The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-27

sasfactory HIS continuance there during the white
being considered unnecessary orders to HIN
on the 18th of September to proceed with the fgate
to winter In the Mediterranean and to report to Com
modore Morgan. Should 1t be deemed advisable ia
keep up force in the North Sea aud the Baltic YES
sells from the Mediterranean viii be despatched in the
spring on that service.
The squadron in the China Seas, under the commend
OF Commodore esipger, consists OF the flag ship soop-
of-war Plymouth, Commander Gednsy, and the brig
dolphin, Lieutenant commanding Ogden The sloop
ofwar Preb'e was temporarily attached to this squad
ROM she has returned to the Pacific orders have
been sent to Commodore Jones for her return to the
United States 1t is gratifying to state that the small
force employed in the East Indies has eminsnty
useful to the commercial interests Of country in
extending information cultivatng friendly relations
ana alording protection to American In that
quarter In recent despatch received from Commo-
dore Geisnger the important fact is stated that coal
Of an excellent quality is found at the island Of For
mora in convenient position, and in abundance for
China.
am happy to rs.ort that no interruption has
CURED to the fair aud legal commercial pursuits
citizens abroad. Wherever our national vessels
been shown, they have been received with marked
spsct and officers have been treated with kind
ana courtesy They have on all occasions, pursued q
course OF steady neutrality accordance with the po-
Icy Of our government and In compliance With the in.
structfons OF this department.
Under the third section Of the act Of the Sd Of March,
ls49 the Secretary Of War transferred the Navy De-
setts, Edith, Telegraph, Alabama fashion Monmouth
New orleans, and Major rompkns. At the time Of the
cine Ocean on special service connected with the War
| Department. The others at New Orleans. All
thete steamers were purchased during the with
Mexico for the transportation of troops and supplies
| for the army. With the exception of the Massachu-
sets and Edith they wholly unfit for general
val purposes Their retention expensive and they
rapidly deteriorsting In value orders were
for their sale The Alabama, New Orleans and Major
Tompkins have been Sold and the proceed. paid into
the Treasury. The Fashion has been ned to the
War Department for the transmission of troops and
supplies to Florida The Telegraph and Monmouth
remain 10 be sold The Edith wrecked and totally
lost ON the Gath CT August last, the of Cali
| fornia.
| ITnder , nrovis;or ~ ,ba a.+ v,.,,-. .u-.-,....
for the naval service approved March Sd 1sl9 viz
that competent officer Of the navy, not below the
grade OF lieutenant be charged with the duty OF pre-
pairing the Nautical Almanac for publications. eute
nsnt Davis has been selected superntend the work
have no doubt from the eminent Of sh,s
oicer the work will with all the rapidity prac
ueahs where SO great accuracy and precision are
CURED The report rs TO the manner Ia which Lieu
tenant Davis proposes TO execute the important
entrusted to him. and the progress made will be found
herewith transmitted.
The practical experiments authorized by the same
act for testing the capacity snd usefulness Of the cleo
tro power mechanical agent for the pur-
poses OF navigation and locomotion have in accord
ance with the act been entrusted to Professor charles
q. Page. The experiments are progress when they
pleted, the result will be reported TO Congress-
The act Of August 3D. ls4S directed the Secretary Of
the Navy to cause the observations to be made
msnded by the American Philosophical Society and the
Academy Of Arts and Sciences 1he csssary
mens have been procured aud their way
ago in Chill under the charge Of two passs mdship
men Lieutenant GilliSs the officer selected super
intend tho observations, left the United States In
a
mama to the point selectsd Norepor has yet been
ceived from him. He is instructed to advise the de-
patment from time to time Of the progress In the
duty assigned him.
Under the act OF Congress Of the 80 Of March IsI7
contracts made with e. X. Collins and his
ciaes for the transportation the mail New
York and Lverpoo with A. q Sloo for the transpor-
tation Of the mail from New York and New Orleans
touching at Charleston Of sble) Savannah aud
Havana and from Havana to Chagrss; with Arnold
Harris for the sportstion OF mail Panama
TO Astoria in Oregon, to connect with the mall from
ma IN ha arnsa fha I.fh
The tbrse sea steamers under the contract for the
Panama and Oregon line were accepted before the
employed In the service required by law establish
ing the line. No provision Is made, either By the
ers en- this line BY officers OF the navy nor for passed
midshpmen to serve as watch officers. There have
been no reports made to this Department of the
vices rendered by the steamers this line.
