New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-07

W eic position, Ills merit Cld 10 Obylnto dit
ncuy and place that branch of the service In proper
worshg eondilon, wouh re commend that there BE-
appomted an onlcer, 70 be known the Director Of
ordnance who shall, under the Department have shs
immediate supervision Of the manufacture, description
and supply, OF ordnance for the navy, in all iis q
tails.
THE OBSERVATORY.
The Observatory, for many years under the surcvn.
tendence of officer who had gained di-tincui.hed
reputation in connection with the institution was
abandoned By him in very abrupt manner on The
10Th Of April On receiving Intelligence that be hsd
without previous ntmatioB Of bis inteDtiep, deeertei
the pos. chat had been confded to him. eentleu,ss
eminently adapted to the place. who had, moreovss
| been early identified with the Observatory, n
once placed in the position. Il gives me pleasure u
say that n many respects the change has been Inn
provement while trust that neither the country
The of science will experience any detrimeat
therefrom.
q THE NAVY RATION.
change & modification OF the law regulating the
zion necessary TO meet the existing
diion Of things, Nearly the whole Of tie present
val strength of the country Is employed on Parficn-
lar service which extends along the coast effective
force being stationed at each OF the principal harbors-
IL Is important that the vessels should remain on duty
at their stations long possible TO guard the coast
and prevent illegal commerce That they may do this
satisfactorily il essential that the have ffe
quent supplies OF fresh provisions and other necessSIcs
conducive to health. The Department has already 70
far innoyaied to sendforward cargo Of fresh sup
pltes and il proposes continue thus " supply the
Of the squadron until the insurrectioD Is cup
pressed. Provisions aud will IN this manner be
dispatched with supplies Of all kinds that may be
qured for the subsistence and health Of the crewa
Communication with each Of the principal stations
viii be established by these dispatch boats, which will
carry and receive from the squadrons letters Con-
vey recruits bring home nvads, and while perform
ing these services Will also discharge coast guard duty
INCREASE or SURGEONS.
An inerea Of the number of surgeons and assistant
surgeons is also recommended in conformity with the
suggestions of the Chief Of the Buresu of Medicine and
: .f = r..xxsth
ted. The deficiencies that at present exist will doubt
less soon be filed but the full mement allowed by
the existing law is inadequate TO the present require
ments OF the service.
ACTING PAYsfAsTERs.
The additional number Of vessels employed caedfof
additional Paymasters beyond tie number limited by
law and the Department under The existing necessity,
appointed acting paymasters Where this appointments
has been necessary it has usually been conueced with
that of captain clerk who has been required to give
bonds for the money and property intrusted TO bis
hands, and his confidential relations with his COM
minder have been such that it has been deemed fur
ther security. l would recommend that there be an
increase of the corps Of paymasers perhaps may
be we'll have class Of assistant PaynsteTs at less
compensation and with less responsibility The minor
appointment may be made q preliminary step 10 the
more important Office Of paymaster.
INCREASE OF THE MARINE CORPS.
II became necessary to enlarge the marine corps IN
order that it should correspond in some degree with
the general increase of other branches OF the service
Under the authority of the of Congress Of l49 two
additions have been made TO this corps, which now
consists Of 800 pryates but the officers except the
force composing the staff, remain the same In point
numbers as when the corps consisted OF but OOO men,
Tbis number is altogether insufficient, and it is there
fore recommended that there be an additional number
created and if the session is sufficiently prolonged IN
entire Reorganization OF the corps may De Pedien
MASTERS AND MASTERS MATES.
There has been, from necessity, large number a
acting masters and masters mates appointed from the
commercial marine TO meet the wants OF the service.
These officers generally OF great experience and ntel
gence and occupying the highest position IN the mer-
cbant service have voluntarily come forward and of
fered themselves for useful duty on board our publa
vessels where they contributing to the ehsiency
of the navy.
IRoy-CLAD STEAMERS OR FLOATING BATTERIES.
Much attention has been given within the last iew
wears to t subject Of floating batteries or ironclsd
steamers. Other Governments, and particularly
France and England, have made it special object IN
connection with naval improvements; and the mgenu-
ity and inv vsntive faculties Of own countrymen
have also been stimulated by recent oc urfences
toward the construction o TINS class OF vessels. lns
nerod il perhaps not one best adapted to heavy ex.
penditnres by way Of experiment, and the lime and
attention Of Of those who ARE most competent 70
investigate and form correct on his sub)ecs
are other wise employed. / would, however, reeom,
mend he appointment OF proper and competent Board
,o inouire into and report in regard 10 measure -
;mnortsp; and il IS for Congress 10 decide whether
favorable report, they will order one e more IRON
clad stesmere hoaile batteries, to he constructed.
& IA
80 ordnance at short range, and make an appro-
priation for that puir'Se' -... .sv.w.
n s nearly twenty years since gentlemen 81 new.
Jersey possessing wealth aud talent, projected 80
consti ucon of a floating battery, aud the Government
aid the work BY liberal appropriation Toe death
of this gentleman, few years since, interrupted the
prosecution of this experiment, and application has
been recently made by hs surviving brother, the au.
tloiies of New-Jersey, and Others, for additional
to carry 1t forward TO eompleoa. Ine ain9in'
osksI Ia of such uauIitude as require special iu
yesgation by competent Board, who shall report rs
10 the expediency aud practicabiy OF the experiment
before so large al expenditure should be authorized
INCREASE IN CLERICAL FORCE.
An increase of the clerical force of the Department
ia ndl ensablr and its organization may lie IN some
respeots modified and improved. Inc present session
having been called for special purposes, II nay DC
deemed inexpedient 10 enter upon general egioiaoni
hnt the greaily increased labor reuders necessary
that tDere should be temporary increase of clerks,
and would In this connection, and as part OF tniS
Improvement aud addition, recommend an AselstAhI,
Secretary of the Navy, On whom hhSht pe ue,
many of the details that occupy no nconsioersoe
che Ime of the Secretary, ana iroIa WHICH
he might be relieved.
THE 4. s. sLoOP tEyASr.
The Leyant slOop-ot-war, Commander William f..
Hunt of the Pacific squadron, sailed from Panama in
Nav 1862 for the Sandwich islands, for the purpose
Of inq quirng, at the suggestion OF the Department Of
state into the dsburss ments at those islands of The
fnnd for the reei of ceslituJe American Sue
reached her destination safely, and the investigations
were conducted by Commander Hunt at the ports OF
Honolulu, Ishaina ana hilo The last oihcai inteiii-
Ucne received by the Department from the Leyant was
a c 9mmuniea ion from Commander Hunt. dated Hiio,
September g. 1860. He expected TO take hs departure
in short time for Panama. Not arriving at that port
by January, Flsg.0fhcer Montgomery despatcned we
steamers sranac and Wyoming in search OF ber. he
latter visited the Sandwich Islands and various locah-
ties on the route making every possible inquiry ior
her. Bat no tdings OF her were obtalned although