The republic., 1850-12-05
Report OF tn. Secretary Of tho Navy.

every kind experienced rise.
Report OF the Secretary Of the Navy.
We have already published at length this
important document, which will excite unusual
attention, both on account of the great interest,
which attaches to the subject of which it treats,
and of the numerous suggestions which it ad-
vances in regard to the improvement of this
branch of the public service.
The Secretary commences with description
of the various squadrons into which the vessels
of our navy have been distributed during the
past year, and review of the services which
they have performed. The vessels in commits
sion, exclusive of the steamer Michigan, which
has been cruising on the lakes, have been EN-
ployed in six different squadrons. The home
squadron, Commodore Parker commanding,
flagship the frigate Raritan, whose field of
operations extends from the Banks of New
foundland to the mouth Of the Amazon river,
has been chiefly occupied in the West Indies
and the Gulf of Mexico, and has reformed val
liable service in preventing violation of our
national obligations in the attempted invasion
OF the Island of Cuba
The Pacific squadron continued under the
command of Commodore II. AP. CArEsBY
JONES until the month of June last, when he
was succeeded by Commodore McCAuLEY,
whose flag ship is the frigate Savannah Three
vessels of the squadron are to cruise between
Cape Horn and Panama, and westward to the
one hundred and eightieth degree of longitude,
while the residue will be generally employed
north of the equator.
The squadron on the coast of Brazil, Com
modore MckEEvER commanding, flag ship the
frgate Congress, cruises 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
OF the slave trade, and to the protection of our
neutral rights in the state of hostility existing
between the Argentine Republic and the Banda
Oriental of Uruguay.
The Mediterranean squadron, Commodore
MORGAN commanding, flagship the razee
Independence, has been actively engaged in
visiting the various ports Of the Mediter-
ranean, Adriatic, and the Archipelago. The
squadron on the coast of Africa, Commo-
holt nay tlt sipop-
ofwar Portsmouth, has been vigiantly EN-
ployed in breaking up the slave traffic on the
west coast Of Africa.
The squadron in the East India and China
seas, lately under the command Of Commodore
GEIsrSGrR, was transferred in June last to the
command Of Commodore VOORHEES,, and con-
sists of the slcops-of-war Saratoga and Marion.
Wherever our flag has been displayed by a
national vessel, it has received the respect due
10 the national character, and our interests and
commerce have been secure under it's protec-
ton.
The two brigantines composing the expedi-
ton in search Of Sir JoHS FRASELIS, at the
date Of their last report to the Department, had
advanced to the 18th degree of north latitude,
and about the Goth degree Of west longitude.
During the last year nine parties, eight in
the Atlantic and one in the Pacific, each in
charge Of lieutenant, accompanied by com
petent force Of midshipmen as assistants. have
been actively engaged in the coast survey.
The Secretary suggests that it would be more
appropriate as well as more economical that
this work, which is now under the direction Of
the Treasury Department, should be assigned
wholly to the Navy, as the branch Of the ser
vice on which the chief share in its execution
now devolves.
The vessels of the navy Of the United States
consist Of ships Of the line ! razee; IL fri
gates u sloops- ps-of-war; 4 briggs 2 schooners;
8 steam frgates 3 steamers Of the lst class 6
steamers less than LIST class; and storeships.
Of these there are in commission, | razee 6
frigates 10 sloops- -of-war; briggs schoon-
ers, (coast survey j 2 steam frigate. steam
er Of the lst class; steamers less than list
class 3 ships-of-the eline, as receiving ships
steamer do; and ] sloop do.
There are also on the stocks and in progress
Of construction ships Of the line and fri
gates.
To the foregoing may be added as a contn-
gent naval force, the various mail steamers
which are liable in an emergency to be con-
verted into vessels Of war, viz 8 steamers Of
the LIST class, already constructed CON
structed, but not yet received; and contracted
for, but not yet constructed.
Permanent stone docks have been many years
since erected at the yards in Charlestown and
Norfolk, and third is nearly completed in that
at Brooklyn. Floating balance docks, with
stone basins and railways are expected TO be