The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-16


relief except BY turning them adrt which was impos-
sble or sending them by the railway to Aspinwall
Adopting the latter alternative he was under the neces
sty OF drawing ON the department in fayoro of the rail-
way company, for 79 bsrs the AMOUNT which would q
be due for transporting them across the isthmus at the
usual rate of charge This bill has neither been paid
accepted nor protesed The company voluntarily relin
qaiahsd the personal responsibility Of Commodore Mer
submit IT, with expression of my conviction that
Congress should make reasonable provision for II and
also for the expenses of providing these while
shipboard with necessary food clothing, and medicine,
OF which an estinate viii hereafter be furnished ~ ~
The Mediterranean squadron, under its hag officer,
Samuel L. Beesc, was composed Of the fgate Congress
the steam gste susquehanna and the soop Constella
ton The Susquehaana, having aided in the attempt to
lay the teegraphc cable the Atlantic, has been
dered home as already mentioned and attached to the
home squadron and Commodore BIeese having been orr
dered with his the Congress, TO the United
States they will not be replaced by others until the open
ing of the spring, leaving the Constellation, under the
command OF Captain Charles Bell, to look after the
interests o. the United states IN that quarter ad "a
The vessels Of this sauadron have visited many ports
IN the Mediteuauesn, where their presence has had an
Important influence by giving feeling Of security 70 cit
zens Of the United States residing there and s pro
noting our commercial interests ,f tr3 5s.
The BRAZIL squadron during the past year has been
under the command OF Flag ofcer French Forrest and
has consisted OF the gate st. Lawrence and the sloos
Falmouth and Germantown. The Germantown, being
ordered home arrived at Norfolk February 3 and having
August to be employed part of the force that sta
tion The Falmouth, having been sent home by Com
modore Forrest for repairs. which being completed was
sent back at the earliest moment 70 reon the 81 Law
IL Is proposed at an early day to add the brig
Perry TO this squadron M agffg 9,fP gta M, N ~
These two squarons, the Brazil and the Mediterranean,
have been able quietly and effectively to perform the dn-
ties required of them respectively without any act of d
rect interference. A95fs i, ,glit nm f 5saga4, 4
The jamestown, Cumberland, St. Louis, vncennes,
Dale, and Dolphin have been employed the coast Of
Africa. Commodore Crable, late in command on that
station arriving at Philadelphia with the jamestown on
the I'd Of June was succeeded BY the present flag officer
Of the sadron Thomas A.. Conoyer who on the Esd of
the same month"; sailed from Boston in his flag ship the
Cumberland The Dale left Norfolk May to relieve the
Dophin which arrived at Boston July a. The Vincen-
mes left New York on the goth November to relieve the
St. Louis The sloop Marion is preparing to oin the
suuaron 4 The force on the coast of Africa has fully a
complished its main object by discbapug the obliga
tions we are under by the treaty of August O. 1912 or
the suppression Of the slave trade n, 'Nsss 30. sG
The steam frigate San Jacinto Commander Henry H.
Bell and the war Portsmouth, Commander Foote
and Leyant Commander William smith have constituted
the East India SQUADRON under Flag Officer James Arm
strong The duties of this squadron have been ar,luo,s
and the officers and men attached to it distinguished
themselves ON a memorable occasion f ~ VA
- On the 18th Of November 1866 as one of the boats
belonging to the squadron was passing up the river to
Canton with the American flag fully displayed It was
several times fred upon by the Barrier forts endangerng
sisted and reressed by the capture and destruction Of the
forts and raxing their walls to the ground These forts
four in number commanding the approach to Canton
were among the strongest deences of the empire mount
ing 6 guns The prompt and decisive course pursued by
Commodore Armstrong his officers and men, has caused