Washington sentinel., 1853-12-09
4nblit D0tament. !.
Of the Secretary Of the Navy.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec. s,

Report or the secretary OF the Navy.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec. s, 1853.
SIR: have the honor to present the usual
annual report from the Navy Department ex-
hibitngt the condition of this branch ofthe public
service, with brief allusion to the operations Of
the several squadrons during the past year. l
hayeventured also to suggest for consideration
certain views touching the increase of the naval
force, the reorganization of the navy, and the
modification Of the laws and regulations for its
government, from conviction that many prac-
tical reforms may be introduced promotive of
discipline and efficiency.
Sq,tadgons.
The home squadron, Commodore Newton,
consists of the flagship, the frigate Columbia,
Commander Pendergrast; the sloops-ofwar
Albany, Commander Gerry, and Cyane, Com
mander Hollins; the steamers Fulton, Lieu
tenant Watson, and Vixen, lately commanded
by Lieutenant Swartwout. This latter vessel
was despatched in the month of May to Tam
pico' on especial duty, and on her return to
Pensacola was put out of commission on ac-
count of the appearance of yellow fever on
board which, in its fatal progress, deprived
the service of many excellent officers and faith.
full men. So soon as she shall be thoroughly
disinfected and pronounced in safe condition,
she will be again put in commission, and con-
tinue attached to the home squadron.
In January last the Fulton, under the tenn
porary command Of Lieutenant Alexander
Murray, was placed at the disposal of the late
Hon. William R. King, for the purpose Of con.
veying him to Havana for the restoration of
his health; after performing which service, and
after having her machinery repaired, she again
Joined the squadron.
The steamer Saranac, Captain J. G. Long,
detailed for duty in the home squadron, after
having conveyed the Chevalier de Sodre, late
Brazilian charge daffaires, to the seat Of his
government Joined the squadron in February,
and remained attached to it until July, when,
requiring repairs she was withdrawn and put
out of commission.
The vessels attached to this squadron have
been cruising chiefly in the Gulf Of Mexico and
among the West India islands. Disturbances
at San Juan or Greytown threatening the prop
erty and rights Of American citizens, the Cyane,
Commander Hollins, was ordered to visit that
that port The presence of his ship had the
desired effect The conduct Of Commander
Hollins evinced a gallantry and Judgment which
entitled him to the commendation of the de-
partment. The Albany relieved the Cyane, and
remained at San Juan until her services were
deemed no longer necessary
The Brazil squadron, Commodore Salter, con-
sists of the flagship Savannah, Commander
Mercer, which sailed from Norfolk for her des-
tinaton on the l4th of September, and the
sloop-of.war jamestown, Captain Downing.
The brig Bainbridge, Lieutenant Charles G.
Hunter, sailed from New York on the 4th No
vember last to join this squadron, and on her
arrival out, the jamestown will return home,
by which time she will have been absent from
the United States nearly three years.
The Germantown, Commander Lynch, also
sailed from Boston on the I'd December to Join
this squadron. The storeship Relief, Lieuten-
ant Hitchcock, returned from Rio on the 18th
of April last, entering the port of New York,
and on the 25th of July following was again
sent out with stores for the squadron, under the
command of Lieutenant A. B. Fairfax, and
temporarily forms part of it.
The steamer Water Witch, Lieutenant Thos.
j. Page, which left Norfolk on the 9Th of Feb
ruary, though attached 10 this squadron, is not
considered as one of the available vessels be-
longing to it-having, after decree of the pro-
visional director Of the Argentine confedera-
ton, throwing open to navigation the tributa-
ries of the La Plata been detailed for the sur
vey of the rivers Uruguay and Parana. She
arrived out at Buenos Ayres on the 25th of
May, but was detained from the execution of
her immediate duties by the state of civil war
existing unhappily between the different prov
inces Of the Argentine confederation, requiring
her presence for the protection of the interests
of American citizens engaged in commerce, or
resident in that region. When last heard from,
on the 3Oth of August Lieutenant Page was
expecting to set out Immediately on the appoint
ed expedition.
Commander McKeever was in command Of
the Brazil squadron the earlier part of the
year; and having completed a cruise of three
years active and efficient service, he returned
in his flagship, the Congress, Commander
Pearson to the United States, on the Goth Of
July The records of the Navy and State De-
partments furnish satisfactory evidence that a
portion of this squadron did good service in
promoting the interests Of the government, and
protecting the rights of American citizens.
The African squadron, Commodore Mayo
consists of his flagship, the Constitution, Com
mander Rudd; the sloop Marion, Commander
Purvance and the brig Perry, Lieutenant R.
L. Page. The Dale, Commander Whittle,
sailed from Boston to join this squadron on the
18th October. ta es
Commodore Lavalette returned from the
command of this squadron in his flagship the
sloop-ofwar Germantown, Commander Nicho-
las, on the 3Oth of March. The John Adams,
Commander Barron, and the brig Bainbridge,
Commander John Manning, having been de.
tached from this squadron, reached the United
States, the former on the 23d of July, and the
latter on the 26th of August.
Commander Lynch was temporarily attached
by my predecessor to this squadron for recon
naissance Of the west coast of Africa, for the
purpose of ascertaining the localities afording
the greatest facilities for penetrating the inte-
rior of the country. He returned to the Uni
ted States in May last. His communication to
tie department. detailing the results of his re-
connaissance, accompanies this report.
The opinion has heretofore been frequently
expressed, that there is no necessity for a
squadron of so many guns on the coast Of Afri-
ca, and that notice should be given to Great
Britain, under the terms of the treaty in regard
to the suppression Of the slave trade, so as to
be relieved from its obligations. The COM
merce on that coast has of late years increased so
greatly, and American ships trading in that re-
gion have multiplied so much, that am salts