American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-06
REPORT
OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
NAVY DETARrMENr, Nov. 25, 1874.

annuai report OIL the condition and operations OF
! dhis Department of the public service.
The Navy of the United States consists of
six ships of the line, one razee fourteen fri
gates, twenty-one sloops of war, sixteen briggs
and schooners, three store-ships, and eight
! steamers afoat.
There are the stocks in an unfinished
state four ships of the line, three frigates, ones
store-ship, an iron steamer at Pittsburgh, and
one at tie Navy Yard at Washington to be u.s.
| ed as water tank. Since the last Annual Re-
port after careful survey and inspection, it was
found most conducive to the public interest to
sell the frigate Hudson, and the store-shps
Consort and Chipola, and orders have been
Gently given for the sale Of TIE Pioneer In each
case the Navy Agent conducting the sale was
limited as to the price, and the sales are salts
factory The Hudson was originally built by
| contract fol foreign government, was found
to be UNIV orthy of repair, and it was believed
to be more advantageous to sell than to break
her up.
The vessels in commission have been employ
ed as follows:
In the Home Squadron, the frigate Potomac,
She sloops Vmcennes, Vandalia and Falmouth,
the briggs Somers and Lawrence, and the steam
'er Union, under the command of Com. Conner.
In the month Of August the Nmcennes return
ed north from the Gulf of Mexico, was put in
ordinary, and her crew discharged.
In the Mediterranean sea, the squadron was
under command of Com. Morris, until he left
( hat station in the Delaware IA i'll February,
when the command devolved on Com. Joseph
: Smith. Our Naval forces in that sea consist of
Z the frigates Cumberland and Columbia, sloops
plymouth and Fairfield, and store-ship Licking
ton. The new sloop St Mary's is under or
ders, and will proceed, as soon as she is ready
for sea, to relieve the Fairfield
On the coast of Brazil the squadron has con-
sisted of the Columbus "a, frigates Raritan and
Congress, sloops John Adams and Boston, brig
| cambridge and schooner Enterprise
The Columbus, John Adams and Enterprise
have returned home, been put in ordinary, and
their crews discharged. The squadron is under
the command of Com. d. Turner.
In the Pacific Ocean there have been en-
ployed the frigates United States and Savan-
nah, sloops Cyane, Ii yant and Warren schr.
Shark, and store-ship Relief. The U. States
and Cyane have returned home, been put in or
dinary and their crews discharged. The new
sloop Portsmouth has been fitted for sea, and is
under orders to Join this squadron. Com. Thos-
APP c. Jones was relieved from the command
by Com. Alex ]. Balles, by whose lamented
death in TIE month of June last, the command
devolved on Capt. James Armstrong, the Sc
cond in command. Com. John d. Sloat has
been ordered to the Pacific to assume command
on that station.
No change has been made in the vessels COM
posing the East India Squadron since the last
annual report. The frigate Brandvwne arriv-
ed at Macao with the Hon. Caleb Gushing on
board, in February last. The sloop ST. Louis
and the brig Perry have since arrived at the
I same port. Both of these vessels were detain-
ed on their outward passage by the illness of
Conn. Cooke, of the st. Louis, and of Comr
Dupont, Of the Perry. To the modification Of
both these officers, and to the regret of the De-
partment, each was compelled, by the state of
his health, TO relinquish his command and re-
turn to the United States. Capt. Mckeever and
Comr Johr Stone Paine were sent Oh, 10 sup
ply their places. Che squadron is command
ed by Com. Foxhall A. PARKER. The frigate
Constellation, bearing the pendant of Com.
Kearney, returned home i'll April last after
cruise Of nearly four years. She has been laid
up and her crew discharged.
The squadron on the coast of Africa, under
command of Com. Nj. G. Perrg, consists of the
srigate MACEDONIAN, ,sloops Saratoga and Deca-
'tur, mounting ninety-three guys. The sloops
treble and Yorktown, and brig Truxton, have
been sent out to relieve the Saratoga, Decatur
and Porpoise. The new sloop Jamestown has
been launched, and iE in active preparation to
sc to sea to relieve the Macedonian. Com.
C.as. w. Skinner has been ordered to proceed
Another sloop will be ordered TO the station
with all practicable despatch. The squadron,
as thus constituted, will mount SO guns. 1t is
found that single decked vessels are, best suited
s to tEis service, and that in them the health of
the officers and crew viii be more secure than
y in those of larger class and more difficult of
ventilation. 1t affords me pleasure to state
\ that the apprehensons which were entertained
for the health of the squadron have not been
realized. While at sea it is found that their
health is good, and the deieterous influence of
the climate is only felt by those on shore
The operations of the squadron lave, it is be-
lieved, exercised favorable influence in pre-
venting the slave trade. With the provision of
our law denouncing it as piracy, and the pre-
sence of our own Naval forces, with authority
to visit all vessels under the American flag, it
is Eot probable that our citizens will engage in
this disgracefnl and perilous traffic, or our flag
be used by others to any great extent.
If other Christian nations would infiict the
same punishment OH the offenders, it is not inn
probable that the trade would cease
The store-shp Erie is about to sail from New
York with stores for this squadron. The I'M
healthlness of residence on shore, the inau-
ence of the climate in deteriorating provisions
when in store, and the difficulties of landing
them, make it very desirable to have a large
and we'll found store-ship permanently attach
s/Aed TO the station.
No alteration has been made in the cruising
grounds of the several squadrens since the last
annual report.
The following vessels have been employed
on special service. The trigate Constitution,
Capt. Percival, sailed from New York on the
29th May last, on cruise in the Indian Ocean.
W. A II