The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-06
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, !

sherwood Chief Engineer and b f. DeIand Naya
Constructor to examine the sailing ships Of the navv il
order to determine the expediency Of conyerting then
into efficient steamers The brigs sIoops and fri
gates then at have not been nspected bv them b
as they found by the record department that il
form, dimensions age, and condition these were mila
10 those they had examined they included all in the
same opinion The sesult of their report that it is no
eXpeden to introduce power into the brigs sIoon
and frgates but that expedient introduce it int
chese sps OF the line except the Delaware, de
fectve to permit it, and by razeeing them to convert
them into first class steam figates While the present
steam frigates of the Minnesota class, carrying mixed
batteries of eight and nine inch guns forty in number
cost On an average each the of converting
lnese e,ght neoibattie ships into steam gates of hs
same class would averge but S3S3000, and when thus
converted they would, in the opinion of the board be
efficient steamships of war. of full steam power.
Of the sailing frigaes, the United States is not worth
repairing The Constitution has been thoroughly re
pared and would last many years at the Naval Acade
my, where she is stationed The Sabine and Sanee
are comparatively new and used as frigates The
remanng SIX as they shall require repairs, should be
converted into sloopsof war, and finally into store ps
and as such would be useful for and for protection
in various foreign ports
The oops war built prior to 1870 and the briggs Balm
prdSe Perry and Dolphin, require such expenditure
to keep them fit for service that soon be advanta
geous to replace them with vessels They are not
large enough for store ships,
The seven steam frigaes, with the exception Of the
franklin are now aoat and receiving repairs that
Will tit them for any service. No machinery has
mack should be renewed.
or the six new steam sIoopsofw of the first class
Ve are at and their performance has been satisacto
ry The other, the Pensacola, will completed
| quehanna Saranac and Powhatan can by Introducing
screw propgIson be made efficient and economical war
steamers The other the Mississippi, w be worth no
more repairs than she is receiving.
or the new steam oops of the second class four
mounting each two eleven inch have been eminent
ly successful. Two of the others, mounting each one
eievennch gum of less draugt and their perform
ance at sea has not been equal that larger yes
se another OF these smaller steamers mounting eight
nnench guns is expected in port and will be prepared
Tor more perfect trial The Pocahonas has been
eled ana provided with new engine, and is efficient
vessel
The five steamers third class recently char
tered and then purchased are performing very efficient
service the coasts of Africa and Cuba in every
respect useful vessels AT the end their present cruises
hey Will require some repairs and probably boil
ers.
The five sidewhee steamers small class are use.
put no side-wheel steamer can be efficient a war
steamer
INCREASE IN THE NAVY
While it is the dictate of sound policy to increase the
efficiency of our present ships of is equally so to
increase their number.
POLICY sUsPENDING REPAIRS
Ihe policy which has been pursued by Congress since
the commercial revuon of 1857 of curailing appropra
ohs Tor naval repairs and suspending improvements in
the navy yards can be vindcated only as temporary
noalhcaton OF our general policy to be continued
longer than the depletion the treasury shall
continue. II Congress conld by law arrest the march
intellect hand and the process of decay on the
other 1t might do better for government to stand
But at time of incessant activity beyond all past ages
the nation which should pursue this standstll polcv
would soon find itself unfortunately in the urch-far far
Dehnd all others 1t is impossible to maintain the posi-
ton of security and respect now have among the
Powers of the world if permit that great arm Of de-
fence by which principally power would be felt to
1all into neglect and decay.
NAVY YARDS.
have presented an estimate made by the Chief of the
BIreau of Yards end Docks. and found in his ac
companyng report of the expenditure which will be ne
cessary to carry forward improvements in the navy
yards provided Congress shall deem it expedent to re
sumo ITS former policy, and to prosecute it during the
next fiscal year.
NAVAL ACADEMY
Inc Naval Academy, under the superintendent of
Tapt1n George 5, Blake is in admirable condition
twenty five acting midshipmen graduated in June; one
hundred and thirty five permitted to be examined:
thirty failed to present themselves or were found dis
qualified, and ninety nine examined and admitted
The measure adopted year ago placing the fourth
class board the oopowar Plymouth attached to the
academy, has proved entirely successful have caused
the frigate Constitution be substituted for the Py
mouth to be anchored in the harbor Annapolis for the
accommodation of the fourth class. The historic reco
ections associated with this ship will exert sautary in
uence on the minds of youth devong themselves to the
naval service accommodates all the sections the
ourth class with study and recitation rooms, and the
officers and acting mispmcn and the crew of the shin
with sleeping and mess apartments.
Board of officers, consisting of Commodore f A F
Lavallete, Captain VIM NJ. Gendy Captain Cadwalader
Rnggold, Commander Cicero Price, and Commander Will
nam Rogers Taylor was appointed in May, to witness
the examination Of the classes of acting mid shpmen
and to inquire into the state of the police discipline and
general management of the academy. They have made
a favorable report all the subjects submitted to them
On their arrival at Annapolis, the fourth case had area
dy been examined hasten their departure in the nrac
uce ship The first, second and third classes were ex
amined in the presence of the Board and made most
gratifying exhibition OF their requirements in the acade
mic studies and the practical exercises Of gunnerv field
artillery infantry tactics, and broad and swords
The Board observed with pleasure the progressive ad
Vancement in professional requirements from the lower
to the higher classes, and particularly the proficiency of
the graduating class which has left the institution with
sroundwork of professional education promising great
future usefulness to the navy and to the country
The police and discipline OF have been
most carefully preserved The records show gradual
dminuton of the number found deficient the examna
ton since 1856 In that those found deficient were
twenty three per cent. OF the whole number in 1856
nineteen and half per cent in 1857 eighteen and half
per cent; in 1858, fifteen and half per cen in 1859
fourteen and half per cent, and for the half of
looo ten per cent Ihe grounds, public buildings, and
apparatus, in excellent order with exception of
the wooden structure covering the gun battery and maya
zine, which IS insecure and should berenewed The plan
of keeping ship permanently attached to the academy
as home for the fourth class, is highly approved as
valuable addition to the means OF instruction well
accommodation. The Board of Officers record their high
appreciation of the services of the superintendent and his
associates and say that the institution has proSpered
their hands, and provides for the navy high standard of
general and professional knowledge. l concur in these
views.
