The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-11

longing the squadron passing up river to
with the American flag fully displayed II several
times fired upon by the Barrier forts endangerng the
ly~ of all on board. This outrage promptly resisted
ana redressed by the capture and destruction the forts
ana Tazing their was 10 the ground. These forts, four
in number, commanding the approach to Canton, were
among the strongest deFenacs Of the empire, mounting
| lfB guns. The prompt and decisive pur-
sued by Commodore Armstrong, his officers and
men, has caused the flag Of the United States to he
respected by the Chinese Contributed largely to the secu
ry " our citizens in CHINA, and during the troubles
which followed, has probably been the means OF saving
many lives and much property
The Portsmouth, In January sailed Tor Shanghae visited
all the ports north of Canton open 70 our vessels ~ treaty.
and Ia March retained to Hong Kong In April she WAS
despatched to Sngapor 10 look into the affair OF the utch
bark Henrietta Maria and having accomplished the object
Of her visit she proceeded 10 Siam with Mr. Charles Will
liam Bradley, United states Consul at Ningpo, bearing
treaty of amty and between tn Untcd States
and Siam for ratification by that government While there
she visited by OF the Kings of SIAM courtesy
before extended a of of any nation On
the 18th June she sailed with Mr. Bradley f)r Hong Kong
Shanghae from which port she sailed the 10Th
of Angus. for Simoda and Hakodadi, japan.
The Loyant In February, ordered TO Manila with
nvshds the squadron obtain passage for them
the United States She left Manila in March for Shang
hne there locked and the 23a OF juno sailed for
Hong Kong Orders sent out the 10th September
The San Jacinto at the Shanghae,
where she arrived the Esd of June from Hong Kong
having III view the health q officers and which
required change Of climate.
The open hosli,ies existing between the English and
The Chinese the consequent embarrassment Of trade and
the prospect q obtaining much better commercial arrange.
ments with China rendered an increase OF our naval
force those OF prudence, mol OF
ccesiiy. Accordingly, the steam frgates Minnesota
and Mississippi and the sioop ofwar Germantown,
ordered to that station. The Minnesota sailed from Nor
folk July !, the Germantown August 4, and the Mis-
sissippi from New York August 10. The Hon. VIM.
r. Reed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plonipo;enta
~ from the United states to China went out in the Min
nesota.
The frieate Powhatan has been ordered to China
to relieve the acinto and Captain JOSIAH r. Tana
succeed Commodore Armstrong the Flag Officer Of the
squadron.
The late President of the United States your immediate
predecessor, hay accepted the which
ousy extended TO him of the OF public vessel TO
vey him and his family Madeira, the Powhatan will
receive them board at Norfolk and convey them that
island
Besides the squadrons other vessels have been in com
mission The steamer Michigan under Commander Charles
Ii. McBlar, is upon the northwestern lakes.
The steam frigate Merrimack returned to Boston. in
March, from successful trip of six months under Cap
tain pendergrast she has since gone the nag ship
of the Pacific squadron.
Academy. under Commander Joseph f. Green, has, with
the st and third classes OF Acting Mdshpmen made the
usual summer cruise from which they have derived much
practical information their profession. The report Of
the cruise is herewith transmitted
The soreship Relief, under Lieutenant Cooke returned
TO New York January having conveyed stores 10 the
squadron on the coast OF Brazil The soreshp supply
under Lieutenant 4. r. V. Gray, performed similar
duty sailing from New or in April returning in August,
an has since sailed with stores for the African and Bra
I'll squadrons.
The bark Release. under Lieutenant Simms, des-
patched in November, 1855, unde rthe direction of
tho Department OF the Interior, Demarara and
Venezuela, procure cuttings Of sugar cane,
turned 10 New Orleans in FEBRUARY, with three
hundred tons of the cuttings She landed her cargo, pro-
June, under Lieutenant Brasher, she sailed from New
York for Aspnwa with stores for the squadron in the
Pacific, aud in August returned to Boston.
