The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-03

surgeon kAne who volunteered for the service vas It
It well known that Dr. Kane left the United states
in the humane search Of Sir John Franklin In june 1883
time under the patronage
His report brief but full Of startling incidents and
port viii ultimately be made The discoveries INSIDE ~
this truly remarkable and excellent officer will b.
regarded valuable contributions to science. BE al
vanced In thoe frozen regions far beyond his intrepid
decessors whose explorations excited such admrs
ion. His residence for two years with his little party
for his home, fastened with icy letters that ee6ed an
Efforts for emancipation his suerings from intense cold
death for that of e-his miraculous and
IN open sledses over the ice Tor eighty four
animated and neivsd him to the task
commend the results of his explorations As worthy
VI t1e st'ent'on and patronage Of government.
MISCELLANEOUS
The reports q the chiefs Of the several burasur -
tached TO this Departn emit will exhibit fully the ,ndi
ton OF ~ maVers coming properly under thier coeni-
zance The gentlemen presiding over these bureaux hs1
not merely discharged their duteswith ability blu. havs
mari ested every disposition to adopt and Introduce int
the service such reforms and improvements
and observation suggest
in his report the progress made in establishing nsvv
yard at Mare Island, California, and the sta.s Of tie
gratifying to learn through the reports made {, tho
ueau OF Ordnance and photography from different
the $cers to practical gunney and the instruc
men IN this branch Interesting information Il also fur,
nshed l. lat armament and orcnauce equipments gan
orally efe Tent and satisfactory II Is my design an
early Cay assign CON- Dahgeeen 10 the commsrd Of
vessel svoied exclusively to gnnns prsctce With
q view to the roper training O both officers and
duty which at last constitutes the real effectiveness Of
a manof.war
the ogent supervise Of Captain Godsbor ough There
attached to it, for instruction hundred
o 1 M hs The
press themselves not merely satisfied with, bat really
amazed a the remarkable proficiency exh,bited BY hs
od,sofo fha
much impressed with the variety muuteness and exact
of the teaching AMI the modes of exani-
of tie Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrogrsphy.
Every effort berg made to establish this institution
proper basis. l aware of the apprehension that
in the desire to secure accomplished education tha
practical duties of the naval officer be sgated
have reasons for knowing that fears en- this point
be dis missed there settled determination to make
ranshp and the learning necessary to the severer
and indispensable The practice ship. Lieut. Joseph r.
Green manoing crnised during the summer months
along northeastern coast She had on board the
second and fourth class OF acting midshipmen The re-
port OF Lieut. GIen speaks favoaby OF their proficiency
in both seamanship ana gunnery
Gil atifybg evidences OF the high estimate On in which
the soofs q the Naval are held at home and
SoIoAd continue TO he received Several snests II
The wind and current charts and enlarged edition Of
the sailing cnections which company them h.vs been
Published during the year Tae usefulness Of this work
expands wi IT'S enlargement Other maritime nations.
app'ecatirg the value OF this plan Of investga ton
have united III common system of observation for s
further prosecution. is earnestly suggested by Lieut.
Maury that This system Of meteorological irch
tended to the laLd would afford for the az cu lrsl In
csrnyy and for scieoce tao results quite
hs important es those which commerce and navigation
hsve ali eady derived from it.
Lit,t Giess is still laboiously legged in the DIS
tbslge OF the special cuties assigned hm. OF the
suits Of tie astronomical expedition, transmitted to
Cngfets in July 1854 two volu have been sishsd
III Gee embrace full account Of the geography cmAss,
,thquskes, eg icultursl mineral and commercial
sources, natural history &C., Of Chill together with the
IarIahe ofIeut McRae's jOui ney across the Aadas
ard tie Pampas of the Argentine confederation.
Volume three is now in press, and Will be ready fM
observations and discussion of the solar paraax-ths
object for which Cng Immediately erected ths
expedition. The magnetcal and al ooserva
ous to form volume SIX have been reduced aud abuatsd
az the printing would be procee ed with mmeda ey
ton voluues four and ve but NJ they will c,ntaia
nearly 0CO observations Of which more than 20 900 u
bAbe that the last volume wiz be published in sss thaa
eighteen m; ntbs
The Nautical Almanac, under the supervision of Com.
Davis tracing much attention in our own country
ard abroad, and although the estimates whst
larger than formerly trust it's merits such to
cure the favorable consideration of Congress.
After much reflection and attentive observation Of The
practical working of the present SYSTEM very "a
voIably instinct to the plan suggested by predecess,
oftnsblsbng distinct corps IN the navy, whose dut
shall be confined to hyorcgsphy, ordnance, civil engio-
need be ary addition to the number Of officers There
are constantly from fifty to one hundred officers doing
, .. Pdnspcs .na other scen c Quite. t.
the proficiency of the Navy Officers cannot attain that
complete In. of these branches without long and
continuous devotion to them and yet under the present
the part Of those Who are encounssrins
the hardships dangers and prvaons Of duty In tbs
place Of those who quietly pursuing their scientific
duties amid the comforts Of home and family. Let this
have the relation to the other officers of the
navy that the staff coes the line ia the army and BE-
ing composed Of certain number If captains command
ers, heutonants masters and passed mdshipmen, Their
promotions in the corps be regulated not t. In
teiere with the regular promotions Of officers more ex
clusvely devoted 10 sesgoiOg duties.
Many officers Of excellent judgment and enlarged expe
ence Of opinion that those who are long assigned 70
these euies ashore become disqualified for duty aaoAs,
and that constant duty allows neither the time nor
opportunity fer proficiency in the her branches. BID
could be drawn to reach the object desired.
Attention respectfully invi ed to the report OF Goa
He, derscp the commandment of the Marine corps. His
o- and useful connection With the corps and his ardeat
de otion 10 it, entities suggestion a,ing suo
source, to attentive consideration. l renew my
mepdsons heretofore made in regard to this branch u
efficiency if some plan couli be adopted for introducing
hereafter officers who have experienced of the ad
vanags OF military education, either at West Point o.
| Annapolis.
The adj ition to the numser Of national suggea
the necessity OF somewhat increasing the Marines aaA
ing discipline unquestiouably gives great fncs - the
opinion Of the Comman ant that the guard eash
large becsuse of the absolute necessity for
erecting barracks for It's decent and comfortable
| Notation at the several stations.
The Emperor OF France having awarded gold medal 70
b. tn Surge Thomas Williamson and Paset Assistant
Surgeon James Harrison, Of the United states Navy
for heir proiess5nt services to the officers and men
the French steamer OF Chimere at Norfolk during
the sup mer of 1854 the governments OF Pr lssa aud
FL Hand bavirg similarly compensated Lieut. Msury for
his contributions to sciencs and navigation, recon-
mend the necessary legislation 10 enable those officers 70
accept Of the pre- ffered testimonials.
During the past til public works at the Navy
Yard at Portsmouth, Va, were much retarded by the
awfu visitation If the pesience which has clothed two
cities in the habilments of mourning Commodore Mo-
keeyer and the officers Marines and many Of the civil
isns yard and the naval medical officers at the hos
pal rained with rHexibe drmuess ut their post du
rir the raging of the fiighful maady, dscasaing hsr
duly to their country and adminste ng relief to the
afflicted. The unwavering fidelity of the s.A
sticnsd at the yard whose ranks sadly Trimmed
by the destroyer is entitled TO special ice and has
won tor them the grateful admin alton ard symps thy Of
all Who appreciate the value of iscplne among sol
| ders.
CT the whole quantity Of hemp purchased during the
past year the navy have been American
The pos Of unishiug the navy altogether with Anne