The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-12-31
Y OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, DECEMBER 81,


/
The annual report from the Navy Department
is document OF moderate length, considers
! Bile ability, and general interest. 1t contains
sundry important recommended ons regarding
the regulation of the naval establishment.
Six sqnadrons a-c employed IN active serv CT
on The ocean OF these, the Home sq1adro'
yet under the command Of Commodore Parker
consists nf FIVE vessels, and has cruised IN Tic
West Indies and along The coasts OF the Carb
bean Sea and the Gulf Of Mexico. The Medi
terranean squadron, Com Morgan commanding
consists of four yes sells the African squadron
lately under the command Of Com Gregory
now Of Com Layalette, comprises hve 5ris'
and snops the squadron on the coast OF Brazil
Com. Mckeeyer, includes the flag ship Con
gross and three others the Pacific squadron
Com. hlcCauley, includes eleven sea-worthy
vessels and store ships; anil the squadron fur
the East Indies, Com. Aulick, commanding
comprchends the s'eam !risate Susqucanna
and three sloops-of war.
The total number of vessels employed in
squadron service, is, therefore, thirty three
The report announces, with satsiLction, that
in all quarters Of the globe, the reception 0!
American cruisers 'as been respectful and cor
dial A complimentary allusion is made tn the
expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, un-
der the command of Lieut. De Haven and the
generous offer of The vessels by Mr.. Grinnell
for another cruise, is conveyed to Congress for
its acceptance, should it be thought psoper to
authorize second expedition
The voyage of the frgate st. Lawrence to
Southampton, is also noticed in approp. late
rms.
Th" number of officers employed during the
year in the coast survey, was nne'r. The Sc
crctary rcncws his recommendation that the
supervision Of this work be transferred to tho
Navy Department.
The necessity of revision Of the laws rr!a
ting to The Navy, and the adoption Of suitabl,
and efficient system of Naval policy, is recon-
mended to the attention of Congress. MIR
Gra!Iam does not concur in the ,licy some,
times advocated, that we shonll app,rtion our
Naval force to that of the principal nations of
Europe with which we may possibly come r
collision; yet he recommends that all the aids
afforded by science and experience be applied
to the Improvement Of cur Naval establish
mcnt.
II is in vain that we rest contentcd will, ouI
models and antiqnatcd ar;namrnts. Oar ohvi
Gus policy is t, continue 10 bald ships, n It
only to supply losses. but to keep pace with the
improvements of thr arc. The necessity Of tn
cstab'i hTcnt Of a re'lrcd lis', and the want o
class o. small vessels, 10 give tmplo' ment II
command to senior lieutcn1nts, are two inlpor
tant rccolnmc ndatons of tho rep rt.
Tho Gu stion of Cnrporeal Punishment il
the Navy, is commented upon by Srcretar,
Graham, at consd rable length A m1ter;a
defect in our Naval code is hd 10 be III {,
which is occasinncd By the failure t, p-oyde
any punishmcn; b. way of substitute. The re-
port goes to argue, thatthe alb Hilton of Naval
Flogging has been attended with unprof'abl
consequenccs; that justice Is delayed by con
iinen eat; Tint h n Isl men are made the s'rvant
of The unworthy while the later are in cor
finenrnt: aud hat the ships effective force i
weakened. The Secretary considers Shat tn
consequences Of the change have thus far bee,
detrimental to thc service, and commends tn
subject to the consideration OF Congress.
The scientific researches which have bee
presented during the year, under the direction
Of the Naval Department, producing val
liable results. The Naval Observatory an
/ Iydrogra phical office have been in active an
vigorous opnration the Wind and Cure;
Charts planned By bent NIaury, are bcin
extended 10 the Pacific and Indian Cccn IS: tn
Astronomical exp.diirn t. Cii'i, und.r tn
direction of Lieut. Glliss, has been acsivel
conducted, and the first publication of the Naut
iccl Almanac under the snperinendence {
Lieut.. Davis, may be expected N the cours
Of the next fiscal year.-S. Y. Times.