The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-05
~coNGRESSIO N AL.
MOMENTS ACCOMPANYING THE PRES
DENTS MESSAGE.

VvyohT or THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
Navy DEpARrmENT, Dec. l, ls45.
ca. During the past year the usual squadrons Of
a.,v Of die Uniied States have been maintained.
X. Mediterranean, Commodore Smith had COM
nj sfxhe Cumberland and the Plymouth. He
a"d have despatched the Plymouth to the Black
= bu, leave was refused by the Ottoman port.
= conducted our newly appointed consul to Tan
- and insured his reception.
mr. ships in the Mediterranean have usually been
..,ye al Port Mahon, during the winter; this can
obyisted by an interchange ef service. The Ply
NM has. therefore, been directed TO Join the
s..il squadron, and the Cumberland has returned
.a,ned home; their places will be taken at the
s.aing Of the season by part Of the present AT
RI n, African squadron was organized by Com
adore Perry, by whom good sanitary regulations
sr established He was relieved by Commodore
winner, in the Jamestown, who has shown equal
'o,ideration for the health Of all under his COM
.nd, Yetthe Preble and the Truxton contracted
s,ase, and, as an act Of humanity, were ordered
return home. The Southampton has been sent
y wth stores, to remain on the coast. The Ma
nm and Dolphin followed as reinforcement. The
v,r il destined for the same station, and will sail
mmsdia,ely. The Cumberland, bearing the broad
|supant Of Commodore Read. will proceed in
f,nn.rv 10 relieve the Jamestown and Yorktown,
rhrb will then repair to the Mediterranean.
On the Brazil station, Commodore Rousseau, the
c,s officer west of the Alleghapies ever selected to
rommand squadron, relieves Commodore Turner.
The Raritan will repair TO the home squadron; the
Boson is ordered TO return to the United States
The Columbia, the Saratoga, the Plymouth and the
Bsnbridge will, for the present, constitute the Bra
III squadron.
d., ,Lar afiar N ware uuccas sf,l cv,, loo
sturned from the Asiatic station in September
Ringing home the Brandywine, the ST. Louis, and
4, Perry. At the Bay Of Islands, Captain Nc,
.yer, in the ST. Louis, had the happiness to render
,uabe service to the inhabitants of an infant Brit
sh settlement.
In Nav, Commodore Biddle sailed for the Eas
Indies, in command Of the Columbus ship Of til,
ne, and the Vincennes, bearing the minister L
China, and the ratified treaty between the Unitet
Sntes and the Chinese emperor. The health of Mr.
A. H. Everett, the minister having induced his re
un, the exchange Of the Publications of the treaty
vas committed to the charge of Commodore Bid
lie, who will doubtless show that an able and gal
An naval officer conducts satisfactorily all affair
nlrns,ed to him.
The Constitution is on her return from China
sr having visited different ports and islands in tn
Indian seas
The Pacific squadron, under Commodore Sloat
hm consisted Of the Savannah, the Levant, the War
nn, and the Shark. The three first will return II
1916, and will be relieved by the Congress, tn,
Portsmouth, and the Cyane The difficulty of com
nunicating with our ships in the Pacific makes i
proper to suggest the advantage of public mai
through our own territory TO convenient port in
DE Straits of Juan de Fuca Arrangements should
also be made, at the earliest day that is proper, fol
getting supplies for our Pacific squadron from oul
own soil and our own citizens in that region.
The home squadron has been under the command
Of Commodore Conner, who has distinguished him.
xifby sound judgment in the performance of hi,
duty. His force, which consisted Of the Potomac
The Falmouth, The vandalia, the Lawrence, and the
Somsn, was yeakeaed by the return of the Van
dala, which visited Hayti, and was driven home
by the yellow ever, contracted al Port au Prince
where she had ben ordered on duty. The squad
ron was increased by the Princeton and Porpoise
the St. Mary's AMI the Saratoga, under Commo
dore Stockton, and soon aitss ~ the John Adams
and the steamship Mississippi. The aggregate
force Of Commodore Conner was much larger thar
hos usually rallied under one American pennant
Il gave efficient protection to our interests in tht
Gulf Of Mexico, and contributed to spread sense
Of security over our country to its extreme limit o.
he Del Norte.
Deeming il of great importance to become &C
quan'ed with the navy. yards and establishments
connected with the navy, ! have, during the pas
summer, visited all Of them, except those mt Peilsa-
pa and at Memphis. They are generally in ex.
celent order. The principal improvements in prog
rs at those visited are at Brooklyn, where the
work on the dry dock is advancing with efficiency
and economy. The vicinity to a city which is the
emporium of naval stores, and is crowded with sea-
men, shp-builders, and excellent mechanics of all
kinds, gives to that yard great facilities for the
prompt repair and equipment Of ships of war.
AZ the naval asylum in Philadelphia, more than Q
hundred veteran sailors are enjoying the ample pro
'lnon wisely reserved for the comfort of their de-
Ginning years. Yet, would earnestly advise thai
zoe buildings Of the asylum, at their present loca
on be never enlarged but that after it is full, new
pensioners should be placed in some salubrious spo
near the ocean, where the aged seaman can watch
.aips as they come and 60, and have old familiar
OBJECTS within his sight.
ihe charge on the navy hospital fund, which II
noucea IN the communication from the bureau o
medicine, was incurred in 1874, on the recommend
luon OF the chief Of thai bureau, at whose urgen
usgesuon, houses for the governor and surgeon o
ne asylum were authorized to be erected. The ex
Ieoo,'ures have been circumscrbed; and the recon-
menaauon to encroach still further on the fund, by
secting other dwellings, at other stations, has MOI
ssn complied with. The fund should be sasredy
sserved for the immediate and personal benefit o
nose from who're earnings it has accrued. No
ae thought It just to continue to appropriate
vs. part Of the buildings at the asylum to the u.s.
..r ne m'dshipmen who were preparing for the es
'oNned examination, previous to their passing Z
higher grade.
congress, in its great desire to improve the navy
s sa permitted the department to employ professor
% instructors, at an annual cost Of about S2S, 200
a y had been usual, besides the few employed a
teceivlng ships and the naval asylum, to sent
.J'e,sors with the midshpmen into every ocear
~ slime. But the ship is not friendly to study
ne office Of professor rapidly degenerated int
s"eeurei often not so much was done as the eide
~ would cheerfully do for their JUNIORS tn
"sn on board the receiving-ships gave little in
aseuon, or none whatever; 30 that the expendi
NJ ruthless Of great results Many Of tn
Is~ Lug were able and willing, but the system wa
s Sa one The idea naturally suggested itself q
- ains 'he time when the midshipmen are on shor
~ ~ aspproprsting il to their culture. Instead Q
h ..asg migratory professors TO sea, with eac
!, n.y. OF mldshipmen, the midshipmen themselves
W. Intervals between sea-duty, might be coecte
49, and devote their time 10 suitable instruc
NJ ror the pay Of the instructors Congress ha
r.'ioeo Ia looking out for modest shelter 70
pupils, was encouraged to ask for Fort Sey
~ Annapolis. The transfer was readily mad,
y order Of the Secretary of War, and school wa
Naa'v,uatey organized, on an unostentatious an
Euo pan This institution, by giving some pre-
g.. a'ary instruction TO the midshipmen before the
s;1ulse, by extending an affectionaie but firm 81
n,o ,s'on over them as they return from sea, b
s.',ong TOR them suitable culture before they pas
~ higher grade bv reiecfinp from the aeryrce a