The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-08
OUR NAVAL DEF ENCES
Annual Report Of the Secretary or the Navy.

NAVY DETACHMENT Dec. g. 1854
Srs-in the annual report from the Navy Department
which have the honor 70 present have taken the
liberty, in addition 70 the usual statement of the opera
fons Of the squadrcns and the general condition of the
further gradual increase OF the havy and TO express
frankly my views Of the great Importance Of its reor,aDi
zaoo, and the enactment OF new regulations for the
discipline and improvement oil seamen II they are urged
with seeming pertnecity my only apology is deep nte
rest in the magnitude OF the subject and conviction 81
the necessity Of legislative interposition
sQUADRoss.
The vessels composing the Home squadron are the
frgate Columbia, the dag ship, Commander : Is WI
Falmouth, Commander T. u, shaw; and the steamers
princeton Commander Henry Eagle ana faton, laem-
tenant Commanding J. X Mitchell oomnoaore :. !;
Newton still commands ths squadron me cruising o.
the vessels the squadron has been principally among
the West India islands ami along the coasts bordering
the Caribbean sea and the Gun OF Mexico.
The Columbia returned 10 Norfolk in obedience TO orders
from department and on the 18th June sailed under
instructions Commodore Newton special duty to
ST Domingo. Having thoroughly surveyed the Bay
OF SANTANA and ascertainei its depth and character,
sud examined the localities in its vicinity with reference
TO fitness convenient depot for naval purposes the
Columbia returned to Pensacola, and is under
ders TO proceed to San Juan de Nicaragua conveying to
that point Mr. Wheeler United States Minister Resident
to Nicaragua, and Mr.. Marlin United States Minister
Resident to Guatemala. The Princeton, Commander
Eagle, sailed from Norfolk the 3lst Of October for
Pensacola and will proceed ner cruise part Of
the home squadron. The Albany, Commander Gerry n
pursuance Of the orders of theommodore has been
lively cruising during the entire year. having visited
among other ports those of SANTANA, sisal ST. Thomas
Laguirs caracos, Carthagena, Aspinwaii San Juan,
done good service and Commander Gerry and his officers
merit the appreciation or the department, as have
t. know that the appearance Of flag at those
ports and the bearing Of the officers contributed much to
-he Engagement and protection Of citizens
jagged in commercial trans actions in those regions.
The last official intelligence received from the Albany
sae tho 18th of September, from Aspnwa informing
he department that the ensuing day she would sail
or New York There IS no doah, o. her having put to
,nd tdings of her having been received, 1t is but
Natural thst painful anxiety should be felt touching her
ate. The prevalent opinion is that she has sustained
injuries from encounterng storms recently pre-
vilent IN her course homeward and that she has put
in q some port for repairs With vie OF obtaining in
formation and afordng relief the steamer Princeton left
Pensacola some days ago in search of the Albany The
department still entertans the opinion that she is safe
The Fulton, which until the oath Of April WAS under
the command of Lieutenant James NJ. Watson, was in
useful service and having visited many OF the ports OF
18th May abe left Norfolk under the command OF eute
nant Mitchell conveying 70 the port OF Vera Cruz the
Hon Mr. Gsdsden Minister to Mexico and bearer Of
the treaty recently eonclu led between the United States
and Mcxico where she ned until the treaty
tilted and with 1t returned to the port of Washington
where she has since been necessarily detained, and
ready for service.
