Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-17
REPORT OF" TUE SECRETARY pF T.iE
NAVY.
Navy DsPARrmE vt. /

has been composed OF the different Squairnns EN-
royed i'll cruising the stations heretofore assigned
them.
The squadron in the Mediterranean has bee, con
tihuei i'll that service, with the exception of the Del
:. gun ship. andthe schooner Po,poSe which
have been withiraw the latter having BEEN repre-
scented by the commanding officer to require esve
repairs. The return of The Delaware was decided
undo belief that the presenttat ofour political
and commercial relations in the Mediterranean did
not requir the employment of ship of this class il,
that sea- that all the necessary protection could he
gwen to our commerce by trgaies and smaller YES
srls; TINT these promised to be efficient IN the
pursuit aud capture OF such vessels might be cx
pccte to assail it, and less liable to suffer from,
the dangers of the Mediterranean navigation The
Cniscllai n frigate and the Soop Ontario were ac-
CurinIly ordered to join the squadron; the former
conveying to England and France the newly appon-
ted Ministers TO those countries. information has
br"l received OF ;he favourable execution OF those
du:es. Our minister's have been landed at their re-
spective points OF destination; and these vessels it is
presumed have before this assumed their stations IN
the Mediterranean squadron
|; is 70 he regretted that instances OF insuboriina-
ton have zen manifested among the officers of this
squadron Courts martial have been riv RI
sorted To, and of the refractory have bonn en-
tcnced To temporary, and others pernianenant dis
mssal from the service. II Is gratifying OH the 9th
or hand to know, from authority entitled to CON
ence that the general conduct of the officers of ts
squadron has becu such to preserve o1,,rr Ito
States and Sovcreignties on he Barhary Coast The
favourable opinion OF the American character w;,cl,
1,ln ~,
pertinent of their predecessors
The naval force under the command of Con,,n,,,ro
hidg'ly' ana ordered TO cruise the West Indian
station, consisted, in the early part of the wear of
the soops Falmouth, Hornet, Erie, and Natcj,rz ana
the sclooners Grampls and Shark N''"
Several acts of piracy having been reuurtc y, t,,o
been committed Ill the month of Te6uury last the
Natchcz which had returned to the JJni;cd :
for repairs. was ordered to Join the squadron. AZ
ter cruising few weeks, and there being no reason
t" apprchend a recurrence of these depredations O.
gam returned to the United States. and has since
sailed to Colombia, taking MIR. Moore tho Tn;,o al
S;a'rs Min ser tn that Government whence che 800.
ordered to proceed to Rio Janerio to convey to ,h
Duited States Commodore Creighton whose con,
n,and had BEEN transferred to Commodore Cnssn =.
This vessel was also required to afford a passage t
Mr.. Harrison the late Minister to COLOMBIA oT ~;
return to the United States. '''
The recent invasion of the maritime frontier 9th.
Mexican States by the forces of Spain havnI cd :,
appr tensions that comhle CO. in that o,,a-,
might suffer by the encroachments which heIIio.r
ems are 80 ready To make on neutral, unprotected
Qshts' the Peacock was equipped, a. taking out Com
nodorc Elliott, To relieve Commodore RijoeI ~
or !'r d 30 ETA to the syenr of these r.nSwoJ b
tii!ties- Ihe Ere, winch had also returned for re
pairs' sailed soon after 10 reioin this squadron.
1t Is due to the late Cummander (,orn.,
Ridgely to say, that, as far the means had 80 80
tordcd him. he has kept his little squadron en,nlo,oa
with vigilance and activity, and on late occ, ;o
that mas been sal'an'y demonsi rat Mt Tampico in
the firm and prompt course pursued by Master Can
mandant Norris, III the of the property of
OF our countrymcn frem the grasp of unjust no,yor
For the last few months, except in the case ,ust
referred to, no information has been riven tn tb;
Department, OF any new act of piracy or aoorcrs;nn
ON the commercial rights Of the ma ion: but fRnrn
be no doubt, that a relaxation in the policy lotoly
pursued, would be followed by an nlrned,tc 900;
ton of these depredatione. P'
The squadron on the coast of Brazil and Buo,os
;y'eS mas oe.h maintained 10 ITS usual extent and
has been varied only by the interchange of relief
ships tor those which had performed tho ordin.rv
routine of duty The presence of this souadro5
small as 1t has been, has probably obtained for th
commercial interests of our country security which
would not have been granted to defenceIcss mo- !
c!1antmen Pence having taken place between tho
two nations, nothing is TO be dreaded bv orr mo-
chant shps from interference with bcio.roat
privileges ct many reasons forbid the dirninuton
OF our naval force on these coasts. The annuay IN
creaSlng commercial intercourse between ,ha TInJ,J
States and these countries, calls upon the Govarn
ment to be prepared to multiply the means of t
lection. blany complaints have been mad, I,,, r. ~
TAIN otcers OIL this squadron against each other of
oppression on the one side, and of insubord;n,,;or
ana neglect OF duty on the other. The parties char
glg each other have been ordered TO repair to Tho
United States. immediately after their rot,r,
y6unal will be established to invesfinate tboso cn
plants and to render justice alike to the aoerresso
aud the aggTicvcd. - i'
The squadron on the Pacific coast of South Amer.
ia consists OF the frigate Guerrero the sloon g.
ipns, and the schooner Dolphin No chances ban
oeen made IN the torce of this squadron i,ornr,
u|rc thompson has succeeded Commodore Jopcg :,
49, IN "'iu .ne uuerricrc and St. Louis havr
t1ken tle places OF the Brandywine and Vinccnncs
Commodore Jones has returned to the JTn;,eJ s,n,o
I'D the former and the latter actnr rndr osJ J
rom lhe iatc Executive after touching at the FrcnJ
y and Sandwich Islands will return By the vn or
rr 1Ss IIPS o. Good Hope No information has been
PIeeenIeu 70 the Department nducinr n bcl,cr ~,
an increase of this force necessary though dou uha
IGs1 good policy forbds that any portion IF - H.
Tithdrawn' Annexed liz statement, rn,TkoI w
showing the Opposition of the public yose, @ ~
commission 'Ss9''s now II
bo
ihe report OF the Commissioners of tho No,,
%hich IS herewith transmitted marked B, ,rIsbss
oeIeo statement OF the number of slips of war in
ORDINARY, ther present condition. and tho oa -
Wmch VIII De required to f. them for service TtI
shPs are represented to be in n state of rror1.ts
and rapid decay, and when the manner in ,y,;rb 49,
nave bceh disposed Of at the stations Is corsiiG /
this ceases to be matt r Of surprise INV mr., ~
no Of l. l..