The New York herald., 1850-12-04

mandsr Of . ship, In which there had doubtless at
times been abuses, which was the principal mischief
csse and which now exists, Is connnsme mt In irons
Aside from any comparison in the degrees OF dsgrs-
fail to bs observed that the latter dissblss and wsakens
the ships company by the amount Of every man
fined and would have few tsrrors for hardened offend
ers on the trying occasions of battle q storm 1t
mst also be recollected that existing at discretion 1t
Is liable to the abuse with its alternative already
nent Of discipline In view OF the difi culss which
surround the subject avail myself of the presence of
board OF highly Intelligent and experienced officers,
assembled at the of government for another
pose to ask their opinion several questions oon
nscted WITH TINS cnsnss Q, disogiine and Will probe
respectfully suggest that committee Of Congress
shall take the testimony ON oath Of respectable and
experienced seamep as well - officers In reference to
proper code OF discipline for the service, and
pecally In regard to the punshmsnts to
be imposed by officers In command OF single ships
The line OF mail steamers between New York and
Liverpool, owned by Mr. T. X. Collins and his
cates commenced the TRANSPORTATION Of the mails In
April last In compliance with their contract with this
department under the act Of Congress Of tbs Sd of
March, ls47, In two steamships. the Atlantic and
the Arctic and Baltic and has been eminently sue
cessful in making the passage across the ocean.
George Law, assignee Of A. O. soc and authorized by
the eame act has had accession to its number Of
vessels since the last annual reper from this depart
ment.
The line frem Panama to San Francisco, and thence
to Astoria of which Mr William H. Aspinwan is pro-
pretor, assignee Of Arnold Harris has received
addition Of two steamers, the Tennessee and Col
umbia within the last few months, making its whole
According to the directions contained In the act Of
the last session approved 2sth Of September $780, d.
recting to be made on these several lines
according to the services actually performed there
paid TO George Law for mall ser vice his line
frem lst December lsis, to Soth September, 1850 in
And by credit on his debt for advsnces.. Soooo
This payment was made in compliance with what
supposed to be the intention Of Congress In the
proyso Of the appropriation tor the mail steam service
in that act That, however, was temporary provi-
on and the especial direction OF Congress is desired
in relation to future pay for service this line
On the Goth and 29th November 1859 there was paid
to 4 X. Collins and his associates Tor service on their
line, Sl63 GOO, leaving The former indebted TO the
United States in the of S0 0O0 With interest and
the latter in the rum OF S3s5ooo for advancements
made in aid OF their enterprise, which will become due
in pril next. with interest
Mr. William IL. Aspinwall repaid the whole amount
of the received by him In all ser vics
prior to the 18th February last according settle
mtnt then mace, srd having executed his contract
With crest purotus!ty has had farther settlements
respectfully recommend that line for this trans.
portaton OF the mails from San Francisco to Macao,
Shanghai. other point in Eastern Aea. either by
steamers or sail vessels be also established. Such
line would furnish regular and early means of commu
neettn bstween cur squadTors In the Pacific and the
China seas, enabling their early CO operation when
ever ocsssion might require, and would contribute
much to the iaeitation OF that co merce with the
Fart to which reference has been already made
In consequence Of the adaptation OF mail steamers
principally for tpeed and transportation It has been
doubted by officers Of great intelligence whether they
he converted into steamers OF the first class
without much Gddt nal expense since they have mel
thsr the strength 10 bear hesvy srmamsnts, nor to
Withstand Gdiug But as long as warfare at sea-
unlike that land permits the seizure OF the private
property Of the people OF an my when fodnd ahoat
on the ocesb. they always bs employed with great
advantage under light mmsments against the CON-
msrce ofan adversary With speed to overtaks msr-
chant vessel and at the same time elude tins pursuit
OF cruiser, they must prove most formidable means
Of annoyance 20 merchantmen.
The operations at the National Observatory and n.y.
biographical office continue TO be conducted In man
psr highly sati.actory. and are adding muoh 10 Lns
stores o. knoweoge and the fseiies OF ocean nsviga-
ton BY virtue oi the authority contsioed Ia the act
OF Congress approved March 3o l3ip have recently
aroin ed sgent IN the city q London 70 tss sac
oflee, Tor the mere cost o, printing them, With the
charges Of sportaiion and esonaee commission
as 70 dinuss the information afforded by them TO
nautical persons generally.
