The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-08
PUBLIC D0CU TENTS.
DOCUMENTS ACCOMPANYING. THE PRESI-
DENTS MESSAGE
Report Of the Secretary OF tho Navy.

OF the publ service.
During the past year. the ST. Lawrence, frigate of
the first class and the Vermont, ship Of the line
have been launched The shores well as the lower
tinbers OF the tgae were found inspection be so
decayed by the long time she had been the Stocks that
her security would have required repairs at large cost
and il deemed economical TO launch her. She has
been put in commission, and is splendid addition to the
navy. The old ship house IN the Boston yard, which
covered the Vermont stood the boundary line of
the public grounds that the experienced officers in charge
OF the Bureau OF Construction and in command of the
yard concurred IN the opinion, officially communicated
that the ship and he valuable public property in the yard
exposed to danger of destruction by fire from the
contiguous private buildings. was satisfied that if the
shphouse had taken fire, the ship could not have been
saved the admirable stone dock would have been
destroyed, and public property OF the value of several
millions of dollars would probably have shared the same
launched ami secured from injury until the wants of the
service would require her to be fitted for This has
been DONE andthe ship house has been taken down and
the materials used for other purposes.
The construction OF the four steamships Of war an-
horized blythe act OF Congress Of Sd OF March, 1877
satisfactory state OF progress The Saranac built at The
navyyard at kiltery, has been launched The Powha-
tan al Norfolk the Susnehanna, at Philadep hia; and
the San Jacnto, at New York. may be launched and
ready for in the course of the year In the
models and construction OF these steamers, and in
the manufacture OF their engines and hnery great
has been taken in the skltu execution of the work. and
IN careful Inspection by competent officers, to make them
worthy OF the service and doubt they will fully meet
the expectations of The country. The popriaons by
Congress for important addition to oar naval force
have been LIBERAL and the officers, mechanics, and
fractions have exerted selves prove that we can be
successful in the construction of steamships of war
"a we have been IN the sailing ships of the navy
There are unfinished on the stocks at the several navy
yards four ships OF the rate OF u guns and two rgaes
OF a guns They are securely sheltered; and has
been considered udcous or consistent with the interests
OF the service to launch them They are so near compile
ton that they be realty launched and fitted for sea
service short notice if public exgences shall require
lhe vessels n commission during the past year, have
been employed as follows:
In the Pacific, the ships of the-line Ohio and Colum
bus race Independence rsae Congress, sloops Ports
mouth Warren Cyane, Dale, and Preble with the store
ships Erie, Lexington, and Southampton The Colum-
bus, Capt Wymln, bearing the broad pennant of Com
Bdle arrived in the United States on the r3h of March
last, and was placed in ordinary The irigate Congress-
Captain La Vallete, having been in commission
than three years. has been ordered home and may be ex
pecei to arrive in the coming spring The Portsmouth,
Commander Montgomery, arrived in the United States
the 9TH OF May last AMI was soon again ready for
The Cyane Commander Du Pont arrived at Norfolk the
9TH day of October last and has been placed ordinary
Ia the month OF May last the Preble Commander GIynn
sIed from the west coast with orders take China
Commodore Gelsinger, commander OF the East India
Turn to her station The soop st. Mary's Commander
Cownlnshed, the lh OF April last sailed from Nor
folk, 10 Join the Pacific squadron.
With view to the regular supply OF the squa Iron in
the Pacic AMI to furnish for transportation of In
ysIlds or men whose time OF enlistment may have
pred, AMI who desire to home, orders given
some months since that oi the three store-sps at
nched 10 that squadron shall sail, her return TO the
United States, seni-annuay Under this arrangement
one Will De Win the SQUADRON, one on her way nome,
and one will be going out with fresh stores.
