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

AsssuaI Report OF ts.e Secretary Of the Navy. |


SR:-T,e naval force which has been employed during
the past year has been sufficient TO give adequate secur
20 our commerce and to the persons and property Of
American citizens in all parts Of the world.
The Home squadron under the command Of its flag
officer Hiram Pauldng has consisted OF the frgates
Wabash and Roanoke the Scoops of-war Saratoga and
Cysne, and the steamers Susquchanna and Fulton
The unsatisfactory of affairs in New Granasa aud
portions OF Central America required the OF this
squadron and the almost constant of consider
able orce the neighborhood both on the Atlantic and
the Pacific
New YORK with the officers and crew Of the St Mays
April sailed for Aspinwali; IN June returned again
can citizens who had been involved in the troubles of
Central America and the Goth Of July sailed again for
Aspinw all, where she still remains.
In May the Cyane sailed from Aspnwall upon short
cruise, touching at CarthagenE thence to San Juan del
Norie in june received on board and transported 10 AS
pnwai the who were brought home by the Wabash,
and proceeded herself 10 Boston With So Of the sick and
wounded ON the I'd of September she sailed cruise
the returned TO Hampton Roads October 80 and
the 18th OF November sailed for Cape Haytien the
relief OF an American vessel and two American seamen
seized upon suspicion by order OF the Haytien govern
ment
The Roanoke while making her six months trial trip
sea, under the command of Capt Montgomery tenn
po.arly attached to this squadron On the 30h OF May
she sailed Tor Aspnwall, aud returned ON the eth OF
August with 206 OF Walkers II being necessary
put her IN dock she was sent from New York to Boston,
and put out OF commission.
All these men brought home without previous
orders but such their dcporabe condition that it
Of humanity which could not aud ought not 70
bc dispensed with ana the u, partment approved it, The
expense OF providing FOR them necessary food clothing
and medicine while on shpboard, amounted to 81 $40 L.
for which an appropriation l. recommended.
The Saratoga having returned 10 Norfolk in December,
proceeded on the 10th Of January cruise, visiting 81
San Juan Gel Nore; thence, by way of Aspnwali, the
island of Grand Cayman Havana aud hey West, she
turned "a Norfolk where she arrived on the 2eh OF April
ON the pod of MAY she left Norfolk Aspnwal and will
soon he relieved by the Susquehanna
The fulton was put IN commission IN september and
sailed frura Washington the 14th of October for Mo-
bile New Orleans and Chriqui in Costa Rca for the pur
pose Of nterceptne and preventing unlawful expeditions
from the linked States against Costa Rca Nicaragua and
Mexico Instructions having the object in view,
given TO Commodore Paulding, at Aspnwall, and
Commander Chaiard at san Juan del Norte.
The Susluehanna, having been ordered from the Med
terranean to the home squadron has doubtless arrived
hey West and proceeded to san Juan del Nore with sim
If any unlawful expedition from the United States
agan, Nicaragua Costa Rca or Mexico shall succeed in
etecng landing, will be because Il has been able TO
clude toe vigilance of this squadron.
The Jamestown preparing at Philadelphia to join
IT, and will soon be ready for sea.
The force the Pacific under the commend Of the flag
officer William Mervine, has consiste; OF the frgae indie
yendence, the soops OF war s. Marys John ADAMS and
Decatur, and the steamer Massachusetts A large
part Of this squadron has been much and useully
ployed al Panama and the of Central America
where its presence was deemed indispensable.
The Independence sailed August from Panama TO
San Francisco TO be stationed the navy yard As a
ceiyns ship and for the general purposes Of the yard
under the command Of Commander Fairfax. During her
long stay at Panama her officers, at intervals OF leisure
engaged in surveys and expeditions of much inter
est party was despatched. IN charge OF Lieutenant
James Il. McCauley 10 explore the timber resources
about the Gulf OF san Miguel the mouth OF the Daren
hundred miles from Panama The expedition was emf
nently successful
The John Adams ordered home in September, to
Norfolk
The Massachusetts, having been stationed in Puget
Sound b. aid in preventing Indian disturbances when her
presence was 10 longer required was ordered - San
Francisco and arriving there in April was In June put
out Of commission.
The Decatur was also employed on the northwest coast
In suppressing Indian hostiltes from which she pro
Ceedcd % san Francisco thence TO Panama and arrived
there March g. On the LIST Of april the officers and
relieved by others sent the 1;hmus In June
she sailed from Panama for Punta Arenas and san Juan
de sur August she returned to Panama with twenty
i've al Walkers men.
