The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-10

being compelled to pass under the inspection OF o
the enemy will be deprived OF aid by the introduce
ton of articles conraband, and at the time an c-
tive and profitable employment given to own nayi-
eating interest MON 5HfY. Fn9 .t
In the Gulf OF Mexico, the squadron has captured
number of steamers and boats of light draugh sta-
BILE Tor entering the rivers along the coast, when
valued and taken into service by the commanding
officer, wththe appreciation Of the department Their
value was subject to distribution prize money. WIN
every disposition to make prompt payment especially 10
the crews who IN the yicssltudes OF sailors lie, may
otherwise never receive their shares did not feel at
liberty 10 make payment without adjudication and con-
demnalion by prize court The right of caplor Is
pria face good but he cannot pass perfect title with
out a sentence OF court OF admiralty. II has peen
arranged that the question shall be submitted by hDei
to the district court of the United States in louisiana
and is supposed that the court will exercise jurisdiction
without sending in the vessels which it desirable 10
AVOID as they useiully employed IN the squadron
The valuation made by disneresled American SHIP
masters is believed to be reasonable, and will be paid ac
cordng to the provisions OF the prize act whenever e
vessels shall have been legally condemned
In the Pacific number of vessels have also been cap
tured. 1t would not have been compatible with the el-
cheney OF the squadron to detach przecrews to tslng
them the United States by the long voyage around the
Cape and it Indispensable that the legality OF the
capture should be submitted to judicial investigation AT
the request OF the commanding naval officer przecoui
was organized by the military officer exercising the
functions of civil government in California Instructions
have been given, that will the prize money De
distributed until the proceedings OF the court showing
the condemnation and sale, shall have been transmitted
and passed in review by the department
The extension of our laws over the Oregon Territory
and the establishment of courts with admiralty lursl,c-
ton, would to be highly important Tor the settle
men of the delicate and difficult questions which often
occur in such cases.
deem the subject of sufficient Importance to transmit,
with this report extracts of dispatches from this depart
ment TO the commanding officers of the squadron IN the
| Pacific, on the subject OF the law OF blockade.
By joint resolution of Congress- approved on the 80
the Navy "to place at the disposal of Capt George G..
DeKay, of New jersey the United States ship Nacedo-
Man, for the purpose OF transporting to the famshns
poor of Ireland and Scotland such contributions as may
be made for their reef and to place at the disposal OF
Capt Robert B. Forbes, of Boston, the United States
sloop-of-war Jamestown for the same purpose" There
vessels the service aforesaid public ships, IT, IN the
opinion OF the Secretary OF the Navy the public interests
would be better subserved"
The two ships placed at the disposal OF the eX-
perienced navgaors named in the joint resolution, re-
specvey; and each having performed its mission OF
charity has been returned III satisfactory condition Inc
people, in spirit of Christian benevoence, relieving the
suferings of subjects OF mighty foreign power which
the vast resources of that great empire could not avert
and of country, while engaged in foreign war,
furnishing. from its surplus products the means OF iced
ing furnishing nations abroad
was not of opinion that the public interests would be
better subserved by sending the Macedonian and the
jamestown the service required public ships The
department could not procure the crews necessary Tor the
public service in giving protection to our commerce. ana
in the prosecution OF the war; and may be permitted to
add that while the voluntary Offering OF the people OF the
United States received with gratitude BY the suffer
ers and with heartfelt Acknowledgements OF thanks by
high functOnares of the British governments while the
relief gracefully offered and received has contributed
promote aeconate feeling, and strengthen the bonds
of friendship which bind the people OF the two great
countries together, without leaving any painful recolec
ton, such results could not have been expected, If the
government of the United States had undertaken thus
minister to the wants of the subjects OF Great Britain
Under the direction OF the 18th section OF the navy APP
preparation act of the Sd of March last ten thousand dol
lars have been paid his requisitions to Urah Brown
On the l4th day OF October, Mr. Brown informed the
department that he prepared to submit to inspection
an experiment OF the liquid fire OF his invention.
hoard al officers ordered tn witness the experiment
with communication from Mr. Brown No preparation
has been made, OF which am aware to test the pract-
cal utility of the shotproof steamship of his invention
The appropriation exhausted in the experiment of the
liquid fire; and have such information to the
principle on which he proposes to make a shoproof
steamship to justify my forming opinion, or direct
ing an experiment is not my opinion that the inter-
of the United States will be promoted by adopting the
invention of liquid fire as means OF national defence
have the honor to present herewith the reports from
the several bureaus of Construction, Equipment and Re-
pairs; Of Ordnance and photography Of Yards and Docks
Of Provisions and Clothing and of Medicine and Surgery
with estimates detail forhe several branches of the
naval service for the next fiscal year. They based
on the employment, pending the war; OF ten thousand
men, allowed by law, and number OF vessels in
mission requiring their services These reports present
gratifying exhibit of the condition of the public works
and Of H., the public subject to the control and drec
prepared and revised with careful desire to ask for
nothing which not necessary to the public interest
respectfully ask the favorable consideration of the sug
gestons made by the experienced, able and faithful Of
icers at the head OF the bureaus
The gross amount estimated for is enmon three hun
bred and sixtyhve thousand eight hundred and twenty
two dollars The amount appropriated for the current
fiscal year is $l0,052,636 10. The estimates now pre-
scented include item of 81 100000 to complete the
four war steamers authorized by the act of Sd March
last increase of the appropriation under the head of
contingent enumerated and three hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars for the prosecution of the work the dry
dock at New York The for these appropriations
given in the reports, and presume will be satsfac-
tory There other objects estimated for requiring an
inconsiderable expenditure which seem to me to be
necessary for the efficient discharge of the public duties
devoyed on the department OF the appropriations made
for the current year. the unexpended balances WILL with
out doubt, prove adequate to all the wants Of the
deem it not inappropriate to the occasion, lustra-
ting the expenditures of the Navy Depa rtment since
the commencement of the Mexican war, TO present
comparative statement OF appropriations and expenditures
Tor the last three years under the heads of appropriation
Of pay" contingent, increase and repair" provi-
sons and clothing and surgeons necessares and ap-
plances" These may be denomnated the variable APP
preparations, and will show the increase of expenditure
during the war, over that of corresponding period in
time of peace
This comparison exhibits the following result:
For year end Appropria Available aglExpenditures.
ing tons. gregae.