The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-04
Rspor. or ,hs Secretary Or che Navy.


Report or this Secretary Of the Navy.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, November 30, 1850
SIR In anticipation Of The session of Congress, |
respectfully submit the annual report OF this department
! The vessels in commission during the past year ex
elusive OF the steamer Michigan under the command OF
Commodore Buus, which has been cruising the lakes
above Niagara, giving protection 10 our commerce, and
rendering to distressed merchantmen on
those inland seas, have been employed in six different
! squadrons. -
The home squadron, Commodore Parker commanding.
whose field OF operations extends from the banks Of New
foundland to the mouth OF the Amazon river, has
prised the fngate Raran, Captain Page; the sloop.of
war Albany, Commander Randolph the sloop. of.war
Germantown. Commander Lowndes; the steamer Vixen,
Lieutenant Commanding Smith the steamer Waterwtch
Commanding Turner, and has been chiefly occupied in
the West Indies and the Gull OF Mexico The valuable
services Of The vessels Of this squadron, together with
the irgate Congress and the Saranac prevent
ing violation oil national oblgatons in attempt
ed invasion OF the island OF Cuba from the United Sates
and the mission OF Commodore Morris, TO inercede with
the Spanish authorities OF that island for the lives and
Liberation Of misguided fellow citizens who had Joined
in that expedition and had been captured, were made
known 10 Congress in communication from the late
President in the month OF June last The frigate Rar
an, being required Tor more distant service, was with
drawn from this squadron in the month oil May, and
after being refted despatched. under the command
Of Captain Gaunti, to The south Pacific ocean. The
steamers Waterwich and Vixen. standing in need Of
pairs brough, for that purpose to the navyyard at
Washington and expected TO be again ready for
sea, The sloop Germantown having been infected with
yellow fever during her cruise in the West ndies was
taken early in the present autumn to the port OF New
York. and, being now thoroughly cleansed and re6tted
preparing 10 join the squadron the coast OF Africa
The steamer Saranac, Capt Tatna has been lately ad-
ded to this squadron, and bears the broad pennant Of
Commodore Parker,
The Pacific squadron continued under the command Of
Commodore T. Ap C. Jones until the month of June last
when he relieved and succeeded by Commodore Nc
Cauley 1t consists Of the irigaie Savannah Captain
Page bearing the broad pennan Of the commander Of the
tha
vandaia, Commander Gardner; Vincennes, Commander
Hudson; Falmouth. Commander Pearson ST. Marys,
soreshp,) Lieut.. Pickering the steamer Massschu-
ses, Lieut. knox; and the s,ofeship Supply, Leut Ken
Is S s Snn y q.
ward voyage from this stations and the shp-of e-ne
Ohio, Commander Stribling, ned lherelrom in April
town Ii IS nten ed that the frigaie Rsran and soop
ST. Mays which have been recently despatched 10 this
squadron. together with third vessel to be designated
the commodore, shall cruise between Cape Horn and
Panama. and westward TO the lS0th degree OF longitude
visiting the Maquesas and Friendly Islands, and making
their depot Of supplies at Valparaiso while the residue Of
the squadron will be generally employed in that
north OF the equator The advantage, indeed the neces
sy. of efficient feet in the Pacific for the protection
OF an extesded territory, and sudden and wonderful
commerce in that hitherto unoccupied region OF the
world. cannot be too highly estimated and will be again
adyerted to ia The sequel OF This communication.
The squadron on The coast OF Brazil, Commodore Nc
keever commanding is composed OF the fgaie Congress-
Captain Mcniosh bearing tue broad pennsnt OF the
m0dore; Inc sl0Op Iomnandef C0cke; Inc Orig
Bainbrdge, Lieut., Manning and the soreshp Relief
Lieut. Tolten. The frigaie Brandywine, Captain Boar
man, the flag ship Of Commodore Sorer, who was
Gently relieved from the command Of this station, 10
pected TO arrive at the port Of New York. The
cruise oil this squadron extending from the mouth OF the
river Amazon to Cape Horn. and occasionally eastward
TO the coast of Africa, its attention has been especially
directed TO the suppression, by legitimate inerposon. OF
the African slave trade, still carried 10 considerable
extent between Brazil and the coast OF Africa; TO the
protection OF neutral rights in the state OF hostility
lately existing between the Argentine republic and the
Banda Oriental Of Uruguay, and the cultivation OF rea
tons OF commerce and amiiy with the governments and
people of the several nations along the coast OF its cruis
The Mediterranean squadron, under the sommand Of
Commodore Morgan, consists OF his flag ship the
Independence Captain JAMESON; the gae Cumberland.
Captain Lamer; the steamer Mississippi, Captain Long;
aud the storeshp Lexington, Lieutenant Mitchell The
course oil political events in Europe not appearing TO
quire the continuance OF the large force which had been
assembled that in consequence OF the unsettled
aspect Of affairs at the date Of the last annual report from
this department, the frgate ST. Lawrence Captain Pauld-
ing attached TO this squadron ordered TO proceed to
the Baltic on short cruise, and thence 70 return TO the
United States She arrived at New York IN the present
month. The frgaie CONSTITUTION, Captain Conoyer, also
OF this squadron has been ordered home and may oe ex-
pected daily. Under orders from the department. Com.
modore Morgan with his flag ship Independence and the
steamer Mississippi, visited Lisbon in the month OF June,
and received board charge daares, on the occa
sion OF bis retirement from that court. and conveyed him
20 Naples This squadron has been actively engaged in
visiting the various ports OF the Mederranean. the Adr
aic and the Archipelago, and has maintained discipline
and etnciency nlgniy cOmnenudot.
The squadron on the coast OF Africa, under the CON-
mand OF Commodore Gregory, embraces his flag shp the
sloop- Portsmouth, Commander Peck the sloop-
OF war John Adams, Commander Powell; the sloop-of
Dale, Commander Pearson the brig Popose. Lieu
tenant Lardner and The brig Perry, Lieutenant Foote
0ders issued for the return OF the soop-ofwar
Yorktown Commander Marston. lately attached to this
squadron, but before their receipt she was wrecked
coral reef the northern extremity OF the island OF
Mayo, of the Cape de Verdes All the officers and
crew saved and have been sent home 10 the soop
John Adams; they arrived 1T Norfolk on the 27th in.
slant; the vessel Is total loss Under the vigilance and
energy Of the officers Of this force, the slave rae has
been broken up on the west coast OF Africa; but still
prevails on the south vessels bearing the flag of
The United States in spite of the efforts OF cruisers
which have been from time time despatched from the
squadron to suppress il. Within the present month
brig called the Chatsworh, captured prize on the
latter coast by Lieutenant Foote, in the brig Perry for
being concerned the slave trade has arrived in the port
\ of Baltimore for trial. f8 s} Aah ~ ~ =.
Occasional instances have occurred OF the interference
OF British cruisers with vessels bearing our flag on that
coast upon suspicion Of their being savers but in each
the offence has been soned for by expansions and
apologies 10 officers that station. and the reports