Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-15

T,
December >, 1881
To the President Of The IT, States:
SIR: The Secretary of the Navy respectfully submits
past year.
Under its general superintendent the employm of
inc public vessels for the protection OF commerce. the
erection Of dry docks improvement of the navy wards
tho purchase Of timber and for future usc and tho
preservation OF live oak have been the promine OBJ
jccts Of attention.
Many minor subjects connected with the interests of
tho service have received carc and the results of the
Whoe VIII De presented 10 your consideration with all prac
ticablc brcvity.
Tho naval force in commission has consisted Of five fri
gates eleven soops, and schooners; but these
four small schooncrs purchased, and temporarily used in
guarding our live oak, and in making surveys of the coast
can hardly be considered permanent portion of the
Enlistment while the relieving vessels necessary TO keen
up complement in the different squadons have in this
former years. by going out before others returned add
oil somewhat to the number and expense of actually
enumerated as in commission.
Our force abroad has been divided between the Medi-
srranean, the West Indies Brazil, the Pacific From
the first station, the Java tho Fairfield and the Consella
hon have returned the former taking Cape do verd Islands
and Liberia in her way homeward. An account of her
cruise is annexed, may be interesting 20 those special
ly engaged IN African colonization (A.)
me Java on minute survey, was found to be very
detective; and having been built OF inferior materials
Pensve repairs on her deemed udicious As she
bears the name of of our trophies during the late war
srccommcnded that an appropriation bo made for pur-
chasing timber TO rebuild her. and another for similar
reason TO rebuild the Cyanc frame has heretofore
obtained for the Macedonian; and appropriation TO fin
ish ono o, these vessels whose names intimately
associated with our naval glory, could be expended with
Last August the Constellation was ordered home fox,
the Mediterranean after the close of the cruising season.
rs tho usual term of absence would expire cxt spring
and large saving of expcn7e would he made by her
wntering in this country. She recently arrived few
weeks earlier than anticipated in excellent condition
and after the discharge of her crew, waJ Immediately
placed in ordinary.
The John Adams is the only vessel which has boon
added to that station.
The squadron there has been uscfuly eopoyoJ in its
ordinary duties At this time part of IL, having lately
oeen engaged IN transporting our former Consul at Al
gcrs to his new situation Charge Consannople is
supposed to be in the Archipelago waiting the result of
tho chief object of that mission and watching the copse-
quenccs TO our commerce of the late disturbances in
greece aother part Is under orders to from Gbra
tar our diplomatic agent to Naples; and part Of it,
Gently directed, is presumed be cruising ground
extending into the Atlantic along the of Portugal
and her neighborng dcpendencicJ In consequence of
this last increase of duty and the novel of rca-
with the Ottoman well as the aoated con
don Of other portions of Europe it would seem expedi-
en Immediately increase force i'm that QUAR-
of the world TO effect that object and Others lee
after mentioned and at the time to ensure our navy
continuance OF the requisite skill and experience in ma
vigatng ships of the line. sufficient put one in
commission is included in the general estimate for the en-
suing year. &C, Nos. to 15.)
The sqadron employed in the West Indies has dscharr-
ed ITS accustomed service with fidelity and success pi
racles whatever have been there pcrperated
mcrce the slight disturbances Porto Cabcllo Hayt
and Havana having been promptly looked AFTER and The
health oil the and officers our public vessels bae
ing heen with few lamcntcd exceptions, uncommonIy
good The only changes in this squadron been the
substitution OF the vncennes for the Peacock and the
Fairfield for the Natchez account Of greater despatch
and economy in preparing the relief vessels
The Brazilian station, Notwithstanding the political com
motions IN its neigborhood has presented little active en-
Poyment for tho squadron. The security 10 our
navigation in that quarter has existed except recent
and II believed, unprecedented claim which has been
made disturb our vessels engaged in A M
Falkland islands. To guard against the i'll
Of this claim 10 our commercial interests prompt asres
have been taken, far tho subject within the
purvicw Of this Department. From that station the Hud-
con has returned home and not having been built Of live
oak, she Is I'm condition rendering the expedicncy of
pairing her very doubtful The Yandalia is soon espect-
cd here; and both the Lexington and Warren sent IN r
OcYc them, have probably, this, reached their de s
nation Our force IN that region will soon be
by one Of the schooners building and whose small
draugd Of water VIII render her employment that
coast highly beneficial Preparations making to send
vessels in that direction, should circumstances re-
qurc and justify the visiting among other places
their way out, Para and the principal ports on the
northern coast OF Brazil, where the of our com
and the agitaed condition OF the country make the
presence Of some Of public vessels udicions and
where none have shown themselves since the late war
In INC Paclhc, occurrence Of much interest has hap
pened since the last annual report The Falmouth has
been ordered to join that squadron of the ST. Louis
and the Potomac in place Of the Guorrerc and which lat
vessel IL is gratifying announce vo ,s since
safely in Hampton roads Directions have b.cn given I
the commander that station keep one of his ves
sells constantly employed in cruising among tho islands
in the Pacific to which wbaemen and merchants re-
sort for either supplies trade. Unfortunately for the
credit oil or bills Of exchange in that quarter, the Depart
mont carly in the year. felt compccd 10 refuse pav,nen,
OF some Of the draughts by s former agents. and an at
tempt was made TO improve the forms Of transacng bu
hess eFc and to lessen the expenses Of providing for
S sliI'o, ny sending out purscr 10 make purchases,
aiu 70 'Sc Sl"ge OF Use stores and provisions for tc
whole. Sufficient time has not Glanced 10 tcst f,lIv fo
success OF this experiment. though nc arr,ngorn he
required and recently received some poIiGeaGons 10
promote its efficiency.
10 consequence Of mott wu.t,a outrage ,,., d.. A
Iner,ean shiP tdendthip, Ls y " eozs, II sin,ts
way OF hs Cape q G'o Ifepr, col tor ne csudot Il.