The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-17
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THE NAVY REPORT.

This document will be found in another CO
lumn. Its greatest merit is its brevity; but it
gives, so far as il goes, toeraby clear account
Of the present whereabouts of our little Navy.
The squadron in the Mediterranean consists
of the Ohio "a, the Brandywine frigate, and the
Cyane sloop of war, under command of Com.
Hull
That in the Pacific, when full, will consist of
the Constitution, the st. Louis, the Shark, the
Yorktown, and the Dale, all under command Of
Commodore Claxton.
That off Brazil consists of the Potomac, the
Decatur, Marion, and Enterprise, and is to be
joined by the Concord, all under command of
Com. Ridgely.
That in the Gulf Of Mexico and West Indies
consists of the Macedonian frigate, and the
sloops Levant and Warren, Com Wilkinson.
On the way to Indian and China seas is
Capt L. Kearney, with the frigate Constella-
ton, and soop Of war Boston.
The Exploring Expedition is alluded to in
favorable terms, and was at the last dates, 9th
of April, at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
The steam frigate Fulton is employed in ex-
perimenting with Paixhan guns and shot.
The brig Consort, 1t. Powell is occupied in
surveying the coast from Apaachicola bay to
the mouth of the Mississippi.
The sloop of war Preble, Commander Preese,
having been employed in protecting the fisheries
off Newfoundland, during the season, has re-
turned TO Boston.
The brig Dolphin, Lit. Bell, and the schooner
Grampus, 1t. Paine, are employed on the coast
Of Africa in the suppression. of the slave trade,
which has been carried on under the American
flag. This trade seems to have increased.
Three small schooners viz: the Flirt, Wave,
and Otsego, 1t. Mclaughlin, employed on
the coast of Florida in operations against the
Seminoles.
The two steam frigates ordered by Congress
are nearly completed-the one building at New
York is probably now ready to launch, and the
other at Philadelphia, will be ready in the spring.
The apprentice system is approved-the search
ty Of seamen is attributed to the demands and
superior inducements OF the merchant service.
A modification of the Navy ration is recon-
mendcd as likely TO have good effect.
The Navy Pension Fund seems 10 have been
badly managed. At the period of its passage,
il amounted to upwards of million of dollars,
the annual interest Of which was sufficient to
meet all demands, but it now consists of only
$15S,739 invested in deprecated and unsaeable
stocks. To meet the demands of 1s41 growing
out of the Navy pension list Congress will have
to appropriate $l5l,352, or the pensioners will
90 unpaid Whose fault is this 2
The only recommendations of the Secretary,
are modification of the Navy ration, and an
increase of clerks for the Navy Commissioners,
whose labors, it seems, are increasing with their
powers.
Ii is somewhat remarkable that the notorious
defects and wants of he Navy should have been
wholly overlooked We do not know whether
it is attributable 10 wilful neglect, natural stu
pdty, or TO an indulgence in the more attrac-
tive pursuits of literature. Perhaps the Secre-
tary was content TO retire with the negative me-
rit of doing nothing and proposing nothing
Inertness and imbeciity have too long character
lied the Navy Department. We trust that the
fourth Of March will witness an infusion into u
Of life, and energy, and intelligence.
We notice in Mr.. Paulding's report, what is
observable in all the Executive documents from
the Presidents message down. general and