Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-12-18

states as Tor the regular army. Indeed
'he reports from the three Departments
exhibit the Army of the United States.
not 10 the light ip which standing armies
IN tone OF peace have usually been re
garded, as drones who are consuming
the labor of others, but as a body Of
military and civil engineers, artificers
and lsboTers. who probably contribute
more than any other equal number of
citizens. not only to the security Of the
country but to the advancement Of its
useful arts.
The report of the SECRETARY OF TuE Navy
is an interesting and important document.
The Naval HospitsIs 70 bs completed in the
course OF the next year, vii be creditabIe to
The country, and useful to the Navy. The
construction Of a break water, at the mouth OF
the Delaware Bay, is commenced. The con
Germs of the Agency on the coast of Africa are
believedto be in prosperous condition. An
account is given of the sonth Sea expedition,
and the measures have been taken to further
its success.
The board of officers appointed to
examine the Navy Yards aud prepare
their plans, have executed their duties at
Norfolk, Washington, Philadelphia,
Charlestown and Portsmouth. Their
work has been examined by the Secre.
tary of the Navy, and the Board Of Ma
Wy Commissioners, and approved by the
President II these plans be well filed
up, all OF them will promote convenience
and economy some of them will exhib.
! ii establishments inferior to none ia the
world. lis probable, experience will
show that some improvements and add
tons may be made To them. which will
add to their value. Among these it is
believed that the enc at Gosport may be
rendered more important by the intro
ouction of the Water of Lake Drum
mond, either directly or indirectly from
the Lake or from the Dismal Swamp
Canal. DESTROYS to ascertain the prac-
ticahility and expense of doing it, a skill
full Engineer was requested TO make the
necessary examinations, surveys and es,
Inmates This report will be receit ed in
short Zine Should it be found prac
iicable at a moderate expense. and do
not doubt that il will be the use of that
water, for the docks, the machinery, all
the wants of the yard, and Ter watering
our ships, will be rich remuneration.
liz examining the Navy Yard at
Brooklyn, it was found tbe nature of the
soil, the confined limits, the narrowmess
of the channel; and the claims of midi
vidual landholders who aajoin il, were
such, that a plan could pct be prepared,
which promised much usefulness; and
tbas il would be especially difficult to
form, at some future period when Con-
gress should see fit to authorize it, docks
suited 20 the tuture and growing WAITS
Of the Navy in that neighborheod TIE
Board was therefore directed to omit
forming plan Of that Yard; and exami
nations were instituted for another loca-
ten. The result was unsatisfactory.
Under these circumstances, application
was made to the War Department Tor a
transfer ofsGovernor's Island, which was
believed not to be, in any respect essen
tal to the Army. This transfer being
made, the present Navy Yard, aud that
Island, will afford all the accommoda.
ton which is required. And no further
delay will take place in forming and ex'
ecuting plan which viii promote both
convenience and economy.
little further on the Secretary says
In building, equipment, aud prepare
ton of our vessels for sea, increasing
skill and economy are manifested; and
although further improvements will no
doubt, continue to be made, we have
the satisfaction OF believing that we suf-
fer no disgrace, when our vessels are
compared with those of the most mari
time and naval nations. Our Navy is
yet small in numbers, though we heps
not feeble in efficiency. Including the
vessels built and building, and for which
! provision has been made by law, there
are ships of the line, twelve; frigates
twenty; slooPs of war, sixteen, and four
scheoners. These are sufficient for the
present wants and interests of the ma
| ton; and .heir increase, to any great ex-
tent will probably not De required for
long period OF our future history. Ne
| condition, of either our commercial or
| political relations, viii permit its diminu-
| -: NJ rrnhahIn chau0a ran damand