Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-12-29
CDYaG EsSsONAE.
REroRr OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
Nov DIR NJ. lsN2
DOCUMENTS
accompanying the Message cfe President Of The United
States u Congress-
DOCUMENTS

REroRr OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
NAVY DEPARraEEr, Nov. so, lo}s.
SIR: In the performance OF n duty annually devovinc
CT Ibis Department, submit the following Report:
The squadron employed in the Mediterranean during
the past year, unter Commodore Jesse d Elliott con
sisted Of two :rgetes sioop Of war; and schooner
These vessels with The reception Of the s!oop Of
having returned home either for repairs, in consc
Guence of the term Of service Of their having ex
pred viii te replaced by ship of the ine friga,e OF
equal force and despatch brig or schooner
The whole "ii be under tie orders Of Commodore
Isaac Hull.
Although OF the which originally dictated
the policy Of employing portion Of Navy in The
mediterranean have 10 great ceased sill it is
believed that schrU Of discipline under experienced
officers, a OF exhibiting portion OF our nava!
force in end comparison with that Of The princi
pal maritime States of Europe, and Tor the purpose @;
Attending counernDce and protection 10 commerce.
perseverance IN Ibis policy will equally contribute 10
the good Of the service and the homer OF the United
States
The squadron in the Pacific, under Com Henry
ballard co:pr:ses ship OF he line, Two .!oops
and two schoomfrs.
These last, requiring extensive repairs have been o.
dc.ed home tie ensuing spring, aiipr IL.
rrbc interests will admit: the ship of the line NAV
also tr expected to abnu, the time as Ill,
terms &! service Of aost Gi her crew will then be abO
expiring.
The unsettled ami pTtcarinus relations subsislng lr
TWEEN The Socih AntTitan States bordering on The Ia
cine. in opnicD, render essential 10 the poiect,r
at oar commerce. that 1T !t1st equal force should
IsmIa ned IN that quarter Accordingly, measures vii
he taken replace r sse!s ordered hume by Others
not l-ss iic, ~ Tor that service
The force operating the coast of Brazil, under Corr
Jrhn Is. N!culSCn, consists Of tazse, sioop o
war, and brig No change is al present contemplated
The present force is deemed Gd quae 10 the Protection
o. cnmmeice III that quarter and is belle ved, thai
no reduction would be consistent wi,h the attainment, -
that ntrct
Al The date Of he last report Of The Secretary Of IL.
Nayy The squadron employ ed the West india station
and IN the Cult Of Mexico, under Commodore Ai=x
ander j. Dallas. consisted Of Ggaie, FIVE s!oops
war, and one small vessel. The ipae and OF III
sloors having recently returned Boston for repairs
is contemplated TO send another frigae, and to ncreas
the number Of s'oops Of war an tia; station to
The force will then be composed Of one irgate,
Eloors of war, and one small vessel.
AS the blockade of the Mexican ports by the Frenc
squadron continues 10 be strictly enforced and ind
Gallons ri a revolutionary spirit have lately been eSbi
h;cd at ampico, believed that, under existing
cumsianccs we'll as in view 81 future contingencies.
reduction Of the proposed force can be prudent,
made
A itiga,e and sloop Of war, which, as stated in !h
last annual report of the Secretary Of the Navy,
then rrrpa1ng for cruise in the Indian unjeT
Commodore George T.. Read, sailed from Norfolk 81
the 9Th Of iiay last By the latest advces from Com
mudore Read, dated The 2Srh of July, he had reacet
Rio de JaneiTo from whence be TO depart the
day. Having reason 10 believe IL would conduce t.
the protection and safety Of citizens md
in these remote regions have directed these ves:e!
10 visit the Sandwich and Society Islands their
home.
That the officers employed these various scrv;c
haze performed their duties with equal activity, vgi
lance, and prudence. s sufficiently evidenced by tb'
fact that, notwithstanding the aud revolutions
which still ag!,a:e .efeILa portion OF The South Anne
rican States bordering the Pacific, and the long pro
,rac'ed blockade o! the ports OF Mexico and Of 8uen"s
Ayres, the persons and property OF thf citizens OF III
u S. have, IN no case which has come TO the knowlsdg,
Of This Department. sustained outrage or wrong whit
other hand has occurred throughout III,
whole Of intercourse or nteTposon 20 disturb H.
relations Of peace between and the parties in collision
with each other
The exploring expedition on the resignation of Com
inocore Thomas Ap Caesby Jones in consequence of IL
health, was placed under the command Of Lieut. Chatl.
Wilkes with modification of force, and finally sail
ed from Norfolk on The 18th Of August, !, now con
siss Of the sloops Of Vncsnnes and Peacock, the
store ship Relief the brig Porpoise and the pilot beat
schooners Ssagul and Flying Fish Letters from Lieut.
Wilkes the safe arrival Of these vessels a!
Madeira, with the exception OF the Relief, which vess%!
was ordered by him proceed direct for Rio de Janero
II will appear from the estimates for 1882 that tue an
nual expense Of the expedition under lis present ogu
nznion will be very considerably less than that requirec
for j, originally contemplated
A number of scientific gentlemen who had accepte"
appointing mis- in the expedition under impression that
their services would be required and their emolumenis
continued during the period anticipated for the compile
tnn uf objects hot included in this arrange
ncnt. They have asked TO be ren:umeraed for tn II
sacrifices and disappolntmens, and now submit line
propeiy well as justice Of their claims.
The act of Congress, approved I'D December 1895
authorized the Preside nj of the u S. employ the pub
lie vessels in cruising along the Atlantic coast during
the winter season, for the purpose OF afordng relic Il
merchantmen in distress. Under this law the sloop u
war Erie the briggs Pioneer and Consor, the schooner
Active and the steamship Fulton were occasionally EN-
p,p,,d with beneficial results Owing TO the want o.
proper vessels the disposal of this Department, afe
supplying The necessities Of foreign slaons the s'ean
shp Fulton is The only one now available for this scr
vice.
To aid in making the general survey Of the coast o
the United States Leutenanis Gedney aud Blake viii
other ma val officers WERE the application OF the Sc
creisry Of The Treasury placed under his directions, ATT
such other assistance afforded circumstances permit
ted
The survey Of the Southern coast from Tybee bar IL
Hunting island May river, directed by The act o
Congress of March s, 1887 has 6ern completed by Lieu
tensn, Wilkes, a copy of whose report will BIZ commu
nicsted 10 Congress early in the approaching session
The surveys of the harbors OF Beaufort and Wilmington
North Carolina provided for by The same act, will bt
commenced forthwith by Lieutenant Gsynn oil the Navy
and it is expected will be completed in time to be com
municated to Congress previous TO It's adjournment
The delay carrying this act into execution has at'seT
from wan, proper vessels for that service, winch VII
now be performed in steam vessel leaned b. The Wa
Department The attention OF Lieutenant Giynn vii
ulsu be directed 20 an examination OF The coas between