Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-12-07

ouencc Deen aoned expnnauone apolo8cs
officers that station, and the reports thereof have been
transmitted from this Department TO the Department OF State
The squsdroa in the East India and China seas lately
der the command Of Commodore Geinger, who returned
home in the soop ST. Mays in June last, transferred to
the command of Commodore Voorhees, and consists Of the
soopof Saratoga Commander Walker, and the sooP-
ofwar Marion. Commander Glendy. The soopo-war Ply
mouth Commander Gedney, and the brig Dolphin, Lea,en-
ant Commanding Page having been recently detached from
this service the expiration Of their cruise their
passage to the United States In the month Of February last
the commander of this squadron took board Of his flagship
the soopowar Plymouth atMscao Mr. Bales.ier, who had
been appointed commercial agent Of the United States and
carried him to and other parts Of Eastern Asia,
with view the extension Of commercial relations
among those distant and peculiar nations
is Of high qualification that, wherever flag
has been displayed by national vessel It has received the
respect due to the national character and that interests
and commerce in every have been secure and prosperous
under its protection.
Under the joint resolution Of Congress approved May
1885, "authorzng the President accept and attach the
navy two vessels offered by Henry GnneI, Esq, of New
York. to be sent to the Arctic in search Of the British
commander, Sir John Franklin, and his companions whose
uncertain and melancholy situation has enlisted the sympa
hies Of the friends Of science and nautical adventure through
out the world two bgannes were received and by order Of
my predecessor placed under the command Of Lieut.
De Haven, who, with sufficient Of officers and men,
noby volunteered service The command of one ohese
vessels assigned to Passed Midshpman 8. r. Griffin,
Leuenan De Haven commanding the other in person. and
having the direction Of the expedition They sailed from
New York in the month Of May and the date of their last
report to the Department had advance the 18th degree Of
north latitude, and about the 6Oh degree Of longitude
galany contendng with the cebergs Of that region and
yet not without hope of in their humane but peous
enterprise.
In the active service sAoat of the officers Of the navy il
proper to enumerate their abos the Coast Survey work
which, although committed TO the direction Of the Treasury
Department. is in the most important part Of is field opera
TONS essentially performed by them During the last year,
min nh in tho =. a.
each charge Of lieutenant in the navy, accompanied by
competent force Of mdshpmen assistants have been ac
lively engaged in this survey Whether in consideration of
the main objects expected TO be realized in the completion Of
the work. and the large agency in its execution devoved
the navy, would not be more appropriate and just well
economical assign wholly this branch Of the service
is worthy Of the attentive consideration Of The Legislature.
Having presented hasty review of the service Of
ous squadrons during the past year, and designing to sug
gest some general considerations upon the naval policy
qued by the present interests of the country, deem it
needfu to full comprehension Of the subject very briefly
to review our present naval establishment.
The vessels of the Navy Of the United States consist Of
ships Of the line; ~ frigates; 81 soops-owar
brigs; schooners; steam gates steamers Of the
Isl class steamers less than LIST class; store.hps
Of these these are in commission, gates Is
brgs; schooners, (coast survey,)
steam igates; Of the ls class steamers less
than lst class shps-ofthe- line, receiving ships;
steamer do; sloop do.
There also the stocks and in progress of consruc
on, but the work thereon suspended four ships of the
line and two frigaes. n.s
To the foregoing may be added contingent naval force of
vessels owned by individuals but built by contracts with the
Government and employed in the transportation of the mail
and liable in any emergency to be taken valuation and
verted into vessels Of war; namely -Four steamers Of the first
class employed the line between New York and Liverpool
fifth contracted for but not yet constructed One steam
er Of the first class between New York and Panama.
cond steamer this line has been brought into ue but has
not been finished to undergo inspection aud be received
The contract on this ne on that to Liverpool provides
Tor five steamships.
To supply the demands of the service in the construction
and repair vessels Of all descriptions navy yards
are established at-l. Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Q.
Massachusetts 8. Brooklyn New York A.
Philadelphia 5. Washington; s. Norfolk Z. Pensacola
3. Memphis.
Permanent stone docks have been many since erected
It the yards in Chaestown and Norfolk and third is
completed in that at Brooklyn. Floating balance docks
with stone basins and railways expected 10 be completed
at Portsmouth and Pensacola in the course of the
suing year. and floating sectional dock, also with
basin and railway, at Philadelphia within the same period
these three docks shall realize the expectations of the Gov
,rnment they, with the dry dock at New York. will have
augmented naval facilities in this respect theefod within
he next twelve months and will have provided all the ACCOM-
notation Of that kind which may be required on the waters
If the Atlantic and. he Gulf Of Mexico for many years
,ome. The navy yard at Washington carries on highly
important mandatory of ordnance and ordnance sores of
anchors, chain cables, steam engines and other fabrics of
and preparations progress erect there machinery
rolling "copper" an establishment long wanted as well on
he Of economy to furnish better quality Of rolled
copper for sheahng vessels than be obtained in market
The yard at Memphis being Immediately prepared for the
manufacture Of cordage and other supplies of hempen
as for naval uses and its operations may be enlarged with
he necessities Of the SERVICE have regretted learn that
here has been loss in the expenditure there in
luence of the difficulty of obtaining firm foundation for the
buildings; and il is in contemplation 10 have survey Of the
yard by board Of engineers constituted for that purpose
accordance with the recommendation Of the Chief the Bu
of Yards and Docks to provide against like casualties
or the future.
In conformity with the act Of the last session authorizing
he construction Of sectional floating basin and
railway the of the Pacific, have invited proposals
the construction Of such work. and the officers of the
proper bureau engaged in calculations intended to
reasonabeness OF those offered So soon as sasac
ory shall be agreed upon, is the intention Of the De-
parment expedite the work with all practicable dispatch
1t is estimated that, independently Of the public works. fix
ures machinery, &c. at the existing navy yards the
hand for the construction, equipment and repair Of ves
sels equal in value in round numbers to &c. 500 00O
The of the country in timber on "copper" hemp
and every species Of naval supplies will enable these to be
creased according necessities Many intelligent persons
incline the opinion that n the present of mechanical
science and enterprise and with the abundance of capital in
country, would be wiser to rely upon with
private citizens for the building and repairs of our public
sells than carry the work under the supervision of public
officers And it may well be doubted whether, if a system
be projected without reference what has been
heretofore done the number Of navy yards might not
considerably abridged With these estabshmens however,
capable Of use and with the inconsderabe amounts
cessay to them. cannot recommend that any Of
them be abandoned The system Of dependence private
contrac moreover, would deprive the Government Of any
Of location for repairing and building vessels
all such operations In the commercial cities where
private as well as public patronage might be expected Iis