The New York Herald Newspaper, December 7, 1862, Page 2

Navy Derakraewr, Dec. 1, 1862. Suk—It is due to the maval service that in this report I should, Grst of all, recount to you, and through you 40 Congress and the country, the operations aad achieve- ‘moots of our naval forces during the eventful year which, bas elapeed since my last annual communication. Since the commencement of our national difficulties, four pow- ertul equadrons have been collected, organized ‘and sta- tioned for duty on our maritime frontier with a rapidity ‘and suddenness which finds no approach to a parallel in previous naval bistory, and which it is believed no other country but our own could have uchieved, These squad- rong bave been incessautly maintaiuing a strict block \e of such gigantic proportions Uat eminent foreign states moa in the highest scenes of Jegisiation did not hesitate, ‘at its commencement, publicly to denounce it as “a material impoasibility,”’ and yet after this most im ing vaval undertaking had been for # poriod of vighte months in operation, and after its reach had becu efles- tively oxtended along the entire sweep of our AUantic and | Guif coasts, from the outiet of the Cho-ai cake to the mouth of the RioGrande, the same emincut authorities, with a lms im their bands of ail tie vessels which had evaded or escaneg the vigilance of our blockading forces, could not refuse tm their ofic:a! statements to admit with relugtant candor that the jroo! of the edlicionvy of the blockade was conspicuous aud wholly conclusive, and | that iu 90 previous war had the ports of’ an euemy’s country been so elfectually closed by a naval force. But vem such testimony was not needed. The proof of the fact abounds in the current price of our Southern staples fm the great comm rota! marts of the world, and more @apectilly in be whole industrial and commercial condi tion of the fasurgeat region It should not be forgotten that oo oircum-tance is wanting Lo attest the magnitude of this greatest of all naval triumphs. ‘The industrial ne- cossitics and the © mme cial cuprdity of all the principal ed and empowered as they are by ro invention, are kept at biy. A id harbors under foreign jurisdiction, Jooking nearly upou \ur shores and affording the most convenient lurking places from which illicit com- merce may leap forth w 118 prombited destina- twon and parpose, are 80 closely watched as to render the peril of all such ventures iar greater than evon their enormous gains when successful. And tually, a vast line of gea Coast, nearly three thousand miies in exteut, muob of it with a doubie shore and almost honey combed with imiets and harbors. bus been so beleagured and lock. ed op that the whole tumeuse foreiga commerce, which was the very life of the industry and opulence of the vast region which it borders, has practicaily ceased to exist. DIS:RIMUTION OF THR PORCR. Some changes in tne command of the squadrons and flotilias have taken ploce, and new organizations have been made during the yeu. ‘The North Atlantic squadron, guarding the Vir- ginis aad North Caroliaa coasts, continued in charge of Rear Admira® Golisburough until the 5th of Septem. ber, when be was roveved, on his own request, by Acting Rear Admiral 8. I’. Lee, who hs since had that command, In the South Atianiic squadron, which blockades the arbors aad coasts of S uth Carolina, Georgia aud the eastern portion of the Florida yeoinsula, no change has taken place. Rear Admiral Dupont, assigned to thit squadron when it was first made a distinct organization, still remaivs in active and useful service on that highly fateresting station. The necessity of @ division of the Gulf equadron having deen stated to be necessary in my last annual report, was Cousummated on the 2ist of February, Fiag Oilicer Mc- Kean retaining command of the eastern Gulf squadron, the limits of which comprised the southern and western portions of the Flo.ida peninsula, commencing at Cape Canaveral on the eastern coast, aud extending t Pensico- la. On the dth.of June te wes, on kis own app.ication, in consequence of iinpaired hoaith, reheved by Acting Rear Admiral Lardocr. This oiticer’s health also giving way, he was compolied to asi to be relieved, and Commodore Bailey has bee» appointed his successor, ‘The Western Gui syuadron guarded a coast which, commencing at and including Hensacola, extended west- ward to the Rio Grande, and was, from a variety of ‘causes, one of the musi important and responsible com- mands ever intrusted ty a ‘al officer. From the har- bors and rivers s.bect Ww t viockade there are ex- ported in