Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-18
RICHMOND WIG. -
NAvr DrrAarxssr, December 4, 1871.

port.
The Navy Of the United States is composed Of
Eleven ships Of the line; OF which one is rated 70
100 guns, and ten Tor "a guns
Eileen frga,es OF the first class; of which one i
rated for 81 guns, and fourteen for ~ guns
Two ftish'es Of the second class, of SO gum
each.
Eighteen sl,op, OF war; Of which eleven are rate,
for 20 guns, two tor is guns, and FIVE FOR l6 guns
Two br'ss ani four schooners, rated for ten gun.
each.
-Four steamers; beside,
Three store ships, three vessels used as receiyn.
vessels, and five small schooners
A. ths da'e OF the last annual report from thi,
Department, the ships IN commission were emnloy.
cd follows:
In the Meciterrine,n, the Ohio, Of - guns. Can.
tain Lavalleite; the Brsndywine, Of a Guns. Can.
,in Bolton; and The Cyanc. of 20 guns, Comman
der Percival, who was relieved on account % m
health, and succeeded 10y Commander La,imer: the
whole squadron under the command Of Commodot.
Hull. Toe Cysne was relieved 10y the sloop of war
Preble, Commander Voorhees,, and returned TO IN.
United States IN May last, her cruise having been
performed. The Ohio returned on the i7Ih OF July
l st, and the Brandy wine on the oh of Nav last
The return of the Brandywine was owing to psrti o.
cular causes not connected with the original pnrpo
OF her cruise; and, as her presence IN the Medi
terranean was important, she was ordered back un.
der the command of Cspt,in GeIslnser. In Iuly
last, the s'onp ~ war F'iIfeld, Commander Tat
nall, sailed for the Mediteri anean, taking out Com
uodore Charles W Morgan, who now commands
the squadron on that station. The squadron con.
lists at pre>en; of the BrsLdywine, Fairfield and
PEBBLE. The hoa"r OF the flag, in its intercourse
with those OF other nations, appears TO have been
properly sustained Oy this squadron; due support
and couu,enance nave been afforded to our me can
u interest, and the an,cabe relations OF our coun-
try With ioTelgn nations have been respected an.
preserved.
In the Pacific ocean the frisate Constitution c ~
tain Turner; the sloop Of var ST. Louis. Comman
der French Forrest; the sloop Of war Yorktown,
Commander Auck: the slDop of war Dale, Com
manier Gaunt; and the schooner Shark, Lieuten-
ant gelow; the vhole under the command OF
CommOdore Axlcxander CiaXton. Commodore
Clxton Died al THcuNhana IN March last to the
great loss Of the service and the just Roget of the
country. Upon that event. the chief command OF
the squadron devov'd on Captain Daniel Turner
who returned IL The United States with the Consti
tuition on the 3lst OF October asst the time of her
cruise having expired. Commodore Thom,s Ap
G. Jones, having been appointed TO the command
of that station. will sail IN the frigile United State.
III the course Uf the next fortnight. Tne sIoop o.
war Cya1e, Commander Striking, sailed tor III,
same station early IN November. Upon the arriv O.
of Commodore Jones, the squadron in the Pac hc
wi! consist 81 the frsa'e UnI,ed States the soops
war S.. Louis. Yorktown, Cyane, and Dale, anC
the schooner Shark.
Orders were given 10 Commodore Cla1,on 10 en-.
plOy one OF ls EcSsCtS III cruising IN the Gult q
California and along the northwest coast OF Amer
ca and, II circumstances should permit, TO deS patch
another visit the SIndw ich and Friendly islands
in order u affJsG protection and assistance to ou
citizens engaged IN the whale fisheries. In obedi-
zee to this ORDER the soop of war 81. Louis, Com
,nander French Forrest, was ordered TO cruise il
the Gulf and along the western coast OF California
THIS duty was performed IN a manner highly ere
ditahle to Commander Forrest. The atrocities com
mitted on American and Eng ish residents al Mon
terey and It's neishborhood, by the Mexican aulho
rities are we'll known. Under the uni. unded pre-
tence OF conspiracy among the foreigners to wres
the country from Mckee, ana to set up a ST ?arai
and independent Government OF their own, they
were attacked by Ermed soldiers IN the night
wounded, beaten, imprisoned, sent in chains 70
distant place, and their property destroy 90, wIIhou
even the forms of trial. In the Iads, of these OUT
roz~s, Commander Forrest arrived upon the coast
and, by bis prompt and spirited inierposi'ion, win
dcaleo and secured the rights not only of America
citizens, but OF British subjects resident in Uppe
California. For these services Commander Forces
received, and appears TO have well deserved, for
NAL expression OF the thanks both Of American au
English residents.
