The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-12-30
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
Abstract Of The Report Of Mfr. Branch, Secre-
tary The Navy.


tlOn, and sloop Ontario sent thlther. In
stances of insubordination have occurred in |
that fleet, causing a number of courts mar
tial, which have resulted in the suspension
or dismissal of several officers.
Commodore Elliot has succeeded Com.
Ridgely in the command of the West India
squadron. This consists of the Falmouth,
Hornet, Erie, Natchez, Grampus and Shark.
No information Of piracies has been receiv-
ed since February last. 1t is recommend |
ed to make no diminution Of the West India |
force.
Commodore Creighton is recalled from the
Brazil station and the command conferred |
on Capt. Cdssin. Mutual complaints, and |
charges have been made by officers of that |
squadron, who have been ordered home for |
inquiry and trial.
Commodore Thompson has succeeded |
Commodore Jones on the Pacific station.
The fleet consists of the frigate Guernere,
and ST. Louis and Dolphin, in lieu of the
BrGndgirine and VincenneS. Commodore
Jones returns to the United States by way
of the Sandwich Islands and Cape of Good
Hope. No diminution of force is recon-
mended on this station.
The ships of war in ordinary, j. e. not in
actual service. are in state of premature
and rapid decay. " Within the .feiO last
gears the vessels on the stocks" have been
allowed TO remain secured by sheds. The
policy of cutting down timber and building
ships to go to such decay, is disapproved ;
and it is recommended to repair the ships in
ordinary and establish police for their
preservation. 1t is proposed to alter the
term of service for seamen, so that they
may in all cases be paid off and discharged
at home and not in any instance in foreign
countries; to establish naval schools for
instruction of officers, particularly in foreign
languages, as great Inconvenience and loss
are experienced from their deficiency in
this respect.
The Dry Tortugas" has been examined,
and recommended as "A naval rendezvous
and depot by Commodore Rodgers, and is
now being surveyed by Lieutenants Tattnall
and Gedney.
Our live oak timber is much DESTROYED nv
foreigners and depredators. The agents
appointed to preserve it having failed to eff
feet the object, their discontinuance is rec
commended, and the employment of marine
force suited to the purpose. Experiments
are being made by Commodore Elliot upon
cotton canvass and corddge, which have been
highly recommended to the department.
The equalization of the pay of Navy with
that of Army officers, fixing the same, and
abolishing the system of ertra pay are re-
commended.
The number of Navy Yards is stated to
be too great, and the reduction of them TO
tac0 or three is recommended. They are
now seren in number. revision of the
marine corps, new arrangement of the
duties of the Navy Commissioners, and
general "prnning" of all the officers, and
eradication of suckers" which has not
been done since 1901, are the concluding
propositions of this document, which consists
in the original of four columns.
Boston Journal
ABSTRACT ofthe Annual Report orthe Seeretar,
ofWar.
The punishment of death for desertion in
time of peace, is thought to be too severe.
and the institution of some other, which
may be uniformly inflicted, is proposed.
The enlistment of recruits in a state of
intoxication has been forbidden, and it is
recommended that the bounty to recruits
be discontinued, and the same amount he
applied to increase their pay after enlist
ment and service. The question of brevet
rank has been settled; but there are still
1iinculties IN regard to brevet pay, which
Congress Is requested to remove
Our Army Officers, especially on the from
Ec-S. are required TO execute various trusts
under the laws, and are frequently sued for
damages, and courts and iuries decide
. against them. Mr.. Eaton proposes that an
these cases should be placed IN the ercIlsire
jurisdiction Of "the Supreme Court" ,cithout
regard to the amount in controversy. The
annual interest on the fund of the Seneca
Indians in the hands of the Government. is.
nj 8 per cent. 1.-THE rate agreed upon,) 1900
and odd dollars, but, says Mr.. Eaten, $4,000
year have been paid to them, until he
stopped IT, as contrary to law. He asks
Congress to determine the point. There
was not money enough appropriated to paw
the Revolutionary and invalid pensioners
this year; and the U. s. Bank, through Mr..
Biddle, advanced so much as was necessary.
An early appropriation for this object is
asked. rule adopted by the late Secre-
tary of War, to admit to pension persons
having not more than $3.50 property. is
condemned as illegal, and as likely to have
increased the pensioners far beyond the
appropriations for them. 1t was revoked
10 March. The invalid pensioners have
been, ns Mr. Bat0n thinks, too much in
creased, by looseness in the rules of admis-
sion. The Revolutionary are I2,2O4, of
whom 400 have died: the invalid 1894 of
whom Al have died. Cantonments Towson
on Red River, and Leavenworth at the
mouth Of La Plata, have been abandoned
and some of the companies employed to pro-
tect the Santa Fe Caravan, who have this
year brought home 100000 in gold and
silver. The Report concludes by proposing
the removal Of the Indians to territory to
be assigned and secured to them beyond the
Mississippi. Mr.. Eaton says that the States
"wIll not consent to have their limits occu-
pied by savage people, who claim to exer-
else the right of government"
The Engineer corps is highly commended,
especially ia connexion with the internal