Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-23
PUBIC DOCUMENTS
REPORT OF THE sfCREFaRf or TIE .N9YY.

| To tie PresidGsi If tie United S,ates:-s
! Sir: | have the honor 10 submit the following report
The Navy of,hs United States is composed Of
/ Eleven ships nf the line; OF which rated f1
20 guns, and ten for "A guns.
Fifteen frigstes Of Tho first class; of which one ii
rated for al guns and fourteen for A guns,
Two irgates Of the second class, Of 80 guns each.
Eighteen shops of war; Of which eleven are rate,
for 20 guns two for j. guns, and five for III guns
| Two briggs and four schooners, rated for ten guns
| each.
Four steamers; besides
vessels and five small schooners =
At the date Of the last ANNA! report from:ths De
partment, the Ships in commission cmpnyed as
follows:
In the Mediterranean the Ohio, Of II guns, Captain
Lavastte; the Brandywine, of "A guns Capt. Bolton
and The Cyane, Of 20 guns, Commander Percival, who
relieved accoun! of i'll health, and Succeeded by
Commander Latimer; The whole squadron under ,!ir
command of Commodore Hull. The Cyene rc.
lieved by the s!oop of var Preblc, Commander Voor
hres and retarnsG u .be L. States in My lost, her
cruise having been performed. The Ohio returned IN
The l7th Of July last, and the Brandywine the 9h
OF May last The return of the Brandywine was ow-
ing TO particular causes not connected with The orgi
nal purposes OF her cruise and her presence IN the
Mediterranean was important, she ordered back,
under the command Of Capt Geisinges In July last
the slonp of war Fairfield, Commander Tainall, sailed
Tor the Mediterranean, taking out Commodore Charles
| w morgan, who now commands the squadron on that
station The squadron consists present oil the Bran
DIVINE Fairfield and Prcbie The honor Of the flag,
ia lis intercourse with those of other nations, appears
10 haVe been properly sustained by this squadron; 4
que support and counenance have been afforded 10
mercantile Interest, and the amicable relations Of our
country with foreign nations have been respected and
preserved.
In the Pacific the frigate Constitution, Captain
Turner; the sloop of war ST Louis, Commander French
Forrest; the sloop of war Yorktown Commander Au-
lick; the soop of war Dale Commander Gaunt; and
The schooner Shark, Lieut. Bigelow; the whole under
the command Of Commodore Alexander Claxton.-
Commodore Clsxton died at Talcuabana, in March
last TO the great loss Of the service and the inst regret
OF The country. Upon that event The chief command
Of the squadron devoved on Capt Daniel Turner, who
returned 10 the u S with the Constitution on the 3lst
o October last the time Of her having expired.
Commodore Thomas Al G. Jones, having been appoint.
ed to the command of that station, will sail in the ri-
gate U. 5. in the Of the fortnight. The
sIoop of Cyane, Commander Striking, sailed for
the same station early in November. Upon The arrival
Of Commodore Jones, the squadron the Pacific will
consist Of The fgate United States, the sloops of
ST Louis, Yorktown, Cynnc, and Dale, and the scoon-
er Shark.
Orders were given 10 Commodore Claxton TO employ
OF his vessels in cruising in The Gulf Of California
and along the northwest, coast Of America, and, il
cumstances should permit TO despatch another 10 visit
the Sandwich and Friendly islands, in order to afford
protection and assistance IL citizens engaged III the
Of war ST. Louis, Commander French Forrest,
dered 10 cruise in the Gulf and along the Western
coast Of California. This duty performed in a
manner highly cediiable to Commander Forrest. The
atrocities committed American and English rest
Gens al Monterey end It's ncighborhnod By The MeNi-
can authorities, are well known Under the unfounded
prelence Of conspiracy among the foreigners tn wrest
the country from Mexico and 10 set up separate and
independent Government of their own they were al
tackled by armed soldiers IN the night wounded, beaten
"A. n, q ,n,-
property destroyed without even the forms of trial. In
the midst of these outrages, Commander Forrest ar
rived upon the coast and, by his prompt and spirited
ol Enisttarr Gsizens, of British subjects rcsiden,
in Cpper California. For these services Commander
Forrest received and appears 10 have well deserved
formal expression Of the thanks both OF American and
English residents.