The -, biarys sailed from Panama in January last,
with orders 10 touch the coast OF Central ameri-
ca, and thence proceed TO Jarvis and New Nan.
tuckc islands, which supposed TO possess valuable
deposits o She detained Gu the coast OF Gen.
ta America BY the condition affairs there aud did
Continue her to those Islands until June. Com
manier Davis had instructions visit thcm-,o make
soundngs, ascertain their location, and the quantity and
quality their gilano deposits, make other obserya.
lions useful navigation and return by the Sandwich
Islands 20 san Francisco She proceeded 10 the Jarvis
and New Nantucket islands made the sounding surveys
and examination which had been ordered, aud proceed
Ing thence 20 Honolulu arrived there the 20 Of Sep
tcinber. Commander Davis reports that nothing
bns Euano found nj either OF those islands. He
however procured several samples Of the soil from SUI
hcent variety OF places fully to illustrate the character
o. the DEPOSITS The American Guano Company having
previously under the act Of August Is 1850 given to the
state Department the proper notice OF discovery and
tered into the required bond, Commander Days-no con
lctng CLAIMS sppcsrng-,ook formal possession OF the
islam in the Of the United states, and deposited
the III declaration TO that effect executed on parch
meut and well protected.
10 view OF the large fleet OF whale ships in number abou,
90 carrying 006 tina, usually visit the sandwich
Islands the fall Of the year Commander Davis, at the
solicitation OF the United States Commissioner. and
81 many OF the principal American merchants decided 70
proong hs stay there.
Comnsdorc heryine having been ordered horne, and
the Independence 10 Francisco, Captain John G. Long
has gone 20 succeed him. sailing from Boston, October
!, u his flagship, the Merrmack Tho steam frigaic "a
ranac under Captain John Kelly has sailed Tor The Pacific
g. srpply The place Of the John Adams The Nandaa has
receoty lett Portsmouth,, New Hampshrc for the same
station.
/, wa deemed necessary. AZ a measure Of humanity
aud policy, 10 direct Commodore Meryine 70 give
General Walker, AID such NJ his men. citz ms O
the United states a. were willing 20 embrace II an oppor
tuny from Nicaragua Before these instruction;
were received Commodore Mervne had sent Commander
DAVIS, with the 81 Marys TO San Juan del sur, with in
srucon "a protect the persons an property OF American
citizens Win this authority only, Commander Davis ne
Cualed With General Walker terms of capulaon unde
which he SURF, ndcred with his and conveyed e
Panama, whence he proceeded to the United State Com
maBerr laws al received from General Walker the sur
render Of small schooner which he had detained, called
The Granada, and delivered her 70 the Nicaraguar
authorities The action of Commander Davis 80 Tar aS ht
aided General Walker and h men, by the OF the 81
MAty o. retreat from Nicaragua aud returt ~ tho United
States approved by the department. bu, his inter
ference With thc Granada and her transfer 10 the Ncara
guam althores. by his ierN enioa, was bot approved
about 90 Commodore Mcry me finding bis squadron
suddenly cncumbcred With these men. tho most wrecher
coudl1U suffering for the want Of everything, ant
sntau~ernA the health Il those un1cr lis command Ia,
no mode II relief EXCEPT BY turning them airit, viii
va IMPOSSIBLE sending them by the railway ~ Aspn
paH Adopting the latter alternative, he was under tn
necessity q drawing the department., ~ favor OF ~
railway company, tor e. AS. being the amount whie
would be due Cor transporting them across the lsthmus
The usual rate ~ charge This bill has neither been pad
accepted nor protested. The company voluntarily ~
Inqa shod the personal responsibility OF Commolor
Ncfyne and PVT the bin nj the disposal Of the govern
meHt submit Il. with an expression Of my convictoi
thai Congress should make reasonable provision Tor u
and also 10 he expenses ~ providing these men While %
thpbosfd With necessary food. clothing and medicine
VII "a an estimate wia hereafter be furnished.
Tho Mediterranean squadron, under It's nag Of
hccr, samuel L. Breese, was composed OF the irigat
Congress, the steam irigaie Susquehanna. ana IN
sipop Constellation. TIE Susqueianna, having aid
g. m TIE attempt D. hy the Geographic cable acros
the Atlantic, ha been urdred home a. already mention
Cd aDs attained 70 the home squadron and Commodor
Beese having been ordered With his flagship. the Con
rrcss, 70 the United states they will not be replaced b.
Others Until TIE Of the spring leaving the Conste