Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06
REPoRTss THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NAVY
NAyY DRpAnrMEsr. NnpEnaRn ;.

/ Navy DEPARrMEsr NOVEMBER 80, 1851
4 SIR Thallowing is the annual report Of the public
service under the supervision of this Department:
The former organization of the employed in
i've servceon the into six separate suadrons has
still been continued The Home Squadron yet under the
command OF Commodore Parker, consists of the
irgate saranac, Commander Pendergrast bearing the
broad pennant OF the Commodore the Al
bany, Commander Platt the sloop Decatur Commander
Green the soop Cyane Commander Paine and the
steamer vixen, Lieutenant Commanding Smith The
vessels of this squadron have been engaged in cruising
the West India Islands AID along the coasts of the
Caribbean Sea and of the GULF Of Mexico The comman
der Of his squadron having been ordered the North
special was not in position to prevent the late
illegal and disastrous expedition from the port of New
Orleans against the Island of Cuba but fastening thithe
under the orders of the Department. he commercially
active In preventing any repetition of the offence whilst
at the same time aording protection to, American inter-
ess IN that quarter and giving that the United
States would in good faith observe theitreaty obligations
and the law of nations Commander Riatt, commanding
Albany, which happened to be in the port of Havana
when the expedition landed, deserves also the commenda
ton of the Department for the propriety and deicacy
with which he acquitted himself in The trying duties of
his commands for his vigilance and industry procuring
and transmitting early and correct information of the pro-
gress Of events in the Island and his humanity in visiting
and intercedng for the deuded persons who in violation
of the laws of their country had baen induced embark
in adventure of such serious consequence These
currences at the South detained the vessels of this squad
ron from cruise to its northern limits, which
menced and proceeded in far as Havana, when the
invasion of Cuba took place ta >
The Mediterranean squadron, Commodore Morgan coma
manding, consisted Of the flag ship, the Indepen
deuce Captain Jameson; the steam frgate Mississippi
Captain Long; and the frigate Cumberland, Captain
In June the latter vessel returned by order of the De-
partment to the United sahes and her arrival the
officers desached and the discharged Since
that time the Independence with the commandern-c
on board has visited Trieste and other ports within his
command; ana the Mississippi has been generally
/ ployed in active cruising 1
/ In compliance with resolution of Congress to that
effect orders were in ae season sent to the commander
of the squadron directing this vessel to be held in read
to proceed to the of Turkey and receive
board the distinguished Hungarian, Governor Kossuth,
and his associates in exile and convey them the United
States Information should be received from the
American Minister at Constantinope that they had OBJ
tanned the Sultans permission to embark She Accord
ngy took board, at the Dardanele in September the
ustrous exile and his family and party in number sixty
persons and brought them the homeward voyage to
Gibraltar Here Governor Kossuth, having determined
visit England took passage mail for that
country intending to thence by like conveyance
the United States and the Mississippi sailed with the
remainder of her passengers direct to New York. where
she arrived early in November.
The independence being the only vessel remaining in
the Mediterranean and from her large draught unsuted
for winter cruising in that sea, this consideration to-
gether with the fact That the enlistment of her and
the term Of the commander Of the squadron will expire
in the ensuing spring induced the Department recall
her also and orders to that effect were dispatched in
October
The new steam frigate San Jacnto destined for the
squadron the coast of Brazil is preparing with all
practicable expedition for sea- and will sail in few days
for the Mediterranean to watch interests in that
quarter until the arrival Of squadron early in the
spring. En-,
The squadron the coast of Africa continued under
the command of Commodore Gregory until the month of
May when after energetic and efficient service that
station he relieved and it was transferred to Com
| Lavalette. e8
This squadron comprises the sloop-of-war Germantown
the flagship of the squadron, Commander Nicholas the
sloop Dale Commander Pearson the sloop John Adams
Commander Barron; the brig Perry, Lieut. Commanding
Foote the brig Porpose, Lieutenant Commanding Lardner
MI
duties of their cruise, and the observation of another
usfes the conclusion expressed in my last ANIMAL
report that the vigilance and activity of this squadron,
together with that of Great Britain have suppressed the
eaveuade the west coast Of Africa and that 1t is
carried only the south coast than thousand
miles distant from the station the Cape de Verd Islands,
established and maintained since the conclusion of the
treaty of Washington in the year 1912
This result has led to the consideration of the exped
ency of removing the depot of supplies for the squadron
down the coast to ST. Paul de Loando other point
the southern coast but since the inhibition by Brazil Of
the African avetrade among her Subjects is doubtful
whether it is necessary to continue this squadron,
permanent force, any where along the African shore
and it is accordingly proposed that notice be given the
British Government Of the termination part of the
9Th article of the treaty above mentioned therein pro-
vided
1t is believed that Brazil and the Spanish West India
islands the only countries to which slaves have
been imported, in any considerable numbers for many
years past and by Strengthening the squadron the
coast Of Brazil and requiring of its vessels periodical
visits to the of Africa the traffic probably be
eectuay checked than by keeping the squadron
the African coast WHILE in regard the Spanish West
Indies the vessels Of the Home Squadron viii suffice
the Of flag for its protection among them
The climate Of the African shores is VIGOROUSLY nsaubr
ous the health and comfort Of the officers and
would be greatly promoted by the change proposed Of this
squadron.
The squadron the coast Of Brazil Commodore Nc
Keeyer still being in command consists of the figate
Congress- the flagship Of the squadron Captain McIn-
tosh the jamestown, Captain Downing; the
brig Bainbridge Lieutenant Commanding Manning and
the storeship Relief Lieut.. Commanding Thatcher. Or
der however, have been dispatched directing the Balm
bridge relieve the brig Perry in the African squadron
which, owing to the approaching termination of the
stmen of her crew. has been ordered to return to the
United States.
The general duties assigned this squadron in giving
protection commerce and interests between the
mouth of the Amazon and Cape Horn in preventing
the of the American flag to the African slave
trade and in enforcing neutral rights and relations in
the state of hosttes which have long prevailed between
the Argentine Republic and the Banda Oriental and
recently between the former and Brazil appear to have
been zeaousy and faithfully performed and the reports
of its commander quite satisfactory.
The Pacific squadron, Commodore McCauley command
ing consists of his ship the figate Raritan Comman
der Mexican; the frigate St Lawrence Captain Duany;
the sloopsofwar ST. Marys Commander Magruder; Van
daa, Commander Gardner; Falmouth Commander Pear
son; Vincennes, Commander Hudson Portsmouth Com
mander Dornin; Warren, unseaworthy, and used al
storeshp; the Massachusetts,, Lieutenant Com
handing knox, the storeshp Lexington Lieutenant Com
handing Radford and the storeship Southampton Lieut.
Commanding Turner
The frgate Savannah Captain Page recently returned