The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-10

of the most judcious routes Of travel with a small
company OF men. for the employment Of whom
means were furnished by this Department, to ex.
plore the valley of the Amazon, and to descend
that river to the sea. More than year has been
spent In the active prosecution of this duty Lieu
tenant Herndou reached the United States in July
last, bringing with him a large amount of inter-
esting and useful facts industriously collected by
him in the course of his long aud hazardous jour
ney, embracing many valuable statistics OF the
country, and adding most important contributions
to the hitherto unknown geographical character OF
the country. He is now engaged in preparing a
full report OF the incidents aud discoveries of his
| travel, which will be communicated to you az soon
as II Is placed in possession Of this Department
beg to commend Lieutenant Herndon to your spe-
ciai appreciation and thanks for the intelligence
and ability, and yet more for the high professional
zeal, be has exhibited in the performance of his
difficult and honorable duty.
Lieut.. Gibbon, having taken a different route
from that OF Lieut. Herndon, has not yet arrived,
but may be expected in the course of the winter
When he returns to this city the result of his work
will be submitted to your notice.
The brig Dolphin, which was employed during
the last year, under the command of Lieut.. Lee.
in survey of portions of the Atlantic, for the pur-
pose OF ascertaining the position of some danger
Gus rocks and shoals which were known TO exist in
the routes OF navigation between the United States
and Europe. has performed useful service, Of which
the results will be communicated to Congress.
This work being yet incomplete, the Dolphin hs q
again been despatched on q second cruise of the
same character, under the command of Lieut.
Bergman, and may be expected to accomplish
work which will tend, in small degree to Lessen
the hazards which have heretofore embar the
voyages OF our mershant marine.
Lady Franklin, whose devotion TO the cause Of
her unfortunate husband has excited SO large
sympathy in the United States, has been encour-
aged to make another effort to determine the fate
OF the gallant navigator of the Arctic sea- and is
now intent upon the organization of a new expc-
diion under the auspices of our countrymen Mr.
Henry Grinnell, and Mr.. George Peabody of Lon
don. Their endeavor will be directed to an ex :.
Pioration OF the upper coasts OF Greenland, by
land as well as sea, and will furnish occasion for
valuable scientific observation tending to the as
certainment Of the magnetic poles and the inten-
sity and dip of the needle, and interesting also to
geological questions connected with the supposed
existence OF an open polar sea, and other subjects
Of much Importance in the natural history of our
globe. Apart, therefore, from its main object,
there is much in the projected expedition to excite
high degree of interest in its results both in Eu
rope and America.
The distinguished lady whose SORROWS have in
spired this zeal Of adventure, and whose energy
has given 1t an intelligent and hopeful direction,
has done no more than justice to meritorious
young officer OF our navy, Passed Assistant Sur
geon Kane, in asking his cooperation in this haz.
ardous exploit. DR.. Kane has already won high
praise from his countrymen by his intrepid perse-
verance in facing the extrs ordinary dangers of the
last expedition on the same GRAND to the Arctic
sea, and still more by the diligence which, guided
by scientific accomplishment, has enabled him to
contribute valuable fund towards the illustration
OF a subject that now engrosses an unusual share
of learned invest CATION.
The request Of Lady franklin to enlist Dr. Kane
in the new expedition has been communicated to
me, and have not delayed to give him the
sary permission and to confer upon him all the
beneflt be may derive from his position in the
Wy, by an order which puts him upon special SER
vice. lfit should become requisite in the field of
operations to which he 10 destined to provide him
with means for the prosecution of scientific dis.
Wh n MAJ hC of, lol Nv
the Department and the libcrality of the distp-
guished gentlemen who have assumed the charge
OF this expedition, would commend ii to the ems
ightened regard OF Congress- with the most con.
hdent hope that that body will respond to the sug
gestons Of this necessity with prompt apprecia-
S t'an and generous support of an undertaking so
largement OF liberal science.
The Naval academy.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis presents to
the regard OF Congress an institution worthy of the
highest encouragement. ..... ....7 ...
Under judicous and energetic administration
it has now reached stage in its progress which
may enable the Gov ernment to form a satisfactory
estimate of its influence in promoting and sustain
ing the future efficiency OF the navy. .s,.t...'.
The school has grown up to its present stage in
the progressive expansion and improvement of
design which, in its origin forbade the adoption of
a comprehensive and permanent system of naval
education. II was at first contrivcd to supply no.
thing more than the opportunity Of prosecuting
few useful studies to a class of occasional students,
who were subject to all the interruptions of details
for service at sea, and who therefore not in
condition 10 conform to the requirements necessary
to regular course of professional instruction.
The obvious insuficiency of this mode of study
soon suggested the necessity for a more methodi-
cal arrangement. plan was accordingly de-
vised in 1850, to take effect at the commencement
of the next term OF October 1851 by which all the
acting midshipmen of the date of that and subse-
quent years should be indicted into the school in
Its lowest ella s, and proceed in due order through
a prescribed course Of naval education, which is
specifically adapted to a term of four years. The
sefics OF studies appropriate to each year de.
fined, the practice Of gunnery and seamanship es-
tablished, and the whole organization, as it now
exists, completed. The classes were contrived
also as to receive, according to an appointed
cession, the acting midshipmen of dates prior TO
1851, no by tbis provision WILL in the space of the
next three years, have had the opportunity of
graduating in the school.
The admissions Of acting midshipmcn to. the
navy, and consequently to the academy, have
been regulated and limited by several laws. of
" hich the combined import now is to give to each
State and Territory its relative proportion of ap-
pointments, determined by the ratio of repre-
number Of acting and passed midshpmen allowed
to the navy. To this determination of the quota
OF appointments appropriated to each State and
Territory there has been added an allotment of a
fractional share to each Congressional district and
the nomination for each district has been conferred
upon the member representing it.
Inc Whole NUMBER OF Inldshlpmen, including
passed midshipmen, allowed TO the navy 10 four
hundred and sixty-four. The number of repre-.
sentativcs and delegates, according to the last
sus, is two hundred and thirty nine. Each repre-
therefore, is entitled by the existing law
to the nomination of one candidate and fraction
equal 10 225. 239.
No provision has been made for the disposition
Of these fractions, and have therefore thought
myself bound, in the absence of any other regua-
ton, to consult the wishes of at least a majority of
the representatives entitled to the fractional part
in receiving a nomination to supply the vacancy.
As the school does not contain more than fourth
OF the midshipmen belonging to the navy, and as
the vacancies in the number of students de-
pendent altogether upon the promotions to the
grade Of licutenants and upon the designations,
and deaths in each year in the corps of
midshipmen, the annual nomination TO the school
must, when the entire complement Of mids hipmen
s regularly filed, be comparatively but few in
number, The present condition Of the service
supplies but email ratio of promotions; and If it
were not for the operation Of the designations dis
nssale and deaths, it is manifest that the yearly
recruits to be added to the school would be SO in.
in numbers to forbid any hope of
extensive usefulness whilst the huctuating char
'cter OF these causes which produce the vacancies
ends to a result scarcely less injurious
TX is, indeed, the most obvious defect in the pre
tent organization of the academy that it's supply
)f students ia Liable 10 these contip g.