REP ORT


OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
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Navy DEPARTMENT, Dec i, 1S45.


Sin: During the past the usual squadrons Of the
navy Of the United States have been maintained In the
Mediterranean, Commodore Smith had command of the
cumberland and the rymonth He would have despatch.
ed the Plymouth to the Black Sea- but leave refused
by the Ottoman Porte He conducted newly appoint
ed Consul to Tapgiers, and insured his reception


Our ships in the Mediterranean have usually been in
active at Fort Mahon, during the winter this be
obviaed by an interchange of service. The Plymouth
has therefore, been directed to Join the Brazil SQUADRON
and the Cumberland has returned home their places
viii be aSen at the opening OF the by part of
the present African squadron.


The African squadron was organized by Commodore
Ferry, by whom good sanitary Iegna ions estab
Nshed. He was relieved by Commodore skinner in the
health OF all under his command Yet the Prebe and the
Truxton contracted disease, and of humanity,
were ordered to return home The Southampton has
been sent out with stores, to remain tie coast The
| Marion and Dolphin followed a reinforcement The
Boxer is destined for the station, and will sail m.
mediately The Cumberland bearing the broad pennant
OF Commodore Read will proceed in January to eleve
the jamestown and Yorktown which will then repair to
the Mediterranean.


On the Brazil station Commodore Rousseau, the first
officer west OF the Alleghanies selected to command
| a squadron relieves Commodore Turner The Raritan
Will repair TO the home squadron the Boston ordered
TO return to the United States The Columbia the Sara
toga, the Plymouth and the Bainbrdge will, Tor the
/ present, constitute the Brazil squadron.


Commodore Parker, after very successful cruise,
returned from the Asiac station September bringing
home the Brandywine, the ST. Louis and the Perry At
the Bay of Islands, Captain McKeever, in the st. Louis
had the happiness render valuable service the in
haDltants OF infant British settlement


In May, Commodore Bidde sailed for the East indies
in command OF the Columbus ship Of the ne and the
vncennes bearing the Minister to China and the rati
fed treaty between the United States and Chinese
Emperor. The health of Mr.. A. II. Everett, the Minis
ter having induced his return the exchange of the rat
fcatons Of the treaty committed to the charge OF
Commodore Bidde, who will doubtless show that or,
able and gallant naval officer conducts satisfactorily all
affairs intrusted 10 him.


The Constitution is on her return from China after
having visited different ports and islands in the Indian








consisted OF the savannah tho Levant the Warren, and
the Shark. The three first will return 946, and will
be relieved by the Congress, the Portsmouth and the
Cyane. The difficulty OF communicating with our ships
in the Pacific makes proper to suggest the advantage
Oft public mail through own territory to conve-
nent port in the straits ouan de Fuca Arrangements
should also be made at the earliest day that is proper
for getting supplies for Pacific squadron from
own soil and our own citizens in that region.
The home squadron has been under the command Of
Commodore Conner who has distinguished himself by
sound judgment in the performance of his duty. His
force, which consisted OF the Potomac, the Falmouth
the Vandalis the Lawrence and the Somers, weak
ened by the return fthe Vandala which visited Hayt
Port au Prince, where she had been ordered duty
The squadron was increased by the Princeton and
Porpoise the ST. Mary's and the Saratoga, under Com
modore Stockton, and soon after by the John Adams,
and the steamship Mississippi The aggregate force OF
Commodore Conner was much larger than has usually
rallied under American pennant. II gave efficient
protection to interests the Gulf OF Mexico, and
contributed to spread OF urity
| try to its extreme limit Of the Del Norte.


Deeming of great Importance to become acquainted
with the navy yards and establishments connected with
the navy, have during the past summer visited I'll Of
them except those at Pensacola and at Memphis They
are generally in excellent order The principal i'm
provements in progress at those visited at Brook.
iyn where the work the dry dock is advancing with
efficiency and economy. The vicinity to a city which is
the emporium Of naval stores, and is crowded with
ship builders and excellent mechanics of all kinds
gives to that yard great facilities for the prompt repair
| and equipment of ships of war.


