The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-01-03
Report Of Secretary Of the Navy.

The Annual Rcpo.t from the Navy Depart
ment of moderate length. considerable ability aud
general interest. 1t contains sundry important
recommendations regarding the regulation Of the
Naval establishment. und suggests Il number OF
desirable Improvement
Six Squadrons are employed in active service
OH the ocean Ofthesc the Home squadron under
the command OF Commodore Parker consists ot
five vessels. and has cruised in the West Indies
and along the coasts OF the Caribbean Sea and
tue Gulfof Mexico. The Mediterranean squadron,
Com Morgan commanding, consists Of four ves-
ses the African squadron lately under the com
maud Of Com. Gregory, uuw Of Com. Layalettc,
comprises tive briGs an0 siOupS; the squadron Oh
the cost Of Brazil, Com Nc Kreycr' include, the
lag ship ConSles, and three others; the Pacific
squadron Dom. McCoHlcy, Includes eleven sea
worthy vessels aud stureships; and the squadron
for the East Indies. Com. AuliCk commanding
coinprehcnds the stcam frigate Susquehannah
and loops of war. The total nnniler of vessels
en- ployed in squad0n service, is therefore thirty
three. The report announces with satisfaction
that IN all quarters OF tie globe, the reception Of
American cruiscis hns been respectful rudcnrd!al.
a conn pllmcn,ary ailusion is made to the EN Pc
di,i ion in search Of Sir john Franklin, under the
command Of Lieut.. De Haven, and the generous
offer Of he vessels hy Mr. Grnucll, for another
=
should ii be thought proper to Authorize second
Expedition. The voyage OF the lngate 81. Law
renee to Southampton Is also noticed IN appro-
prnprinie terms.
Tie number Of ol1icors employed during the
year In the Coast survey. was nIuety.--Ihe Sec
retiry rcuers his recommendations that the
supervision II thi4 wur!: be transferred to the
Navy Department.
The necessity ola revision Of the laws relating
to the NAVY, aud the adoption of Suitable anj
the adoption Of a suitable and ciHcient system OF
Naval policy, Is recommended - the a lttenL3u oi
Congress. Nr Graham docs not Concur IN the
policy sometimes advocated that we should np.
portion our Naval fJrcc 10 that Of the principal
nations Of Europe with which ve may possibly
come in collision; vet lie recommends that all the
aids afforded by science and experience be applied
to this improvement uf our Naval establishment.
II Is IN vain that We rest cOutcnted with old mod
els and IauuouateI armameuts. Our obvious pol
icy i to conrnge TO build shlps not only to sup
piy losses lat 90 keep peace with the improve
mcuts Of the age. The rece-sIty oi the esWb!ish
mrut ola rntgyd lit, and the want ota class oi
small v,.scl,, tu give employment IN command
to ,eniur lieutenant, ate two important recon-
men4atlons Of the Report
The question OF C.rpreal Punishment in the
Navy, l. commented upon By Secretary or ham
at crp-jdyraJle length \ material defect IN oul
naval code il held To bc that which Is accustomed
by the failure to provide any punishment by way
Of substitute. The Report goes on to argue, that
the abolition Of Naval tloggnr has been attcn
ded with improbable Consequences; that justice
i, delayed by confinement, that HONEST men are
made tie servants Of the unworthy, while lhC
ll;'cf are iu cauGaemonl aud that the ship
effective flce j. weakened. The Secretary con
slider, th,t the consequences Of the change have
thus far been Determined to the service, an,
coruuerds he subject to the consideration {
Congress.
Tie s.i,nlic researches which have heel
prosecuted dUriug the year, under the direction
uf he Navy Department are producing valuable
results The EacL observatory ANT Hydro
graphical c lice have been u active and vigorou
operation the Wind aud Current Charts, panne'
by Lieut. Maury. are being extended to the Pa
1hc and Indian O.c,ns; the Astronomical cxpe
dition to Ch.,i, under the direction Of Lieut. G!
Use has been arriyr'v conducted, and the fir
publication cf the Nautical Almanac, under tn
.upcrut,rd,uce Of Lut Davis may be e%pccte
in the course Of the next iisc, year.