The North-Carolina standard., 1842-12-28
ABsTR or OF THE REPORT or THE
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY: -

THE Secretary commences his report With mat
ters connected with the Home Squadron, which
is placed under command of Com. Stewart 1t.
is composed of the ffigatcs independence. mag
ship) Constitution. steamers Missouri ana M!s
sissippi: sloops Falmouth and Vandalia; brig
Dolphin and the schr. Grampus. The original
design of the Squadron was TO cruise along the
coast give protection to trade aid vessels IN dis
tress. make soundings, observations, &C.. but
being unnecessarily large for these purposes, 1t
was assigned the duties performed by the west
India Squadron, and the latter Squadron with
drawn.
The cruising ground of the Home Squadron ex-
tends from the Banks of Newfoundland to the
river Amazon, including the Caribbean sea and
Gulf of Mexico The steamships Missouri and
Mississippi are tco expensive in time of peace but
will be useful in to guard our coasts and
harbours and as auxiliaries in fleets. The great
consumption of fuel renders it impossb bic to send
them on any distant service. The impossIbllhy OF
beating up the coast against the trade win;ls and
Gulf stream, suggests the propriety of assigning
two or three steam vessels of medium size to that
duty These would afford a sufficient protection
to our commerce, while they would serve TO keep
up the necessary Intercourse between the com
mander of the squadron and that portion OF 1t
destined to service in the Gulf of Mexico
The Brazilian squadron, under the command
of Com Morris, the Sec retary says has diStingu-
ished itself for good ORDER discipline and attention
to all the duties of its service. Notice IS made OF
the death of Commander Voorhees, who died at
SMYRNA who is represented as ''an officer OF high
order and of merit, and his death as serious loss
to his country
Orders have been given for an exchange,-
Commodore Morris to command the Medtsr-
ranean squadron, and Commodore Morgan the
Brazil squadron.
Our relations with the countries of the Medi
terranean have been preserved on the most friend
lv footing, with the singl, exception of the en-
pire of Morocco In consequence OF an outrage,
offered by a subordinate officer Of that Govern
rnent to the late Consul of the United States, Mr..
Carr, it was deemed necessary to call on the high
er authorities to dis1voW the act AMI to punish the
aggressor. This was promptly done by Com
mo1ore Morgan, and after many dTllyS and much
unnecessary formality on the part of the Emperor
ample redress was afforded by the public dSavoW|
al of the offence and the dismissal of the offend
ing officer Credit is given to Commodore Nor
gan for the manner i'll which he conducted the
affair.
Nothing has occurred to interrupt the friendly
relations of our country with the nations border
ing on the Pacific coast of America. The squad
ron in the Pacific consists Of the frigate United
States, Captain Armstrong; slooP Cyane, Com
mandGr StribIing sioop Yorktown, Lieutenant
Nicholas; sloop Dale Commander Donin; and
the schooner Shark, Lieutenant Eaglcson; all
under the command Of Commotore L. Ap G.
Jones, which is represented as having performed,
at all times its duty ably and faithfully, but is
much too small The Secretary thinks too little
attention has heretofore been paid to the important
interests of our country in the Pacific, and says
the English settlers have, by their enterprise
nearly engrossed the trade from the Columbia riv
er to the islands, so that our coantrymen are as
effectuallV cut off from it, il they had rights
in that quarter. The people OF various countries
are rapidly forming settlements all along the
shores of the Pacific from Columbia river TO the
Gulf OF Califoria; and this too, with the coun-
n1Ec, AMI support of their respective Govern
ments.
He recommended very large increase of the
Pacific squadron.
In the East Indies, we have only the frigate
Constellation and the sloop of war Boston, which
have elected credit for vigilance and activity.
On the coast of Africa we have no squadron
The small appropriation of the present year was
believed to be scarcely sufficient to answer the
pressing demands of more important stations; and
hence no vessel has been e4upp expressly for the
African seas The Sloop OF war Vandalla, Com
mander Ramsay, belonging TO the Home Squad
ron, was assigned to that service i'll March last
and is still the coast. The ratification of the
Treaty with England renders it necessary that
squadron of at least eighty guns shoulI be assign
ed to that service.
The report states that several captures and muir
ders have been perpetrated by the natives and III
structons given to Com. Ramsay, to demand re-
paration. Our commerce in this quarter is repre-
sented as increasing, and the presence of armed
vessels is asked to prsrent we'll punish, all
violators of the law oftradc. The Secretary says
sthe suppression of the slave trade, cannot be
discharged without a much larger force on the
coast of Africa than have yet maintained there"
The Secretary mentions the rich and abundant
stores in all the departments of natural history,
which have resulted from the Exploring Expedi-
ton, and asks for provision to compensate the ne
cessary aid requested by 1t. Wilkes. to assist him
in completing the various charts, of the numerous
surveys, &c.
The Secretary thinks, notwithstanding the'pre-
sent unfavorable condition of the Treasury and all
other circumstances, there should be gradual in
crease of the Navy-that it is the policy of the
country, and Suitable Navy is absolutely neces-
sary to the protection of our trade, the security of
the people and the respectability of our Govern
ment." He sees nothing local in this question,
but after stating the immense amount of property
to be protected, he says: 81 am at loss to per-
celve what portion Of cur country is not interested
in them. 70 the States bordering on the Gulf of
kfevico and IN al fheSa which tho M;e.;.A;,,