Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-23
zeal convenience and accommodations.

ioca! convenience and accommodations
on the coast of Brazil, The frigate Potomac Of al
Captain ScTer; The soops OF war Concord, Com
C.m boernm: Marion, Commander Belt; Decatur,
Golsbora,,o saSn; and schooner Enterprise, Lieut.
1haries o. Ridgely A''"1 - ~'"''''1''
!, s{iayiug desired 10 be relieved
th,t bs snccs.n. III health, and having been Informed
,n,ocd Lo,o J.; ~, would soon ledye the IT, Slatea. re-
under The command of Cap,an S,o,o,g me sd2sefoh
nowIse injurious 10 the service nj ,h .n.s "s ~
e. Commodore Rdgey for his return hsfo,s assumed
Of ms successor, are altogether satisfactory IN ,h
paftment. on The lst OF November the Delaware &c
II guns, Capt. Z. s. Mccauley having ON board con,
modore Charles Morris, left Hampton Roads for hi,
station. .ek her arrival, the squadron will conss, Of
the Delaware, ,Po,omac, Concord Marion. Decatur
and Enterprise, all under the command of Commodore
Morris.
Nothing of particular interest has occurred in til,
operations Of this squadron. The friendly relations o
country with The Governments Of the coast have
been strictly maintained, and lie rights of citizen:
have been duly respected by tie local authorities.
In the West lndlrs, The Macedonian, of thirty si1
guns Commodore Jesse Wilkinson; The sloSps Of wal
Levant, Commander Fitzhugh; and Warren, Coa
rhandef Jnnesson. This squurron wac ordered tote
turn To the IT, s, 10 avoid the hurricane in the
West Indies and is still here. The soop Of war Van
dall;, Commander Ramsay will take the place of the
/
10 lis station the vessels can be supplied with
crews.
In the East Indies the frisae Constellation, Of thir
ty-six guns Commodore Laurence Kearny, and sloop
Of war Boston, Commander Long, all under the con-
mand of Commodore Kearny. The latest dispatches
from this squadron dated sea, of lie Cape OF
Good Hope, 3Ist July, 1871. At that time the officers
and crews Of both vessels in good health and they
were making the best ofther way TO the place Of their
destination.
The exploring squadron, under the command Of Lieu.
tenant Charles Wilf.s, consists of the soop OF war
Ylncennes commanded By that officer; the Peacock,
Lieutenant liudson the brig Porpoise Lieutenant Ring
gold; and the schooner Flying Fish, tender 10 the
squadron.
Intelligence down 10 the 9Th of April, $780, has been
communicated in previous reports from this Department
AT that time the squadron was in New Zealand. In
further prosecution Of his cruise, Lieutenant Wilkes
visited tile Feeiee Islands, and succeeded in establish
ing useful regulations Of trade and intercourse with
some of the prlncp chiefs His surveys Of this group
prosecuted with great and industry, and have
served 10 ascertain the positions of large number Of
dangerous reefs, and - indicate many secure and
venient harhors. This will be OF great value to our
citizens trading with that group, and par,icul rly 10 the
whalers. In many Of the harbors in which hitherto II
considered too dangerous to enter, whales abound
although very few 10 be found in The ncighboriug
The melancholy tragedy which has already been an
nonnced in the pubic journals was enacted at this
group. Lient Joseph A. Underwood, and Midshipnan
Wilkes Henry, while engaged in surveying, were
treacheousy assaled by tue natives, and, after brave
hut Intellectual resistance, murdered, before il
was possible to relieve them. Their bodies were res
cued and properly Inferred and Lieutenant Wilkes
hlced on the offending savages severe chassement
which viii probably deter them from similar outrages
in future. lie also fortunate enough 10 capture
noted chief, who insgated the massacre of greater
part Of the Of the brig Charles Daggei, of Sa-
lem, in 1884. This chef he proposes 10 bring The
United States, to he dealt with the Government
shall direct.
