The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-16
NAVY DEPARTMENT.


The report of the Secretary of the Navy
opens with review of the manner in which the
naval forces of the country have been actively
employed during the past year first, in ar
resting unlawful expeditions against Nicaragua
secondly, in resisting the exercise of the right
of search by British cruisers in the neighbor-
hood of Cuba; and, thirdly, in enforcing a de-
mand Of redress for an insult to our flag and
for injuries to our citizens BY the Government
of Paraguay. The report narrates the success
full operation ofCommodore Paulding, in break
ing up the Walker expedition Abiding to
the feet sent to the Gulf of Mexico, it states
that all the vessels were deemed effective, be-
cause, in the execution of their mission. no one
of them would have hesitated to resist a ship of
the largest class. Their instructions were to
protect American vessels against the exercise
of the right of search, and these instructions
are now regarded as " standing instructions to
the navy of the United States The Paraguay
fleet has been ordered to rendezvous at BuenOs
AyreS, to be in readiness for any action that may
berequlred. Ofthis force, one sloop, three briggs,
and twelve steamers, can lay the whole river
coast of Paraguay under effective blockade, as
cend the river to the capital of Paraguay, and
overcome any resistance that may be offered
The report intmates that there can be no
doubt of the success of the expedition, and to
secure this it was deemed advisable to send the
large force that has been dispatched to the La
Plata. Abiding to the charter of the light
draught steamers for the Paraguay expedition,
the Secretary of the Navy believes that these
vessels would be useful as part of the naval
force of the United States, and recommends
their purchase, which can be effected on reason
able terms-that is to say, S2,44,OOO for the
six steam propellers, and $286,00O for three
wheel steamers. After brief allusiOn to
the party sent out under command of Lieuten-
ant y. Nj. Brooke, to survey the route between
San Francisco and China, the report proceeds
to give an account of the operations of the
Niagara in the last effort to Law the ocean
telegraph cable, and of the sequel to that en-
terprise of science" an enterprise of distin-
guished philanthropy" by which the Niagara
was to convey back to the coast Of Africa the
negroes taken from the captured SLAYER Echo.
The services of British officers at Port ROYAL
rendered to the officers and crew of the S,as-
qtehannd, whe en- afflicted with the yellow fever.
are recognised by the Secretary of the Navy in
his report. For the expenses incurred in the
treatment of the sufferers at Port ROYAL the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have
declined to make any claim upon our Govern
ment.
The Secretary gives us some interesting in
formation respecting the construction of new
vessels for the navy. The five steam sloops of
war, authorized by the act Of March 3, 1887,
will soon be completed The seven steam screw
sloops of war, and one sde-wheel steamer, au-
thorlzed by act of June II, 1858, are in state
OF great torwardness. Five of them will be
launched during the present month, and be
ready for sea by May next; the other two will
he launched early in spring The side-wheel
steamer, building at the California navy ward.
will also be ready next spring. In the CON
struction of these steamships has been the
ann OF the Department to combine speed with
strength.
The report strongly advocates a further in
crease OF the navy. What we more especially
need, in time of peace, is larger number of
vessels capable of entering the rivers and har-
bors of all foreign countries, as well as dur own
In view of the commercial and inantial en-
barrassments of the present year, the Secretary