The Litchfield County post., 1829-01-08

importance of the expedition in all its as- poets, and especially in its commercial re- latiOns, has augmented in the view of the department, by all the inquiries and inves- tigations which have been made.
 The surveys directed to be made, to as- 1 certain the practical facilities of Charles town, Beaufort, Savannah, and Brunswick, k, for naval purposes, are completed. All these harbors may, at times, in the future progress of our country, afford protection 1 and comfort to a portion of our cruising vessels; but they arc not believed to be places where large naval establishments can advantageously be made. Nor is it believed that it would be wise to increase the number of those establishments which we now have.
 The board of officers appointed to exa- mine the Navy Yards and prepare these plans, have executed their duties, at Nor folk, Baltimore, Washington, PhiladeI- phia, Charlestown, ,and Portsmouth. Their work has been examined by the Secretary of the Navy, ,and the Board of Navy Com nlIssoners, ,and approved by the President. If these plans be well filled up, all of them will promote convenience and economy {; some of them will exhibit establishments inferior to none in the world. The exam- ination ofthe Navy Yard at Brooklyn, was unsatisfactory and Governors Island has been transferred for the purposes desired. The improvements at the Navy Yard at Pensacola have not progressed rapidly, ,but proper plans are soon to be made.
 In the building and preparation of ves- sels for sea increasing skill and economy are manifested. 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 schooners. These are sufficient for the wants and interests of the nation. No probable change can de- mand large augmentation. Under wise and efficient administration, our coasts and the commercial interests may always be protected by an active force, not much be- yond 15 ships of the line, 2O# frigates, 90 sloops and smaller vessels, and 10 or 12 steam batterIes. The calls of the Navy consist of law for its organization law for its government, containing a criminal code, as substitute for that now in force law establishing naval school and a revised body of rules and regulations.
 The organization of the disbursing De- partment may be considered good. Pira- cies in the Mediterranean have been di- unfinished still the squad:oE there should be continued. Peace has generally pre- vailed among the nations on the western coast of South America: and no incident has occurred there worthy of particular no- tice. Our commerce is not molested upon the ocean. There are no publick vessels to interrupt or annoy it. Piracy has been suppressed in the West Indies. The continuance of the war until very recently between Brazil and Buenos Ayres and the system adopted by the former in sustaining their blockades, by force, at 1 times, inadequate to the object: have giv- en unceasing employment to our naval for ces in the neighborhood of those nations. Both in enlis,ing and discharging seamen the usual difficulties have been found. The ordinary length of our cruises is three or four years: but in consequence ofthe slow manner in which they are enlisted, it is im- practicable to send vessel, especially a large one to sea manned with those who all have three years to serve.
 The marine corps remains in the condi- ton in which former reports represented it. The amount of pay estimated is grea- ter than it was last year, which arises from the laws increasing the pay of surgeons, x surgeons mates: and from the number of passed midshipmen.
 In closing the report,the Secretary calls the attention of Congress to a survey of the coast; an organization both of the Ma " and Marine Corps criminal code a naval school; a change in the form, not the substance, of the appropriation suitable provision for Naval hos pitals: an increase of rank; passage across the isthmus to the Pacific; and system for forming and educating American seamen sufficient for our wants.
 TwENT1ETEF CoNGRESS.