The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-12
REPORT
OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY!
NAvr DnrAKrnksr,

SIR have the honor To present the following 'S
port in relation to this Department;
The Home Squadron, authorized by the act OF 'he
let day Of August 1S4i has been put In COMMISSION
| and placed under the nd Of Commodore Slew
art IL is composed Of the frgales independence tue
flag ship, now under the command OF Captain or'"e-
ham the frigaie Constitution, Captain Parker the
steam frigate Missouri, Captain Newton the steam
frigae Mississippi. Captain Saleri the sooP raj
| mouth, Commander Mcintosh; the sioop Vandaiia'
Commander Ramsay; the brig Dolphin, Commander
KING ht and the schooner Grampus, Lieutenant Van
Brunt.
The original design Of this squadron was, to cruise
along on! own coast with view to extend the usua'
protection to trade; but more particularly 10 ahofu
assistance to vessels in Distress TO make accurate
soundings ana observations along our shores, IRON
which charts might be formed TO afford vessels OF
different classes always ready TO take The places oil
those returning from distant stations and to perform
any occasional for which vessels of war might
be required. Finding, however, that It was unnecss
sarly large for these purposes, and that active employ
ment could not be given it, determined to assign
to il the duties of the West India squadron, and to
withdraw that squadron from service. This has &c
cordingly been done, and the cruising ground of the
Home squadron now extends from the Banks of
Newfoundland to the river Amazon, including the
Caribbean sea and Gulf of Mexico. This service
qures one or small vessels, in addition to those
originally assigned to the squadron, and these pro-
| pose TO add
1t is found that the steam ships Missouri and Mis-
sissippi are unsued to cruising in time of peace
Their engines consume much fuel as to add enor'
mousy TO their expenses and the necessity that they
| coft FIR
fresh supplies, renders il impossible to send them
any distant service They will be useful vessels in
time Of war; as guards to and harbors, and
as auxiaries in fleets but they cannot be relied on
as cruisers, and altogether too expensive for
vice in time Of peace. have therefore determined
to take them of commission, and shall substitute
| for them other and less expensive vessels.
The Independence has n t yet gone to sea, owing
in part the fact that her have been taken
from time for other vessels, and in part to the
| necessary engagements Of Commodore Stewart in
other services The rest Of the squadron has, under
his orders been kept actively and usefulIy employed
and promises TO all the expectations Of Cor
gress in establishing II.
| The duties, originally contemplated for the Home
squadron, highly important, and such as require
in the commander the best order of Qualifications
They do not however, require many vessels the
| law establishing that squadron authorizes. While,
therefore, it is desirable that the squadron should be
such to be worthy fthe best professional rank and
talent it is equally desirable that It should not be Sc
large as to have any portion of 1t inactive. BY as
sig ming it the duties of the West India squadron,
| and ending the cruising ground to the Northern
boundary Of the cruzing ground Of the Brazil squad
ron the larger vessels may be kept on constant duty
| to windward In the mean time, the smaller vessels
| may in like manner, be employed in the Caribbean
sea and Gulf Of Mexico, where the harbors too
shallow admit those Of larger size, The mpossi-
bilty Of beating up the coast against the trade winds
and Gulf stream suggests the proprety Of assigning
two or three vessels Of medium size that duty
These would afford sufficient protection TO
mercc, while they would serve TO keep up the necessa-
~ intercourse between the commander Of the squad
ron and that portion Of it destined in the
| Gulfof Mexico Without the aid Of steam that in
tercour could not well be maintained for a vessel
| not propelled by steam entering the Gulf Of Mexico
| from the windward could not regain her position
without tedious and dangerous passage through the
! Gulf Of Florida.
The duties thus contemplated for the Home squad
ron will afford full employment for it, except during
| the hurric season, when it would not be p udent
for it to keep the sea- except in the Northern part of
| its cruising ground
The Brazil squadron consists of the Delaware "A
Captain McCauey the frigate Columbia, Captain
| T. r. Shubrick the soops of War Concord, Com
| mander Boerum John Adams, Commander Como
yer; Decatur, Commander Farragut; and the
schooner Enterprise, Lieutenant J. p Wilson, all
| under the command OF Commodore Morris
| This squadron | have reason To believe has
distinguished itself for good order, discipline, and
constant and strict attention to all the appropriate
duties and exercises of squadron service have
also the pleasure to report that the interests of
ttnI
ris, have been fully protected and secured and that
our relations with the countries within the range of
! his command have been preserved the most
| favorable and honorable footing.
After the return of the frgate Brandywine in July
last the squadron in the Mediterranean consisted Of
| only two sloops of war, the Fairfield, Commander
Tattnall, and the Preblc. Commander Voorhees,, un-
| der the command of Commodore M,rgan. | regret
to say that Commander Voorhees, died at Smyrna, on
the 9th July last; he was an officer of high order
of merit and his death is serious loss 10 his coun-
! try. The Prebe is now under the command of Com
mander Nicholson, and Commander Bigelow has
ceeded Commander Tattnall, who has returned to
| the United States.
On the 18th of July last, the frigate Congress- Cap
| tain p. f. Voorhees,, sailed for the Mediterranean
and on the 29th day of August last the Columbus a.
Captain Spencer, despatched 10 the station
The squadron now consists of the Columbus, Con-
gress Fairfield, and Preble all under the command Of
| Comm dore Morgan. Orders have been given, how
ever, assigning to Commodore Morris the command of
| the Mediterranean squadron, and to Commodore
Morgan that of the Brazil squadron. This exchange
| is made in execution of plan which propose for
! the management of all squadrons, and OF which
l shall speak at large in a subsequent part Of
| this report
Our relations with the countries of the Mediterra-
mean have been preserved the friendly foot
ing, with the single exception of the empire of Mo-
rocco. la consequence of outrage, offered by a
subordinate officer of that Government to the late
Consul of the United States Mr. Carr il was deemed
a he mol ta
the act, and to punish the aggressor This was
promptly done by Commodore Morgan, and after