, 1844-01-27
lFrem the N. York Sum-

pulls vi tHc secretaries OF wal anu
Of the Navy liz full; yet a synopsis
cannot but be of interest to our read
ers, as embodyig information on those
subjects which ought to be in posses
sion of the people. The two Secre-
taries also are new in their offices,
and their nominations have not vet
been sent into the Senate. The bust.
ness character and sound suggestions
of both the Reports cannot fail 10
make very favorable Impressions
Our army is very small--we may say
the smallest standing army in the
world, for a population OF seventeen
millions of peopIe-7,59O enlisted
men. Including Noncommissioned
Officers, Dragons. Musicians and Ar
tlfcers, probably $500. But if the
army is small. the Staff and Depart.
ments are sufficiently for a
much greater force: a commander in
Chief, several Generals, TIC Commits
stoned officers, and several heads OF
Bureaux. Nevertheless, it is evident
that all persons employed in this De-
partment have great and pressing du.
ties to perform il nine military de-
partments, spread over this vast Con-
%tinent, and having in charge, and 10
be kept in repair, numerous forts, for
tihcations, batteries & military posts,
and an army and ordinance, and 9TH
er properties belonging to the Gov.
eminent, valued at Sl7,392,O2l,O7.
The army estimate for the year will
fall short of last year nearly 100000,
and a reduction Of several important
offices are recommended, together
with remounting a Regiment Of Ora.
goons for the frontiers. The Engi.
neer Bureau is in active operation
The report recommends the purchase
of lands belonging to this State, on
Staten Island, with a view to the for.
LITIGATION of the Narrows. Also the
commencement of works at Sandy
Hook, at Saller's Point, Maryland, on
the coast of Georgia, between Mobile
Bay and the Rigolets, the continual
ton of the Cumberland Road, the
construction Of military works on
the Dry Tortugas, Key West, Bisca,
yone Key. West Point is highly
spoken OF as a Military School, the
expenses Of which are Sl4,472 less
than last year. The Typographical
Engineer has ar interesting report
on roads, thro' lands belonging TO
Government, on Western Navigation,
Harbors and Lakes-roads and Bird.
ges to Oregon, &c. A chain of mill.
tary posts is recommended as protec.
ton TO those travelling 10 the Rocky
Mountains. Reference is made to
the Indian tribes, who are all at peace
with US. The Cherokees, or Choc,
laws, have made grea! progress in
civilization, and are making good far.
mers and planters, and educating
their children. A History Of the In
dian Tribes is preparing from official
documents. There are upwards Of
81. 900 Pensioners, among whom are
5000 widows; and suitable fire-prooi
buildings are recommended for the
various departments connected with
the War Establishment. II is alto.
gether a very interesting document;
and although our military force is nee
essarily small, yet vast and important
duties devolve on the department.
and the various Bureaux; and a vast
amount of public property, and vari.
GUS interests of a defensive charac.
ter are confded to the War Depart.
ment. Of the Nary, we learn from
The Report Of the Secretary that we
have one ship 100 guns; nine ships Of
the line of 80 guns each; one razee
of 60 guns; twelve 50 gun frigates;
one SO gun frigate; two 48 gun trlg'
ates; eleven first class sloops Of wal
Of "a guns each; three % gun slooPs:
five 16 gun sloops; two slooPs fol
storeships, 6 guns each. There are
also four firstclass sloops on the stocks
nearly ready for launching. Eleven
10 gun briggs and s%chooners; three
ditto used as store ships and one fol
a receiving vessel at Charlestown
The steam ship Mississippi OF Il
guns, the Fulton Of 8 guns, the
Princeton (Erickson's propeller0 o
70 guns, the Union Of a guns (witt
Hunters submerged wheels0 the
Poinsett of 2 guns, and an iron stea
rasr, the Michigan, of 6 guns, nearly
ready to launch on Lake Erie. There
are likewise four small schooners EN-
ployed as packets, or receiving yes
sells. In all, seventy-slx vessels o
the various descriptions. The Wash
ington "a was broken up-the Hud