The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-06

Those sweet and thrilling tones of thine
Will make hope of brighter rest
And Danish all these fears of mine S.J.P
From the Geaficmans Magazine.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH AND SERVICES OF
COMMODORE CHARLES STEWART,
Of the Many Of the United States.
(coNcLupED)
In compliance with the foregoing instruc-
tons, commodore Stewart proceeded to PEN
sacola, in the United States sloop Of war,
Natchez, captain Mervine. The following
joint report was made from Pensacola:
PENSACOLA, Sep. 81, 1896.
Sir-We have the honor TO submit to you,
las commissioners to whom was assigned the
planning Of the Navy Yard at this place. in
compliance with your instructions Of July the
eighth, plan Of the Navy Yard, with all the
docks, slips, and buildings, which, in all pro-
liability, will in future be required for the pub
lie service, and which appears to us necessa-
ny, at station of such high national impor-
lance as this seems to the commissioners to
be.
The commissioners have been obliged TO
keep in view some peculiarities attending this
extensive bay, such as its almost constant and
strong ebb-tides the destructive effects of the
marine worm, and the invariable sandy nature
of the soil
Under the influence Of these considerations
they deemed it essential, and therefore pro-
jected on the plan, sea wall, sufficient to
afford all the wharfng accommodations for
ships in ordinary, repairing, mastng, or fitting
for service, as well as all transports employed
in bringing the necessary supplies for the es-
Enlistment at any future time.
About quarter of mile in the rear Of the
Navy Yard there exists constant fresh water
lake, adequate to the supply, at all times, of
water for the wet dock which this sea wall
will form, to furnish all that may be required
in the Navy Yard in case of fire, and sufIi-
cient for watering the ships of war Thus
the fresh water in the wet dock will prevent
the effect of worms on the dry dock gates, as
well as all wooden structures in its vicinity !;
it will also furnish the means of destroying
the living principle in grass, barnacles, and
other iouling substances Of ships bottoms,
and act as cleanser to their copper on COM
ing from sea, as well as to preserve their bot
toms from fouling while repairing, fitting, or
lying in ordinary at the Navy Yard. The
rigging loft is placed near the rope-walk for
convenience sake, on part of the sea wall
wharf, and under 1t we contemplate having
sufficient store room for cables and cordage,
handy to be put ON board ships in its neigh
borhood, or boats to convey to ships else
where, with as little manual labor as possible.
The sail-loft is also conveniently placed on
the sea wall wharf with the same view and
underneath store room will be found sufficient
for all the pilckr turpentine, rosin, and
oil, where cBfll be convenient to water
carriage, as well as for extinguishing those
combustiblc articles should they accidentally
take fire. On the opposite angle of the sea
wall we have placed the building slips, boat
and mast houses, with the heavy blacksmith
nv, anchor, and tank foundries, castings and
plumberies, from whence all those heavy APP
purtenances for ships of war can be conve-
niently boated and transported and with
view to concentrate the necessary working
fires as much as possible, we have located
the cooper shop, bake house and cook house,
in the vicinity, with the accommodations for
negro laborers near the entrance gate, under
the eye Of the marine guard there stationed.
The commissioners, in obedience to the
farther instructions of the department. of Au-
gust tenth, made reconnaissance of the ground
contiguous 10 The Navy Yard for site for the
marine barracks; and they find the ground
to the right too unequal in its surface, and too
many water pools on and about it, to answer
that purpose. On the left, the ground is more
favorable, and would present an eligible po-
sion stretching along the front of the bay,
open and airy, with pleasant water view;
but here the ground is, in part, occupied with
settlements under lease from the government,
which might not be conveniently or easily
got rid of; in which case, there only remains
the rear Of the Navy Yard, about five hundred
feet in depth, with the same extent as the Ma
wy Yard which would afford ample room to
erect all the necessary buildings, accommoda-
tons, gardens and parade ground, that may
at any time be found necessary.
The commissioners in compliance with
your letter of the 20th have examined the
two several places pointed out as eligible sites
for Navy Yard within this bay that is to
say, the Navy Cove, opposite the town of
Pensacola, and place above the town called
Five Fathom Hole. The former, Navy Cove)
the commissioners are of opinion would not
answer the purpose at all, and is liable to very
many objections its location is beyond the
reach of any immediate protection from the
Notifications or their garrisons, for any small
military expedition would be able to surprise
it through the Santa Rosa sound; il is shut in
from the advantages of the sea breezes, and
consequently, is excessively hot for laborers
and mechanics; and, indeed, were those dsad-
vantages removed, the extent of the flats is
too great to be overcome without very heavy
N
Five Fathom Hole,) the commissioners can