In accordance with the joint resolution Of Congress ap
proved August 2s 1855, the bark Resoute late OF
English exploring SQUADRON abandoned in the Arctic seas
purchased by the United States from her salvors and
thoroughly repaired and reht,ed, rendered to the
British government
As stated in the annual report the Resouie under
the command Of Commander Har,srne sailed from New
York for England November IL, 1856 she arrived at
Portsmouth December u and the 10th delivered
to the Queen OF Great Britain in person. Commander
Hartsene performed the duty assigned him to the entire
satisfaction OF the Department and received in Eng
land, beth by government ana people, with every mani
festation OF the high appreciation with which they
garded this signal mark oil courtesy and friendly feeling
he part Of the government and people Of the Unsed
States.
The of March 3 1857, so expedite telcgraphic
munlcation for OF government It's foreign
intercourse" authorized the employment OF TIVE ships in
laying down telegraphlc cable from the coast Of New
foundland 10 the coast ireland. The Niagara then
New York nearly ready for ordered England
TO aid in the enterprise She left New York, under the
England the 18th OF May. The SusquelEnna,
under Captain Sands, then IN the Mediterranean. aD
directed 10 proceed 10 England and 10 accompany the
Niagara the Atlantic, rendering such assistance
she might require. These vessels with those designated
assembled In Cork, and the 9th az August
the Niagara commenced laying down the Geographic cable
After abou, three hundred and thirty -four miles Of had
been laid parted, without fault OF the officers
81 the Niagara and the eet returned 70 Plymouth The
Niagara ordered, after landing the cable, to
| quehanna returned 10 the Mediterranean. She has
since received orders 10 join the Homo squadron, at
Key West and has probably at this point received her
orders to proceed del Nortc with the special
| instructions which accompanied them.
a.. = sae oss 10 epabe The seerc
tary Of the Navy to arm and man The ordnance ship Ply
mouth with view TO the Improvement Of ordnance and
gunnery practice she accordingly put In commis
sion and. the eth July sent 10 on six mouths
cruise. under Commander Dahlgren. Her armament
sisted of four inch shell guns eleven inch shell
/ two twenty Hour FOUNDER anu one Twelve
FOUNDER howitzers She ordered 10 cruise by the
Azores Lisbon along the Of France Amsterdam,
and returning TO touch at southampton or Bristol and the
| Bermuda Islands.
| Commander Dahlgren, having completed the cruise.
| has returned 10 this port, and Will continue the
drill necessary 10 perfect the training OF such seanen
| have been found capable Of receiving IT, The Ply
long continued hOsterous weather
her return homeward, with some heavy gales, during
which the heaviest Of the cannon were secured perfectly
with ordinary ashngs anl were we'll under control la
rough sea- when loose for practice, could b. de
sired one hundred and twenty shells fired nj
during the cruise, from the ll.inch pivot gun and
awhhnut experiencing any the difficulties usually sup
pscd to render such heavy ordnance nearly unavailable
| on sipboardi
Tho result of the operations OF the Plymouth to
dispe all remaining doubt whether the heavy cannon
which she carried would be manageable aud not only TO
Justify the previous adoption Of such ordnance IN the
steam frgstes recently built but also 70 render expe
Gieu, extend this plan Of armament earnestly re-
commend renewal 81 the appropriation ADD the perIna
| nent employment, Of a ship on this duty.
The March ., 1857, making appropriations for the
Sava service directed the Secretary Of the Navy TO
have prepared and report for IT, approval
a code regulations for the government OF the Navy
To AID IN the performances Of this duty, convened IN
Warrington on the 10th Of August board of officers,
slstng OF captain, commander lieutenant, the Lieutenant
colonel of the marine corps. purscr, and surgeon 10
preare " regulations conforming 10 the require
rucutS az the act They diligently engaged in the
work and have made such progress that shall be able 10
| submit a report "a Congress nj an early day.
Tie APPROPRIATED twenty five thousand dollars
10 verify the survey Of the Arato aud Turando rivers
with view ship canal between the Atlantic aud Pa
clc oceans Immediately taken by the War
and Navy Departments organize expedition for this
object Lieutenant Craven Of the Navy, and Lieutenant
Mchler of the Typographical Engineers OF the Army
were by your direct assigned this duty The schooner
Narna, Of the Coast survey temporarily placed az the
control Of this Department prepared at the New ork
Navy Yard for this special service and with suitable by
biographical and typographical parties ON board set sail
on the 18th October the Gulf of Darien. When
consider the iude Of the object the influence u y
destined 20 have upon commerce, Il accomplished; It's
effect binding together closer relations the remotest
tars az our cnnfedefacv cannot fail 20 reward any