In consequence Of the civil Disturbances in Upper
Peru il was deemed proper despatch the Shark, un
der the command of Lieut. A. Bigeow, to cruise upon
that coast. The movement WAS iudiclous and well
timed and the delicate trust reposed in Lieut.. Bge-
low was discharged in manner highly satisfactory 10
this Department. The property OF American citizens,
exposed 10 the rapacty and awless violence Of con-
tending factions in the midst Of civil war, was etectu'
ally protected whilst all who witnessed the operations
of the Shark were inspired with increased respect for
the American flag Ii is highly gratifying to observe,
that Lieut.. Bigelow, well rs Commander Forrest,
extended The protection of flag to the citizens and
subjects Of other countries we'll as TO those CT our
OWL
In further execution of the orders of the Department.
the sloop of war Yorktown, Commander Aulick, was
despatched in May last, 10 the Sandwich and Friendly
Islands, with view TO render such assistance as might
he necessary 10 whale fishers and other ctizens ira
ding in that part Of the Pacific. No intelligence mas
beef received from her since she lett Valparaiso
The conduct of this squadron, as well under Inc
command of Commodore Claxon as under that OF Capt
Turner has ncen highly satisfactory TO the Department
No disorder nor failure duty has yet been reported
10 me- calling for my censnre or disapprooauon' oh
the con,rary the sctest regard appears 10 have been
mid 70 The honor of the fay and to The duties which 1t
owed TO the country and lis citizens Captain Turner
very propery avaied himself Of opportunity to show
respect 10 friendly Power, by receiving on board inc
Constitutions at Calao and conveying TO Rio, the Bra
z,an charge daffares For tins act oil courtesy ne re-
ceived the thanks of The Imperial Government.
Iwor,d respectfully solicit your attention, in par
cn.ar manner to the situation OF American interests
in the Pacific ocean. According TO IN estimate made
by an intelligent gentleman lately returned rom me
Pacific there are al this time not less IMAM l'rly MI
lions dollars engaged in the whale fisheries aione oil
hcb the greater part is American. have grea. con-
Gdence in the accuracy Of this estimates but, even
ho IN, orce there will remain, after all reasonable &C.
ductons, an interest Of vast magnitade ana import
ance American merchants have formed estaoiisi-
n.ns IN different parts OF the coast from Chiii I'd 10
lnmho river some ofihem very extensive and import
an, and all Of them worthy the attention Of Govern
ment In Upper California there are already consider
able settlements of Americans, ana others are aa'iy re-
sort;ng TO that fertile and delightful region. Such,
however is the unsettled condition Of that whole coun
ry that they cunno, be safe, either in their persons o.
prop.rty except under the protection oil our naVa
power This protection cannot be afforded IN proper
degree and with suitable prompness by so small "a a
SQUADRON Ms we have usually kept in that sea. 10
cruise along extensive coast, calling at all neces
ssry points, and at the same time TO visit those parts Oh
The Pacific in which the presence OF our ships Is hece
for the protection and assistance OF our whale s
cries. requires twice the number of vessels now ,o" ,hn
~. Gnlr of California should be fully explored; and
this duty alone will give employment for long time to
one or two vessels of the smallest class FOR .nese
soas have caused estimates to be prepared Tor large
increase of the Pacific squadron a..
also respectfully submit to your consideration en1
,,opety of establishing at some suitable point on OUT
territory bordering that ocean, post to which our YES
sci. may resort. Many positions well sdae'ee o to hs
object may be found between the mouth Of hs
sn,.d they be not to be found territory
Our public vessels cruising in that ocean are
be NJ from the United States not less than four
within which time they necessarily require variety Of