The practicabilty Of inter communication BY
the construction Of ship canal across the lsthmus OF
Darien, between Caledonia bay and the Caribbean
and the Gulf Of San Miguel the Pacific has long been
subject Of much speculation and controversy among
mon Of science and learning Tho magnitude Of the
work, and wonderful influence which its successful
complement might exert upon the commerce of the
world, and more especially upon the intercourse be-
t~eea Atlantic and Pacific possessions induced tho
department, with appreciation to accept the ser
vices Of accomplished and exserprsny officer Of the
navy, Lieut. G. Strain who volunteered to undertake
the exploration The Caribbean being embraced with
the limits assigned cruising ground for the Homo
Commander Holns might, with great propriety cruise
in that region take proper soundDgs at Caedons Bay
and at the time with but little additional expense
convey any party that might volunteer to engage the
arduous aud interesting exploration Passed Midship
man Truxton First Assistant Engineer J. NJ Maury
seamsa from the crew Of tho Cyane also volunteered to
embark in the adventure. The permission Of the New
Greasdian government having been cheerfuly given,
arrived ct Porto Ecoces on Caledonia Bay on the nth
OF January The party were landed and proceeded TO
crossing the Tsthmus and returning after encounteriug
sueings and hardships, and exhibiting powers Of en-
durance, spirit Of enterprise, and generous devo
ton to duty, eminently credtable to them or
cers and honorable to them few OF the
and civilians were unable to bsar up under their
y6e party to New York. l refer you, however, Tor
wore particular recital Of the details Of the expedition,
.ne . srn cs w n ns
rowe that he very decidedly Of opinion that the work il
totally imprsctcabe, and thus spprehend settles the
II Is proper that should remark that the officers Of
her Britannia Majesty's ship vi-sgo, the Pacific
prompt generous in extending timely relief the
suffering party and that proper appreciation Of has
been officially communicated to her Britannia Maiestys
government.
petty oil American citizens had been improperly
detained BY the people Of San Juan de Mica
Hon Mr.. Bcrland had been treated with rudeness and
dsvespect and that the interests Of our countrymen
required the immediate presence Of man-of war in
vessel for that purpose in obedience to instructions
from the department. put to sea again on the 18th OF
June
On her arrival at San Juan Commander Holins learn
ing from Mr. Fabens, the United States Commercial
Agent at that place tina: the demand made by him by
utnn ham rfruon n in
OF wrongs committed by them had been treated with
derisou ana contempt after duo dehberation thought
nand upon the inhabitants for satisfactory adjust
meat A the result entirely unsatisfactory. Com
mander hoins gave notice On me tx,n o. july ~
the proposed terms of settlement were not conf
piled with, he should, at . O'Clock A: NJ, Of the
18th proceed to lombard the town Of San Juan,
to the end that the rights Of country and citi
7ens may 10 vindcated, and as guarantee for
future protection He had hoped that tho show OF
determination on his part would at this stage Of the
proceedings have brought about satisfactory adjust
ment; SUCH however, was not the case
proclamation only read to be treated with contempt
His return his country after all this without nnctng
sove punishment upon these lawless and reckless pso
pie he thought would be but signal for renewal Of
insuits and outrages Having rendered boats for the
removal Of property and persons to all who would avail
them he bombarded the place and destroy
ed Of their property, without loss of life could
reprove this commander for his conduct Humanity
ten lends her sympathes TO the sufferer however just
the punishment but patriotism rarely condemns the
brave officer who administers that punishment from
Of justice to his countrymen whose property is
DESTROYED and whose national nag is insulted. We may
well regret the stern necessity which constrained him,
but il should be remembered that Commander Hoiiins
had been compelled but year before to interfere and
stop these people in their OF destruction Of
American property that he bad, tesiees seen the
port OF our minister, speaking OF them as being per
sons almost without exception of VIGOROUSLY bad cha
racter-some of them discharged penitentiary convct
and refugees from justice habitualy manfesng evil
positions towards our citizens, and INDUCING those
Sositions TO the injury OF persons and property when
they not restrained by force and that he was
unable 20 regard them in any other light than as p
tes and outlaws that he knew that this ungoverned
opuacc had for restrained an American Minis
sr's personal liberty and rudeiy assaied him; that
hey had retained and refused TO surrender the stolen
property Of some OF our countrymen that they con-
temptuousy turned deaf to his appeals for adjust
mcnt and that his alternative TO infict punishment
or return TO his country with wen armed national yes
sell and report that he had demanded satisfaction, and
upon being treated with contempt had felt it his duty
to come home
Rash inpetuosity on the par; OF those who bold in
fheir hand IN me exte elements OF