The Astronomical expedition uneer Lieut.. 0iss,
O Santiago de Chni with view 20 n new determi ma
ton a tbe Of the earth fsn, the sun by OBJ
s.ryatious carried st the 'ane time there aud here
and other scebtihe objects has prosecuted its abors
successfully, and has been signslly favored by ,hs
CbilisD govsrDmeot and people ss Is manifest from
the catering mention of Is in the recent OF
the PRECEDENT 10 the Congress ot that oosntry and
rtm hs applying and procuring TO be attached TO 10
nuubfr oi thtr yourg men ~ stud nti VI astronomy
The preparations for the publication Of an American
pAuirel almanac By Lieut. Davis undsr tn direction
OF the Department are In "a advanced state of pro
press ~ viii sPIesr In alstter sppeu led from his
that he has solicited ami engaged the lahors OF
scientific in various paris Of ths Uned States
ssstsnt ecmputors, and there Is every reason 70
hope that vhtn his work shsh D. completed, it Will
ret only be hieAy vsnahe to nsviyatora but will be
worthy ot the scientific chafActer ot the country
III experiments Of Professor Page In testiny the
nppulchiign q electro magnstism W motive power
~ mechanic, ave been continued Hincs my report
N ade In compliance ~jh are Of ths 80 nate In
s6mtembsr IaSt. by virtus Of N appropriation of
Msrch lsIo Rnd hsis now Engaged in pr ptraton for
trial tip Of loeomotive On railroad propelled ny
this rover
The meteorological otservstons Of profsror Espsy,
which are s;il in progress under ths appropriation
ads 81 TIE last session oi Congress val Do detailed In
bif TtpoIt 20 10 preseuted 20 Congress.
Tbs eourr. Of experiments In gunuery. and the PIE.
psratcn Of ordnsnce and ordnancs stores of all kinds
st he nvay yard In Washington hsve been conducted
in a manner highly sHtis'aetory to the Department,
sri in rsderstisn q the greet imporanee ef - par
s"3 ssIsioS sni rsp nsis,, Il the eae@s
,h,rse sill - 9TH difference resenlment tha, hs com-
ioss Il avs aioers hes ben eoaysrss sgr..sbly
'ion o. ifrf lsise,n oilsers e tts 'asry ava evi
lsttsf 10 en,ysl i,I,eS sna ne t'lti,s Is,k oi ot-
tie orr ION bs rItidsnt vai fell.tt " Artolutaa
is,ir ss :, y r,ssysa
~, 81 m hs ss,ir,ioa = az .sas ssas, si,h
rI,ue 70 lsrtoIs. tsa,ioss sa,heuies Gayy yaril
nent sud iturn 60 ne sat o Evrransat tAs e,s'sa
ssi,rl.s i 5ai p i,ss5 s5' 'ss hs % rr, O. s '.i aaa
Ie7t,ua CO.. fretes sith b. ot'eer oglr.int A.
psisi msRt in ths q Cergrs, srpessa ssptsassr -
is s 5s Il y. nssS pioydsi s sis nos ss
cssd itt q "tho fTsifn niels - Dc IA, 9ve y's'
fsiIust % .le 9qgifs aas is,ss tfer.,i, a. y, y
feen received rffy hats oi IRE Tntn tg r41t "a
Iusin ho q the rospotve heaas 81 bdrthus ~
this euartuenf tui rf ths cummaudaut % the marne
coTr recntua estimates tor ho So al cueinS ths Nh
june 1ts2 trreher wh sn trfrsrto s'tfeuient ~ tAe
atprour reuufes fer tl oljec unf'r no rn t7a
az this utrfri newt the n-s % phc1 D.. luVl
this should be dgduC' "a he Cstiuatea Tor tN-
tracfdirnfy tijccts. - foiowr, viti 1ranaporth-
ticu cf ne nin inpruveMent % navy laris, al,
ntuteal almanac, Gf.,.... zee 90. sAAVsN
T. chow the amount pror for ths support of the
ravsl service ir cluoing the nariuo ctrps for te -
Ths above aeercgsto ~ will he revived l. less BY mo-
tlsr ere million dollars han the sst mats Tor the
rrtsrnt year TO g. - addei The amoutl
Wien uay le rcquirt the n4srE dy ssk bssn snd
tilp ay on the % he raoihc 81 which estima
VII he IMPLIED 20 soon ~ atontaot shA te nAde ana he
/ rr'ce a. the wtcit woik sEresf uVfn.
tale IRE teriy "a ~ the spp-op,tu tus for %,
srnu prTcrt tfe nasy ult te sfataiei tr th.e
for ttd rtaucut objects shore aFd fseecay
fon hofe Tor tJraofdnary otject nneer The soperyst
a the prT1rttnt, which. however imr0ant ~ huJse
ruths necessarily eonnece 81 with ~ ~
in srary o. the tsf the trtcicn Of toig igauens an
fr the sutrrt Of the military tcsstmy, rtsted 70 ~
srny oftnct hs ueIsea ior uayy ihtas en1 aneN