North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-12-13
ANNUAL REPORT oF|THE SECRETARY
or THE NAVY.

Secretary of the Navy, occupies nearly i've COL
umns of the Republic, and gives an interesting eA
hibt of the condition of the public service unoef
his supervision ,.o
of our several naval squadrons during the year
compliments CON- Plat, of the Albany, Tor the
energy he displayed at Havana during the late IN.
yasion of Cuba-refers to the trip OF the MISSISSIPPI
to the coast of Turkey, to take on board Gen. nos
suth, and her return to the United States-and
announces that the Independence, the only Omteo
States vessel in the Mediterranean, has oeeh OF
dered home, being unsulted TOR winter cruising Ill
that sea.
The African SQUADRON under Com. Lavalette,' has
been assiduously and successfully engaged, aided
nv the English squadron, in SURPRISING the slave
trade but as Brazil has abolished the slave trade
among her subjects, it is proposed to inform UreaC
Britain of our determination to withdraw our squad
ron altogether from the African coast, and increase
it on the coast of Brazil, leaving the Home squad
ron to guard against the OF our flag for the
slave trade with the Spanish West indies. oucn
an arrangement, it is believed would more certain
" 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 Bainbridge of the Brazil squadron, has been
ordered to relieve the Perry on the African COAST,
the latter being ordered home.
The Brazil squadron is under the command OF
Commodore McKeever, and its efficiency IS duly
commended, as are also the Mediterranean squad
ron, Com. Morgan the Home squadron, Com. Far
ker: Pacific squadron, Com. McCauley and the
East India squadron, Com. Aulick, who is on hls
way out in the Susquehanna The Marion will be
relieved on the arrival out of the Susquehanna and
Plymouth, and return home by the way OF the
Cape of Good Hope, bringing, it Is expected, val
uable varieties of the seed or root OF the sugar
cane and also of the teaplant, collected under the
orders of the Department for distribution IN the
sections of our country adapted to their cultlva-
ton.
In all quarters of the globe our vessels have been
cordially received and the officers well treated The
interests of commerce, international peace aud
friendship are it is believed promoted by the visits
of our armed vessels, and the display of our flag
on foreign shores
It is recommended that the officers and men of
the late Grinnell expedition be allowed the same
paw emoluments that were granted to those IN like
positions in the late exploring expedition to the
South Seas. Mr.. Grinnell has offered his vessels .
again, should Congress see fit to authorize second
expedition in search of Sir John Franklin.
The brig Dolphin, Lieut. Lee, has been despatch
ed to test new routes on the ocean, pointed out by
the superintendent of the observatory, and tavori
BILE results are anticipated During the year, ninety
officers have been employed on the coast survey,
the supervision of which it is recommended should
be referred to the Navy Department Il
The cost of the large stone dock at Brooklyn,
has been $2,l46,255 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 de-
livery 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 on San Francisco Bay has been con-
tracted for at 100000, and will be completed in
two years from May last. Its location cannot be S
determined until the site for navy yard is select
ed. The dock, it is suggested, when not in use
for the repair of naval vessels may be used by
merchant vessels. Adequate appropriations are
urged for the San Francisco navy yard e
Messrs Wells q Gowan, of Boston, have con- il
tracted to remove the wreck of the steamer Mis- p
souri, from the Bay of Gibraltar, for the sum of o
$4,000, and are now performing the duty with t
no doubt of success. ii
The report next discusses the propriety of the t.
gradual increase Of our navy, and the necessity of t
avaiing ourselves of all the Improvements and dis
coveres of the age in gunnery, ordnance, naval y
architecture, and all the appliances Of steam. As d
an instance Of the improvement of the age, it is Il
stated that the boilers of the Mississippi planned Il
fifteen years ago, can now be reduced nearly one u
half in their dimensions and weight, and at the p
same time made to double the present power of u
the vessel with about the same quantity of fuel Ia
now required. it
1t is recommended that authority be given to C;
build, every year, two vessels sail and the tt
other steam upon such models as shall be APPROX
ID and old vessels may be found unservceable tt
rom fault of model or other cause, they may be tt
'old or broken up.
The recommendation of the Chief of the Bureau o.
IT Yards and Docks that machinery be erected, in
me or more of the navy yards of the country for
he building of steam engines, and construction of m
var steamers complete, recommended to the at
ention of Congress. c.
A class of small vessels is much wanted to give b,
Employment in command to senior lieutenants. Nj
many of whom are kept in long and tedious mac S.
ION before their promotion to commanders, and til
Voud be highly useful to cruisers especially those
ropeled by steam, by of their ability to %
enetrate into harbors and rivers inaccessible to m
hips of larger class. r
Inc previous recommendation to reduce the he
UNDER OF officers in the grades of captain COM tn
'ander and lieutenant of the navy, is renewed at on
he same time that the number Of masters be in in
eased to fifty, and the grade of second lieutenant W.
Established. 1t is also urged again that the ranks II
commodore and two rear-admirals be localized if
} be conferred on surviving veterans who. more a
IAN third OF century ago, illustrated our arms OF
conflicts on the ocean. 1t would be a stimulant an
} others to emulate their examples. tu
The establishment of a retired list is once more r..
ressed upon the attention of Congress- as are also in
lie disputed questions of rank between the sea of
'ers and civil officers of the navy and between the tn
'veral grades OF officers of the army and nayv lCJ
The laws for the government of the navy passed nt
ore than fifty years ago, have been revised bv in
BARD of officers, and will be submitted for the ac f
on OF Congress. The great defect in the old laws ba