Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-10
THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

The Annual Report of the SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY, which forms one Of the series of documents
submitted to Congress in connexion with the Presi-
dents Message, commences with summary view
Of the operations of the various public vessels in
service during the past year, the details of which,
although entirely appropriate in an annual EXPOSE
ton of the administration of that branch OF the
public service, are not now OF particular interest TO
our readers, in consequence OF our custom OF chro
melting the movements of our national ships from
time to time, as they From this head OF the
Report, however, we copy few passages alluding
to the scientific services of some of the officers OF
the Navy and to other matters of general interest
The African squadron, Commodore Mayo consists of
his flag Ship the Constitution, Commander Rudd; the
sloop Marion, Commander Puryance and the brig Perry
Lieutenant r. L. Page. The Dale, Commander Whittle,
sailed from Boston to join this squadron on the 18th
October.
Commander Lynch was temporarily attached by my
predecessor this squadron for OF the
coast of Africa for the purpose OF ascerainng the
localities aordng the greatest facilities for penetrating
the interior of the country He returned to the United
States in May last His communication to the Depart
men detailing the results Of his reconnaissance, accom-
panes this report
The opinion has heretofore been frequently expressed
that there is necessity for squadron of many guns
the of Africa and that notice should be given
to Great Britain under the terms of the treaty in regard
the suppression of the slave trade to be relieved
from its obligations. The commerce that coast has
Of late years increased greatly and American ships
trading in that region have multiplied much, that am
satisfied that the squadron needed and is very effective
in protecting citizens well as suppressing the
slave trade"
"The brig Dolphin Lieut.. O. H. Bergman has recent
y returned the United States having been proftably
engaged in special service under the of March 3d.
1849, in testing routes and perfecting the discove
ries made by Lieut. Maury in the of his nvestga
tons of the winds and currents of the ocean. Much
credit is due to the officers employed in executing this
hydropraDher efforts.
fed in materially altering his charts and much time and
distance have been saved to the navigator The world
has been much enlightened as to the depths Of the
the currents and temperature of the ocean. am adj
vised that the deep-sea soundngs taken from board
the Dolphin the valuable contributions that have
been made to science touching this interesting question
with view to the observance Of treaty stpu
ation and afford protection to countrymen engaged
in the fisheries on the coasts of New Brunswick Nova
Scotia and Newfoundland, early in July special squad
ron sent thher, under the command of Commodore
Shubrick. The squadron returned to Portsmouth, New
Hampshire about the middle of September of
the vessels having visited every part of the regions fire.
quented by our fishermen.
ssNo plants were made to Commodore Shubrick by
any illegal harsh proceedings the part of the Eng
sh squadron stationed in those waters and but
of seizure reported to him. This vessel, however
was released upon the payment of the expenses incur
red ia the admiralty court by the proceedings in the
case, notwithstanding the admission by the master of
nracton of the treaty is believed that every effort
was made to assure countrymen of protection in the
the squadron executed with fidelity and zeal.
In the fall of 1882 at the earnest request of Lady
Franklin DIR. Kane, an accomplished passedassistan
surgeon IN the permitted to engage in special
service to extent connected with the search for Sir
John Franklin and his companions He sailed from the
United States during the past summer While the officers
heretofore engaged in this interesting search acquired
much reputation for themselves and their country
but express my regret that in certain charts uttered
from the English Admiralty photographic Office the
18th of October 1853 error has been committed and
credit given for certain discoveries of lands Off
of the British navy whereas in truth they had been
made and the lands given name, by the American
petition under the command of Lieut. De Haven which
passed the English vessels and led the way up Wellington
channels in the fall of 1850.
The Naval Observatory, under the superintendent of
Lieut. NJ F. Maury is doing much for science and navi-
CATION, much for the benefit of mankind and the honor Of
our country Fora few years past correspondence had
been conducted between the United States and certain
other Governments the Importance of adopting
plan to secure more uniform mode of making observa
tons at sea- Ascertaning that various Governments de-
signed being represented at Brussels in pursuance
scientific suggestions with which Lieut. Maury had been
conspouousy connected felt it my duty relieve him
temporarily from service at the Observatory with view
to his visiting Brussels The result of his sbors in con-
junction with other eminent persons will have doubt
prove vastly beneficial to commerce aud navigation
The letters accompanying this report from Professor
Espey respecting his theory of storms and his
logical observations from Lieut. Charles H. Davis In re-
gard to the nautical almanac and from Prof Alexander
touching the scientific investigation aud experiments
substances, referred
to for information to the progress made in their
spectye works No further appropriation for the latter
object is considered necessary.
Lieut. James NJ Giss is actively engaged in prepar-
ing for publication the result of his astronomical obser-
yatons at Santiago in Chilli The report Of Lieut. Hern-
don presenting the results of his exploration of the river
Amazon and its tributaries is nearly ready for dstrbu-
ton. The report Of Lieut. Gbbon who was Of the same
party but explored different section Of the country and
returned later, is nearly completed.
The ndefatigabe efforts of Lieut.. Dahlgren to give
accuracy and greater effectiveness to gunnery and to
improve the ordnance Of the navy have succeeded WELL
and doubt the advantage the service will expe-
rience therefrom."
The Secretary then proceeds to speak in highly
favorable terms of the Naval Academy located at
Annapolis.
"Ths interesting institution he says is rapidly sup
plying the navy with numbers Of educated and accom-
pshed young men, whose carly training, discipline and
instruction. under the guidance of learned professors and
experienced officers, peculiarly fit them to adorn the
vice. The beneficial results already witnessed demon
srate satisfactorily that il is sustaining the
laons the navy that West Point Academy bears to the
army. 1t is well worthy of the fostering patronage Of
the Government There are however certain facilities
not now in existence at the academy, which, in cons
deraon Of the fact that is being recognised as the
powerful agent in naval warfare, deem amporant to
give completeness to the education Of officer. The
prsctce-shp attached to the academy should be
er, and there should unquestionaby be machine shop
Of cheap and limited character the premises prac-
tce in the sailing vessel has been considered ndspensa
Bile to improve the students in practical seamanship and
navigation, is it not maniesty important that
Is the mighty engine for propelng vessels war; that
the practiceshp should display to the inqurng youth in
familiar experiment the practical working of the mach
merry and the art Of regulating and controlling it, How
much more secure will be the engaged in de-
cate and important service, involving victory defeat
in he If