The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-13

upon the extensive scale adopted, until fur
ther appropriations should be made and these
were not made until the Sd Of March last
In the mean time, il was not considered GER
tain that Congress would, by their appropriate
lions, authorize the sending out a larger
squadron than they intended by the act Of
May, 1886.
i In my annual report Of the Sd Of Decem-
Der, 1886, | submitted estimates of appropria-
tons required for the expedition, 10 CONSIST OF
one frgate, one store ship, two barques, and
one schooner and on the 9th of February
last, made, as before stated, report in an
swer TO resolution of the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes, in relation to the progress made
in fitting out the exploring expedition, in which
these estimates were fully explained.
i BY these reports it appears that the appro-
prlation of three hundred thousand dollars
had been expended, and that the annual ex-
| pense for the five vessels of the squadron,
with pay and provisions for the scientific
| corps, would amount TO S346,43l, which, for
three years, the proposed duration of the
cruise, would amount TO 81 ,039,29
Although the appropriation for the payment
of the scientific corps had not been made, yet
their appointment was urged on the ground
that il was important 10 the gentlemen 10 be
selected, TO know it as long beforehand as
possible, TO enable,them to arrange their bust
ness for an absence of three years and on
the 2Slh or December, 1886, the larger part
ofthem were appointed, on liberal salaries, to
commence when their services should be re-
| CURED upon which condition, they accepted
their appointment.
On the 30th Of March last Lieut.. Tattnell
returned from cruise to the coast Of Mexi-
co, which he had made as commander of the
Pioneer; and he reported SO unfavorably OF
the sailing of this vessel, that it was deemed
proper that her condition should be fully ex-
amined into as well as that of the brig Con-
not been considered equal to the Pioneer.
| The necessary arrangements for such an
examination were made; and on the 10th Of
| April Commodore Jones was informed that
the, Commissioners Of the Navy, with the
chief naval constructor and the naval archi-
tect at Norfolk, were ready to proceed to the
performance of this duty; and he was re-
| quested to join them, which he did.
| On the 10Th of that month"; at his own sug-
gestion, he was instructed to make an expe-
rimental cruise with the Relief, Pioneer, Con-
sort, and Pilot, for the purpose of making a
full trial Of their sailing qualities and was d.
rected to return TO Norfolk in twenty days
after sailing. On his return from this cruise,
| he reported favorably Of the sailing of these
vessels; but, in other respects, his report
might be considered as ulflvorable inasmuch
as he recommended that the barques and
schooner should go into dry dock for the pur-
pose of examination, and such alterations as
a board of officers appointed for that purpose
should recommend. This could not fail to
add to the delay which had already taken
place, as the ship Of the line Delaware was
then in dock, and could not be Immediately
| removed.
Lieut.. Tattnel, after this experimental
cruise, still entertained the most unfavorable
opinion Of the sailing qualities Of these yes
sells, and asked TO be relieved from the COM
mand of the Pioneer.
AS soon as the Delaware could be re-
moved, Commodore Warrington, on the 3Oth
of May, was directed to prepare the Pioneer,
| Consort, and Pilot, for going into dock. On
| the 9Th of June, board of five officers (Com-
modores Chauncey, Morris, Warrington, Pat
terson and Wadsworth,) was ordered TO make
an examination of the condition of those yes
sels which seemed the more necessary, in
asmuch as Commodore Jones had demanded
another schooner to be added to his squadron,
| without which, he could not consider the ex-
petition complete or efficient.
| The board was instructed to inquire whe-
Their the squadron might not be reduced in
number ofvessels and men, with advantage to
the country, and without prejudice to the
success Of the expedition.
This inquiry was rendered proper in con-
sequence of the great difficulty of procuring
the necessary funds during the suspension oil
specie payments, which had not been fore
seen when the last appropriations were made,
and because it would be in accordance with
the original intentions Of Congress in fitting
out the expedition, 1t was thought that, should
part of the vessels be found unfit for this
service it would be better that the squadron
should sail with reduced force, than suffer
the delay of preparing other vessels. On the
18th of June, Commodore Jones reported that
the requisite number Of seamen had been re-
cruited
On the 18th of July, the board reported that
the occupation Of the dock at Gosport, and
the employment of some of the members oil
the board, prevented meeting until the 3Oth
June that the barques and schooner were
put into dock and examined; and certain al
| tcrations recommended, which could soon be
completed, by which the vessels might be
made to answer the purpose proposed snti-
GENTLY rel to justly their employment.
The board say that had they been called
upon, before any preparations had been made,
TO state the number and character Of the YES
sells which, in their opinion, would be best
calculated TO secure the attainment OF the pro-
posed objects, they certainly would not have
recommended those which have been pre-