The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-16
PILOT q TRANSCRIPT.
WEDNESDAY. DB6ENBER I6.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec. 9th, IS40.

The squadron in the Mediterranean remains
the same as 1t was at the date of my last report,
and consists of the Ohio "A, the BIandywine,
FIRST class frigate,) and tn Cyane sloop OF
wal, the whole under the command of Commo-
dore Isaac Hull. This force has been found
fully adequate to the protection of our com
merce which has remained unmolested in that
quarter.
The squadron on the Pacific station is COM
posed of the frigate Constitution, the sloop of
war st. Louis, and the schooner Shark, under
Commodore Ciaxton. Since the date of the
last report, the schooner Enterprise, then on
her way home, and the sloops of war Lexington
and Falmouth, which had been directed to re-
turn, have arrived in the United States, and
have been replaced by the sloops Yorktown and
Dale, now on the eve of sailing for the Pacific.
The squadron when joined by these vessels,
will consist of frigate of the first class, three
sloops of war, and schooner. Commodore
ClaXton has been directed to despatch the York
town on cruise to the Sandwich and Society
Islands, New Zealand, the coast of Japan, the
Gulf of California and the Ladr9nes and Mar
Quesas, for the general protection of our wha-
ling interest, and other commercial purposes
The squadron on the coast of Brazil, under
Commodore J. B. Nicholson, at the date of
my last report was composed of the razes In
dependence, and the sloops of war Fairfield
to the United States, Commodore Nicholson
having been relieved in the command of that
station by Commodore Charles G. Ridgely,
whose force now consists of the Potomac, first
class frigate, the sloops OF war Decatur and Ma
rion, and the schooner Enterprise. The diff
Gu tiles between the French government and
that of the Argentine Republic still subsisting,
and the blockade continuing to be rgdly en-
forced, it has been thought expedient to aug
ment this force, and the sloop Of war Concord
is now on the eve of sailing for that purpose.
The squadron employed in the Gulfof Mexi-
co and the West Indies, under Commodore Will
ham b. Shubricll, lat the date of my last report,
consisted Of the frlgate Macedonian, and the
sloops of war Ontario, Erie, Warren and Lee
want. The Ontario has been ordered to the
north for repairs, and the Erie, being found I'M
fit for service, has been detached from the squa-
dron. The remaining vessels, with the ex-
ception of the Warren, were directed to leave
the station during the hurricane months, and
proceed to the north. Commodore Shubrc6 ac-
Cordingly left Pensacola in July last with the
Macedonian, Levant and Erie, and arrived at
Boston in August Thence he proceeded TO
Eastport and on his return visited the princi.
pal ports on the coast as far south as Norfolk
where, in conformity with his instruction from
the department. he delivered the command of
the West India squadron to Commodore Jesse
Wilkinson, who had been appointed to relieve
him, and who has proceeded TO his station
The command of Commodore Wilkinson now
consists of the Macedonian frigate and the
sleeps of war LevaEt and Warren, which force
is deemed sufficient for the protection of our
interests in that quarter in the present state of
things.
The frigate Columbia and corvette John Ad-
ans, employed in cruise in the Indian and
China Seas, under Commodore Geo. c. Reed,
for the protection of the commerce of the Uni
ted States in that quarter, have returned home.
The frigate Constellation and soop of wa.
Boston, have recently sailed for Rio de Janeiro,
where they will replenish their supplies, and
receive Capt. Lawrence Kearney, now in
command of the flag ship on the Brazilian
station, who will hoist his pendant on board the
Constellation, as commander of the East In
dia squadron, and proceed with that vessel and
the Boston TO carry out his instructions.
The Exploring Expedition, as stated in my
last report, was at Callao, whence Lieutenant
Wilkes sailed on the 9Th July 1889. Since that
period he has visited the Society Islands, Navi-
gators, Group, New Zealand, and various de-
fached Islands, with whose inhabitants he held
the most amicable intercourse, and with the
ports and harbors of which he made himself
particularly acquainted. On the Goth DeceR-
Der, 1889 he left the pert of Sydney, in New
Zealand, and proceeded to penetrate the Allan
TIC sea. On the 10Th of January following, the
Vincennes discovered land in Latitude &C.,
SOUTH longitude l54 ~ east, and had soundings
in!thirty fathoms water. The same day the
Peacock made a similar discovery in latitude
66,3I, longitude 1853, 40, and obtained sound
ings at depth of three hundred and twenty
fathoms. Lieutanant Wilkes coased along
this land, and had sight of it at various times
for distance of eighteen hundred miles, and
has denomiaated it the Antartic Continent 1t
is TO be regretted, however, that the vast mass
of ice, with which it is every where defended,
prevented a nearer approach than fifteen
miles, and rendered it impossible TO land. It's
described as presenting one vast mass of snow
and ice, apparently rising almost perpendicu-
larly from the sea, and will probably forever
battle the efforts of man to explore its interior,
or convert it to any useful purposes.
After repeatedand persevering efforts TO ap-
proach the coast and effect a landing, Lieuten-
ant Wilkes, his officers and men, having suf
feIed severely from intense cold and the expo
sures incidental TO this hazardous enterprise,
returned to Sydney the 18th of March, 1910,
where he was joined by the Peacock and Por-
poise, the former of which had BENIN immi-
nent danger from coming in contact with an Is
land Office. Lleutanant Wilkes speaks in the
highest terms of the conducto of the officers and
CiSHo VI VIC ApCullloH' [lt NhC ia9t uo'SSs 'iiS
9Th of April, he was at the bay of Islands, New
Zealand, whence he was shortly to proceed to
carry out his instructions.
The steam frigate Fulton has been employ
ed during the past season in experimenting
with Paixhan guns and shot, under the diFec-
ton of Captain Perry; and with a view to af-
ford as many officers as possible an opportuni-
ty of becoming acquainted with the practice
Of gunnery, as large number of supernume-
raries have been attached to her as she couldiac-
commodate The reports of Captain Perry
present very interesting results, and it is con-
templated to continue the experiments for the
purpose of demonstrating the relative adyan-
tages of the Paixhan guns and those in oYdlna-
nv use, as well as assrding useful practice to
eur naval officers, by attaching them in success
sion to this vessel