The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-12-09


have sustained the reputation or their countr,
and its navy. the sentiment j. aiioyed oniy ~
a concern, that, 10 the fultIment or thar ardu-
Gus seffics, the disease incident 10 the season.
and 10 the climate ID which IL was discharg-
ed, have deprived the nation Of many useful
lives. and among them 0f several officers ~
great promise.
In the month Of August avery malignant e.
yer made its appearance at Thompsonk Island,
which threatened the destruction VI our sta
ton there. Many perished, and the com
manding officer was severely attacked. In
certain a. t. bis fate, and knowing that most
ofthe MEDICAL officers bad been rendered 10
capable Of dischsrging their dHtles, II was
thought expedient 20 send 10 that post al Of
hcer Of rank and experience, WITH several
skilful surgeons, TO ascertain the origin Of the
fever, and the probability Of its recurrence
there 10 future seasons. to furnish every assis-
lance to those who were suffering, and If prac-
ticable 10 avoid the necessity OF abandoning
50 important station. Commodore Rodgers,
with a promptitude which did him honor,
cheerfuily accepted that trust. and has dis
charged il In a manner anticipated from bis
skill and patriotism. Before BIS arrival, Com
modore Porter, with the greater part Of the
squadron, had removed from the Island, and
returned to the United States, in Consequence
Of the prevailing sickness. Much useful TO-
formation has however been obtained, as to
the state Of the Island, and great relief af-
forded to those who had been necessarily left
there.
Although our expedition, cooperating with
an invigorated administration of the govern
Inent Of the Island Of Cuba, aud with the cor
responding active exertions Of British naval
force in the same seas, have almost entirely
destroyed the unlicensed piracies 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 neighbouring island Of Porto Rico. They
have been committed there under the abusive
issue of Spanish commissions. At an early
period of the present year, circumstances
we're made to the Governor Of that island, by
an agent, who was sent for the purpose, a.
gainst those outrages on the peaceful COM
MERGE Of the United States, Of which many
had occurred. That officer protesting his
own vast Of authority TO make satisfaction for
our just complaints, answered only by refer
ence Of them 10 the government Of Spain
The minister Of the United States to that court
was especially instructed 10 urge the necessi-
ty Of the immediate and efectual interpositien
o that government, directing restitution and
indemnity for wrongs already committed and
IInterdicting the repetition of them. The min
ister, as mas been seen, was declared access
to the Spanish Government, aud IN tue mean
time, several new cases Of hagrant outrage
have occurred, aud citizens OF the l.. States
10 the island Of Porto Rico have suffered, ana
Others been threatened with assassination, for
asserting their rights, even before the lawful
tribunal Of the country.
II is a source Of great satisfaction, that we
are always enabled to recur 10 the conduct Of
our navy with pride and commentator. As
a meansof national defence, il enjoys the pub
lie confidence, and Is steadily assuming addi-
tional Importance. 1t is submitted whether a
more Efficient and equally economical organi-
cation of il might not, in several respects, be
effected. 1t is supposed that higher grades,
than now exist by law, would be useful. They
would afford we'll merited rewards to those
who have long aud faithfully served their
country present the best incentives 10 good
conduct, and the best means of ensurIng a
proper discipline destroy the inequality il
that respect between the military and naval
services, and relieve our officers from MANY
inconVeniences and notifications which &C
Cur when our vessels meet those of other ma
tions-ours being the only service in which
such grades do not exist.
A report Of the Postmaster General, which
accompanies this communication, will shew
the present state Of the Post Office Depart
ment, and its general operations for some
years past
There are established by law eighty eight
thousand six hundred miles Of post roads, on
which the mail is now transported eighty
i've thousand seven hundred miles; and CON
tracts have been made for its TRANSPORTATION
on all the established routes, with one or two
exceptions. There are five thousand two
hundred and forty post offices in the Union.
and as many post masters. The gross amount
of postage which accrued from the first of Ju-
iy, 1922, to the first Of July, 1928, was one
million one hundred and fourteen thousand
three hundred and foTty-fve dollars & twelve
cents. During the same period, the expendi-
lures of the Post Office Department amount
ed TO one million one hundred and sixty nine
thousand eight hundred aud eighty FIVE dollars
and nifty one cents and consisted Of the fol-
owing items compensation to postmasters,
three hundred and fifty three thousand nine
hundred and ninety FIVE dollars and ninety
eight cents; incidental expenses, thirty thou
sand eight hundred and sixty six dollars and
thirty seven cents; transportation of the mail,
seven hundred and eighty four thousand *
hundred dollars aud eight cents; payments
into the treasury four hundred ana fwanfv
three dollars and eight cents. Ga the frs
of july last, there asdue to the Department.
from Postnasters, one hundred and thirty five
thousand two hundred and forty five dollars
and twenty eight cents; from late postmas-
ters and contractors, two hundred and fifty six
thousand seven hundred and forty nine dollars
and thirty one cents; making total amount
of balances due TO the Department, Of three
hundred aud ninety one thousand nine hun
dred and ninety four dollars and fifty nine
cents. These balances embrace all delin-
Quencies OF postmaster and contractors. whick