the different bureaus are per formed under the authority of the Secretary, and their orders are considered as emanating from him. The general superintendence of the marine corps forms, also, a part of the duties of the Secretary, and all the orders of the commandant of that corps should be approved by him. Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks.—Commo dore, chief of the bureau, four clerks, one civil engineer, and one draughtsman. All the navy- yards, docks and wharves, buildings and machine ry in navy-yards, and everything immediately connected with them, are under the superinten dence of this bureau. It is also charged with the management of the Naval Asylum. Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Re pair.—Chief of the bureau, eight clerks, and one draughtsman. The office of the engineer-in-chief of the navy, is attached to this bureau, who is assisted by three assistant engineers. This bu reau lias charge of the building and repairs of all vessols-of-war, purchase of materials, and the providing of all vessels with their equipments, as sails, anchors, water-tanks, &c. The engineer- in-chief superintends the construction of all ma-