Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-01-16
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE NAVY.
Navy DEPARTMENT, Dec. 5. 1910.

DIX '-ln performance oil duty annu-
ally devolving on this Department, re-
specially submit the following report:
The squadron in the Mediterranean
. remains the same as it was at the date OF
my last report, and consists of the Ohio
IA, the Brpndywine first Gloss frigaie) aud
the Cayne sIoop Of war-lhe whole under
the command Of Commodore Isaac Hull.
This force has been found fully adequate
to the protection of our commerce, which
has remained uumolested in that quarter.
The squadron on the Pacific station is
composed Of the frigaie Constitution, the
sloop Of war 81. Louis, and the schooner
Shark, under Commodore Claxion. Since
the date Of my last report, he schooner
Enterprise then Oh her way home, aud
the sloops Of war Lexington and Falmouth
which had been directed to return, 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been replaced by the sloops Yorktown and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 a
schooner. Commodore Cax,on has been
directed TO despatch the Yorktown on
cruise to the Sandwich and Society Is.
lands, New Zealand, the coast of Japan,
the Gulf Of California and the Ladrones,
and Marqnesas, for the general protection
of our whaling interests, andiother con-
merci6l purposes.
The squadron on the coast OF Brazil
under Commodore J. b. Nicholson, at the
date Of my last report, was composed Of
| the razec Independence, and the soops OF
war Fairfield and Marion. The two for
mer have returned to the United States
lCommodore Nicholson having been re.
lleved in the command Of that station by
Commodore Charles G. Ridgely, whose
force now consists Of the Potomac, fret
class frigate, the soo2s oil war Decatur
and Marion, and the schooner Enterprise.
The difficulties between the French Gov.
eminent and that ofthe Argentine Repub-
lie still subsisling, and the blockade con.
Iiinuing 10 be rigidy enforced, it has been
thought expedlent to augment this force,
and the sloop Of war Concord is now on
the eve Of sniliag for that purpose.
/ The squadron employed ia the Gulf Of
Mexico and the West Indies, under Com.
rnodore William b. Il. Shubrick, at The
date Of my late report consisted Of the
lrlgate Macedonian, and the sloops of wal
Ontario, Erie, Warren, and Levan,. The
Ontario has been ordered to the north for
repairs, and the Erie, being found unfit for
service, has been detached from the
squadron. The remaining vessels, with
the exception Of tho Warren, were direct.
ed to leave the station during the hurri.
cane months, md proceeded to the North.
Commodore Shuhrick accordingly left
Pensacola in July last, with the Macedo-
man, Levant, and Ere, and arrived al
Boston in August-Thence he proceeded
to Eastport, and on his return visited the
coast as far south as Norfolk, where, in
conformity with his instructions 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 aud the slnops of war Levant and
| Warren, which force is deemed sufficient
for the protection Of our interests in that
quarter in the present state ofihngs.
The frigale Columbia, and corvette
John Adams, employed in a cruise, in the
Indian md China Seas, under Com. Geo.
C. Read for the protection Of the CON.
merce Of the United gtaies in that quarter,
have returned home. The friga,e Consiel
aton, and sloop Of war Boston, have re-
Gently sailed Tor Rio de Jenerio, where
they will replenish their supplies, and
receive Captain Lawrence Kearney, now
in command of the flag ship on the Bra.
lillian station, who will hoist his pendant,
on the Constellation, rs commander ofIhe
East Indian squadron, and proceed with
that vessel and the Boston to carry Out
his Instructions
The Exploring Expedition, as stated
in my Inst report was at GalIao, whence
Lieut.. Wilks, sailed on the Glib July, 1899.
Since that period he has visited The
Islands Navigotor's Group, Now Zealand
and various detached islands, with whose
inhabitants he held the most nmicabIe
intercourse, and with the ports and har-
bors of which he made himself particular.
" acquainted. On the 26h December,
1889, he left the port OF Sidney, in New
Zealand, and proceeded to penetrate the
Antarctic Sea. On the l9h OF January
following, the Vincennes discovered land
in latitude in GO 2 south, longitude l54 81
east, and had soundings in thirty fathoms
water. The same day the Peacock made