Al the last dates, 9th November 1Sl0 the squadron
was at the Sandwich islands, undergoing repairs. 1t
was the intention Of Lieutenant Wilkes 10 visit the
Northwest coast of America, ard 10 return to the United
States early in the summer of 1872.
A squadron Of small schooners, under the command
of Lieutenant John T. Mclaughlin, has for some time
force has been increased, since the last annia! report
from this Department. 10y The addition Of three revenue
cutters placed under the direction Of the Department
for that purpose, by the Secretary OF the Treasury and
new schooner built under the direction Of the War
Department The whole force now consists of seven
schnoners.
Important assistance has been rendered by this it,
tie squadron in the military operations in Florida. 1t
has furnished tie means OF penetrating Tie interior Of
the country and attacking thc enemy in his businesses
Lieut. Mclaughlin has manifested great bravery cner
~ and ZEAL and much credit s due 10 him, and to The
force under his command for the handsome manner in
which they have acquitted themselves.
In obedience TO the act CT July, $780, the brig Con
SORT under the command Of Lieutenant Powell, has
been diligently engaged in the survey OF the coast
from the BAY of Appalachiocla to tie mouth of the Mis-
sissppi This survey was completed in June last and
Lieutenant Powell has since been engaged in the sur
vey of the South shoals of Nantucket
The brig Dolphin, Commander Bell, and schooner
Grampus, Lieutenant Paine, returned the former IN
Nav and the latter in August last, from their second
cruise oil the of Africa These vessels have been
actively and efficiently engaged in the suppression OF
the slave trade, and IN the protection OF onr citizens
engaged in commerce on that coast. regret 10 say
that their officers nd have suffered severely from
the diseases of the climate; and is owing IN great
decree TO the constant vigilance and prudent pecan
tons of the commanders, that their suferngs were not
still greater Notwithstanding the extreme sickness
of The climate, it is impossible TO dispense with squad
ron on that coast In addition TO The interesting duty OF
suppressne the slave trade which could not be other
wise effected the lawful commerce of our citizens with
all parts Of the coast is rapidly increasing, and already
EMPLOYS very large capital. This trade s an object OF
so much importance, and is commended Tor IN so strong
snrt of rivalry by traders Of different countries that
the presence of national vessels absolutely necessary
10 protect them in their just rights, and To prevent those
outrares unfriendy the harmony OF nations to which
men are often driven by the thrs, of gain 1t is also
worthy of considerations that the presence o. our pup
lie vessels is great Importance to cooniss, by
ryino them consequence in the eyes of the ncghbor-
ina native tribes These views give great interest to
mi, souadron and render it desirable that IT should
be placed upon the NEST effective footing Many ad.
itonal precautions however, necessary, IN order
10 protect the crews from the fatal diseases of the eli.
mate and TINS to enable the squadron properly 10 dis
cborne IFS duties have taken measures 10 obtain the
requisite information upon this point and hope to be
able 10 avail myself of when new squadron shall be
appointed 10 that service
The operations of these vessels have been highly va
uabe protecting the rights Of our citizens engaged
in trade and in preventing the traffic IN slaves lhey
have perormed all that could have been reasonably ex
pected of SO small force. An additional number Of Of
vessels. of which should be OF larger SIZE, VIII
undoubtedly be necessary for the security of our in
creasng trade in that quarter and for the efec'na sup
preston of the slave trade This trade, regret to say
+ s carried on TO considerable extent, notwiths;and
ing the vigilance of cruisers, aided by the active
co.operation Of those of England.
Represe nations having been made to the Depart.
ent Of an act of unlawful violence committed against
American citizens on the coast Of New Grenada the
brig Dolphin, under the command of Lieutenant Nc.
Kean. was despatched to that quarter in September
last, with such instructions were deemed necessary
to redress the wrong and 10 guard against the commits
sion Of similar oulrages in future. Intelligence has
b,en received ms late the 18th October at which time