The New York herald., 1851-12-03

defining the number and description of ships sup
posed 70 b. required by the wants g the country,
while do not concur In the policy sometimss sdvo-
Gated, that the United States should spportion
their naval vessels and force 10 those Of the nsvss
Of As sSs1 s1 naoS: S.1 q With sdS
no means omit to avail ourselves Of al the aids
afforded BY science and expsrisnes In the improve
ment Of our naval establishment, and, 1T the same
time enlarge ou, Ssp.st': Tor ,1SIsa:s to .cy
shall require 1t. In everything pertaining to the
building, armament, and equipment Of vessels Of
war; the scrutinizng and active mind OF the present
age has not been idle. Merchant vessels Of large
country, which have sailed, BY the force Of tho
winds alone, one thousand statute miles In three
days, and with an approach TO the like rate OF
speed in long voyages. improvements and dis
duced, by means of which, in the opinion Of we'll
informed officers, . ship Of inferior rating-say of
81 guns may be 90 built and rigged and armed
as TO prove more than match for the stoutest line
of battle ship Of the old construction and armament
How far the power Of steam may be added to in
crease the superiority Of the modern vessel In speed
deSructiveness, and other points Of a man of.war,
is, also, fruitful theme Of speculation and expe-
riment.
With these improvements, whether fully realised,
only in prospect before eyes, It were vain to
rest content with the cid models. and srmsments,
and appliances of vessels, which, however excellent
recent inventions. While, therefore, all proper
cautions are observed, and nothing, however spe-
cious. should be adopted without full nvestga alton,
itaPpears to be our obvious policy to continue to
build ships, not only to supply the place Of those
decsyed lost, but to test and keep pace with tho
improvements Of the age. It has been suggested
as a matter Of economy, that such experimental
ships be built Of white oak instead of live oak tast
being the cheaper material and generally used in
merchant ships. In Illustration Of one Of the i'm
provements in war steamers, 1t represented to the
department that the boilers OF the Mississippi,
Ggencs Of the day, may be reduced nearly one-half
In their dimensions and weight and, ut the Same
time, sde to double the power of the vessel, with
about the same expenditure OF fuel as at present.
The letter Of the engineer, discussing in detail this
particular improvement and its recommendation on
the score of economy, 10 herewith submitted. ],
therefore, recommend that authority be given to
build every year, two new vessels, one sail and the
other steam, upon such models - shall be ap-
proved; and as old vessels may be found unservice
able from fault Of model or other cause, they may
be sold or broken up. In this connection, invite
the favorable consideration Of Congress to the re-
and Docks, that machinery be erected In one or
more of the navy yards of the country for the build
ing Of steam engines and construction Of war
steamers complete.
A class Of email vessels is much wanted to give
employment in command to senior lieutenants,
many of whom are kept in long and tedious mac
tivity before their promotion to commanders, and
would be highly useful as cruisers, especially those
propelled by steam, by reason Of their ability to
penetrate into harbors and rivers inaccessible to
ships of larger class.
Having also, in my last annual communication, pre-
sented the confederation Of Congress propositions to
reduce the number Of officers In the grades of ssptan
commander and lieutenant Of the navy beg leave
spectfuy to refer thereto for the review Of the on
70 which they may be called In the present state Of the
service While the number in those grades might be sp
whether tie number Of masters should not be enlarged
and the grade Of second lieutenant established.
While, although master Is recognized as necessary
ofcer board Of every vessel In commission, and ct
every Navy Yard to 76 vessels and Navy Yards there
borne upon the register the names Of but 30 masters
and o. tnsss & ~ are out uSs nns or ana
tated for duty Of SEQ.
the number of masters were raised to fifty exclusive
By th! Of few ys.r sna
the grade second Lieutenant interpreted between them
and that Of frs. lieutenant, all Of which could be
ranged without adding to the number Of ocers below the
rank Of commander now In the service, would not
only be improvement in the proportions Of the de
rent grades but would exert cheering influence on the
nerier grade Of passed midshpmen until ths ardor Of
youth Is passed and professional distinction has lost
The series Of promotions held out to Q naval officer
compared to that In the army is exceedingly limited,
without taking into the account brevet rank With which
dttirsuished service in the latter may be rewarded
and theee additional grades cannot but be regarded
new objects OF hope and new incentives to ambition
FoS reasons @ SIMILAR % to the foregoing s % a. we Is
others q great cosency repeat the Recommendation
egagpg that Of Commodore and esa bishing two Offices
Of Rear Admiral As reward for the gallant conduct Of
some Of those surviving veterans who than third
Of century ego, illustrated our arms In conflicts
the ocean as smulsnt to sthers 10 emulate their
example these superior ranks would be graceful distnc
tons on the part Of the government; and the position
v occupy among the naval and commercial powers Of
the world renders their immediate recognition matter
Of undoubted policy. With one such oincer employed
dh position and supervision Of the prscne Of the navy
and the other stationed OF San Francisco With to
issue orders to our squadrons In the Pacific and China
as well TO all ocersresidng west Of the Rocky
Mountains subject TO general directions and supervision
from the department, much, 1t Is believed, could be
resehs Of Ss wOa IN 70 Il UNI
formty and system and in relieving inferior ofcers
from difficulties and responsibilities arising from unfore
teen events.
also most earnestly renew the accommodation to
establish retired list to which ooers may be trans
from time 10 time ON account OF superapnuation or
other II be Obsoted that this would burthen
the treasury with clara Of pensions the answer H.
that the evil already exists the question being between
full and bali pay, lower rate between deny
lrg to the vigorous the Wiling and aspiring who per
form the duties, and mrst constitute reliance in
time o. danger the positions and enolumens In which
they may improve their talents and extend their
funess snd retaining and promoting a. Of the Elective
ell vho have been admitted nto the service With
out references to intervening disabilities disqusihcs
one No reform is Of greater moment 90 regards the
,nctscey OF the navy sni nsne can De more obvousy
uat
The disputed questions OF rank between the on.
,ers q the navy, ar1 between the several grades Of
'cers Of the army and navy and the reports Of the
Iona brought 20 the attention Of Congress In
'pecisl communication at the last session. and are
again recommended to its consideration. Perceivng
that the laws for the government Of the navy passed
mere than hy year, since, were detective and unsuted
10 the present state OF the seroe have caused them
to be revised by board Of officers with instructions TO
prepare proper dine nts and additions and pre-
pared to transmit their report for the examination Of
Congress- and respectfully recommend that the code
therein proposed be taken q basis OF legislation
his subject Or II there be disposition to adopt the
report In general II viii be found 20 be highly neces
,ary 20 accommodate tie law TO the condition Of
affairs arising from settlements the shores OF
The Pacific the trts Of Cslifornis and Oregon being
now within the United states To require orders 10
ssue from Washington even for eonvening court
martial In the Pso6c 10 try any ofcer seaman, and
FOR eumroninz witnesses, must greatly delay and EN-
barrass the enforcement Of dispne; yet 1. only the
OF feet squadron, acting out Of the
United States who bas poser t. order such courts
and approve 5isapprove their sentences This l.
ritei hopever hut single Of the of