Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-17
REi,ORT OF TIE SECRErAlVY OF II
NAVY
NAVY DxpAsrMEN'r. 7


bcelr kept IN actve'servcc during the present. year
has been composed of the different Squadrons en-
poyoJ in cruising on The stations heretofore assigned
them.
The squadron. IN the Mediterranean has been con
tinued in tnt service, with the exception of the Del
aware II gun ship, aud the schooner Porpoise which
have been Withdrawn, the latter having bcrn repre-
sentcd by the commanding officer TO require extensive
repairs The return of The Delaware was decided
onu,de belief that epresen.state ofuur political
mil commercial relations in the Mediterranean did
mt reonr The employment of ship of this class in
thn. sea: tat al the necessary protection could be
giycu to orr commerce by trigates and smaller
sells that these promised to he efficient, il the
pursui, and "a pturc OF such vessels might be
pcctcd to assui it. and less liable to suffer from
the dangers of the Mediterranean navigation. The
Constellation tigate and the Sloop Ontario were ac-
curdinn!y ordered to Join the squadron; the former
conveying to England and France the newly appuin-
ted Ministers to those countries. Information has
bcen r. ccivud of he favourable execution of those
duties Our ministers have been landed at their re-
spectre points OF destination; and these vessels 1t is
nr,sumd have before this assumed their stations i'm
the Mediterranean squadron
Ii is to be regretted that instances of inSuburdna
ton have been manifested among the officers of this
squadron. Cours martial have been necessarily re
sorted to- and Ofthe refractory have been SEN
fenced to temporary and others to pcrmancnent dis
missal from the service l. gratifying on tho OF H.
er hand to know, from au horitv entitled to CON.
dence that the general conduct ofthe officers OF this
squadron has been such as 70 preserve among the
BdrDuFV tlp
favourable opinion OF the American character winch
had been earned by the gailanry and honorable de
portment of their predecessors.
The naval force under the command of Commodore
Rldgcly, ana ordered TO cruise the West Indian
station, consisted IN the early part of the year of
the sloops Falmouth Hornet, Erie, and Nutchez and
the schooners Grampus ana Shark
Several acts ofpiracy having been reported TO have
been committed i'll the month of FEBRUARY last, tho
Natchez, which had returned to the United SUES
for repairs was ordered tO join the squadron. AT
ter cruising few weeks, aud there beinu no reason
80 appTchend a of these drprelatIons a.
gam returned TO The United Suites and has simon
sailed to Colombia, taking Mr.. Moore, the Uuitod
Sa, S Minister & that Gov, rnment whence she v,.s
ordered tn proceed to Rio Jaucro to convey to the
United States Commodore Creighton, whose com
fnand had been transferred to Commo lore Cussn =
This vessel was also required to afford passage to
Mr.. Harrison, the late Minister TO COLOMBIA ON bi
return to the United States.
The recent invasion ofthe maritime frontier ofiIo
Mexican States by the forces Of Spain having led 10
apprchenslons thai our CONNIE &C., in that 9uarter
might suffer by the encroachmcnts which hcl,rsr
en's are so ready TO make on neutral, unprotected
rights, the Peacock was equipped, g. taking out Com
mOdore Elliott :" relieve Commodore Ride-iv ,,os
,ori, 10 ar to the seen, of these r,newcd hoo
tites TIE Erie, which had also returned for re-
plios, sailed soon after TO reioin this squadron
1t is due to the late Commander Cor,r,oio
Rdgely, to say, hat, as far as the means had b "
iordcd him, he has kept his little squadron emnlad
with vigilance AID activity, and on a late occnsinn
that has been gallanty demons: ID at TamDjco II
the firm and prompt course pursued bv Masfcr O.,
mnndant Norris in the rescue of the Dronarfy of ~
Of our countrymen frsm the grasp OF unjust no,vcr
For the last few Inonths, except in the case ,ust
referred to, no information has been given to this
ID ipartment OF any new act of piracy or ap0resson
the commercial rights of the nation; but iforo
be no donbt, that relaxation in the policy la,aI,,
pursued, would be followed by an immediate rnno.i
ton of these deprcdationS.
The squadron the coast Of Brazil and p,oros
Ayres has been maintained TO ITS uslIal evtcn, mi
mas been varied only by the interchange of roI;of
ships for those which had performed the ordinary
routine oil duty The presence OF this squadron
small as has been, has probably obtained for the
commercial interests four country, security which
would not have been granted to dcc,ncelcss mo-
chantmen. Peace having taken place between the q
two nations, nothing is TO be dreaded bv orr mo,
chant ships, from an Interference with bclIocron,
privileges. Yet many reasons forbid the dininution
OF our nasal force on these coasts The aonuaii, IN
creaslng commercial intercourse between tho Tf,,od
States and these countries, calls upon Tho couo,,
incnt to be- prepared 10 multiply the means of ;,e ~
lection. Many complaints have been made h., rnr
tam officers OF this squadron against each otbc- "a
oppression the one side, and of insnborj;a,' ~;
and neglect of duty the other The nn,,; L
glng each other have been ordered TO reno;r q, IL
United States. Immediately after their ra,rr, '".
tribunal VIII be established to investigate these con-
plants, and to render justice alike to tho orrrosSo
and the aggrevcd. - ''
The squadron on the Pacific coast of Soptb AM.
la consists of the frgate Guerrero. the sloon &,
LOUIS ana the schooner Dolphin No chances have
been made IN the (OTCe Of this soundror -
DIRE Thompson has succeeded Commodore lone :,
the command and the Guerrero and 81. Louis h,r"
taken the places of the Brandvwinc and Vinccnnc,
ComnOdoTe Jones has returned to the United S,,ic,
IN the former, and tie latter acting undr ordors
RON Ihe late executive uor touching ut the Friend
y NM 'oanGwlch Islands viii return by. the wav ot
The Cape OF Good Hope. No inf,ruy,ion b. "
presented to me Department inducing belief ,L,t
an increase Of this force necessary; thongb Jort
-fcss' good policy Drbid5 that opv ,,,-t; . y ~,
Withdrawn. Annexed is n sfofsru,nt -, W. - NC
showing the disposition Of the public vessels no, IN
inc report Of the Commissioners Of r.o ~.
which Is herewith Transmitted marked !, -'"Fy
sJi, Yemen, q" 'hanulnbcr Of shipz of vyar -,
,,iat I'm 'hcn present condition, and tho ,n,t
Tii.oi WI " requredto fl them for service CL
shIps are represented TO be- IN a STATE ~ w.. n'Sc
and rapid decay, and when the inanne, ~; PnIhaIufc
oscn disposed o. at the stations is consiercj
TINS ceases To be- matter Of surprise h,,,, u
vGrn may DC OF regret II has been the nTal,,"o
when ships OF war were to be laid up in
lfnNr undo fI.... V