The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-10

|
bearing the flag OF Commodore Parker and the sloop St
Louis. Commander II. II. Cooke, sailed from Norfolk on
on the 18th Of July and sailed thence ON the 9Th OF
leak discovered in the bow of the ST. Louis which
obliged herto put back to Rio for repairs at which place
she arrived on the 18th OF September was expected that
the vessel would sail again in few days The brig
Perry which launched in May has been despatched
under the command of Commander s. f. Dupont to JON
The African squadron is composed the frgate Mace.
DOMAIN Captain Mayo, the soop Saratoga Commander
Tattnal the sloop Decatur Commander Abbott and the
brig Porpose, Lieutenant Stewagen the whole under
the command OF Commodore Matthew {. Perry. The
brig Consort is now fitting out at Boston as store ship for
The cruising ground of the squadron extends from
Madeira and Canary Islands to the Blight of Biara and
from the coast oArica to the heth degree Of west ongi
tude.
The following vessels have been employed special
The brig Truxton, Lieut. Upshur, sailed from Norfolk
in June last for Consantinope to bring home the remains
of the late Commodore David Porter She is daily expect
ed to arrive in the United States.
The brig Oregon, Lieutenant NOW Commander Powell
which had been employed a survey OF the Gulf of Mex
ico between Apaachcola Bay and the Mississippi river
under resolution OF Congress- dated the 10th july lS4O
arrived Norfolk the 27h July last the being too
far adv permit further continuance OF operations
The steamer Poset also engaged in this survey remain
ed and the work has been resumed under Lieutenant
The schooner Flirt Lieut.. j. A. Davis made trip to
Chagres in April -, with mail for the Pacific squadron
returned to Norfolk in July and has since been do
spatched to Galveston, Texas.
The schooner Phoenix, Lieut.. Sinclair has also been
employed as despatch vessel aud has recently returned
from Chagres.
The brig Lawrence built at Baltimore by contract has
fitted out and placed under the command of Comman
der w. H. Gardner, and has just departed from Norfolk
| on cruise to the Windward Islands.
The sloop Marion, Commander w. NJ. Armstrong, re.
turned from cruise in the West Indies in May last and
| is now ready for sea at Boston,
| The small steamer Engineer has new boiler put in
her. and used tender to the receiving ship at
| Norfolk
The vessels employees receiving ships the Penn
sylvania Captain Zantznger at Norfolk 1.-THE Ohio Capt
at New York; the Experiment Commander Varnum, at
Philadelphia, and the Onkahye, Commander Knight, at
Charleston, sc. The Ontario lately used receiving
ship at New Orleans and the Wave at Baltimore, have
| been laid up for the present at Norfolk
Two war steamers, with submerged propellers have
been launched during the ycarthe Union and the Prince
ton The Union constructed upon the plan of Lieut.
Hunter with submerged horizontal wheels upon the Sides
The trial of this considered quite satisfactory
to the Department. The boilers, however having been
somewhat faulty, are to he substituted when it
not doubted by the ingenious inventor that high rate
appended also the letter othe Department on trial
| Of this vessel
The Princeton with Ericson's propellers, vessel OF
beautiful model both for appearance and efficiency
constructed under the immediate direction and supervi
full experimental cruise under his command to and about
NEW York; the official report OF which is hereto appen-
| ded.
Should these experiments further trial. equal the
expectations confidently entertained Of them new
will commence in steam navigation and particularly
in the use of Vessels that the
pleasure of their commanders against wind or tide and
whose machinery beneath the reach of an enemys fire,
will be able easily to overcome and destroy any warves-
| sells of the ordinary structure
improvements ofsome magnitude and much utility have
made the year in the Navy Yards at Portsmouth
NJ H. Charlesown and Gosport and others proposed
in the different yards the ensuing year. for all the details
of which refer ou to the appended report Of the Chief OF
| the Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks.
For the service Of the next year the Of the
following force is proposed =
For the Squadron three frigates six sloops two
steamers and five briggs and schooners making in all six
teen vessels. For the Mediterranean three rgates four
soops brig and one storeshipnne vessels For the
coast of Africa four sloops briggs schooners and
one store shipseyen vessels For the coast of Brazil
two frgaes three sloops, one brig and ono toreshp-
vessels For the Pacific three four slooPs
two briggs schooners, and sore-shipten vessels
For the East Indies two rgates two sloops one brig and
store-shipsx vessels For the Lakes, one steamer
For special service the Mississippi Princeton
and Union and the small iron steamer now building at
| the Navy Yard, Washington.
adequate protection to national interests embarked in
increased and growing commerce the distant sta
TONS The force proposed to be added to the home squad
rom the cruising ground Of which extends from New.
oundland to the river Amazon in South America seems
to be necessary in guarding our own shores in protecting
whole seaboard from the St. Croix to the Sabine and
giving countenance and assistance to our foreign
with the West India Islands, and with the ports on
| the American continent. n.
The ships proposed to be employed built aoat
the officers necessary to comnand them are mostly in
and under raythe deterioration of the ships
is little more while IN service than when laid up in ord
naryhe officers degenerate by ideness while they are
| improved by service. The expense OF manning and sail
ing these ships Of is greater than when laid up
But have competent and skful officers, good and
efficient sailors only by long course Of active ser
vice. That the schools in which they taught and in
which they acquire knowledge Of their duties. To
cessary to sail and efficiently to manage it in the
| with maritime power would be in effect but add
ing to the force OF the enemy at the nations cost and
the national disgrace have therefore. hesitation in
recommending the employment Of sufficient number o
vessels require the services of every officer that
be spared from shore duty and capable Of sea service.
| A increase grades
will be needed to keep this force aoa would recon
mend that the number of midhpmen to be kept high
as the beginning Of this year, About ten more
purscrs could be benefcially employed Several OF the
sailing masters being from age or infrmy unfit for sea
would recommend that the provso limiting the number
officers of the Navy which was passed the 4th Of Au
gust 1872 be repealed far as regards the warrant Off
GERS excepting mdshpmen the present number being
/ insufficient for the wants Of the service.
The appropriation for increase repairs SC. for the yea
iSi34 having been heavily drawn upon in payment o
contracts made, and in the execution of plans and the
completion OF works in progress anterior to the com
mencement of the present fiscal year, it deemed ne
cessary in October last to discharge large portion
the persons employed under this head leaving however
is believed enough funds unexPended to meet most
able to this appropriation The act of Congress of the 3s
August lsa2 which forbds the transfer OF appropriations
men has operated nurously Were these transfers per
mted 1t is believed that sufficient might be fount
tons pay most Il not a needfi outlaws =, in tbs ns
completing and repairing Of vessels and for payments OF
the public interests would be promoted Congress te
authorize these transfers early in the ensuing
There several contracts made of them years
since for the supply of timber and various materials
the Navy, which have expired without having been
pleed Heretofore the Department has been in the prac
ce of extending the time for completing these
where the interests of the United States have suffered
by such extension The law of the Sd March, lsi3 re-
quiring all contracts be given by advertisement to the
lowest bidder TO prohibit their further extension
There many contractors who would have large sums
due them the completion OF their contracts for previous
deliveries being the ten per cent reserved tho
Of those deliveries but in consequence of the nonexten-
sion and nonulflment Of those contracts these
remain unpaid As the United States have suffered loss
by these delays and as the parties expected extension
according TO former usage appears to be proper
for the nerposton of Congress for their relief Congress
provided for analogous by dated February 10th
1882 and the passage of similar act at this time would
enable the Department to effect equitable settlement
| these
II is not proposed TO make any contracts the ensuing
L live iubpr ol,t