Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-12-14
P . S L 5 G RI p Il
ny THE SOUTHERN MAIL.
Lepoxt OF the Secretary OF the Navy
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
December 3 1910.

the following report;
The squadron in the Mediterranean remains the
same as il was at The date of my last report and
sists of the Ohio "a, the Brandywine (hrst class
frigrte) and the Cyane sloop of war-the whole un-
der the command OF Commodore Isaac Hull. This
force has been found fully adequate to the proe
of our commerce, which has remained unmoestsd
IN that quarter
the rigate Constitution, the soop of st. Louis,
and the Schooner Shark, under Commodore Claxton.
Since the date ST my last port, the schooner Eater
prise, then her way home, aud the sloop of
Lexington and Falmouth, which had beea directed
TO return, have arrived in the United States, and
have been replaced by the sloops Yorktown and
Dale, now on the OF sailing for the Pacific. The
squadron when joined by these vessels will consist
of frigate of the first class, tree soops OF war,
and a schooner. Commodore ClaXton has been d-
reeted to despatch the Yorktown on cruise to the
Sandwich aud Society Islands, New Zealand, the
coast Of Japan the Gulf of California, and the La
dron and Marqucsas for the general projections OF
our whaling interests, aud other commercial par
poses.
The squadron on the coast of Brazil under Com
mndore j. Is. Nicholson, at the date of my last
port was composed of the razee independence, and
the sloops of war Fairfield and Marion, The two
former have returned TO the United States, Com
modore Nicholson having been relieved in The com
mand Of ahat station by Commodore Charles G.
Rhgey whose force now consists of the Petomacf
first class frigate, the sloops of war Decatur and
MAroa, and the schooner Enterprise. The diff cu-
ties between the French Mt and that Of the
Argentine Republic still subssting, and the book
thought eXpedient to augment this force aud the
sloop of war Concord is now on the of sailing
for that purpose
The squadron employed in the GElf of Mexico
and the West Indies, under Commodore William Il
Shubrek al the date of my last report consisted Of
the frigate Macedonian, and the soops of Onta'
rio, Erie, Warren, and Levant. The Ontario has
been ordered the North for repairs and the Erie,
being found unfit for service, has been detached
from the squadron. The remaining vessels, with
the exception ofthe Warren were directed to leav
fha dur he hur rsr his and rO-
coed to the Ssrth. Commodore ShabTck accord
ngly left Pensacola in July last with the Mascedo-
nan, Levant and Erie and arrived at Boston in Au-
gust. Thence no proceeded to Eastport, and ON his
return visited the principal ports he ceast far
south Norfolk, where, in conformity with his in
structioas from the Department, he delivered the
command the West India squadron TO Commodore
Jesse Wilk nson, who had been appointed TO re-
iieve him, and who has proceeded TO his STATEN
The COMMAND of Commodore Wilkinson
sts OF the Macedonian frgate and the sloops OF war
Levant and Warren, which force is deemed sufi-
cent for the protection of interests in that quar-
ter in the present state OF things
The frigate Columbia and corvette John Adams
employed in a cruise in the India and China seas
under Commodore c. Read, for the prote of the
commerce OF the United States in that quarter have
returned home. The frgate Constellation, and
sloop of war Boston, have resently for Rio de Jane
iro, where they will repienish their supplies, and
receive Captain Lawrence kearney, now in
mand OF the flag ship the Brazilian station who
will hoist his peHdant board the Constellation as
commander OF the East India Squadron, and proceed
with that vessel and the Bosan to carry out his in
structioDs.
The Exploring Expedition, as stated in my last
report, was at Callso, whence Lieutenant Wilkes
sailed the 8 h July, 1899 Since that period he
has visited the Society Islands, Navigator Group,
New Zealand, and various detached islands, with
whose inhabitants he held the most amcable inter.
course and with the ports and harbors Of which he
MADE himself partcu larly acquainted. On the 18th
December 1889, he left the port of Sydney, in New
Zealand and penetrate the Atlantic sea
Ga the 18th January following the Vincennes disco
vered land in laitado Go south, longitude l5i "a
east, and had soundings IN thirty fathsns water
The same day the Peacock made a similar discove-
ry in latitude 90 81, Longitude 453 80, and obtained
sOundings at depth Of three hundred and twenty
Gthom.. Lieutenant Wilkes coasted along this land
AID had sight OF various times for a distance Of
eighteen hundred miles, and has denomnated il the
Antartc Continent. IL is TO be regretted however
that the vast OF Use, with which is every
where defended, pre- vented nearer approach than
fifteen miles, and rendered il impossible land Id
rs described pre- scntiny of snow and
ice, apparently rising almost perpendiculary from
the and will probably forever battle the efforts
of man 20 explore its Interior, convert ii TO any
useful Purpase.
After repeated and perscvering efforts to approach
the coast aud effect landing, Lieutenant Wilkes,
his officers and men, having suffered severely from
intense cold and the exposures incidental this
zardous enterprise returned to Sydney the llth of
March, lst0, where he was joined by the Peacock
and Porpoise the former Of which had been in imIn-
nent danger from coming IN contact with an slsnd Of
ice Lieutenant Mikes speaks in the CHE rms
of the conduct OF the Off iers and crews Of the Expo
dition At the last dates, the 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 employed dur
ing the past season IN experimenting with Psixhan
guns and shot, under the direction Captain Perry:
and with a view 20 afford many officers as possible
opportunity Of becoming ed with the prac
ttce OF gunnery, as large a number OF superaumera-
Tiss have been attached 10 her she could &C COM
modste. The reports Of Captain Perry present very
interesting results and IL Is contemplated CONT
the experiments for the purpose OF demonstrat-
ing the relative advantages OF the Paxhan guns and
Vhose in ordinary use, well as anording a useful
practice 90 our naval officers, by attaching them in
succession 90 this vessel
The surveys on the Southern coast Of the United
States directed by the act Of the 81 Of March, 1897
have been completed under the saperint Evidence Of
Lieutenant GIynn, and II is expected that the De-
parment will be enabled to lay before Congress
either at or shortly after the commencement OF the
session. plete charts Of all the ports and places
which have been surveyed.
The brig Consort, usder the command Of Lieute.
nant Powell is now occupied ia surveying the coast
from the say Of AFalachisola 10 the mouth Of the
Mississippi, a. directed by the act making sppro-
priatious Tor the naval service, approved July 20
isp.
The sloop Of war Preble, Commander Preese, has
been employed on the coast Of Newfoundland and
LABRADOR during the late fishing season. in protect
ing the rights and interests Of American citizens
gagged in the fisheries. On the termination of the
cruise she returned TO Portland, whence she
ordered 10 Boston for examination, previous 70 be-
iag ssn on foreign ,ervics.
The brig Dolphin. Lieutenant Bell, and the schoon-
or Cramps, Lieutenant Paine, have been employed
ON the coast of Africa, in the suppression Of the
slave trade They returned at the commencement
of the sicky season, aud have since sailed in pur-
suit Of the same object The presence of these
sells the slave coast, during the in which
this graceful traffic u carried will in all pro-
liability, in great degree, arrest its progress,
Tar a. IL has been prosecuted w the assumption Of
the American Gag, and do much TO relieve the
nation from the unmerited stigma Of participa.
ting IN trade equally in violstian of the laws
oi the United States ard the policy of their Co
vemment From the report q Bieutenabts Bell
and Paine, appears that the traffic IN slaves Is
nov carried on principally under Portuguese colors
through the medium of slave stations, they are
dsuominated. established at different points If the
ra-.L. na-aL The cLInn Of m. nnL.Lhnrlnr