The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-01-03

commodore should be recognized by law, and
two officers with the rank Of rear admiral ap-
pointed. 1t is suggested also, that our naval
forces on the Pacific be increased, to protect the
cost, and TO give encouragement to the whale
fisheries and our commerce with Asia.
OF the four steamers authorized to be built BY
the act of Congress of the Sd Of march, IS47,
the Saranac only has been gotten ready for sea.
1t is, however not doubted that the other three
will be also ready in the course of few
months.
While The Saranac will be retained in tie
home squadron as an effective cruiser in any
emergency which may arise. il is contemplated
to attach the Susqnehenna to the East India
squadron, and to send the two remaining ones
to the Pacific and the cost OF Brazil.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis having been
placed under anew and improved system OF reg
ulations, TO take effect from the LIST day Of July
last. and under an enlarged corps Of professors
affords facilities and means of professional edu-
cation not heretofore enjoyed by the young gen.
tlemen entering the service, and it is to be hoped
is destined 10 furnish The navy with what has
been SO long and so beneftially enjoyed by ihe
Military Academy at West Point. The attach-
ment TO the Naval Academy of practice-ship,
for the purpose of practical instruction in sea-
manship and gunnery, on short cruises, under
the direction of the superintendent, Id ahalngY
10 the system of encampment bv the cadets; is
regarded as an improvement of great value.
There was paid 10 Gao. Law, for mail service
on his line from 1st December, l84s, to Both
September, 1850, in cash $500 ,278; and by Gre
dit on his debt for advances, $4,000.
On the Goth and 29th November, 1850, there
was paid to Z. & Collins and his associates for
service on their line, $4,000, leaving the for
mer indebted to the United States in the sum Of
$240,000 with interest, and the latter in The
sum of 1885, 900. for advancement made in aid
of THEN enterprise, which will become due in
April next, with interest.
Mr.. VIM. Ii. Aspnwall repaid the whole a.
mount Of the advaneements received by him in
mail service prior 10 .he 18th FEBRUARY last, ac-
cording TO a settlement then made, and having
executed his contract with great punctuaIity,
has had further settlements with the department
to the 30th of September last.
1t is recommended that line for the trans
portation of the mails from San Francisco TO
Macao, Shanghai, or other point in Eastern
Asia. either by steamers or sail vessels, be also
established.
The estimates of the expenditures for the
CuiiCHt year dft spO,1l u6uuCtlilD DAGlU.~
$50 for extraordinary objects, leaves $500 42I
for the support Of the Navy and Marine Corps.
The total amount drawn from the treasury dn-
ring the last year was S9,69l ,SO5 81; deducting
repaytnents 81, ,799,9I3 81, leaving 1881 ,8gI
81 as the expenses of the department.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
Out Of the 1927 officers and men composing
the army, 1876 or more than halt, are station
ed in or under orders for Texas, New Mexico,
California and Oregon. The importance of pro.
tecting the Texan frontier from the rayages of
the Indians IS pointed out. The 7th Regiment
of Infantry, which was ordered to Santa Fe, but
was detained by an accident, will take mp its
march early in the spring. The importance and
efficacy OF cavalry in Indian warfare is also ar
ged, and it is stated that larger force of this
kind is necessary. tits recommended also that
the Indians of New Mexico be organized into
permanent militia, to prevent the ineursions of
the more hostile tribes, and that some system be
adopted to civilize thuse who are now in saw
age state.
Efforts will be m1de to iniuce the Ind.
ans remaiaing in Florida, not amounting TO more
Than one hundred; to emigrate. A small force
should be sent against the Sioux Indians, to force
them to respect our authority.
The Board or Military and Naval Officers aD.
pointed to examine the Pacific coast ofthe Uni
ted States. and to designate such points thereon
as suitable for fertlieations and naval deDots,
have concluded their labors. Only preliminary
reports have as yet been made, but the depart
ment is-informed that certain positions have been
designated as well adapted TO military and naval
purposes.
An appropriation was made at the last session
.1fC IL Liz
sippi river, with view TO The deepening of It's
channel at its mouth, and the prevention Of
overaows. The execution os this work, so rm-
portant to alarge portion of the Mississippi Val.
ley, has been conided to Major Long and Capt.
Humphreys, two accomplished officers Of the
corps of Typographical engineers. Inaddition to
which, Mr.. Charles Elicit, Jr, distinguished
civil engineer, has been employed TO examine
this interesting subject, and report the result of
his observations 10 this department. These two
parties will act independently of eBch other, and
yet will cooperate whenever it may be found ad-
yantageons TO do so.
We find nothing else of Importance in the
report.
TELEGRAPHrEG BY SoUED.-The Washing
ton City papers state that an experiment would
be made shortly with the steam whistle at the
foundry, to test the ability Of telegraphing by
sound, The object Of this invention is for tel
egraphing by means Of whistle Of great pow
er, the names Of lighthouses to vessels engeloped
in fog and ignorant Of their true position, and
on the coast. The utility Of such an invention
appears iDcalculable, when we consider the
number of lives and amount OF property lost
upon onr long line OF dangerous coast every
year. It is understood that application will be
made to Congress to adopt this valuable inyen-
ton.
The following is the phic alphabet FOR
the word Washington:
w Il
observation-disclosures
g o.
Cd Cd (-) (.--)
THE FLAG STILL WAyEss-We are told by
our contemporaries that they have nailed the
secession flag to the mast. Beitso. That flag
might wave in triumph over other heads, but in
this good old commonwealth, it will stand, like
the Missouri Senator when he put his BALI in
motion; solitary and alone. But we TOO have
nailed our flag TO the mast. Not the black pi-
ratical.looking ensign Of disunion---not The
black and trouserless-lo looking image o! seces-
Lhtsff n<~f.N