Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-12-09
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
NAVY DKpARrmrsr, DEcEnBER 4, 1854

NAVY DEPARTMENT, DECEMBER 4, 1854.
10 The President Of The United STATES:
SIR: In the annual report from the Navy Department
which now have the honor present, have taken the
liberty in addition the usual statement OF the opera
tions Of the squadrons and the general condition Of the
service and the public property TO recommend still
further gradual increase of the navy and 10 express
frankly my views Of the great Importance Of its reorga-
nizatcn and the enactment Of regulations for the
discipline and Improvement of sesmen. Fthey are urged
with seeming pertinacy my only apology is deep in
terest in the magnitude Of the subject and conviction
Of the necessity Of legislative interpcstion.
soUApRoNs.
The vessels composing the home squadron are the
frigae Columbia the flag ship, Commander b. Wilson
the soops-of-war Albany, Commander j. T. Gerry Fal-
mouth Commander l. D. Shaw and the steamers Prince
ton, Commander Henry Eagle, and Fulton, Lieutenant
Commanding J. X. Mitchell. Commodore j. I. Newton
still commands this squadron The cruising OF the ves
sells Of the squadron has been principally among the West
India Islands and along the coasts bordering on the Ca
ribbeaa Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Columbia returned to Norfolk in obedience to
orders from the Department and the 28th June sail
ed under instructions to Commodore Newton special
duty st. Domingo. Having thoroughly surveyed the
Bay OF amana and ascertaned its depth and character
aud examined the localities in its vicinity with reference
20 fitness convenient depot for naval purposes, the
Columbia returned Pensacola and is under orders
TO proces San Juan de Nicaragua conveying to that
Nicaragua, and Mr.. Marlin, United States Minister resi-
dent TO Guatemala. The Princeton, Commander Eagle,
sailed from Norfolk the 3is Of October for Pensacola
and vii. proceed her cruise as part Of the home
squadron. The Albany Commander Gerry, in pursuance
of the orders Of the Commodore, has been actively cruis
ing during the entire year. having visited, among other
ports those Of Samana Sisal St. Thomas, La Guira Gu
racoa, Carthagena, Aspinwa San Juan, Port Royal and
St Jago de Cuba She has done good service and Com
mander Gerry and his officers merit the appreciation Of
the Department have to know that the ap-
pearance of flag those ports and the bearing Of
the officers contributed much to the encouragement and
protection Of citizens engaged in commercial raasao
lions in those regions. 5" ts.
The last official intelligence received from the Albany
the 18th Of September from Aspinwal, informing
the Department that the ensuing day she would sail
for New York There is no doubt of her having put to
sea at the time mentioned. Much time having elapsed
and ndings Of her having been received, it is but
tura that painful anxiety should be felt touching her fate
The prevalent opinion that she has sustained serious
injuries from encounterng storms recently prevalent in
her course homeward, and that she has put into
port for repairs With view Of obtaining information
and aordng relief the steamer Princeton left Pensacola
days ago in search of the Albany The Department
still entertains the opinion that she is safe.
The Fulton which until the Saith of April under
the command Of Lieut.. James NJ Watson, in useful
service and having visited many Of the ports Of the West
Indies returned to the United States On the 18th May
she left Norfolk under the command of Lieut. Mitchell
conveying the pert fYera Cruz the Hon Mr. Gadsdeu
our Minister to Mexico and bearer Of the treaty recently
she remained until the treaty ratified and with
turned to the port Of Washington where she has since
been necessarily detained and is ready for service
The practcabity of inter-oceanic communication by
the construction Of ship canal the Isthmus of
Darien between Caledonia bay and the Caribbean Sea and
the Gulf Of San Miguel the Pacific, has long been
subject Of much speculation and controversy among
of science and learning The magnitude Of the work and
wonderful influence which its successful accomplishment
might exert uron the Of the world and
especially upon the intercourse between Atlantic and
Pacific possessions, induced the Department with your
appreciation, to accept the services Of accomplished
and enerprising officer of the navy Lieut. l. G. Strain
who volunteered to undertake the exploration The Ca
rbbean Sea being embraced within the limits assigned
cruising ground for the Home Squadron, the Depart
ment concluded that the Cyane, Commander Holns
might with great proprety, cruise in that region take
proper soundings Caledonia Bay and the tme
with but little additional expense convey any party that
might volunteer in the arduous and interesting
exploration Passed Midsbipman Truxten First Assist
ant Engineer j. M. Maury, Midshipman II. M. Garland
and few civilians and fran the Of the Cy
also volunteered to embark in the adventure The
permission of the New Grenadan Government having
been cheerfpy given, the Cyane sailed from Philadelphia
IN December last and arrived Porto Escoces Gale
dcnia Bay, the 18th Of January The party land
ed and proceeded to execute the special duty assigned
They succeeded in crossing the Isthmus and returning
after enccunterng suerngs and hardsbps and exhibit
ing powers of endurance spirit of enterprise, and
generous devotion to duty emnenty credabe to them
as officers and honorable to them few Of the
seamen and civilians unable to bear up under their
trying exposure and expired The Cyane returned with
the party New York. refer you however for more
particular recital of the details Of the expedition the
interesting report of Lieut. Strain which accompanies
this communication, from which you will perceive that
he s very decidedly of opinion that the work ia totally
impraccabe and thus Iapprehend settles the question
forever
tits proper that should remark that the officers Of her
Britannia Majesty's ship Virago, the Pacific, were
prompt and generous in extending timely relief to the
suffering party, and that proper appreciation Of it has
been officially communicated to her Britannia Majestys
Government.
Intelligence having been received that the property Of
American citizens had been improperly detained by the
people Of San Juan de Nicaragua; that Minister
Central America, Hon. Mr. Borand, had been treated
with rudsness and dsrespect and that the interests of
countrymen required the immediate presence of
rnan-owar in that neighbcrhood the Cyane, being the
most available vessel for that purpose in obedience
instructions from the Department put again the
l9th of June.
On her arrival at San Juan Commander Hollins learn
ing from Mr.. Fabens, the United States Commercial
Agent at that place. that the demand made by him. by
order OF the State Department for proper reparaton of
wrongs committed by them, had been treated with der
sion and contempt after due deberaon thought it
pedient through Mr.. Fabens, to make final demand
upon the inhabitants for satisfactory adjustment As
the result was entirely unsatisfactory, Commander Ho
Inns gave notice the 18th of July, by proclamation
posted in the most public places that if the proposed
terms Of settlement were not complied with he should
NJ Of the 18th, proceed lombard the town of San
Juan the end that the rights of our country and ct
may be vndicated and guaranty for future
lection" He had hoped that the show of determine
ton his part would at this stage of the proceedings
have brought about satisfactory adjustment. Such
however was not the His appeals for adjustment
dregarded; his proclamation only read to be
treated with contempt His return to his country after