Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-11
TUESDAY. DECEMBER II. 1882.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.
Navy DEpAnrMssr. Deeember 5, 1882.

N Inc fFSStieW fHe C""e' ''teNS'.
SIR: II IL a source Of much gratihcatl6n 70 De
abe TO Law bsfore YOU an exposition OF the tram
sac ions Of this Department the past year, eSinc'
ing great prosperity.
New evidences have been furnished of the in
portance Of our Navy In sustaining the Ameii-
can character abI oat. aud IN extending aud pro-
trc,ing some of our most valuable interests.
Besides the ordinary aid given to commerce by
the DIT. s.nce of respec table force each of our
foreign station, the cruising grounds of some ut
our squads ns have been enlarged: Convoy, and
relief m distress, have been occasionally afforded;
threatened asgres.ions nave, in some cases. been
deferred, and, in others, the commission OF ac-
tual injuries has been seasonably investigated and
stopped.
In the performance Of these duties, frequently
very delicate and difficult, our officers have, in
general, displayed commcndable prudence, and
always their accustomed promptitude, zeal, and
bravery.
Connected with the Mediterranean station, the
only collision that has arisen between any part OF
our squadron aud other powers, took place at
Madeira between the Constellation and the block
aiding vessels of Donna Maria. The commander
of the Constellation, under instructions to show
entire impartiality towards the contending claim
ants TO the throne of Portugal, and at the same
time to respect, in all places, the actual govera-
meat fouod, on his arrival at that island, the
force employed in its blockade apparently Insult
Gent for the due investment Of the place, and
ps''iaiI in ITS inhnlgences towards the flags Of
DIVER nations. Under these impressions as to
the facts, and under his scneral orders for the
eff, ten, protection of our commerce, he came to
i onclu,iun. very fortunate tor those interested
IL the trade To Madeira. that while such q stats
Of ,hincs continued, he was justified in extend-
ins assistance to our merchantmen to enter the
p,; ut their destination with their perl.hable
carsoes.
The addition to the Mediterranean squadron.
of the irrsates Constellation and United States.
an,i the return of The Ontario. the only mate
ri, changes IN il since my last annual report
TIL Delaware has been prepared for sea With a
view To that station; but 1t was deemed expedl-
ent nut To despatch her, unless some emergency
occurred. un'il she could undergo a thorough ex,
ANIMATION IN one of our drv docks, The Bran
d >ine, Boston, and Concord. being expected
h".ps the present winter, their places will proba.
BY IN few months, be supplied by the Della
wafc. --f'
The chaslisement inflicted by the frisate Poto.
mac IN the p;ralical Maiays 10 February last. ia
e." safe occurrence OF Importance among our yes
sch, that compose the squadron in the Pacific
Tnp orders gwen to her commander required him
TO ascertain, by careful inquiries, that the infor :
ma'iDn received here before his sailing, concern.
ing the plunder and massacre committed on board
the snip Friendship, was not exaggerated He
was further directed to satisfy himself that those
ou;rages were not provoked by any misconduct
OH the part OF the Americas: and that the often.
ders were, as represented and believed to be true,
race OF characters 50 iawless and savage as
not to come within the scope Of regular diploma
tic intercourse. He was also instructed, IL prac-
ticable, FIRST to demand and obtain indemnity for
the injury committed, and the punishment oi
those most conspicuous in these barbarous afro
cities. II has been gratifying to learn, by &C.
counts from that quar,eruf the world, subse-
aaeat to The visit Of the Poomac to Sumatra,
that the result of that visit has been tn silence all
eNuita,ion aud menaCes OF further violence from
-t,ase sea robbers; to draw from them acknow.
Dc segment, ut past errors, ard promises Of fu-
tue iurbearaace from like offences. aud to insure,
a>Spt, y s,fupusoas ulfment al Those promises.
Bat 10 guard against their perfidv. orders were
gwen that thr Potomac should be followed BY a
detachment, from thu Brazi',an squadron. part Of
Which detachment has sInre sailed; aud has in.
structiuns To tuuch 80, only at Srnatra. but
such places IN India, China, and On the eastern
coast of Airi a. as NAV be conducive to the Sc
curitv aud prosperity Vt oar important CONNER
CHI interests in thos RI. ions.
Toe stop pu, to tue seizure Of our vesse Is at
the Falkland Isl and>. IN January last. was effect
ell oy ship of the B azl'ian squadron. under ge-
neral instructions from this department. to take
ALI proper measures for the effectual security of
GU, commerce and fisheries Special orders OF
that subject had been previou~i, prepared and
frwarded b, this department.; but they had not
arrived at the time nf the prompt and successful
interference by the Lexington. Oar commerce
aud fisheries have no, been motested in that quar-
ter s,uce that occurrence. The Boxer, another
vessel 1t OF the same squadron, after visiting Lii
IBERIA IN Africa, has, at critical moment, extend
ed our naval protection to the neighborhood of
Para and Maranha'u. The schooner Enterprise,
in the late disturbances a, Montevidee, was also