The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-03

I ~, IT,
from Norfolk in June last, by way of Rio dc ia
metro, conveying TO that place his excellency NJ
Macedo, late minister Of the emperor of Brazil to
this country; the Hon. X. q. Schenck, United
States Minister plenipotentiary to Brazil; and the
Hon. j. s. Pendleton, Charge des Affaires TO the
Argentine Republic. She arrived at Rio de ia
metro with some arrangements in her machinery
and equipments, but these were repaired without
much delay, and when last heard from, she
about TO depart, by way of the Cape Of Good Hope,
for her ultimate destination A favorable impres-
sion for our interests and commerce Is expected TO
be created in the peculiar countries of the East, by
the addition of this new and we'll appointed steam
frigatc to our squadron in that region.
The steamer Michigan, Commander Bulus, has
continued to cruise on the upper lakes, for the pro-
lection and assistance of trading vessels in those
waters, and has on several occasions furnished i'm
portant assistance to the civil officers in arresting
and bringing TO justice combinations Of persons
charged with offences against the laws of the United
States
In this review of the sea service of cur cruisers
have the satisfaction TO announce that in all quar-
tiers of the globe their reception and treatment have
been not only respectful, but cordial, and that not
| merely the interests of commerce, but international
peace and cndship, likely to be promoted by
these visits of our armed vessels and the display of
| our flag on foreign shores
The expedition under Lieutenant Commanding
De Haven to the Arctic in search of the British
| commander, Sir John Franklin, and his compan-
ions, returned to the port of New York in October
having discovered only supposed traces of the OBJ
jects of which il in quest and leaving in entire
uncertainty their actual fate. The vessels of the
expedition proceeded in the direction where, in the
| opinion of the best-informed officers the missing
navigator5 are to be sought, and which the traces
in question found. Though failing in the
main object of their search, Lieut.. De Haven and
hs officers verified by their explorations many facts
| before unknown to science, but indicated in the
course OF the Investigations carried at the Naval
Observatory, concerning the winds and currents of
the ocean, and to which reference was made in the
instructions for the expedition.
In this expedition the officers and men all
volunteers. In its prosecution they encountered
the greatest dangers and hardships. To mention
a single example, their vessels caught by the
ice and frozen up in the open In this perous
situation they were confined for nine months, and
driited to and fro in the ice for moro than thou
sand miles By the skill of the officers, and the
mercy OF a experimenting Providence they were
released from their cold imprisonment, and
stored to their country and friends-not man
having been lost on the expedition. They have re-
ceived no other pay than would have been their
due on cruise to Naples or the Levant; and re-
spectfuy suggest that they be allowed the came
| pay and emoluments that granted to those in
like positions in the late exploring expedition to
! the South Seas.
| Mr.. Henry Grinnel the owner of the vessels en-
! ployed by Lieutenant De Haven, has generously of
ered them for another cruise in search of Sir John
Franklin, should Congress think proper to author
ize second expedition.
The act of Congress of March 3, IS49, authorized
the employment OF three small vessels OF the navy
| in testing new routes on the ocean pointed out by
the Superintendent of the Observatory on his wind
and current charts, and in collecting information
to enable him to perfect these charts After the re-
| turn OF the brig Dolphin, already mentioned,
she was fitted our and detailed this service un-
| der the command OF Lieutenant S. p. Lee, an Off
| Ger OF great experience and intelligence
veyor and photographer; and interesting and valu.
| able results are expected from the cruise.
| At the instance of the Executive Committee Of
citizens of the United States desiring to send for.
ward specimens of the productions of American
genius, skill, and labor to the Great Industrial Ex-
hibition In London this year, the frigate st Law
renee was. with the appreciation Of the President,
desDatCh thther from the nj New YORK
der the command of Commander Sands, to trans
port the articles for exhibition, free of charge Ii
is hoped that the triumphs Of our ountr ymen the
competitions for prizes in the inventions pertaining
to agriculture alone-the most ancient and useful
art known to man-will Justify the countenance and
liberahty thus shown to them by the Government. |
On her return, the st. Lawrence conveyed our |
Charge des Afaires in Portugal from Southampton
to Lisbon; and in the ports both of England 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 was |
ninety. Having communicated to Congress at its
last session my opinion, that in consideration of
the nature of this work, and the connexion of the
officers of the navy with it, the public interests would
be promoted by the transfer of its conduct and
pervision to this Department, have but to repeat
the conviction then expressed, streng thened by
more mature consideration.
In pursuance of the intention expressed in my
last annual report, a Board of Engineers of the
army was at my request, detailed to make sur
vey and examination of the Memphis navy yard,
with view to overcome difficulty which had
been encountered in finding solid foundations for
the buildings of the yard The report of this Board,
of which copy is appended, affords interest
ing discussion of the question involved, and will
merit the attention of Congress.
The large stone dock at the Brooklyn navy yard,
which has been ten years in progress, was 80 far
completed with all its appendages, in August last, q
to be surrendered up to the commandant of the
yard. Its entire COST shown in the report of the
Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, has been
$2,l46,255 SO.
at Philadelphia has likewise been reported asready
for delivery, but, owing to the want of sufficient
depth of water Immediately adjacent to the basin,
the experiment required, of raising vessel for the
purpose OF testing these works. could not be made.
Dredging operations are now going on to remedy
this defect, and the test is expected to be made
within the month of December.
The floating balance dock basin and railway
at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is also expected to
be finished and tested within short time there
after.
cola, has not progressed rapidly expected,
and may not be in readiness for delivery before the
ensuing summer.
Agreeably to tho act of the last session of Con-
gress, modified contract entered into with
Messrs Dakin and Moody, and Gilbert and Sc
cor, for the construction of floating sectional
dock on the bay Of San Francisco, to be completed
and delivered for esum of $6l0, 900. This work
is understood to be in of speedy execution,
the contract requiring it's completion in two years
from the month of May last. Its precise location
for navy yard on the waters of that bay, for
which purpose commission will be sent out early
in the ensuing spring. 1t will be necessary TO
provide pier basin to render this dock capable
of use. The location of the dock having not yet
been determined, the Department postpones the
question of preference between these two structures
until the report of the proposed Board shall be re-
ceived and full local information obtained.
1t being generally expected and desired by the
owners OF American merchant vessels that the use
of the dock in question shall be allowed for the re-
pairs of such vessels whom not required for ships of
war, ii 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, or whether the Government shall carry
on the work through its own agents, and on what
terms.
The necessity ola navy yard and station on that
coast is obvious, we'll to secure and work the
dock as for general naval purp ses in those waters,
as TO need no illustration. therefore recommend
that Congress shall authorize such establishment
there and make adequate appropriations therefor,
According to the authority conferred OH NE De-