Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-07
4ablif 10fnmfnt.
Report on one secretary of the NAVY.

Sir: In the annual report from the NAVY De-
partment, which now have the honor 10 present
have taken the liberty, in addition 10 the usual
statement OF the operations of the squadrons and
The general condition of the service and the pub
hc property, TO recommend still further gradual
increase OF The Navy, and 10 express frankly my
views OF the great Importance of its re-organza-
hon, and The enactment Of new regulations for
the discipline and Improvement OF seamen. Ii
ihey are urged with seeming pertinacy, my only
apology Isl deep interest in the magnitude OF the
snhlecl and conviction of the necessity Of legs-
lative nierposiion.
SQUADRoNS.
The vessels composing the Home Squadron
are, the lrigate Columbia, the flag -ship, Comman-
der s. B. Wilson the sloops war Albany, Com
mahderJ J. t. Gerry; Falmouth, Commander I. ID.
shaw; and the steamers Princeton, Commander
Henry Eagle; and Fulton, Lieutenant Command
ing J. X Mitchell. Commodore ]. T. Newton
stll commands this squadron. The cruising OF
among The West India Islands, and along the
coasts bordering on the Caribbean sea and the
Gulf of Mexico.
The Columbia returned TO Norfolk, in obedi-
ence 10 orders from the Navy Department, and on
The 2Slh June sailed, under instructions 10 Com
modore Newton, on special duty 10 ST. Domingo
Having thoroughly surveyed the Bay OF SANTANA
and ascertained its depth and character, and ex-
amned the localities in its vicinity with reference
10 fitness. for convenient depot for naval pur-
poses, the Columbia returned 10 Pensacola, mad is
now under orders 10 proceed 10 San Juan de Nj
caragua, conveying 10 that point Mr.. Wheeler,
United STATES Minister Resident 10 Nicaragua,
and Mr. Marlin, United States Minister Resident
TO Guatemala. The Princeton, Commander Eagle,
sailed from Norfolk the 3lsl Of October for Pea
sacola, and will proceed her cruise as part Of
The Home Squadron. The Albany Commander
Gerry, in pursuance of the orders of the Commo-
dore, has been actively cruising during the entire
year, having visited, among other ports, those Of
SANTANA, Sisal, ST. Thomas, La Guira, Curacao,
CarthageIa, Aspinwal San Juan, Port Royal, and
ST. Jago de Cuba. She has done good service
and Commander Gerry and his officers merit the
appreciation OF the Department, as | have reason
to know that the appearance of our flag al those
ports, and the bearing of the officers, contributed
much 10 the encouragement and protection of our
citizens engaged in commercial transactions in
those regions.
The last official intelligence received from the
Albany was on the 2Sih of September from As
pnwall, informing the Department that The
ensuing day she would sail tor New York. There
is,no doubt of her having put 10 sea al the time
mentioned Much tune having elapsed and no
iidngs OF her having been received, il is but nat
ural that painful anxiety should be felt, touching
her tale. The prevalent opinion Isl that she has
sustained serious injuries from eneouniering
storms recently prevalent in her course home
ward, and that she has put into some port for re-
pairs. With view Of obtaining Information and
ahording relief, the steamer Princeton left Pensa-
cola some days ago in search of The Albany. The
Department still enterians the opinion that she is
safe.
The Fulton, which until the 9th Of April was
under the command of Lieutenant James M. Wat
son, was In useful service, and, having visited
manyof the ports ofthe West Indies, returned TO
the United States On the 18th May she left Nor
folk under the command of Lieutenant Mitchell,
conveying TO the port OF Vera Cruz the Hon. Mr..
Gadsden, our minister 10 Mexico, and bearer OF
the treaty recently concluded between the United
States and Mexico, where she remained until the
treaty was ratified, and with il returned TO the
port OF Washington, where she has since been ne
cessary detained, and Is now ready for service.
The practicabilty OF nter-oceanic communica-
ton by the construction OF ship canal across the
Isthmus of Daren, between Caledonia bay and
The Caribbean sea and the Gulf OF San. Miguel, on
The Pacific, has long been a subject Of much spec
u.aton and controversy among men OF science
and learning. The magnitude OF the work, and
wonderful influence which its successful accom-
pshment might exert upon the commerce of the
world and more especially upon the intercourse
between Atlantic and Pacific possessions, in
duced the Department, with your appreciation, to
accept The services Of an accomplished and enter
prising officer of the Navy, Lieutenant g. Strain,
who volunteered TO undertake the exploration.
The Caribbean Sea being embraced within the
limits assigned as a cruising ground for the Home
Squadron, The Department concluded that the
Cyane, Commander Hollins, might, with great
propriety cruise in that region take proper sound
ings AT Caledonia Bay, and al the same time, with
but little additional expense, convey any party
that might volunteer 10 engage in the arduous and
interesting exploration. Passed Midshipman
Truxion, First Assistant Engineer ]. M. Maury,
Midshipman III. NJ. Garland, and few civilians
and seamen from the crew Of the Cyane, also vol
unteered 10 embark in the adventure. The per-
mission OF The New Grenadian government having
been cheerfully given the Cyane sailed from Phi
ladeIphia in December last, and arrived al Porto
Escoces, on Caledonia Bay, on the nth Of Janu.
airy. The party were landed, and proceeded 10
execute the special duty assigned They sue
ceeded in crossing the Isthmus, and returning
after encouniering sufierings and hardships, and
exhibiting powers of endurance, spirit OF enter
prise, and a generous devotion 10 duty, eminently
creditable 10 them as officers, and honorable 10
them as men. A few Of the seamen and civilians
were unable 10 bear up under their trying expo
sure, and expired. The Cyane returned with the
party 10 New York. | refer you, however for q
particular recital Of the details OF the expe-
dition, 10 the interesting report Of Lieutenant
Strain which accompanies this communication
from which you will perceive that he is very de-
cidedy of opinion that the work is totally imprac.
icable, and thus, apprehend, settles the ques-
lion forever
II il proper that should remark that the officers
Of her Britannia Mejesiy's ship Virago, on the
Pacific, were prompt ard generous in extending
timely relief 10 the suffering party, and that a
proper appreciation Of il has been officially com.
municaied 10 her Britannia Msjestys govern.
ment.
Intelligence having been received that the pro-
perry Of American citizens had been improperly
detained by the people Of San Juan de Ncaragus
that our Minister 10 Genital America, Hon. Mr..
Borland, had been treated with rudeness and dis
respect, and that the interests Of our countrymen
required the immediate presence of a man-of-wsr
in that neighborhood, the Cyane, being the mosI
avsila able vessel for that purpose, in obedience 10
instructions from the department, put 10 again
on the 18Th Of June.
On her arrival at San Juan, Commander Hol.
Iins, learning 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 Teparation Of wrongs committed by
them, had been treated with derision and con
tempt, after due dslberaton, thought il expe-
dent, through Mr.. Fabeps, 10 make final de.
mand upon the inhabitants for q satisfactory adj
justment. As the result was entirely gasalisfac-
tory, Commander Hoins gave notice on the l2lh
OF July, by proclamation posted in the most pub
lie places, that il the proposed terms Of settle
menl were not complied With, he should, al A. m.
Of the 18th, proceed TO lombard the town Of San
Jnan, TO the end that 81 the rights Of our country
aud citizens may be yindIoaied, and as guarantee
for future protection" lie bad hoped that the
show of determination on bis part would al