peaceful tities vast amounts of cotton, sugar, and other products. Within those limits are the ocean outlets of tue great ceutial valley of the Union; and ia ticer wie sb be put in command of the rd was bad to an expedition for which the departmont had made extensive proparation, aud in whieh the whole ; ve nmeut bad participated, for the capture of New Orleans and reopening the navigation the Mississippi. AM toy and deliberate consider: tion this responsible ) D Was intrusted (o Captam D. G. Furragut, iu the coundent belief that his conrage and energy were equal by the exigency. Pesites hese Inrge squadrons on our maritime frontier it became a necessity at -au early pe- rod of the iusurrection to have an organized naval force on the Mississippi and its tributaries. On the 16(b of May, 1861, Couimai.der John Rodgers was directed to report to the War Department, which in the prelinti 8 assumed the chief expense, for the purpose of initiatiug an armed stotitia un the Westora waters, and immediately eutsred upon his davies. Procceding to ths West, he purchased stcamors which, under his supervis fon, were fitted, arnred apd armored as gunboats, and thus was commenced the -rganization of the Mississippi fotitla, which afew months later mage itself elt in a succession of achiever: that electrified the country. wut bofore Commander Rodgers tad an opportunity of completing his arraucements and taking bis vessels into actiow’Capiam A. H. Foote was appuinted to the command of the flotilla. The iabors commenced by Commander swelied intu xigantic proportions under F ag OMoer Foote, whose energies and talents were exerted in creating ‘and preparing that navy on the Western cyaters which bo soou mae so serviceable to the * Painfully wonnded at Fort Donelson, be relieved on the 9thof May by Captain Charles H. wis, who wus soon aitor appointed Chief of the bureau Navigation, and in Uctuber relinquished the command y order of Congress the guuboat leet was transiorred to wavy, and now c ustitutes au ieportant syuadrou, tander the command f acting Rear Admiral 1). B. Porter, who entered upon his duties on the 19th of October. ‘The active operations of the Potomac fHottlla ceased, in & Groat nicasure, after the ereciion OF the extensive rebel baiteries on the Virginia shore, iz the autumu of 186) For several months the commerce on this impertant uy entirely suspended, ur armed Dayil ere abandot soned ter Ja Mareb the batteries the insurgents, aud the troops which withdiawn, The advance of our arn made the duty on the h the spring and sunme:. At present the flotilla ts under the commaad of Commodore Harwood, and is rondoring good service by checking illicit traitic and eapturing any prisovers and po smai} amount of property, The transfer of the army to the York peninsula, avd tts detention before Riclmont, compelled the ment t divert some of its gunboats and for other cervice ty Le waters of Jaines and Yor After the battle of Ma the arty on James ri Wat i becaine neces had bean ret: army into a di was detatled fur that duty upon che work with energy; but the withdrawa army from the peninswia in August released the ves-els which bad beou diverte from their orig:ial di Qnd rendered it unnecessary to continue an orgauizatiow in James river. The Houlla was disbanded ou the Sist of August. The persistent and systematic violate our — bluwkade, uid — furnish to the insurgents in deflance of our tans, ures sh ent those lawless proceedings, This pur: al the procoadings Ww cifect it delayed, in consequence of tie «le igumond dering the spring nt during tent fore atte Ur coast and the wengtinor ing waters the fawlees contrabandists. wi be business to vielate oor Blockade and promote the efforts . Of thone who arc engaged in schemes ty treuk up our Ciiowand subvert the government. ‘The command of this flying squadron lias been to Acting lcar Ad- rniral Wilkes, ho sailed from THamptor Rows iu the ith of Sevtember, avs EDN TIONS. This oxiubition of the distribution and attitude of our tly i trodaces a succinet Listory of ti romarkapie series of naval expeditions aud operntio hoard an’ through the great rivers to which tuo power and valor o| our pavy bave Leow av airikingly displayed. Those expe: Che remembered, were undertaken in ad- or rather imautof, the unreiaxing labors of (he Blockade. They were owvce!ved and dirceiod 19 the poucy early adeptod aud euiformiy wibered to by Unie depart- meat, of the mist t mireuvons prosection of (he JEM 8 long as the War ehouit lawt, and whenever ant wherever i «+ ow could bo struck against tbe power of resources of the