Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-16

ing to $7,s7e le The Sarstoga is now at Aspin-
WALL and will soon be relieved BY the Snsqnehanfa.
The Fulton and Susquehanna have beth been or.
dered to Central America TO prevent the landing OF
American fllibusters. ST any unlawful expedition
Nicaragua, Costa RIGA, Mexico, shall succeed in
eifecting landing, it will be because it has been
able to elude the vigilance of the squadron"
The force in the Pacific, under the command Of
Captain Mervine, has consisted of the frgate Inde
pendence, the sloops 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. Commander Davis, of the st.
Marys had made survey Of the new guano islands,
New-Nantucket and Jarvis, and no conflicting claim
ants appearing, had taken possession Of them IN the
Of the United States, and annexed them 10 our
possessions. Capt Mervine had been supersedeai IN
his command by Capt. John c. Long, who lett bos'
ton in October for the Pacific, in the steamer Merr
mac The Saranac and the Vandaia have both lett
the United States for the same station
Though the Secretary approves the action OF Com
mander Davis. in taking off the remnant of Walkers
army he condemns the action of that officer in inter-
fering in the matter Of the Granada, and returning
her to the Nicaraguan authorities. Inc oecre'a,y
recommends that the Government should pay the
Panama Railroad for the cost of transporting walk
ers men across the Isthmus after their captuatlon
though the railroad company exonerates Capt Mer'
win from any personal responsibility. The amount
of the bill is 81, 475.
The Mediterranean Squadron. under the command
of Capt Breese has consisted of the rgate Congress-
the steamer Susquehanna, and the sloop Conste''a-
ton. The first two 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 sloop. of war Constellation
The Brazil squadron has consisted of the frgate
St. Lawrence, and tie s]oops Falmouth and German.
~. A. IS H.v>k
sloop Germantown having been taken from this sta,
tion the frgate and Falmouth alone remain to guard
our interests in that quarter.
On the Coast of Africa we have had large force
under the flag of Captain Crabbe, who has been 81.
perseded by Capt Conover. The force consists of
the frigate Cumberland, the sloops Dale and Vim
cennes.
The steam-frigate San Jacnto, and the sloops
Portsmouth and Levant have constituted the Chinese
squadron. under the command of Capt James Arm
strong. The Levant has been ordered home to Bos-
ton, and the San Jacno at the last dates June %,
had gone from Hong Kong to Shanghai, for the
benefit of the health of the officers and crew. The
hostities between the Chinese and English has in
duced the Government to send increased force to
this station The steam-frgates Minnesota and Mis-
sissipp;, and the sloop-of- Germantown have
been sent there; they sailed last August Mr. Reed,
our Envoy to China, went as passenger in the Min
nesota Captain Tattnal, in the steam.frigate Pow
hatan has been seht to relieve Captain Armstrong.
The Powhatan will stop at MADEIRA to land ex Pres.
ident Pierce and his family.
Tie sloop Preble, the practice ship at the Naval
Academy, has been on her usual Summer cruise with
the first and third class Of acting midshipmen. The
expedition of the bark Release to procure cuttings
of sugarcane is noticed and also the return to Eng
land of the Arctic discovery ship Reso!ute, we'll
as the telegraphic expedition Of the Niagara, but
nothing is said about the future movements of that
ship.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis under the
charge of Captain Blake, is in fourishng condi-
ton; there now attached to the institution l76
acting midshipmen during the past year ID have
graduated and 80 have been admitted.
The joint resolution of Congress, directing medals
to be struck and presented to Doctor Kane and his
men, has not been complied with, for the reason
that no appropriation was made for defraying the
expenses.
In respect to the action of the three Naval Courts
of Inquiry, other information is offered than q
reference to the report furnished to the President
of the action of the Courts and which, it is stated,
he has approved. 1t also appears that certain off.
have been restored to the active list and from
the ft,rlough to leave-pay." Who they are is not
| intimated. The Secretary appears to be influenced
by the most kindly and generous feelings toward
the officers who were the victims of the " Retiring
Board, but he has no power to interfere with the
decisions of the Board let his opinions of their JUS
tce be as they may.
The policy Of changing the old system Of three.
years cruises to two years has been adopted,
of the means of increasing the efficiency Of the
vice. The five steam sloops-of-war authorized
by the last Congress to be Immediately
structed, and with water-tight compartments. The
construction Of ten steamships of light draugh Of
water is recommended, such as will be capable Of
entering the small harbors at the South where none
Of our shipsof-w can now enter, and which might
be made of great service in the Chinese waters
the present time. The cost Of the ten would be
$4,000, 900. Larger appropriations are recommend
ed for special experimental purposes.
The expenditures of the Department for the last
year we're 1852, 500 81 the appropriation de-
manded for the coming year is 81, ,298 % of
which IS, Oh is for the support of the Navy
and Marine Corps, and s. 1873 % for special
purposes The Secretary has a proper idea Of the
importance of the service at which he is the head
to the prosperity and dignity of the country, but is
not of opinion that it is policy to attempt to Gre
| ate great naval force because other nations have
fit to do so. He thinks that the service might
be increased to any extent required by the exgen-
cies of the country, without difficulty, when re-
quired.
Postmaster-G General Browns Report is very volu-
minous. Mr. Brown states that since he entered upon
the administration ofthe Department he has ventured
| on no new theories, nor attempted any innovations
| wel-tried system. He calls particular atten.
ton to the fact that while but 146 Offices were
established in the twenty years from 1927 to l647
the number established in ten years, from lS47 to
1857, was IL 44-being an increase of 29S in just
one-haf Of the former period. During the last fiscal
year, 1,725 Offices have been established, and 7O4
discontinued, being net increase Of 1,O2l. The
number of Postmasters appointed during the year
was $3.50; Of which 767 were to fill vacancies Oc.
casoned by designations The total number Of Post
Offices in the United States at this time is a. 148, Of