Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-18
OUR NAVAL AFFAIRS.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY O
THE NAVY.

property Of American citizens IN all parts OF the
world.
Tne Home Squadron, under the command of its
a.g officer, Hiram Pau,ding, has consisted of the
steam trigates Wabash and Roanoke, the ~sloops'oi
war Saratoga and Cyane, and the war steamers Sus.
q i-hanna and Fulton. The unsatisfactory state OF
affairs 10 New Granada and portions OF Central Anne
RIGA required the increase Of this squadron, and the
a!lroe, constant presence Of a considerable force in
the neighborbood, both on the Atlantic and Pacific.
In June the Wabash returned from Aspinwall 10
New York with l3S msn of the destitute and suffer
ing American citizens who bad been involved IN the
troubles in Central America.
On tn. 30ih of May the Roanoke sailed for Aspiu.
wall. and returned on the 4ta of August, with "O5 Of
Walkers men.
All these men were brought home without previous
orders; but such was their deplorabIe condition that
it was an act OF humanity, which could not and ought
no: 10 b. dispensed with; and The department ap'
proved il. The expense OF providing for them he
cessary food, clothing and medicine while on ship.
board, amounted TO 1886 10, TOR which an appro
ptiation lie recommended.
II any unla wful expedition from the United States
against Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Mexico shall sue
Coed in efectirg a landing. il will be- because il has
ben able TO elude the vigilance OF the Home squad,
ron.
The force in the Pacific. under the command Of
the flag officer, William Mervlue, has consisted Of the
FRI gate Independence, the ~sloops-of war st. Marys,
j no Adams and Decatur, and the war steamer Mas
sachusstts. 4 large part of this squadron has been
AliSs AN ecohesi vs. ''S
coast Of Central America, where ite presence WAS
deemed Indispensable.
Inc Independence sailed, August 8, from Panama
20 San Francisco, 10 be stationed At the navy yard
rs a receiving Ship, and tor the general purpose OF
the yard, under the command of Commander Fair.
FAX. During her long stay at Panama, her officers at
int-rvals OF leisure, We're engaged in surveys and ex.
petitions of much interest. A party was despatched
III charge OF Lieut.. james B. McCauley, to explore
lns timber resources about the Gulf of San Miguel,
n. mouth Of the Darlen. one hundred miles from
Panarns. The expedition was emlnently successful.
II was deemed necessary, as a measure Of human.
~ and policy, 10 direct Commodore Mervine to give
General Walker, and such of his men, citizens Of the
Cured States, 40 were willing to embrace il. an OPP
pr-tunity To retreat from Nicaragua. Before these
ius.ruclions We're received oinmodo Mervine had
cent Commander Davis, with the ST. Marys, to San
Juan dol Sur, with Instructions to protect the per.
sons and property Of American citizens. With this
authority olly, mman Davis negotiated with
General Walker terms of capi,ulation, under which
hs surrendered with his men, aud was conveyed to
Panams, whence ne proceeded to the United States.
Commander Davis also received from Gen. Walker
IN. surrender Of u small SCHOONER which he had de.
taIn-d, ca!l-d the Granada aud delivered her IL
the Nicataguan authorities. The action of Comman.
de-; DAVIS, eo far as he aided General Walker and his
MN, by the ure OF tho ST. Msrys, to retreat from III.
caragus and return 10 the United States. was up.
proved by the Department.; but MS interference with
the Granada, anu ner traneier to tue Nicarnguan au-
t~horiii-., by bis Intervention was not approved. The
whole number OF msu surrendered and carried 10 Pa
nau.a was aoou; 564. Commodore M-rvine finding
hI- squadron suddenly encumoered with these ulei.
IN the most wr.tched condition, su1er;ug Tor the
wan; e everything. aud eadangeriug the health OF
,no-- under his command. had uu mode of relief OK.
c-ut oy turning them adrlit, which wHS Impossible, Or
suad,ug them by the railway ~ A-pinwali. Adopt
ia: no latter alternative, 20 was under the necessity
Ut draxiuS on the d-partm-nt, III favor Of the rail-
way company, for $7.475, being the amount which
would DO due for transporting them across the 18th
rDu. at the usual rate OF charge. This bill has neither
b--u paid, accepted nor protested. The company
voluntarily relinquisaed the personal responsibility
of Commodore Mervino, and put the bill at The dis
pvsal Of the government. l submit II, with hi e1-
preston of my conviction that Congress should make
reasonable provision Tor IL; aud also for the expenses
o, providing these men while on ship board with ne
ces.ary food, clothing and medicine, Of which All es.
innate vii! hereafter ne furnished.
The Brazil and Mediterranean squadruns have
S,rn ebis. quietly and effectively, to perform the du
Il-s required OF them, reepectiveiy, without any act
Of direct Interference. Six vessels have oeen use
fl.'y employed on tbs coast OF Africa.
