The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-04

States minister penpotentary to Brazil. and HE Hon j
s. Pendeion. charge sfaires TO the Argentine republic
She arrived at Rio de Janeiro with arrangements
her machinery and equipments but these repaired
without much delay. and when last heard from she was
about TO depart BY way Of the Cape OF Good Hope Tor
her ultimate destination favor able impression Tor our
peculiar countries OF the East by the addition Of lh
new and wsappoined steam-frgate TO our squsdfoh ~
that region. :,
The steamer Michigan, Commander Bulius, has con-
tnusd to cruise The Upper Lakes TOT ,ne po.ee.oa
and assistance OF trading vessels ~ .nose u
has on several occasions furnished important
to me civil ocers in aresling and bringing to justice
combinations OF persons charged with offences against
tho laws OF The United States.
II ,h ,sv;sw of the sea service of our cruisers have
the satisfaction that ia all quarters OF the
globe their reception and treatment have been not only
nssnctfu but cordial and that not merely the interests
~ but international peace and friendship are
liksly TO be promoted by these visits Of armed
sss and the display OF cur flag on foreign shores.
The expedition under Lieut., Commanding De Haven to
the Arctic in search of the British commander. Sir
John Franklin, and his companions. returned to the port
of New York IN October having discovered only sup
posed traces Of the objects OF which it in quest, and
leaving in entire uncertainty their actual fate The
sells Of the expedition proceeded in the direction where,
in the opinion OF The best informed officers the missing
navgaiors to be sought, and which the traces in
question were found Though failing in The main objec!
by their explorations many facts before unknown
science, but indicated in the OF the Investigations
carried The Naval observatory concerning the winds
and currents Of the and to which reference
made in the instructions for the expedition.
In this expedition the officers and all vol
pneers In its prosecution they encountered the great
81 dangers and hardships To mention single example
r vessels were caught by the ice and frozen up in the
open sea In this Perious situation they were confined
III nine MONTHS and drted to and fro in the ice for
tA6 thousand miles. By the skill of the officers and
thsmercy Of superin,endng Providence. they
country and frisAdsnot having been lost the
expedition They have received no other pay than
would have been their due cruise to Naples or the
LevsDts and respectfully suggest that they be allowed
the same pay and emolumens that granted those
in like positions in the late exploring expedition to the
Mr. aenry Grinnel the owner of the vessels employed
BY Lieutenant De Haven has generously offered them
for another cruise in search OF Sir John franklin should
Congress think proper 10 authorize second expedition
The net Of Congress Of March 3, ls4s authorized the
employment Of three small vessels OF the navy in testing
new routes on the ocean pointed out BY the supen,end
ent OF the Observatory his wind and current charts,
and in collecting information to enable him perec,
those charts. Alter the return Of the brig Dolphin
already mentioned she fitted out and detailed this
service, under the command of Lieut. p Lee Off
Ger OF great experience and intelligence surveyor
and hydrographer and interesting and valuable results
At the instance OF the Executive Committee of citizens
OF the United States desiring send forward specimens
OF the productions OF American genius, skill, and labor TO
the great Industrial Exhibition in London this year, the
fuKate st. Lawrence was, with the appreciation OF the
Presiden despatched thher from the port of New York
under the command of Commander Sands to transpor,
the articles Tor exhibition free OF charge II is hoped
that the triumphs OF tounymen the competitions
for prizes in the inventions pertaining TO agriculture
will justify the counenance and bera'y thus shown 10
them by The government On her return, the st. Law
renee conveyed our charge d'affares in Portugal from
southampton to Lisbon and in the ports both OF Enga
and Portugal was received with demonstrations OF re-
spect and hospitality.
The number of officers OF the navy employed during
the present year on the coast survey ninety Having
communicated to Congress it's last session my opinion
that in of the nature of this work and the
connexon OF the officers OF the navy with it, the public
interests would be promoted by the transfer OF its
duct and supervision this department, have but
repeat the conviction then expressed strengthened BY
more mature consideration
In pursuance OF the intention expressed in my last
nual report board OF engineers OF the army at my
request detailed to make survey and examination OF
the Memphis hayward, with view 10 diff
Guilty which had been encountered finding solid founda
tons Tor the buildings Of the yard The report Of this
board (of which copy is appended) affords interest
the attention Of Congress.
The large stone dock at the Brooklyn navy-yard,
which has been ten years in progress, was so far com
pieed with all Its appendages, in August last to be
surrendered up to the commandan Of the yard Its
tire cost - shown in the report OF the Chief of the Bu-
rsau OF Yards and Docks. has been So lac, 255 90.
The floating sectional dock, basin, and railway Phil
adelpha has likewise been reported ready for deiv
cry, but, owing to the want Of sufficient depth OF water
immediately adjacent 10 the basin, the experiment
CURED OF raising vessel for the purpose OF testing these
going remedy this defect and the test is expected 10
b made within the month OF December.
The floating balance dock, basin, and railway at Ports
mouth, New Hampshire is also expected TO be finished
and tested within a short time thereafter.
The balance dock basln and railway Pensacola has
not progressed as rapidly expected and may not
be In readiness for delivery before the ensuing
AEreeaby TO the act OF the last session of Congress,
modified contract was entered into with Messrs. Dakin
and Moody, and Gilbert and Secor, for the construction
OF floating sectional dock the bay of San Francisco
TO be completed and delivered for the sum OF 500 600
lhs work 10 understood TO be in OF speedy
non The contract requiring lis completion In two years
from the month OF May last Its precise location cannot
be determined until the selection OF site for a navy yard
on the waters OF that bay, for which purpose commits
SION Will De sent out early IN the ensuing spring 1t will
pc necessary to provide basin render this dock
capable OF use. The location OF the dock having not
yet been determined the department pospones the
ton OF preference between these structures until the
report OF the proposed board shall be received full
cal informaton obtained.
IL being generally expected and desired by The owners
OF American merchaD, vessels that the oil The dock
question shall be allowed for the repairs OF such vessels
when not required for ships OF war, is proposed that
Congress shall determine the proper regulations for the
purpose and direct whether the dock and fixtures shall
be leased with that view, whether the government
shall carry on the work, through It's agents, and
what terms
The necessity OF navy-yard and station or that coast
% 20 obvious, as well to and work the dock
i0f general naval purposes in those waters need
illustration. therefore mend that Cong shall
Author1ze such and make ade-
quae appropriations therefor.
according 10 the authority conferred the department
.nu m appropriation OF not exceeding $50 900 for
.ns' 0o)ect contract was concluded with Messrs Wells
oowan OF Boston, TO remove the wreck of the steam
HHso mssour from the Bay of Gibraltar for the sum
o. 3osooo Security taken for the fulhnent of the
oonusS, snu 'he contractors engaged in the work
wiz no doubt, on their part, Of success
VI the four steamers rated az froa,ea d,ecea 10