The Ere has come home, and under Lieut. Command
9g VIM McBair has sailei to the Mediterranean by
he Cape de Verbs, with for the African and Medi-
erranean squarons; and the Fredona, Lieut. Command.
as +. A. Neville, has sailed from New York for the
Pacific
When Comm ,dore Bddle left the station he sue
ceeded in the command OF the squadron by Com
Shubrick, and he relieved at his own request BY
Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones, who assumed
| command in the month OF May last. Commodore Shu-
BRICK was authorized by the department to detach HIM
self from the squadron and return home the 18TH
mus but he deemed it to be his duty to remain on board
Inc Independence, and is now cruise to the Sand
Wch, teee, and other islands in the Pacific where the
presence OF ship OF war considered of great i'm
Portance to the interests of American commerce. The
Independence may be expected 10 reach the United States
carly IN the spring OF the next year
The home squadron continued under the command of
Commodore Perry until the Goth of November last when
the department. in view of has impaired health yielded
10 his request to be relieved OF the com nand the duties
OF which had been very ariuous and satisfactorily per-
formed. Commodore Wilkinson on that day assumed
Inc command: During the past year the squadron CON
sisted OF the frgate Cumberland the sloops Albany, John
nsams, Germantown, and Saratoga OF the steamers
Mississippi, Splre, Vixea, Scorpion, Water Witch,
Scourge, Iris and Pea of the schooners Refer, Pc
te, Bonito, Flrt, Mahonese, Falcon and Tampco and
! the oonb;vessels Ena, Strnmsoii,, vesuvius, and
The rgae Cumberland, bearing the pennant OF Com
noiore Perry, arrived in New York IN July last with
considerable number OF cases OF fever on board and find
ing tnat did not aba;e, but assumed more malignant
ype, was deemed unsafe to send her into the
tropics until she could be thorou shly broken out in cold
climate. She has been put in ordinary. The rgate Rar
tan Capt Page, has taken her place in the squadron
he John Adams, Commander Adams, arrived at Boston
September last and is undergoing repairs. The steamer
Nsslsslpp, Commander Mackenzie, returned to the Uni
h States In April, and undergoing repairs of her hull
and machinery The Vixen is also undergoing repair
Inc Pctrlta was wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico. The
aver Witch and the Iris are at sea- The ship Re-
ei has sailed with stores for Brazil and the Fredona
me Pacific The other steamers and vessels Grated
nave been sold, and the proceeds paid into the treasury
hey were purchased Tor special service in the Gulf of
aeXco during the war, and not suitable for general
/ naval purposes
Commodore Bolton, the soops Jamestown, Commander
Slercer; Portsmouth, Commander Armstrong; Decatur,
Commander Byrne and briggs Boxer, Lieut.. Commanding
6eH; Porpose, Commander Gordon and Bainbridy e,
4 commander Slaughter, have been employed Commodore
cooper salei IN the sloop Yorktown Commander Mars
on, on the 22d OF November, with orders TO relieve
/ ommodore Bolton IN the command of the squadron
he Boxer arrived al Philadelphia in May last and being
condemned, on survey unworthy of repair was sold
Commodore Bolton has ORDERS the arrival OF his relief
Nlo proceed IN the jamestown and relieve Commodore
'ead IN command oil the naval forces of the United States
N The Mediterranean
There have been employed during the year. in the
Mediterranean, under Commodore Real the frigate Uni
II ed States, Captain Smoot; soop Marion, Commander
uStmonds; the steamer Princeton Commander EnpIe
schooner fancy, Lieut. Com. {. G.. Hunter, with The
Nsore-ship Supply Lieut. Com. Lynch The Marion hav-
g hnlshed her cruise, arrived at Boston the month of
] September. The steamer Allegheny, Lieut. Commanding
"" w Hunter, has been ordered from the Brazil station
me Mediterranean, and the frlgate Constitution, Cap
l IAN twin, has sailed for the station. Ga the
a'nva OF his relief Commodore Read, having finished
long cruise on the coast OF Africa and in the Mederra
mean, has orders to return home in the fngae United
oaies In consequence of being compelled to dis
E'onunue the depot at Mahon became necessary sup