Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-08
'UFFICTAL.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

IN lei
snce, 10 seven thousand five hundred During the past
wear Il i not believed that more IMAM eieh .h
been at any time in service Inc hono, " ~. ms 'u
oss,v AMI efficiency ships OF war, require a 'hey sha
80 10 !, sa without the allowed by weldigesled regu
latons fixing their respective Compliments
The fculty Of enstments Tor the naval service caused
; hy the extraordinary activity IN the mercantile marine,
~ h ,,e ~ cghis and the consequent increase OF sea-
Vans wages has delayed the consummatlon oil contemplated
snqemens for the employment Of cruisers on sevea sla
tons, and the increase y oa' "a ~ " -
The Pacific.
IL the month Of April last orders were sent TO Commodore
Read 10 detach seop from the African squadron and send
her 10 the Mediterranean In obedience TO ihs ofaer the
Marion Commander Simonds reached Gibraltar IN July the
steamer Princeton Commander Engle, sailed from Phiiadel
pia in June for that in August the revenue cutter
fancy Lieutenant Commanding G. g. Hunter, temporarily
transferred by the Treasury Department sailed from New
York with the destination and there Is no doubt that
Commodore Read in the dgate United States, has IN obe-
ence 10 ORDERS assumed the command OF the naval iorce
in the Mediterranean
The measures for the collection the Mediterranean Of
this force for the protection of were fastened
nv intelligence received early June that American
sell called the Cameta, had been seized on the high Seas
and carried into Barcelona by vessel called the lnico Claim
inc 10 cruise under Mexican authority The alleged prize
promptly released by the spanish authories anu the
captors imprisoned for trial.
The attempt Of the Mexican Government by issue of let
tiers Of marque persons not bona de citizens with auho
" vessels the property OF foreigners against our
commerce. and thus legalze piracy has not found favor
commanded in quarter am happy to state that
with the single exception OF the Carmeta, have received
the satisfactory reports from naval commanders IN
every quarter the globe that has not been
<noesed and there to appehend any Interrupt
ton of its successful prosecution by the attempted measures
of Mexcomeasures inconsistent with the spirit OF the age
resorted of with certain result OF I'M
told atrocities if favored and which deserve they have
ceved the reprobaon of the civilized world The activity
of the vessels the Medeanei has removed all
prehension that and the most complete success
tho
Il gives great satisfaction TO state that the honorable de
" with which Spain has executed her treaty tpulaons with
has sgnay disappointed the lawess persons within her
domnons who have been disposed 10 accept the tempt
ing offers of Mexico.
During the past year the squadron the coast of Africa,
under command of Commodore Read has been actively and
successfully employed in the humane duty OF suppessng the
slave trade. II not known that vessel with American pa
pers has escaped where there just
pect that she engaged intended for employment the
violation Of our laws the dishonor of our flag.
In the month of September Commodore Bolton sailed from
Norfolk in the sop Jamestown, to relieve Commodore Read
in the command OF the squadron that station The
sy of sending the Marion and the United States the Me-
deanean and the return Of the brig Dolphin Commander
Pope TO the United States has reduced the squadron below
the force which the United States engaged by the treaty of
Washington to maintain that station. But preparations
are IN progress and near completion, supply the deficiency
II IS contemplated by the Department, permanent
rangemen TO maintain squadron in the Mediterranean
principally with the ships which shall have served portion Of
the usual period of cruise the African station BY this
transfer is hoped that officers and men will not
CURED remain the Undesirable climate of the coast
than year in a cruise.
No selection of permanent depot has been made in the
Mediterranean since required to Withdraw
from Mahon For the present the squadrons will be sup
ped by means OF sent from the United States
In the month Of June, the ship Ohio Capt Strngham
sailed from New York for Rio de Janero She carried
passengers Mr. Tod the Minister to Brazil and his Secretary
OF Legation, with their families, and arrived there August
The Ohio her way to form part of the Pacific squad
ron had orders remain Rio until the 18th Of November
when she directed to proceed to her station On her
nval at Rio Com Rousseau transferred, temporarily the
command OF the station Capt Sngha, and to
the United States in the igate Columbia with Mr.. WISE
his family and Secretary Of legation passengers Com
Stoer sailed in the gate Brandywne in the month Of Sep
temher for Rio, to relieve Capt Srngha, and the
duties OF the command which Com Rousseau had honoraby
and Of which he relieved his request
The brig cambridge, Lieut. Com. williamson
ed home, and is undergoing repairs for immediate service
The squadron the Of Brazil consists Of the gac
Brandywine and brig Perry. The Allegheny Lieut.
Comdg W. w. Hunter, will proceed TO that station
as she be fitted for The presence Of steamer on
That station is peculiarly important under existing cirtum
American whale-shps on their homeard voyage
have long been In the habit Of entering certain ports Of Brazil
and exchanging portions Of their cargoes for necessary sup
pes BY the laws Of Brazil! these ports open for
the entry Of vessels and notice has recently been given
that these laws will be rgidy enforced Such will
be seriously injurious commerce. unless timely warning
be given those who otherwise be informed Of
the existence Of the law until they have incurred its penal
The Allegheny will be sent out TO perform this service.
Al the date Of my last annual report the squadron the
coast Of China consisted Of the Columbus Captain Wyan
and the Nincennes Captain Paung under the command Of
Commodore Bidde. In the month Of July 1896 he visited
Jeddo hay with both ships and invited favorable consdera-
ton on the part Of the Japanese Government Of our desire for
friendly commercial intercourse Notwithstanding the pru-
dence and discretion with which he made the overture he
could not prevail the Government to relax the system by
which Japan closed TO the trade of the christian world with
the exception Of the limited privilege acceded the Duch 4,
send small vessels annually from Batavia 10 Ma
galsaiki Our squadron treated with kindness and its
wants supplied but permitted 10 land, and the
offer Of friendly intercourse the Interchangeable was
. Go away, and do not back any more" Although
Japan has not yet opened her ports TO enersng
tymen, the rapid extension Of trade with China with It's mani
fest advantages, hardly fail favorable influence
with the Japanese and yet add hers the ports Of distant
tons IN which American shipping safely enter, and Anne
rcan enterprise find liberal and profitable traffic.
The orders from this Department Of the 9th Of January
1916, did not reach Commodore Biddie until he arrived
Lima on the 3lst Of December He hal the Independ
ence bearing the pennsn Of Commodore Shubrck Vaps
raiso who proceeded Monterey arriving 22j Of JaDu
AIRY, ls47.
Commodore Bddle arrived in the Columbus on the Cd day
oil March, ls47 and assumed the chief command The squad
ron there consisted the Columbus ~ Independence
fgates congress and Savannah soops Portsmouth, evan
Cyane warren, and Prebe storeshps Erie Lexington and
southampton, and the armed schooner Maek Adhei which
had been captured from the enemy The Savannah and
want have returned home each having been absent nearly
years. and captain Gesnge left the United States early in
November with orders TO take command Of the frieae Con
gess and proceed to China and give projection 10 our
IL