The steam trigate San Jacinto, Commander Henry
II. Bell, and the sloops OF war Portsmouth, Comman
der Evoie, and Lsvant, Commander William Smith,
hav. constituted the East India squadron, under
Ftag Ufic. James Armstrong. The duties of this
sulsdrou have been arduous, and the officers aud
men attached TO it distinguished themselves on a me-
Coraolo occasion.
IN tho l5.a Of November, 1856, as one of the boats
haipnIlDY 10 u tuudtIpil was pSNrllE up luc llScI
10 Canton with the American hag fully displayed, il
was soveral times fred upon by the Barrier forts, eli
dangering the lives of all on board. Ihi. outrage
Voc promptly resisted and redressed by the capture
AUD obstruction OF the forts and razing their walls 10
m. .roupd. The forts, four in number, commanding
,n- approach 10 Canton, were among the strongest
d-f-nces Of the empire, mounting lao guns. The
prompt and decisive course pursued by
Armstrnng, his officers aud men, has caused the nag
o, Tho United States TO b.. respected by the Chinese,
O,F.s,t lHry6Iy To Tho RSpurlsy Ot our rlti sDR IN
China, and, during the troubles which followed, has
probably been the means OF saving many lives and
much property.
rhe Portsmouth, in January. sailed for Shanghae-
visited ali the ports North Of Canton open TO our yes
..!s By treaty, and 10 March returned to Hong kong.
liz April she WAS despatched to Singapore to look into
tae 4Gair of the Dutch bark Henrietta Maria; and
nuv:ng accomplished the object OF her visit, she pro.
c-r,!sd TO Sism with Mr. Charles William Bradley,
Uu.;.d States Consul at Ningpo. bearing a treaty OF
AN. " and commerce bstween the United States and
sam, ior ratification by that government. While
there she was visited by one OF the kings OF Sinm-
O courtesy never before extended to a man OF war OF
any nation.
The late president of the United States, your i'm
mediate predecessor, having accepted the offer,
which you courteously extended to him, OF the Use
e u public vessel to convey him and his family tn
Madeira, the Powhatan will receive them on board
a, Norfolk. and convey them to that island.
The Naval Appropriation act OF August ID, 1890,
appropriated ninet y-six thousand dollars for the cree.
ton md completion OF mar no barracks at Brook YIN,
v. Y, aud sixty thousand dollars for the same pur-
pose al P-usaco!s, Fla.
Inc site Tor those at Brooklyn requiring pilipg and
O Ing in, not yet completed, proposals have not been
invi;ed for tho erection Of barracks there. Proposals
for those al Pensacola were invited by my %predeces-
cor, but a. the lowest bid was beyond tho limlt OF the
appropriation, plans and specifications were directed
:, h- made tor smaller buildings, and on the 2lst OF
:. p'euber proposals were again invited. Seventeen
,-,a ..ip. aud thnaa M NlhnD n lyihhpn fr
ftty-three thousand eight hundred and forty seven
dnlars, selng The lowest, the contract Was awarded
to thom.
Inc marine barracks a: Boston, Philadelphia and
Norfolk are represented TO be contracted and entirely
unn; toS ase; and the commandant Of the corps re-
c-mmsnd that provision be made to purchase ground
and erect suitable buildings at those places.
On the 18th Of February, 1856, a Board was sp,
ro;rtsd TO examine the war steamer building at Hu
boken by the executor Of Robt. l.. Stevens; they
reported that in addition to the sum OF $aW,OO0 Al
resdy paid. there will be required the further sum o'
ssh uSS Is 10 complete the vessel. mr.. stevens and
Ia, "1acuior have expended upon Inc Vessei Tue sum
OF S1u2 755 81. As the vessel 10 already virtually
owed BY the government, and will be OF little value
unie.s completed, II is deemed proper to invite atten'
ton to the inquiry whether it may not be expedienl
10 authorize the application Of the balance in aid OF
the means of the executor, and in the mode proposed,
60 the accomplishment OF the work.
The proportion of landsm-n and boys allotted to a
na;iopal snip has been increased. There Is often
great difficulty in obtaining seamsn, and still greater
IN no;aininR American eeamen-the best In the world
for Ihs Cai,ed STATES service. The employment Of
isndsmen and oeys contributes much to remedy the
Inconvenience.
Ths estimates for the support of the navy and
marine corps, and for all other objects uudor the
c"uIrol OF the Navy Department, for the fiscal year
ending JUICE ~, 1859, are
For the support Of the navy and marine
corps 1919. Sis o.
For special objects 1885, S3 -
Making sl4 Gle, 2oS %
Th. aggregate estimates for the fiscal year ending
Juue, 1855, were sl3. SU3 PIP u, being sSl3,U U.S. less
than III. present estimates. This difference is prin
cipally caused by estimating $3.50, 900 for the arma.
!aen, for the i've new sloops, $35O. QUO mere than last