Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1856-12-24

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE. SECRETARY OF
--s,.. THE NAVY

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE. SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY
The Annual Report Of the Hon. james C. Dob
bin, Secretary of the Navy, is quite long, but mark
ed by much ability and through knowledge of the
affairs of the Department over which he presides.-
The follow ing is an abstract of the report:
-t E' SQUADRoNs.
The new steam frgate Wabash, Capt. Theodore
Englc, the flag ships the soop Of war Saratoga, Com.
mander Tilton, and Cyanc, Commander R. c. Robb
form the Home Squardron,- which is still under the
command of Com Paulding. The operations of this
squadron are detailed, but are of no interest.
The Brazil Squadron, Commander French For
rest, consists of the flag ship St. Lawrence, Captain
Hull, and sloop of war Germantown, Commander
Lyuch, for whose return orders were issued on the
31st of October last. The Falmouth will Join the
squadron in few weeks.
The Mediterranean Squadron, Com. Breeze, con.
sists of the flag ship, the frgate Congress, Captain
Craven the sloop of Constellation, Capt. Bell
| and steam frigate Susquehanna, Capt Sands The
storeship Supply, Lieut.. Commanding Porter, is in
the Mediterranean special service under the War
Department
The African Squadron, Commodore Crabbe, is
composed of the flag ship, the sloop of war James
town, Commander Ward; the sloop of war St Louis
Commander Thomson. The squadron were all we'll
| at last adyces.
The East India Squadron, Commodore Armstrong
is composed of the flag ship, the San Jacinto Com
mander Bell, the sloop of war Levant and Ports
mouth. The operations Of the squadron are uninte.
resting.
The Pacific Squadron, Commodore Mervine, con-
ssts Of the flag ship Independence. Commander Hof
and the soops of war John Adams, ST. Mary's Oeca-
tur and the steamer Massachusetts,. The Secretary
regrets that Commodore Mervinc failed to make
personal examination of the supposed guano islands,
and recommends that another small steamer be sent
to visit the islands. Reference is made to the proec
ton of our citizens at Panama by vessels Of this squa-
dron. An additional Pacific squadron is recommend
ed. Our growing commerce and the increasing i'm
portance Of the Central American States renders it
polite to double our Pacific squadron us
sells can he assembled in that ocean.
The Behring's Strait Expedition having completed
| its work, has returned.
SEA soUNDINGs.
large portion of the report is devoted to the
| survey which has been made Of the bottom of the
and the scientific discoveries i'm this explora-
ton of the great deep will be found deeply interest
ing. Specimens have been produced from the bed
of the ocean, and beautiful charts made mapping
out its depths at distances of thirty forty sixty and
one hundred fathoms. The greatest depth obtained
was two thousand and seventy fathoms-two and q
half mills.
ORDNANCE GUNNERY
| Under this head tie Secretary recommends the es-
tabhshment of a practice ship in which gunnery
alone shall be taught. Great attention is now paid
to practice at sea but men should be able to
the guns before the vessel leaves fcr moorngs Con-
siderable space is devoted to ordnance and the va.
| rious improvements considered.
NEW FRIGATES-PROPoSED ADDITIONAL SLOoPS.
The great beauty and superiority of the new
steam frigates arc alluded to with much pride, and
the Secretary says their introduction constitutes
new era in the history of the United States Navy.
| He repeats bis recommendation Of last year about
the building Of several additional sloops of war; ca
pable, from their small draft of water, of entering
such ports as New Orleans, Savannah and Charleston
as well as New York and Boston. formidable
battery oi form to 90 guns would render them very
aHnn nftrA Th2,,o
penetrate and defend our harbors along the coast in
accessible TO the larger class Of heavier draft. lie
remarks that the passage Of the bill for the con-
structon Of ten sloops of war will be but little very
| little actual increase, may old vessels now
necessarily to be laid up worthy Of repair.
SEAMEN.
The subject of the enlistment and the good faith
of the government towards the sailors is elaborated
at lcngh and the policy of the department defended
and explained. Thisp however, is of no interest to
| the general reader.
MISCELLANEOUS.
There are three vacancies in the grade of captain
and fourteen in that Of lieutenant of which oc-
CURED several months since. Mr. Dobbin is not un-
mindful of the causes which prompted a suspension
of executive action but the interests of the service
require that they should be filed either by promo
:ions in the regular way by nominating for
ton to the active list of the reserved dropped
officers
The reports of the bureaus present many useful
suggestions. Much progress has been made in COM
pleting the navy yard at California. The dock basin
and railway finished Concurs in the recon-
msndatoh of the chief of the ordnance bureau as to
the policy of keeping abundant supply of powder
on land to meet any emergency; is in favor of a
small corps of assistant pursers with moderate
pensaton; considers the policy of small annual ap-
preparation for keeping the yards supplied with ship
timber sound recommends the restoration to the
hospital fund Of the value of the land conveyed to
the treasury department Tor the purposes Of the
Marine Hospital at Chelsea; recommends the crea.
ton of additional Office in the Navy Department
for the management of all matters connected with
courts martial and courts Of inquiry, and the ap.
pointing of Judge Advocate for the department.
The Nautical Almanac" is required by law to be
under the charge Of officer of the Navy, not be.
low the grade Of lieutenant. Commander Davis who
was peculiarly fitted for it, having been ordered to
sea, the Nautical Almanac" has been place tempo.
rariy under the chief Of the Bureau Of Ordnance
photography. The Secretary recommends that the
law be modified, in order that the Executive may be
authorized at his discretion to place the Nautical
Almanac" uuder charge of one of the Naval Profos
sors of Mathematics
The Naval Academy continues to prosper, and de-
mends that, iu addition to the Naval Board of Ex
aminers, Board Of Vsiters, composed of civilians
be appointed.
The Naval Observatory is sustaining its high repu
tutaton.
Mr. Dobbn renews expressions Of opinion Of thu
usefulness Of the Marine Corps and continues to
recommend its largement, and the adoption of some
plan of appointing to it officers of military educa