At the naval asylum in Philadelphia, more than hun
deed veteran sailors enjoying the ample provision
wisely reserved for the comfort of their declining
years Yet, would earnestly advise that the buildings
# the asylum at their present location be never en-
aIged but that after it is FULL pensioners should
be placed salubrious spot the where
| and have old familiar objects within his sight.
The charge the navy hospital fund, which is no.


ced in the communication from the bureau Of medicine,
chief Of that bureau at whose urgent sugsesc houses
for the governor and surgeon OF the asylum were au-
cumscribed, and the recommendation to encroach still
further on the fund, by erecting other dwellings at
should be sacredly reserved for the immediate and per-
sonal benefit of those from whose earnings it has
PIRATE large part OF the buildings at the asylum the
of the midshpmen who preparing for the
tahlshed examination, previous to their passing to
higher grade.


Congress- in its great desire to improve the navy had
permitted the department to employ professors and in
sructors annual of about S2s 20O and it had
been usual besides the few employed at the receiving
ships and the naval asylum TO send professors with the
mshpmen every ocean and cline. the snip is
friendly to study and the office of professor rapidly
degenerated into sinecure; often not much
done the elder officers would cheerully do for their
juniors; the eacheN board the receiving ships gave
little instruction. whatever; that the expon
diure was ruess of great results. Many of the pro-
lessons able and willing but the system bad
The idea naturally suggested itself of sezing the
Tine when the midshpmen are on shore, and appropria
professors to sea- with each handful of midshpmen the
mdshipmen themselves, in the intervals between
duy, might be collected in body, and devote their


me to suitable instruction For the pay OF the nsruc
tors Congress has provided In looking out for modest
shelter for the pupils was encouraged to ask for Fort
severn at Annapolis The transfer readily made
by order of the Secretary of War; and school was i'm.
medately organised, on unosentatious and frugal
ian This insti ution, by giving some preliminary in.
structon to the midshpmen before their first cruise by
extending an sfectonae but firm supervision them
AZ they return from sea- by providing for them suitable
from the service all who fail in capacity good dis,
position to their time WELL will go far to renovate
and improve TIL American navy.


The plan pursued has been unpretending, but, il is
hoped Will prove efficient few professors give more
and better instruction. than twenty at sea- No
s1pernumerary officer has been ordered TO Annapolis;
no idle man is attached to the abshment. Comman-
der Buchanan to whom the organization of the school
was entrusted, has carried his instructions into effect
with precision and sound judgment, ond with wise
adap alton Of simple and moderate to great and
noble end Let not Congress infer that new expenses
are to be incurred Less than the amount that has hith
erto been at the disposition Of the department for purpo
ses OF culture, will support the school, and repair and
ena the quarters received from the hospitality of
army


AT Washington, the admirable instruments provided
LOT ne observatory nave been placed under the charge
OF officers OF the navy, who we'll that the op
portuntes afforded them for advancing astromical
science are unequaled this continent, and scarcely
surpassed III Europe. Results honorable to the country
may therefore, be justly expected of them From that
institution charts are furnished to the navy at cost and
the instruments used at sea are there preserved,
rected and repaired. Would it not be well that the
plates OF all charts authorised by Congress to be en-
graved should be deposited there the place most a
propriate for their preservation and use


1t was subject of great regret that the pressure Of
business left opporny 10 visit the yards at tho South
tpr THAR
be such as will not interfere with Dure each other


Pensacola by its position, arrests public attention
The security OF naval power in the Gulf of Mexico
depends, in great measure on its condition and re.
sources The events of the summer show conclusivey
the necessity for liberal provision at that station of all
ths means essential to wellfarnshcd and efficient
vyyard large estimate for that yard therefore pre-
sented, although desire to await further information
pendture.


Memphis, on the contrary, being in the heart of tho
country on an ocean river yet thousand miles from
the ala naE