Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-31

tors were killed. Colonel Stewart of
Philadelphia, also narrowly escaped
------------------.
Annual report of the Secretary of the
Navy.
The annual report of the Hon. VIM. A.
Graham, Secretary of the Navy, occupies
nearly five columns of the Republic, and
gives an interesting exhibit Of the condi-
ton of the public service under his super
vision. s19 leHs
The report commences by noting the
movements of our several naval squad
rons during the year-compliments Com.
Platt of the Albany, for the energy he
displayed at Havana, during the late in
vasion of Cuba-refers to the trip of the
Mississippi to the coast of Turkey, to take
on board Gen. Kossuth, and her return
to the United States-and announces that
the Independence, the only U, s, vessel
in tho Mediterranean, has been ordered
home, being unsuited for winter cruising
in that sea,
The African squadron, under Com. La
valette, has been assiduously and SUCCESS
fully engaged, aided by the English squad
ron, in suppressing the slave trade, but as
Brazil has abolished the slave trade
among her subjects, it is proposed to in
form Great Britain of our determination
to withdraw our squadron altogether
from the African coast, and increase it on
the coast of Brazil, leaving the Home
Squadron to guard against the use of our
flag for the slave trade with the Spanish
West Indies Such an arrangement, it is
believed, would more certainly conduce
to the suppression of the slave trade, and
at the same time promote the health of
the officers and crews of our vessels.
The cambridge, of the Brazil squad
ron, has been ordered to relieve the Per-
ry on the African coast, the latter being
ordered home.
The Brazil squadron is under the COM
mand of Com. McKeevcr, and its eficien-
cy is duly commended, as are also the
Mediterranean squadron, Com. Morgan ;
tho Home squadron, Com. Parker; Pa
cfc squadron, Com. McCauley and the
East India squadron, Com. Aulick, who
is now on his way out in the Susquehana.
The Marion will be relieved on the arri-
val, out of the Suspuehanna and Ply
mouth, and return home by the way of
the Cape of Good Hope, bringing, it is ex-
pected, valuable varieties of the seed or
root of the sugar cane, and also of the tea
plant, collected under the orders of the
Department for distribution in the sec
tions of our country adapted to their cul-
tivation,
In all quarters ofthe globe our vessels
have been cordially received, and the Of
ticers we'll treated. The interests of COM
merce, International peace and friendship
are, it is believed, promoted by the visits
OF our armed vessels, and the display of
our flag. on foreign shores.
1t is recommended that the officers and
men of the late Grinnell expedition, be
allowed the same pay and cmoluments
that were granted to those in like posi-
tions in the late exploring expedition to
the South Seas, Mr.. Grinnell has offered
HE Ns"sNl again. should Congress see fiji
to authorize second expedition IN search
of Sir John Franklin.
The brig Dolphin, Lieut.. Lee, has been
dispatched to test new routes on the ocean,
pointed out by the superintendent of the
observatory, and favorable results are an
,ticipated, During the year, ninety Off
GERS have been employed on the coast
survey, the supervision of which it is re-
commended should be referred to the Ma
Wy Department.
The cost of the large stone dock at
Brooklyn, has been So, LAC, 255 SO. 1t
was so far completed in August as to be
delivered to the commandant of the yard,
The floating sectional dock basin and
railway at Philadelphia is reported ready
for delivery, and the one at Portsmouth,
n, H., nearly ready, The balance dock
at Pensacola, will not be ready before the
ensuing summer. The floating sectional
dock at San Francisco Bay, has been con-
tracted for at 100000, and will be COM
pleted in two years from May last, Its
location cannot be determined until the
site for a navy yard is selected, The dock
it is suggested, when not in use for the
repair of naval vessels, may be used by
merchant vessels Adequate appropria-
tons are urged for the San Francisco Ma
Wy yard.
Messrs. Wells Il Gowan, of Boston,
have contracted to remove the wreck of
the steamer Missouri from the Bay of
Gibralter, for the sum of $50 900, and are
now performing the duty with no doubt
of success,
The report next discusses the proprie-
ty OF the gradual increase of our navy,
and the necessity of avalling ourselves of
all the improvements and discoveries of
the age in gunnery, ordnance, naval ar
chitecture, and all the appliances of steam.
As an instance of the improvement of the
age 1t is stated that the boilers of the
oM1.ss'ssippi, planned fifteen years ago,
"a t,, no" be reduced to nearly one half
~ 'a sa1 dimensions and weight, and at
sno S@ms nc TIM. time made to double the present
p U"ot ~ me vessel with about the same
4"an u yo ot nueI now required,