Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-12-25
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.


The report of the Secretary of the Navy is com
mendablv brief and busineSS-like document NE must
award to Mr. Toucey all the credit of emitting in his
report all needless and speculative discussions.
The Home Squadron under the fleet Of Capt. Pauld-
ing has consisted of the frigaes Wabash and Roanoke
and the soops-of-war Saratoga and Cyane with the
war-seamers Susquehannah and Fulton. A large force,
both in the Atlantic and Pacific, has been kept near
Central America account O the unsatisfactory state
of affairs in that part of the world. The act of
the commander, of the Roanoke in bringing home the
remnants of Walkers army from Aspnwall without
order is justified by the Secretary the of its
being an act of humanity" An appropriation is re-
commended to pay for their clothing, medicine, &c,
while shpboard, amounting to $7,376 16. The Sara
toga is now at Aspinwa and will be relieved by
the Susquehanna. The Fulton and Susquehanna have
both been ordered to Central America to prevent the
landing of American flibusers. If any unlawful eX
petition from the United States says the Secretary
against Nicaragua, Costa RIGA, Mexico, shall
coed in eecting landing, it will be because it has been
able to elude the vigilance of the squadron
The force in the Pacific, under command of Captain
Mervne has consisted of the rigate Independence the
soops st. Marys, John Adams and Decatur, and the
war steamer Massachusetts, The John Adams has been
ordered home to Norfolk and the Massachusetts has
BEEN put out of commission at San Francisco Com
mander Davis, of the st. Marys had made survey Of
the guano islands, New-N Nantucket and Jarvis,
and conflicting claimants appearing had taken pos
session of them in the name of the United States, and
annexed them to our possessions Capt Mervn had
been superseded in his command by Capt John c. Long
who left Boston in October for the Pacific in the steamer
Merrimac. The Saranac and the Nandaia have both
left the United States for the same station
Though the Secretary approves the action of Com
mander Davis in taking of the remnant of Walkers
army he condemns the action of that officer III Interior
ing in the matter of the Granada and returning her to
the Nicararuan authorities The Secretary recommends
that the Government should pay the Panama Railroad
for the cost of transporting Walkers the
isthmus after their capituation, though the railroad
company cxoncrates Capt Mcrvite from any personal
responsibility. The amount of the bill is SAD.
The Mediterranean squadron, under the command Of
Captain Brcesc has consisted of the rigatc Congress-
the steamer Slsquehnna, and the sloOp Constellation
The two first ships have been ordered home; they will
not be replaced by other ships before next spring Our
only ship now in the Mediterranean is the soop-o=war
Constellation.
The Brazil Squadron has consisted of the frgate St
Lawrence, and the sloops Falmouth and Germantown
under the flag of Captain French Forrest. The sloop
Germantown having been taken from this station, the
rgatc and Falmouth alone remain to guard our interests
in that quarter
On the coast of Africa we have had large force I'M
der the flag of Captain Crabbe who has been suppressed
ed by Captain COnOver. The force consists of the rigatc
Cumberland the sloops Dale and Vncennes
The steam frigate San Jacnto and the sloops Ports
mouth and Ievant have constituted the Chinese squad
ron, under the command of Capt. James Armstrong -
The Ievan has been ordered home to Boston, and the
San Jacinto at the last dates June 3d. had gone from
Hong Kong to Shanghai for the benefit of the health of
the officers and crew. The hostilties between the Chi
nese and the English has induced the Government to
send an increased force to this station The steam rg
ates Minnesota and Mississippi and the sloop-ofwar
Germantown have been sent there they sailed last
August. Mr.. Reed, our Envoy to China went as pas
senger in the Minnesota. Capt Tattnal, in the steam
rigate Powhatan has been sent to relieve Capt Arm
strong. The Powhatan will stop at Madeira to land
ex-President Pierce and his family.
The sloOp. Preble, the practice ship at the Naval
Academy has been her usual summer cruise with the
first and third class of acting mdshipmen. The expe-
dton of the barque Release to procure cuttings of sugar
is noticed and also the return to England of the
Arctic discovery ship Resolute, well the Geographic
expedition of the Niagara, but nothing said about the
future movements of that ship.
The successful expedition of the sloop-oEwar Ply
mouth for the purpose of experimenting with the Dahl
green gun is approvingly noticed and the Secretary
says:
1.-The result of the operations board the Plymouth
dispe all doubt whether the heavy she carried
would be manageable" and he recommends their adOp-
ton and another appropriation to test their efficacy
In relation to the act of March g. 1851 directing the
Secretary to report to Congress code of regulations for
the Navy it is stated that Board consisting of officers
of each department of the service is now engaged at
Washington performing this duty. An expedition has
been sent to verify the survey Of the AtatO and Turar
do rivers, with view to a canal between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans and another expedition is on the
point of departure for the La Plata under the command
of Capt. Page to survey the Paraguay. The work of
Straits is rapidly advancing. An increase of the Ma
rne Corps to the number of 1000 is recommended
Further appropriations recommended for the purpose
of making Key West a coal depot for naval ships
The war steamer building at Hoboken by the Stevens
family which was not to exceed in cost $S5S6000, has
already consumed $5O000O, and commission appointed
to examine into her condition. report that it will require
O33 IS to complete her. This stupendous affair
was commenced in the year 1872 The executors of r.
L. Stevens say that 100000 has been expended upon
the vessel and it is proposed the Government pay
to them 86771 "a, the balance of the unapprOpratcd
money for this purpose
The Naval Academy at Annapolis, under the charge
of Captain Blake, is in fOurishng condition. there
now attached to the institution 176 acting midhpmen
during the past years Is have graduated and 80 have
been admitted.
The Joint resolution of Congress- directing medals to
be struck and presented Doctor Kane and his men, has
not been complied with for the that no appro-
priaton was made for defraying the expenses.
In respect the action of the three Naval Courts of
Inquiry no other information is offered than reference
the report furnished to the President of the action
the Courts and which, it is stated he has removed 1t
also appears that certain officers have been restored
the active list and from the fourlough to "eavepay"
Who they are is not ntmated The Secretary appears
to be influenced by the most kindly and generous feel
ings towards the officers who the victims of the
Retiring Board but he has power to interfere with
the decisions of the Board let his opinions of their JUS
, tice be as they may
The policy of changing the old system of three years
cruises to two years has been adopted as one of the
means Of increasing the efficiency Of the service The
five steam soopS of authorized by the last Con
gress to be Immediately constructed and with water
tight compartments The construction of ten steamships
of light draught of water is recommended such as will
be capable of entering the small harbors at the South
where OF our shipsOtwar enter and which