The practice ship Plymouth, Commander Thomas t |
Craven, left Norfolk June 9th, with one hundred and
seventeen acting midshpmen on board to make her an
nual cruise She visited the ports of Faya Cadz Fun
chal in Madeira, and Santa Cruz in Tenerie returned
to Hampton Roads on the Sd Sept and spent The remain
der OF that month in various manuvres for instructions
in Chesapeake Bay.
Commander Craven commends the proficiency of the
first class in navigation and seamanshp This class nav
gated the ship from Tenerife to Hampton Roads per
forming with accuracy the duties of watch officers Their
observations for ascertaning the position Of the ship
were so reliable that Commander Craven felt perfect
hdence in the correctness of their work He perceived
very great Improvement in the third class of this
over hat OF the former year. arising from their having
been during the last academic year, so thoroughly
drilled on board the school ship. He says THE very
great advantages obtained by the Junior or third class
the first class in practical seamanshp and their very
superior efficiency and usefulness when prompt assistance
was required in the management of the sails, yards &C.
exhibited itself in remarkable degree
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
During the past year the suppression of the African
slave trade has received attention. and the has been
prosecuted with vgor. The following vessels engaged in
the traffic have been captured and sent in for ADJUDICATION
captured December bv
the soop owar Constellation Captain John s. Nicholas
Cabenda on the coast of Africa and sent into Charles
ton brigatine Vrginian captured in Congo river Febru
ary g. 1862 by the sloop Portsmouth, Commander
John Calhoun and sent into Norfolk. bar1ue WiIJfre
captured in the Old Bahama channel April &C. 1860 by
the .. s. steamer Mohawk, Lieutenant Commanding T.
AN Craven and sent into Key West with cargo of ve
hundred and thirty Africans, of whom five hundred and
seven were delivered to the Marshall brig Falmouth |
captured off Porto Praya May 1860 by the sloopofwar
Portsmouth, Commander John Calhoun, and sent into
New York. barque William captured off the coast of Gu
ba, May 1860, by the u s. steamer Wyandotte Lieu
tenant Commanding Fabius Stanley and sent into Kew
Weswth her cargo of five hundred and seventy Africans
Of whom five hundred and thirteen were delivered to the
Marshal the Bogota captured off the coast of Cuba May
23 1862 by the T. s. steamer Crusader, Lieutenant
manding John n Mait, and sent into Key West with her
cargo of five hundred Africans, of whom four hundred
and eleven were delivered to the Marshall brig Thomas
Achorn, captured June 90, 1860, by the l. S. steamer
Mystic, Lieutenant commanding William E. LeRoy at |
Kebenda the coast of Africa and New York;
brig Triton captured July 16 1860 by the United States
steamer Mystic, Lieutenant commanding Wm. E. Leroy |
the west coast of Africa sent into Norfolk the
William Kibby, captured July 23 1860 by the T. s |
steamer Crusader, Lieutenant commanding John N Naf
fit, off the coast Of Cuba and sent into New York with
three African boys board ship Erie captured August
8, 1850, by the steam soopofwar Mohican Commander
Sylyanus W. Gordon off Congo river, and sent to New
York. after having proceeded to Monrovia with her
cargo of eight hundred and ninety Africans,
delivered the survivors. eight hundred sixtyseven
in number into the hands of the United States agent at
that place. brig Storm King captured August 1860 hy
the United States steamer San Jacinto Can't T. A. Dor
min, off the Congo river and sent into Norfolk having
first proceeded to Mourovia with nj
captured Africans board and delivered six hun
dred and SIXTEEN who survived, the United States
agent at that place. and brig of unknown captured
August IA, 1860 by the United States steamer Crusader
Lieutenant commanding John n Maitt, of the coast of
Cuba and sent to Key West. Of these seven sIavers
having board sixteen hundred and three Africans,
captured by the purchased steamer chartered for
the Paraguay expedition. The whole number of vessels
captured during the past is twelve the whole
Africans rescued is three one hundred
and nineteen.
While the government has been thus active in its en-
deavors suppress the African coast slaverade and in
the last three has been successful in capturing
savers than former period, vet it is obvious that
it be broken up in modes only Cuba now the
only mart in the world open this trade If Great Br
tain should enforce the provisions of her treaty with Spain
of September 2 1917 by which, for the consideration Of
two millions of dollars paid her by Great Britain Span
stipulated to abolish the slave trade between Africa and
Cuba, it would be eectuay suppressed. If Cuba were
pass under the Constitution the United States by an
nexaton the trade would then also be eifecualy sup
pressed and in either both United States and
Great Britain would be spared the large expenditure of
and life to which they subjected to main
tain their present squadron on the coast of Cuba
PATENTED ARTICLES.
The provision in the act of June 23 1860 which prohb
its the purchase of patented articles for the
army and navy will be found injurious to the latter
vice. Since the introduction of steam to prope shpsOf
great variety patented articles have in the CON
struction and repair of steamship become daily use