The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-27


brig Perry, under the command OF Lieutenant I'll
ton, returned from this station the 10th of July
and put under repairs for further service. The
store-ship Supply, commanded by Lieut.. Sinclair
returned from Brazil on the 4th of September. The
store-ship Lexington, Lieut.. Commanding Mitchell
will sail in few days with supplies for the squadron
IL the purpose OF the Department To increase
the force ON this station, and with this view the
sloop- Of war John Adams, under the command OF
Commander Powell, sailed from the United States
in June with orders TO report TO Commodore Storer
a part of his command; but il became necessary
TO relieve the sloop- of war Decatur on the coast OF
Africa, and the 10Th of July orders were issued
to transfer the John Adams from the Brazil To the
African station. The Decatur was ordered home
report of the surgeon of the fleet relative TO the
health of the crew. and because the terms of service
of large number of the men had expired. The
vessels under the command OF Commodore Storer
have been usetully employed in the suppression OF
the slave trade, in protecting our commerce, and
rendering efficient service to vessels of the United
States
The squadron on the coast of Africa, under the
command of Commodore Gregory, consists OF the
flag ship sloop- of-war Portsmouth, Commander
Peck; the sloop- war Yorktown, Commander
Marson; the sloop- of war John Adams, Comman-
der Powell; the brig Porpoise, Commander Gordon
the brig cambridge, Commander Slaughter; and
brig Perry, Lieutant Commanding Foot. The
sloop- of-war Decatur, Commander Byrne, returned
from the coast of Africa on the 10th of November
The brig Perry sailed from the United States on the
manded by Lieutenant Totem, sailed from New
York the Goth of October, with supplies for the
squadrons the coast of Africa and in the Medi-
terranean. The brig Porpoise will return to the
United States ON the arrival out of the Perry.
In the month of August last the department was
informed by Commodore Cooper that i'll health pre-
vented his longer remaining on the coast of Africa
in command of the squadron, and asked to be re-
heved. Orders were accordingly issued detaching
him, and the command was assigned TO Captain
he Of no IDff r,lffl
Commodore Cooper arrived ut New York in the
Portsmouth, the flag ship of the squadron in low
health The command was Immediately trans
ferred TO Captain Gregory, and he was ordered &c
proceed forthwith To the coast of Africa. Events
however, transpiring at the seat of Government
early in the month of September rendered it proper
10 change for time the destination of the Ports
mouth, and orders were given on the 18th of Sep
tember for Captain Gregory to proceed to the Med
iterranean with dispatches for Commodore Morgan
and after performing that service to repair to the
station assigned him on the coast OF Africa. The
Portsmouth sailed from New York on the Goth OF
September.
the frigate ST. Lawrence, while in the North Sea
are very satisfactory His continuance there during
the winter being considered unnecessary, orders
were sent 10 him on the 18th of September to pro-
coed with the frigate to winter in the Medterra-
mean, and TO report to Commodore Morgan. Should
it be deemed advisable to keep up force in the
North Sea and the Baltic, vessels from the Medi-
terranean will be despatched in the spring on that
service.
The squadron in the China seas, under the COM
nand of Commodore Geisnger, consists of the
flag ship soop of war Plymouth, Commander Gcd
ney, and the brig Dolphin, Lieutenant Command
ing Ogden. The sloop-of-w Preble was tempo
rarily attached to this squadron she has returned
to the Pacific, and orders have been sent TO Com
modore Jones for her return to the United States.
1t is gratifying to state that the small force en-
ployed in the East Indies has been eminently useful
TO the commercial interests of country in ex-
tending information, cultivatng friendly relations,
and affording protection to American seamen in
that quarter. In recent despatch, received from
Commodore Geisinger, the important fact is stated
that coal OF an excellent quality is found at the
island of Formosa, in convenient position, and in
abundance for the wants of steam navigation be-
tween California and China.
am happy TO report that no interruption has oc-
Cured TO the fair and legal commercial pursuits of
our citizens abroad. Wherever our national yes
sells have been shown, they have been received with
marked respect, and officers have been treated
with kindness and courtesy; they have all occa-
sions pursued of steady neutrality, in ac-
cordance with the policy of our Government and i'll
compliance with the instructions of this Department
Under the Sd section of the act of the Sd of March,
lS49 the Secretary of War transferred 10 the Navy
Department the following steamers, viz: the Mas
sachusetts, Edith, Telegraph, Alabama, Fashion,
Monmouth, New Orleans, and Major Tompkins.
AT the time OF the transfer the Massachusetts and
Edith in the Pacific ocean, on special service
connected with the War Department the others
were at New Orleans All these steamers were
purchased during the war with Mexico for the
transportation of troops and supplies for the army
With the exception of the Massachusetts and Edith
they were wholly unfit for general naval purposes
their retention expensive, and they were rap
idly deterioratng in value; orders were given for
their sale. The Alabama, New Orleans and Major
Tompkins have been sold, and the proceeds paid
into the Treasury The Fashion has been returned
TO the War Department for the transportation oil
troops and supplies 10 Florida. The Telegraph and
Monmouth remain TO be sold. The Edith was
wrecked and totally lost the oath of August last
on the coast Of California.
Under provision Of the act making appropria-
tons for the naval service, approved March Sd,
lS49 VIZ: " that competent officer of the navy,
not below the grade OF lieutenant, be charged with
the duty of preparing the Nautical Almanac for
publication, Lieutenant Davis has been selected 10
superintend the work. The preliminary arrange
ments have commenced, and have no doubt, from
the eminent qualifications of this officer, the work
will progress with all the rapdty practicable,
where so great accuracy and precision required.
The report as 10 the manner in which Lieutenant
Davis proposes 10 execute the important duty en-
trusted 70 him, and the progress made, will be
found herewith transmitted.
The practical experiments authorized by the
act, for testing the capacity and usefulness OF
the electro magnetic power as a mechanical agent
for the purposes Of navigation and lOcomotion,
have in accordance with the act been entrusted 20
IFOltssOT OldIlts VI rage Inc experiments are
in progress when they are completed the result
viii be reported 10 Congress.
The act of August Sd, is4S, directed tho Secreta-
ry Of the Navy 10 cause the observations TO be
made recommended by the American Philosophi-
cal Society and the Academy Of Arts and Sciences.
The necessary instruments have been procured,
and are on their way 10 Santiago, in Chill, under
the charge of two passed midshipmen. Lieutenant
Giss the officer selected to superntend tho obser-
vations left the United States in August last to
proceed, by the way Of Chagres and Panama, TO
the point selected No report has been received
from him. lie is instructed to advise the Depart
ment from time 90 time Of the progress made in the
duty assigned him.
Under the act of Congress Of the Sd of March,
lS47, contracts made with r. h. Collins and
his associates for the transportation of the mail
between New York and Liverpool; with A. G. Sloo
for the transportation Of the mail from New York
and New Orleans. touching at Charleston, Of prac-
ticable,) Savannah and Havana, and from Havana
to Chagres; and with Arnold Harris for the trans-
portation Of the mail from Panama 10 Astoria, in
Oregon, 10 connect with the mail from Havana 70
Chsgrcs across thc lsthnus.
The three sea-stcamcrs under the contract for the
Pasa,!la and Oregon line were accepted before the
close Of tho year lsis. II j. believed they are &C
lively employed ia The service required by the law
establishing the line No pro,i.lon j. made either
tl1 tltg