Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-12-19
Report Of the secretary Of
the Navy.

ms is PLAIN ana practicai document
but too long for our columns. We give
the following synopsis Of the most impor-
tant information which it furnishes.
Tho Navy consists of six ships of the
line, one razee, fourteen lrigates, twen-
,y .one sloops of war, sixteen briss and
schooners, three store ships, and eight
steamers aloat and there are on the
stocks, unfinished, three frigates, one
store ship, an iron steamer at Pittsburgh,
and one at the Navy Yard in Washing
ton.
The vessels in commission have been
employed as follows
IN the Home Squadron, the frigate
Potomac, The sloops Vncennes, Wanda
liza and Falmouth, the brgs Somers and
Lawrence, and the steamer Union, un-
der the command Of Com. Conner. In
the month of August the Vincennes re-
turned north from the Gulf of Mexico,
was put in ordinary, ard her crew dis
charged.
In the Mediterranean sea, the squad.
ron was under command of Com. Morris,
unit he left taat station in the Delaware
IA in February, when the command de-
volvcd on Com. Jos. Smith. Our naval
forces in that sea consist Of the frigates
Cumberland and Columbia, sloops Ply
mouth and Fairfield, and store ship Lex
ington The new sloop St. Mary's is
under order, and will proceed, as soon as
she is ready for sea, to relieve tho Fair
field.
On ths coast of Brazil, the squadron
has consisted ofthe Columbus "a, irig-
aics Rarilan and Congress, sloops John
Adams and Boston, brig Bainbridge and
schooner Enterprise.
The Columbus, John Adams and
Enterprise have returned home, been
put in ordinary, and their crews dis
charged. The squadron is under the
command of Com. Daniel Turner.
In the Pacific Ocean there have been
employed the frigates United States and
Savannah, sloops Cyane, Levant and
Warren, schooner Shark, and storeship
Relief. The United States and Cyane
have returned home, been put in ordi
nary, and their crews discharged, The
new sloop Portsmouth las been fitted loI
sea s. is under orders TO join this squadron
Com. Thos. Ap c. Jones was relieved
from the command by Com. Alexander
j. Dallas, by whose lamented death in
the month Of June last, the command
devolved on Capt. James Armstrong, the
second in command. Com. John ID.
Sloat has been ordered TO the Pacific to
assume command on that station.
No change has been made in the ves-
sells composing the East India Squadron
since the last annual report. The frig.
ate Brandywine arrived at Macao with
the Hon. Caleb Gushing on board, in
February. The sloop ST. Louis and the
brig Perry have since arrived at the
same port. Both of these vessels were
detained OH their outward passage by
the illness of Cont. Cooke, of the ST.
Louis, and Of Comr. Dupont, Of the Per.
ry. To the modification Of both these
officers, and to the regret Of the Depart
mcnt, each was compelled, by the state
Of his health, to reinquish his command
and return to the United States, Capt.
Mckccyer and Com. J ohm Stone Paine
were sent out to supply their places
The squadron is commanded by Commo-
dore kearney, returned home in April
last, after n cruise Of nearly four years.
She has been laid up and her crew dis
charged.
The squadron on the Coast Of Africa,
under command Of Commodore M. G..
Perry, consists Of the frigato Macedoni-
an, sloops Saratoga and Decatur, and
brig Porpoise, mounting ninety-three
guns. The sloops Proble s. Yorktown,
and brig Truxton, have beer sent out to
relieve the Saratoga, Decatur and Por-
pose. The new sIoop jamestown has
been launched and is in active .prepara-
ton to 90 to relieve the Macedonian
Commodore Chs. w. Skinner has been
ordered to proceed in her to the station
and relieve Commodore Perry. Anoth-
er sloop vii, be ordered TO the station
with all practicable despatch The
squadron rs thus constituted will mount
eighty y-three guns. 1t is found that sin
gle decEed vessels are best suited to the
service, and that in them the health of.
the officers and crew will be more secure
ihan in those of larger class and more
difficult Of ventilation.
AppsehcDs,ons which had been en-
tertaincd for the health Of the squadron
have happily proved unlounded and the
deietcrous influence Of climate has been
felt only by those on shore. The squad
ron is believed to have happily proved
unloundcd aud the delelerious influence
Of climate has been felt only by those on
shore. The squadron is believed to
have exercised favorable influence in
the slave trade. A store
ship is now about 10 sail from New York
with stores for this squadron.
Ofihc vessels employed on special SER
vice o-tho lrigate Constitution, Capt Il
Perciyal, sailed from New York in
May las, on a cruise in the Indian Ocean
tho steamer Princeton, Capt. Stockton
has been employed in gun practice aud
aud Las been ordered for u |
cruise TO test her capablliics,as well un-
der sails as steam, and determine the ad-
,antaccs OF her mode ol propulsion the \