Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-12-05


Navy, which is new communicated,
furnishes an account of the administra-
ticr of that Department for the three
FIRST quarters of the present year, with
the progress made in augmenting the
NAVY. and the manner in which the
vessels ia commission have been en-
ployed.
The usual force has been maintain
ed in the Mediterranean Sea, The Pa.
cific Ocean, and along the Atlantic
Coast, and has afforded the necessary
protection to our commerce in these
seas.
In the West Indies and the Gulf
OF Mexico, our naval force has been
augmented, by the addition Of several
small vessels, provided for by The sac,
authorizing an additional naval force
for the suppression of piracy" passed
by Congress at their last session. -
That armament has been eminently
successful in the accomplishment offs
object. The piracies, by which our
commerce in the neighborhood of the
Island of Cuba had been 4fflIeted have
been depressed and the confidence Of
our merchants in great measuare re-
stored.
The patriotic zeal and enterprise of
Commodore Porter to whom the com
mand Of the expedition was coniided,
has been fully seconded by the officers
and men, under his command. And,
in rejecting, with high satisfaction on
the honorable manner in which they
have sustained the reputation of their
country aud IFS navy, the sentiment is
alloyed only by a concern, that in the
fulfiimcnt Of that srduous service, tht
diseases. incident 10 the season, and to
the CLIMATE in whichii was discharged,
have deprived the nation of many use
full lives. and among them cf several
officers Of great promise.
IL the month oil August very ma
lignant fever made lis appearance at
Thompson's Island, which threatened
the destruction of our station there
Many persisted, and the commanding
officer was severely attacked. Uu
certain as to bis fate, and knowing thai
mos, of the medical officers had been
rendered incapable of discharging
their duties, it was thought expedient
to send to that post an officer Of rank
and experience, with several skilfui
surgeons to ascertain the origin Of The
fever and the probability OF its recur
renee there 10 future seasons; 10 fur
nish every assistance to those were suf.
fering, aud, il practicable, to avoid
the necessity of abandoning SO impor.
tant station Before his arrival, Com
modore Porter, with the greater part
ofthe squadron, had removed fromthe
island, and returned to the U. States
in consequence of the prevailing sick
ness. Much useful information has
however been obtained, as 10 the state
of.he island, and great relief Afforded
to those who had been necessarily left
there.
Although our expenditures, co-opera-
ting with an inyigcrated administration
of the government Of the island Of Gu
ia, and with the corresponding active
exertions Of a British naval force in the
same sea have almost entirely destroyed
the unlicensed piraces from that island,
the success of our exertions has not
been equally efectual to suppress the
same crime, under other pretences and
colors, in the neighboring island of Por-
to Rico. They have hsen committed
there under the abusive issue OF Span
ish commissions. ~ an early period of
the present year, demonstrates were
made TO the government Of that isians,
b. an agent who was sent for the pur-
pose, against those outrages on the
peaceful commerce of the T. States, Of
which many had occurred. That officer,
prsfessing his own want OF authority to
make satisfaction for our just complaints,
answered only by reference OF them to
the government Of SPAN. The minister
of the Z States TO that court was speci-
ally instructed to urge the necessity OF
immediate and eftectual interposition of
that government, directing restitution
and indemnity for wrongs already COM
mitted, and iuterdicting tho repetition
of them. The minister, as has been
seen, was debarred access 20 the Span
ish government, and in the mean time,
several new cases of fragrant outrage
have occurred, and citizens Of the u. 3.
in the island of Porto Rico have suffer-
ed, and others have been threatened
with assassination for asserting their un-