Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06

The Susquehanna, which is OF the new war steam
ers built the provisions of the act OF Congressof the
Sd of March 1S4 sailed from Norfolk in June last by way
Rio Janero conveying to that place his exceency
NJ Macedo late Minister of the Emperor of Brazil to this
country the Hon r. c. Schenck United States Minister
Plenipotentiary Brazil and the Hon. j. S. Pendleon
Charge Afaires the Argentine Republic. She arrir
ed at Rio Janeiro with arrangements in her
chnery 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 ut
mate destination favorable impression for our inte-
and expected TO be created in the pecn
liar countries of the East by the addition of this new and
weappointed steamfrgae TO squadron in that re-
gion.
The steamer Michigan Commander Bullus has continu-
ed cruise the Upper Lakes for the protection and
assistance Of trading vessels in those waters and has,
several occasions furnished important assistance to the
civil officers in arresting and bringing TO justice comoina
tons Of persons charged with offences against the laws OF
the United States.
In this review Of the seaservice of cruisers have
the satisfaction that in all quarters OF the
globe their reception and treatment have been not only re-
spectu but coria and that not merely the interests OF
commerce. international peace and friendship are like
y be promoted by these visits of AIMED vessels and
the display of our flag on foreign shores.
The expedition under Lieut. Come De Haven to the
Arctic seas in search Of the British commander Sir John
Franklin his companions returned to the port New
sk in October discovered only supposed traces
of the objects Of which it in quest ana leaving in en-
tire uncertainty their actual fate The vessels of the Hx
petition proceeded in the direction where, in the opinion
of the bestnformed officers the missing naygators are
be sought and which the traces in question were
found Though failing in the main object OF their search
Lieut. De Haven and his officers verified, by their explo
rations many facts before unknown to science but nd
Gated in the of the Investigations carried ON at the
Naval Observatory concerning the winds and currents of
the ocean, and to which reference was made IN the in
structions for the expedition.
In this expedition the officers and were all volun-
teers In its prosecution they the greatest
dangers and hariships. To mention single example
their vessels caught by the ice and frozen In the
open In this perlous situation they were confined
nine months and dred to and fro in the ice for more
than thousand miles BY the skill of the officers and the
mercy of experimenting Providence they released
their cold imprisonment and restored to their coun
try and friends having been lost the expe
do They have received other pay than would have
been their due on cruise Naples the Levant and
respectfully suggest that they be allowed the same pay
and euolumens that granted to those IN like posi-
tions the late Exploring Expedition to the South seas
Mr. Henry Grinnel the owner of the vessels employed
by Lieut. De Haven has generously offered them for
another cruise in search of Sir John Franklin should
Congress think proper authorize second expedition
The act of Congress of March g. ls49, authorized the
employment of three small vessels of the navy in testing
the pointed out by the Superintendent
of the Observatory his wind and current charts and in
collect information enable him to perfect those charts
After the of the brig Dolphin already mentioned
she fitted and detailed this service under the
mand Of Lieut. s. p Lee officer of great experience
and intelligence surveyor and photographer; and in
teresn and valuable results expected from the cruise
At the instance of the Executive Committee of citizens
of the Untod States desiring send forward specimens
of
the great Industrial Exhibition in London this year, the
frrate St Lawrence was, with the appreciation of the
President dispatched thther from the port of New York.
under the command of Commander Sands to transport the
articles for exhibition free of charge 1t is hoped that
the triumphs of counrymen in the competitions for
prizes in the inventions pertaining to agriculture alone
the most ancient and useful known to man, will ust
fy the countenance and beraity thus shown them by
the Government On her return, the St Lawrence
yeyed Charge dAars in Portugal from Southampton
to Lisbon and in the ports both of England and Port
gal received with demonstrations of respect and hos
pitaty.
The number Of officers Of the navy employed during
the present year the coast survey ninety Hav
ing communicated TO Congress its last session my
opinion that in consideration OF the nature Of this work.
and the of the officers of the navy with it, the
public would be promoted by the transfer of its
conduct and supervision t. this Department have but
to repeat the conviction then expressed as
by mature consideration
In pursuance of the intention expressed in my last
nual report board of engineers of the army at
request detailed to make survey and examination OF
the Memphis navy yard, with view to overcome diff
Guilty which had been encountered in finding solid founda
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 the Brooklyn navy yard which
has been years progress far completed with
all its appendages in August last as to be surrendered
up the commandant Of the yard Its entire cost as
shown in the report of the Chief Of the Bureau Yards
and Docks has been So, lac, 255. SO.
The floating sectional dock basin and railway Mt Phi
adelpha has likewise been reported ready for deive
ry but owing the want of sufficient depth OF water
Immediately adjacent the basn the experiment requir
ed of raising vessel for the purpose Of testing these
works could not be made Dredging operations are now
going ON remedy this defect and the test is expected
TO be made within the month of December.
The floating balance dock BASIN and railway at Ports
mouth New Hampshire, is also expected to be finished
and tested within a short time thereafter.
The balance dock BASIN and railway at Pensacola has
not progressed rapidly expected, and may not
readiness for delivery before the ensuing summer
Agreeably the Of the last session of Congress-
modified contract entered into with Messrs Dakir
and Moody and Gilbert and Secor for the construction
of floating sectional dock the bay of San Francisco
to be completed and delivered for the of 100000
This work is understood to be in Of speedy exc
cution the contract requiring its completion in two years
the month of May last Its precise location cannot
be determined until the selection of site for navy
yard on of that bay, for which purpose
mission will be sent out early in the ensuing spring 1t
viii necessary provide pier basin to render this
dock capable of The location Of the dock having
yet been determined the Department pospones the
question preference between these two structures until
the report of the proposed board shall be received and
full local information obtained
1t being generally expected and desired by the owners
of American merchant vessels that the Of the dock in
question shall be allowed for the repairs Of such vessels
when required for ships of war; it is proposed that
Congress shall determine the regulations for the
purpose and direct whether the dock and fixtures shall
be leased with that view whether the Government shall
carry the work, through its agents, and what
terms.
The necessity of navy yard and station that coast
is obvious well and work the dock for
general naval purposes those waters to need IL
lustraton therefore recommend that Congress shall