In consequence Of the civil disturbances in Uppe
Peru, II was deemed proper 10 despatch the ShaTl
under the command of Lieut. A Bigelow to cruis
upon that coast. The movement was judlcious an
wei! timed and the delicate trust reposed in Lieu
tenant BigeIow was discharged in a manner high
Y
American citizens, exposed 10 the "a opacity and aw
less violence of contendng factions in the midst O
cival war; was effsctualiy protected, whist all VIII
witnessed the operations Of the Shark were inspire
with increased respect for the American flag. IL i
highly gratifying TO observe, that Lieut.. Bigelow
we'll as Commodore Forrest extended the pro
lection Of flag to the citizens and subjects Of olhe
countries well as TO those Of our own.
In further execution of the orders OF the Depart
men;, the sloop OF war Yorktown, Commander Au
lie, despatched in May last TO the Sandwich
and Friendly islands, with view 10 render sue
assistance might be necessary to our whale fisher
and other citizens trading in that part Of the Pacific
No intelligence has been received from her since sh
LETT Valparaiso.
The conduct OF this squadron, as well under III
command OF Commodore Clnxton under that O
Captain Turne', has teen highly satisfactory TO tn
Department. No disorder nor future in duty ha
yet been reported 10 me, calling for my censure 0
dlsapprObation On the contrary, the strictest re
gard appears to have been paid 10 the honor Of N
flag, and 10 the duties which II owed 10 the coua,r
and It's citizens. Captain Turner very proper:
avdiled himself Of an opportunity to show respCc
TO friendly Power, by receiving on board the Con
stituton, at Callho and conveying to Rio, the Bra
lillian charge dafftlrs. For this act Of courtesy h
received the thanks Of the Imperial Government.
would respectfully solicit your attention, IN
particular manner, TO the situation of American in
terests IN the Pdcihc Ocean. According TO an EST
mate made by an intelligent gentleman lately re
turned from the Pacific, there are at this time n,
less Ihaa forty millions of dollars engaged in m
whale rs ieries alone, Of which the greater part
American. have Jreat confidence in the accurnc
OF this estimate; bat even Il II he too large thei
will remain, after all reasonable deductions an in
terest OF vast magnitude and importance. Amer
can merchants tave formed esteb lishments in dii
ferent parts OF the coast, from Chla To Coumb
river, some nj them very extensive and Emporium
unc all Of them worthy the attention Of Govern
l.. ~
siderable Sc, Elements Of Americans and others az
oaily resoriing 70 that fertile and delightful rezor
Such however, 10 the unsettled condition Of H.,
whole country, thot they cannot he cafe, either
their person or property except undcrlhc protectin
Of our naval power. This protection cannot be al
iofded IN proper degree and with suitable prompt
ness, by so small a squadron as we have usual
kept IN that sea. To cruise along 90 extensive
coast calling al all necessary points, and at the san
time TO visit those parts Of the Pacific IN which N
presence Of our ships is necessary for the protecc
and assistance Of whale fisheries aulres w. i,
the number Of vessels now employed In mat servc
IL IS highly desirable, too, shat the Gulf Of Cal
fDrnIa should Je fully explored; and this duty aloi
will give employment Tor long time 10 one nr ~
vessels OF the smallest class. Fot th Sc reasons
have caused estimates 10 be prepared for large +
crease Of the Pacific squadron.
also respectfully submit TO your eonsidersti
the Pfoprlsty Of establishing, at some sutab bic Dol
on our territory bordering that ocean, a post
which our vessels may resort. Many positions VI
adapted to this object may be found between {
mouth Of Columbia river AMI Guayaqui, which.
IL presumed, may be procured, il they be- no. to
found our own territory. Our public vess
cruising in that ocean ere generally absent from
United States not less thun four years; within VIII
time they necessarily require variety OF suppl
which cannot nov be Obtained without very gt
difficulty and expense. Any considerable repair
almost impossible, with oil the means which con
furnished by oil the nations Of the coast Suet
post would also be Of incacuIaJ'o value no n nil
Of refuge and rolreshment 20 our commercial mari