The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-15 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NA VY.

The Report of the Secretary of the Navy, the ablest
report which has been made from that Department for
many years, has been completed and submitted to the Pre-
sident. The Report is very elaborate and exhaustive, and
for the first time gives evidence of having boon framed
by accomplished naval authority. While Mr. Robeson's
ideas have been observed throughout, it is evident that
Admiral Potter's long experience and general know-
ledge of naval affairs have been employed with flat-
tering results. The Report begins by showing the pre-
sent condition Of the Navy, giving the number and class
of vessels at present under the direction of the depart-
ment, together with their names, location, character of
service, amount and nature of armament, the number of
seamen thereon, and the average expense of each vessel.
It appears that the whale number of vessels now in the
service is 200, and this number he believes to be too large
for the present requirements of the Navy, and recommends

its redaction to ISO. The Secretary seems to favour the
use of the smaller vessels, and believes there are too many
of the large class in the service, as it is not required tha
vessels of largo tonnage should be employed. lie is violently
opposed therefore to the Isherwood machinery on account of
itsgroat weight and the space it occupies, and asks authority
to dispose of the vessels of over 2,400 tonnage constructed
during the war on the Isherwood plan. Among the latter
class are the Chatignoogl at Philadelphia, the Arnim-
nooses and Virginia at Boston, tho Illinois at Portsmouth,
and the Jaca, Ontario, and Colorado at New York. He
speaks in favourable terms of the iron-clads. The report
gives much space to a comp_ rison of the Navy of the
United States with the navies of other countries; espe-
cially of France and England. The entire tonnage of the
English Navy is 5,500,000, of the United States, 4,500,000,
and of F ranee over 2,000,000. The cruising of the U. S. navy
is alluded to in praiseworthy terms, and the report shows
that the service has been of great benefit. The report
also demonstrates that in accomplishing results it is the
equal of England in that respect, and the superior of
France. Ile calls attention to the superiority of the ser-
vices of Franco and England in their regulations and dis-
cipline of the enlisted men and the provisions for their pro-
tection and comfort. This is particularly shown in allow-
ances for uniforms, rations, hospitals, pensions, bounties,
&c., which induces enlistments. It appears that at pre-
se,:t the enlistments for the navy have gradually fallen
off until a sufficient number of men cannot be obtained.

In this connection the report is very elaborate, giving the
views of the Secretary very fully on the modes of improv-
ing the service. Ile recommends an increase of the pay
of seamen and enlisted men, and also the longevity sys-

tem, whereby the pay is increased according to the length
of service. He also favours an additional allowance of
clothing and an increase of provisions. He recommends
Congressional action for the protectioa of seamen at
home and abroad from the land sharks and swindlers; and
he believes that proper officers should be elected to give
information, advice, and assistance in some of the principal
ports. Thu English system of educating boys for petty
officers meets the Secretary's approval, and he recommends
the establishment of the system in America, and that prac-
tice-ships be designated for the purpztsc. In comparing the
strength of the squadrons of that and other countries, now
in foreign waters, the Secretary sho vs that it is smaller
than that of other nations, and he warmly recommends that
the foreign squadrons be at ouca augmented by additional
vessels, especially of the iron-clads. lie argues that en
increase can be effected without increased outlay, through

the operations of a regulation, lately established, of using
canvas instead of steam as a motive power. This will
not only largely decrease the expense in labour, but also
in fuel. Such a course, if made general, will also ulti-
mately abolish most of the coal stations, now kept up at
au expense of about throe millions of dollars. The Secre-
tary refers to the subject of subsidizing lines of ocean
steamers, and favours such a course, in view of the fact that,
in case of war or any sudden emergency, the Government
would have a claim upon the vessels thus subsidized, which
would be of vital importance. In proof of this advantage,
he cites the number of vessels which might have been pro-
fitably used during the war of the rebelli•m. The navy-
yards are reported as all in good condition. The Secretary
favours the abolishment of the Philadelphia yard, and its
transfer to League Island; speaks favourably of Now
London, Connecticut, and of Port Royal, South Carolina,
as advantageous locations for navy yards, and recommends
that all the yards should be enlarged. The report also re-
commends the early completion of the ship canal across the
Isthmus of Darien, after enumerating some of its advan -

tapes. The estimated expense of the navy for the fiscal
year the Secretary places at twenty-six millions, against
twenty-seven millions last year. About seven millions of
the latter sum were returned to the Treasury from the sale
of vessels.