The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-13


no doubt, be perussi with great attention by all
classes Of readers.
The seventeenth anniversary Of the Colored Or
phan Asylum was celebrated at Hope Chapel last
evening.
Want of space compeis rs 10 forego referring par
ticulary 10 variety Of tslegraphc dispatches and
many columns of other interesting matter contained
in this days Issue. The headings of the different ar
.cles, however VIII tend t, enighten tn reader as
to their character.
Report OF Secretary Dobbin- Beggarly Com
Gsticn Of our Navy-The Duty OF Goa
Sress.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy,
which we published the other day. is a sensible,
practical, and satisfactory State paper. We
trust that it will secure the early and practical
attention Of Congress. It is somewhat painful,
somewhat humi!iating to have such an official
expose as this of the beggarly condition Of the
United States Navy thrown out to the world !;
but the recommendations of Mr. Dobbin, to the
great end of strengthening this right arm OF
our national defence, are seasonable, whole
some, and very easy of fulfilment,
The two most important features of this bust
ness-lke report are-trst, the necessities for an
increase and, secondly, the policy Of q re-or-
ganization OF the navy, more in accordance
with the progress of our times, the genius Of
our institutions and the spirit of the age, than
the present antiquated. rotten bureau system
of the .'old fogies." Upon the first proposition,
the increase of the navy. the astounding facts
presented by Mr.. Dobbin ought to suffice, with
out further argument, for the immediate adop-
ton of the recommendations which follow. We
had expected. from this Official report, melan-
choly exhibit of our weakness upon the salt
water, but nothing quite so feeble as the sum-
ming up of Mr. Dobbin. Hear him =
The American Navy consists of about seventy vessels
embracing eli from Le ships of the lin, to the sna lies.
brig schooner end sorcshp. OF these many ships Of
the line fisates, steamships and soops o. var. ara not
only unfit for srryce but advised by the Bureau Of
Construction, Equipment and Repairs, no. worth
pairing There are not NOS 10 the Navy forty vessels
which could be brought into service in ninsty days
NEEDED. There steamer in the Pacific Or African
squadron but e two In the BrAz aa sdroa
AND we have no steamer OF more than tsn guns.
This is sorry sight, Contrast it with the
nayes of England and France, and the disparity
is positively alarming. According to the "Al-
manach de Gotha" Of 1861 the British Navy
for the year 1851, consisted of three hundred
and sixty-three steamers Of ell sizes; and the
Navy Of France Of two hundred and twenty six
sailing vessels, and one hundred and two steam
ers, from one hundred and twenty to six hun
dred horse power; and within the last two years
the steam force of both England and France
has considerably augmented, chiefly with screw
propellers. We are even behind poor old Spain
hac e c.
ships, and thirty steamers. And, as it is with
these powers that we shall have to contend
singly or combined in the event of rupture
concerning Cuba, Hayti, or Central America,
it would be well for the Chairman on Naval AT
fairs, in each House Of Congress- in view, at
any day, Of the possible contingency of war, to
count the probable consequences to our navy,
our vast commerce, and our extended seaboard
considering that in three months, from oil GUAR
tiers OF the world, including everything we have,
we could not bring government force Of forty
vessels into service.
The recommendation. therefore. Of Mr. Dob
bin, that six first class steam frigate propellers
be Immediately built, is reasonable and sensi-
bic. The advantages of the propeller over the
side wheel ship, as vessel Of war, are manifest.
The war steamers lately built, and now in
course Of construction by the British ana
French governments, are, we believe, almost
exclusively, if not without exception propel-
lers. Five millions Of dollars is the maximum
OF the estimated cost Of construction of the six
propellers proposed, the necessary supply Of
timber being already on hand at our various
navy yards. And five millions. out Of surplus
OF thirty millions in the treasury, with Secre-
tary Guthrie calling loudly for depletion, is
but triiie in comparison with the Importance
OF the object in view. We want at least a
dozen effective steamers, of the most approved
models, machinery and equipment; and ten
millions of the thirty lying idle in the treasury
could hardly be better appropriated; but Me-.
Dobbin, no doubt impressed with suspicion
that such an enormous outlay for the navy, in a
single appropriation. would be considered rank
treason bythe membersfrom thoWest has thought
Utmost prudent to be modest in his demands, and
hence he only asks for six propellers, and five
millions Of Guthrie's surplus. which has in
creased is increasing and by hook or by crook,
must and will be diminished
Let the propellers be built, and let the Sec
Rotary Of the Navy see TO it that not one of the
parties Of the Bureau Of Construction, Equip
ment and Repairs, concerned in the getting up
such abortions as the Allegheny, the Fulton,
and the Water Witch, have any thing to do with
the construction or equipment of these new
ships. Let some such practical steamship
builder as i. X. Collins be employed as the
director and superintendent of the work, and
then we may count with confidence upon
feet Of ste amers creditablc alike to the depart
mcnt and the country.
The second most important branch OF Mr.
Dobbin's report upon the reorganization Of the
navy. meets, also, as may be supposed, with orr
cordial concurrence; the NEW YORK HERALD
MT has.ia.r 5-ainlrr nndaa rarad