The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1841-12-16

guns, Captain Storer the sloops of war Concord
Commander Boerum; Marion, Commander Belt
Decatur, Commander Ogden; and schooner Enter
PRISE Lieutenant Goldsborough all under the com
mand of Commodore Charles O. Rdgey
Commodore Ridgely, having desired To be relieved
In consequence Of i'll health and having been inform
ed that his successor would soon jeaSe the United
States returned home in the Constitution leaving the
squadron under tn. command of Captain Storer This
was in nowise injurious to the service and the rea-
sons assigned by Commodore Rdgey for his return
before the arrival of his altogether salts
factory to the Department On the LIST Of November
the Delaware, of IA guns, Captain g. S. McCauley
having on board Commodore Charles Morris left
Hampton Roads for this station. On her arrival, the
squadron will consist the Delaware Potomac, Con
cord, aron, Decatur and Enterprise all under the
command of Commodore Morris.
Nothing of particular interest has occurred in the
operations of this squadron. The friendly relation,
of our country with the Governments of the coast
have been strictly maintained, and the rights OF ouI
citizens have been duly respected by The local autho
rites.
In the West Indies, the Macedonian of thirty six
guns, Commodore Jesse Wilkinson the sloops o
war Levant, Commander Fitzhugh and Warren
Commander JAMESON. This squadron was ordered
TO return 10 the United States avoid the hurican.
season in the West Indies and is still here The
sloop of war Vandalia Commander Ramsay, will take
the place OF the Leyant and the whole squadron viii
be ordered back to its station soon as The vessels
be supplied with crews.
In the East Indies, the fngate Constellation, of SO
guns, Commodore Lawrence Kearney, and sloop OF
war Boston, Comma der Long, all under the con,
mand OF Commodore Kearney. The latest dispatches
from this squadron dated at sea, OIL the Cape 81
Good Hope 3lst of July, 1871 AT that time the off
GERS and crews of both vessels were in good health
and they were making the best other way the place
of their destination.
The exploring squadron, under the command d
Lieutenant Charles Wilkes consists of the sioop o
wa antla Inv nffic tbap aa
cock, Lieutenant Hudson; the brig Porpoise, Lieu
tenant Ringgold and the schooner Flying Fish,
tender 10 the squadron.
Intelligence down TO the 9th Of April 1870 has
been communicated in previous reports from this De
paitment. Al that time the squadron was in New
Zealand In further prosecution Of hi, cruise, Lieu
tenant Wilkes visited the Feeee islands, and succeed
ed in establishing useful regulations OF trade and in
tercouIse with some of the principal chiefs His sur
veys OF this group prosecuted with great care
and industry, and have served to ascertain the po
sitions OF large number OF dangerous reefs, and to
indicate many secure and convenient harbors This
will be of great value TO citizens trading with
that group and particularly to the whalers. Ia many
Of the harbors in which hitherto it considered
too dangerous to enter whales abound although very
tca are 10 be found in the neighboring sea.
The melancholy tragedy whi>h has already been
announced in the public journals enacted at this
group. Lieutenant Joseph A. u Underwood and Mid
shipman Wilkes Henry while engaged in surveying,
brave but Intellectual resistance were murdered be.
fore it was possible to relieve them. Their bodies
were rescued and properly Inferred and Lieutenant
Wilkes inflicted on the offending sayagea chas-
tsement, which will probably deter them from similar
outrages in future He was also fortunate enough
to capture noted chief, Tho nstigaed the massacre
Of greater part of the of the brig Charles Dag
get, OF Salem, in 1884 This chief he proposes To
bring to the United States be dealt with the Co
vernment shall direct.
"A 81. I.... - Al.
ron was at the Sandwich islands undergoing repair.
1t was the intention of Lieutenant Wilkes TO visit
the northwest coast of America and to return the
United States early in the summer OF 1912
squadron of small schooners under the com
mand Of Lieutenant John T. Mclaughlin has for
some time been co operating with the Army in Flor
da This force has been increased since the last an
nual report from this Department, by 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 d
recton of the Wa, Department The whole force
now consists of seven schooners.
Important assistance has been rendered by this lit
tie squadron the military operations in Florida Ii
has furnished the means Of penetrating the interior
of the country, and attacking the enemy in his fast
nesses. Lieutenant Nc Laughlin has ma infested
great bravery, energy, and zeal and much credit is
due to him, and to the force under his command for
the handsome manner in which they have acquitted
",
Sort under the command Of Lieutenant Powell, has
been diligently engaged in the survey of the coast
from the bay Of Appalachcola to the mouth of the
Mississippi This survey was completed in June last
and Lieutenant Powell has since been engaged in the
survey OF the South shoals Of Nantucket.
The brig Dolphin, Commander Bell, and schooner
Lieutenant Paine returned, the former IN
May and the latter in August last from their second
cruise on the coast Of Africa These vessels have
been actively and efficiently engaged in the suppress
sion of the slave trade and in the protection OF
citizens engaged in commerce that coast. regret
verely from the diseases of The climate; and is owing
in great degree to the constant vigilance and pru-
dent precautions OF the commanders, that their suffer
ngs were not still greater. Notwithstanding the ex
IRENE sickn OF the climate 1t is impossible 10 dis
pense with squadron that coast In addition to
the interesting duty of suppiessing the slave trade
which could not be otherwise effected, the lawful
of our citizens with all parts of the coast is
rapidly increasing, and already employs very large
capital This trade is object of 50 much impor-
lance and is contcnded for in strong spirit Of
rivalry by traders OF different countries that the pre-
sence of national vessels absolutely necessary pro
tect them thr just rights and 10 prevent those out
raves unfriendy to the harmony of nations which
men are often driven by the thirst of gam 1t is also
worthy of consideration, that the presence of pub
lie vessels of great Importance TO our coonlss 10y
giving them consequence in the eyes of the neishbor
ing native tribes. These views give great interest to
this SQUADRON and render il desirable that should be
placed upon the most effective footing Many add-
tiona precautions, however essary order
protect the from the fatal diseases of the climate
and thus to enable the squadron properly TO discharge
its duties have taken measures 10 obtain the requ-
site information upon this point and hope to be able to
avail myself of il when new squadron shall be APP
pointed to that service.
The operations of these vessels have been highly
valuable in protecting the rights of citizens en-
in trade and preventing the traffic in slaves
They have performed all that could have been
ably expected OF so small force An additional mum
her of vessels of which should be OF larger
will undoubtedly be necessary for the security of our
increasing trade in that quarter and FOL the electual
suppression of the slave trade This trade regret to
say is still carried to considerable extent not
outstanding the vigilance OF our cruiser, aided by
the active cooperation of those of England.