The contractors for tbs Liverpool line engaged with
the Department to build i've steamships Of less
than two tons tor the transpor
taton Of the mail between New ald the
first Of the steamships to be ready perform the
In eighteen from the date OF the st
November ls47 and three others IS sosn thereafter
as each may be required 10 taxa its place Ia the line
that the nth should be commenced aud built as
early as may be practicable thereafter. BY ths 18th
section Of the act approved March Sd lS40 the Sc
cfetary Of the Navy authorised TO modify the
contract as 20 postpone the acement Of the mail
service spus I'd 20 be perforated until the day Of
June 1880, Which has accordingly been done. The Of
pre,es the opinion that the Atlantic viii be tn. rst in
readiness that 10 possible sh. may sail time Ia
The following month Of January: the Pacific will be
ready By the aTst Of March that two others will pro.
bshy sVs be completed earlier than the nrst Of August
1900 and that contract has been entered into by Mr.
Collins for the frame Of the fifth vessel No informa.
cn has yet been received Of the probable period Of
hnal completion. The Department Is informed that
the contractors are making ekeon to complete their
yeels to enter upen the service for which they are
designed, by the time stipulated.
The contractor for the New Orleans and Chasres line
bound himself to establish line Of steamships to con-
sis Of at least five vessels for the Of the
United States mail from New York TO Nss Orleans
fNtF ftfh and hail sat rIaafA
prsotieableJ Savannah aud Havabs, and from Hsvsns
to Chsgrss and back, twice month; that two OF the
steamships should be completed aud ready for service
the fret day OF October 1Sss and should be Of the
burden OF not less than fifteen hundred tons that,
employ a steamer q no, I les. than sis SaparsS
tens burden for the service between Havana and
Chasrrs, In leu Of one OF the i've steaaers Of
contractor agreed TO construct steam ship complete
In all respects for performing the service sna answer
ing ell the conditions required BY the Law The con-
tractor further bound himself complete aud have in
readiness for service the TIVE remaining steamships By
the fret day Of Octsber 1ssg that the line Of steam
ships should be kept up ~ alterations repairs add
tions (of approved character fully equal to the ext
esncses Of The service and the faithful
ment Of the purposes Intended by the Law that the
vessels should be In full aud entire operation tns
FIRST Of Oct 1879; that esehsnd all Of the said steam
ships should be commanded by officer OF the Navy
Of the nied states. net below the grade Of sutsnsnt
20 be selected by the contractor with the approval aud
consent OF the Secretary 81 the Navy that the Officers
should be accommodated on board thereof, In Q man
becoming their rank and station without charge
10 the government OF the united ana
agreed to receive board Of eech of said ps,
and accommodate In manner suitable TO their rank,
without charge TO the government four passed mid.
shi of the United States Navy, TO watch
officers In December last before otne vessels under
this contract were completed the contractor DESTROYS
20 meet the wishes Of the Department proposed place
on the route, temporarily, the ocean steamer Falcon,
and she accepted until the steamships to be
sructed under the contract should be ready TO take
their places on the line the department rcseryns the right
terminate TIE arrangement whenever should thnk
per do In the facts of this line
has been complied that the dcmands Of cfens require
facility the ansmisson o. mails and tor she
TRANSPORTATION Of this route which be at
orded have not Thought % discontinue the Service
and tbs FALCON has been snd continues be- actively and
usefuy enaaga between New Orleans skd Chagre when
steamships for shall be accepted service
when any other the department. deems
with the Of Falcon, will be
given ~ the propetOs accordance with the agreement
under which she s employed But steamship built
under this contract has been rtprted ready for the SER
vice. either the contractor bic seEnscs and that has
not accepted Commodore Perry, the
agent the th Of september that the Ohio
corpersd aud cOnselueHy cannot be considered
finally completed according 20 contract The has SINCE
that date, been placed BY her Che line between
New YorR and New Ur and sailed the 1th u Sep