Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-08

either for that say establish government oyer heua
sentence Of OF admiralty II has been arranged tina
the question shall be submitted by libel TO the district
the United States in Louisiana and 1t is supposed that th
court will exercise jurisdiction without sending the vessels
which desirable to avoid they usefuy employee
in the squadron. The valuation made by dsnterestet
American shpmasters believed be reasonable and viii
be paid according the provisions of the prize act whenever
the vessels shall have been legally condemned
In the Pacific number of vessels have also been captured
II would not have been compatible with the efficiency Of the
squadron dotach przecrews to bring them to the United
States by the long voyage around the cape and nd
pensahle that the legality of the capture should be submitted
to judicial investigation. AT the request Of the commanding
naval officer prize court organized by the military off
Ger exercising the functions Of civil government in California
instructions have been given that IN will the prize
money be distributed until the proceedings of the court show
ing the condemnation and SALE shall have been transmitted
passed in review by the Department.
The extension of laws the Oregon Territory and
the establishment Of with admiralty jurisdiction would
seem to be highly important for the settlement Of the delicate
and difficult questions which often occur in such
deem the subject of sufficient importance transmit with
this report Of dispatches from this Department
commanding officers Of the squadron in the Pacific on the
subject of the law Of blockade.
BY joint resolution of Congress, approved the Sd Of
March last authority given to the Secretary of the Navy
g 10 place at the disposal of Capt George q. De Kay Of
New Jersey the United States ship Macedonian for the pur-
pose of transporting to the furnishing poor of Ireland and
Scotland such contributions may be made for their relief
and to place the disposal of Capt Robert b. Forbes
Boston,
same purpose There superadded an alternative authority
dispatch said vessels the service aforesaid public
ships if in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy the
public interests would he better subserved."
The two ships placed the disposal Of the expert
enced navgaos named in the joint resolution respectively
and each having performed its mission Of charity has been
turned satisfactory condition The sublime spectacle has
been presented to the world of our people, in spirit of Chris
tian benevolence relieving the suengs of subjects of
mighty foreign Power which the of that great
empire could avert and of couny while engaged
in foreign war; furnishing, from its surplus products the
means Of feeding foreign nations abroad.
of opinion that the public interest would be bet
ter suberved by sending the Macedonian and the
the service required public ships The Department
could procure the necessary for the public service in
giving protection commerce. and in the prosecution of
the and may be permitted to add that while the vol
uutay Offering the people of the United States received
withrattude by the sufferers, and with heartfelt acknow
edgmens of thanks by high funconars Of the British Gov
eminent while the relief gracefully offered and received
has contributed promote aeconae feeling and strengthen
bonds of friendship which bind the people of the great
countries together, without leaving any painful recollection,
such results could not have been expected if the Government
Of the United States had undertaken thus minister 10 the
wants Of the subjects of Great Britain.
Under the direction Of the 7h section the navy appro
paon Of the Sd Of March last thousand dollars have
been paid his equisons, to Uriah Brown On the 18th
day of October Mr. Brown informed the Department that he
prepared to submit to inspection experiment Of the Ii
qud fire of his invention board of officers ordered to
witness the experiment, and have the honor to transmit
copy of their report, with communication rom Mr. Brown.
No preparation has been made of which am aware to test
the practical utility of the shotproo steamship of his nven
ton The appropriation exhausted in the experiment Of
the liquid fire. and have such information as TO the pr-
cpe which he proposes to make shoprooi steamship
to justify my forming opinion, or directing an expert
II is my opinion that the interest Of the United
States will be promoted by adopting the invention of liquid FIRE
a means of national defence
have the honor present herewith the reports from the
several Bureaus of Construction, Equipment and Repairs OF
~ IL 1ED
and Clothing and Of Medicine and Surgery with esi
detail for the several branches Of the naval service for
the next fiscal year. They based the employment
pending the war; of ten thousand allowed by law, and
number Of vessels in commission requiring their services
These reports present gratifying exhibit Of the condition Of
the public works and of the public property to the
troll and direction of the Navy Department and the estimates
have been prepared and revised with careful desire TO ask for
nothing which not necessary to the public interest re-
specially ask the favorabc consideration of the suggestions
made by the experienced able and faithful officers at the head
Of the bureaus.
The gross estimated for is ten million three hundred
and sixyve thousand eight hundred and twenty-five dol
lars. The appropriated for the current fiscal year
Slo052, $50 10, The estimates presented include
item of ST. 300 coo to complete the four steamers auho
zed by the act Sd of March last increase Of the appro
praton under the head Of contingent enumerated, and
three bundled AMI fifty thousand dollars for the prosecution Of
the work the dry-dock New York. The for
these appropriations given in the reports and presume
will be satisfactory There other objects estimated for
curing uncomfortable expenditure, which to to
be necessary for the efficient discharge Of the public duties de-
VOWED the Department OF the appropriations made for
the year the unexpended balances will without doubt
prove adequate all the wants Of the service.
deem il not Inappropriate to the occasion, illustrating
the expenditures the Navy Department since the
ment Of the Mexican war; present comparative statement
Of appropriations and expenditures for the last three years
der the heads appropriation of "pay" contingent in
and repair" provsons and clothing, and surgeons
necesaes and appliances These may be denomnated the
variable appropriations and will show the increase Of expen
diture during the that Of corresponding period in
time of peace.
This comparison exhibits the following result: