Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-22

essential respects from Others is likely be successful
The draught of water of the Monadnock Is twelve feet ana
with two Independent she has speed OF ten knots
Four other similar vessels of still formidable and
nvulnerabe character are building.
The only seagong ron-clad ships besides the two tur
reed vessels already mentioned, the New Ironsdes
built in 1862 the Roanoke, of the old rgates which
has been armored and the Dunderberg, cssemate
sell For this vessel the contractor has promised speed
of fifteen kaots at sea-
The Department has, on several occasions invited pro-
positions for ron seagoDg armored ships but Congress
having declined to make the necessary appropriations no
measures have been taken for their construction
PRIZES AND PENSIONS.
The number of vessels captured by the quadrons since
the ast annual report aud reported to tho Department
prior to November is 24 classified follows: scho0D-
lO5 steamers, 80; sloops 40; briggs, 3; barques,
small boats g. The total number of captures since the
commencement of the rebellion 379 viz schooners,
$751; steamers 267 sloops, I'LL brgs, 3d. barques, 29
ships, Isl yachts and small boats, III.
The gross proceeds arising from the sale of condemned
prize property amounts to $l4 ,396.250; expenses,
1887 1885, leaving for distribution half the captors
and one half to the United States as naval pension
fund, $l3 Sal.
Joint resolution OF Congress- approved on the lst Of
July last authorized the Secretary of the Navy to invest
much of the naval pension fund not reque for
the immediate payment of pensions in the registered
rites of the United States Under the authority conferred
upon have invested five million dollars provided in
the resolution, and the Let of January next there will
be the further of 200o000, which be invested
without interfering with the prompt payment OF PENSIONS
This amount will yield annual income OF $4,000. suf
cient for the payment of the entire pension roll Itaords
little qualification to be able to state that our brave
officers and seamen besides realizing handsome sums for
themselves have created fund heincome from which WILL
doubtless be ample for the payment the authorized PEN
sion to those who have been wounded and to the widows
and orphans of those who have been killed In the service
died from disease contracted in the line of duty without
calling upon the national treasury.
The pension roll on the lst Of November 1864, was
follows:
769 invads with pensions amounting to-. $50
Sao widows and orphans amounting to--.. l5s,25o
COG persons receiving amount of. 1868
CONCLUSION.
Ia this my fourth annual report have submitted some
what in detail the condition Of the Department and the
vice This report presents the distribution and employ
ment OF maritime force which including the additions to
it in progress and completion constitutes, for all
the purposes of defence not of attack and conquest tho
most powerful national navy in the world In four pre-
csdng similar communications including that submitted to
you upon the assembling OF Congress in the extra session of
1861 it been my duty TO exhibit the methods and
of administration, by which from comparatively
small beginning and under the Of an uneIampe
exgency this vast naval power has, since your accession
to the Presidency been brought into existence to state
the contributions which have been made to it from
commercial marine to indicate the application of all the
OF public naval establishments to its
siructon ard preparation for service to show how ind
vdaa energy and skill and capital have successfully
in aid Of insufficient governmental provision for the due
prosecution of the work and to trace general outline the
processes and results of inventive genius and scientific
pertinent which have changed to grea. extent the mate
rails and forms of naval structure and armor and armament
and have euabed country while IN so brief period
assuming foremost place among maritime nations to Gre
ate aso era in the development and application OF
naval force.
In conneIon with such account of the sudden creation
Of American naval power, it has been at the
time my privilege in these communications to make official
record Of series Of naval enterprises and achievements
wholly without precedent parallel No previous cou
cepon Of Efficient bocksde former endurance under
the fire Of fortified batteries audaoiiy and
heretofore known of naval attack upon such fortresse
through formidable submarine distractions spread for
their defence similar penetration by war vessels OF
internal waters througs reach OF navigation almost
tnensl other gigantic scse of cooperation OF naval
with army forces expeditions and combats hundreds Of
miles from the seaboard and along the Of rivers
precaous aud dangerous OF navigation any where be
found Of character to compare with the riumphs in all
these forms Of naval effort which il has been the duty Of
this Department. during TIE past three years to organize
and to report.
If in the prosecution of dutie. so srduous complicated
appear to have been faithfully and fy discharged then
certainly my acknowledgements still due, they have
been heretofore expressed to the gentlemen associated
with 10 its management TO the whole clerical force to
the several chiefs of bueaus and especially to the nvsu
able services Of the Assistant Secretary and the Chef
Clerk ofthe Department.
But il to the officers and men OF our naval service
that the great Of what has thus been DONE and s
doing justly belongs The best administration of this De
partment can do little at any time than to give them
the adequate means and the right opportunity of action
them, therefore first and always be the honor when
panson AID these exploits Of naval power spectacle
OF patriotic and vtuous herosm worthy OF the in
which il is displayed and OF the national life which it IL
lustrGtes aud defends
GIDEON wELLES,
Secretary Of the Navy,
Tn tho pRESInENr