cubeilion by the naval ioree, in thee view Uhis departuvemt tr result ia great @ tributarie at Vicksburg, where tue robels still retain possession, Dat from which, with a ee operating military force, they ea ot any time be expelled, bach one of or blvckaling vad bolls a considerable portin of Tesvective limits. and in each t wen port for rendesvous, refitment ¥, where Heperts and experts may be made un- duly appomted by the seaboard of the Main pouts of Commerc veteattomn Norivik und the outle ew au Beaufort, diwa, Key West, Pensa’ eliwaily in oar © la) New Ortennn a fest aud der the guns a\y, of cle garrisoned aud governed Hilary force, But @ sboré time can elayee bovore Une few remaiaing pers wbigh aro sult fo the presention of the jngurgents wilb roe A oced our naval or miliary cecopation aad anthoricy: When tho susurrection is Uvus oxcinded from tie coast Abere May be presented (ur decision, nud Hts wear auprost- able, the grave ai! in porte and yy lig Held and oon at sour foe WRF puri ROK, MW of war, It be net y wo igen costly tue formaliior and rule. of nat \ dace Of ot une | pet by forces. ourown | (oe atrol all Lenie thereia,as we « wt thes to subject at tuch po nie all oo wiee Aus foreign, of expert or Eaport, to enc OS Bnd Foy nln true eben Rd € wise war pow wy way "e War power, @ ihe Hai bor © win custony ' phe result NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1862. “ Such has been the practice of pa. a Snon_ of sobeilion Sach eee ow, pene. im the Mexican ports which we beld during with t country. Should such 4 [am Food mag among other important advantages resulting fro’ | would othe seleuse of our Hoots from much of their pre- | went harassing aud exhausting blo ¢ duty , and the 1m mediate concentration of their Legg Me! the protection | Of oar commerce on the bizh seas by the pursuit in aug- mented force, and probably the speedy capture and t, of the marauders who now avail themselves inoessant occupation of tae Mass of our naval force in other scenes 0! uction for the temporary prosecution of ‘their piratical designs, . . | ! . PRIVATERRS. ‘The rebel armed steamer Sumter, which, after commit- | ting depredations, was, at the date of my last report, fleeing to escape our cruisers, creased the Atlantic. She was (racked Lo Gibraltar, where she has since remained, | one of our cruisers vigilantly guarding ber from Algeciras. With this exceptien, no other armed vessel bus plundered our commence or inflicted injury on our countrymen until witha @ recent period, when ® steamer known as 200, or Alabama, built and fitted out in Eugland—a ves- sel (hat had not becn in a:y port er visited any waters bat those of Great Brituin—went forth from the shores of (hat country. ravaging, sinking, burning and oestroy ing the property of our merchants who, knowing our peaceful relations with Kugland, and uoitormed that such a cruiser bad been permitted to leave Great Britain, were unprepared for such assault and devastation. How tar and to what results this abuse may be carried With impunity to the govermment which tolerates it is matior of grave consideration. The piratical privateer 290, or Alabama, has no register por record, no regular ship's pagers nor evidence of transfer, and no vessel cap- \ured.by her has ever been sent into any port for adjndi- cation and condemnation, All ferms of law which civi- lization hag introduced to protect and guard private rights,and all those regulations of public justice which distinguish and discriminate the legalized’ naval vessel from the pirate, are disregarded and violated by thig iat legs rover, which, though built in and sailing from Eng- land, has no acknowledged tlaz or recognized nationality, nor any accessible. port to which to send any ship she may seize, nor any legal tribynal to adjudge her captures, Under the English flag,in which they confided, and by the torch of the incendiary, appealing to their humanity, our merchantmen have been lured to destruction. She was built and fitted out in British ports in fla- grant vioition of British law aud 0: the royal procia mation of neutrality, aud 1 have reason to believe that ber crew is composed almost exclusively of British subjects, or pereons who, pursuing a lawful voyage, would be eutitied to ship.and receive protection ag British sea- men. Befere this piratical cruiser lett Great Britain, the au- thorities of that country were informed by the recognized Official agents of this government of ber character and purposes. The British govérnment, thus invoked, came too late to prevent her sailing. To what extent, under these circumstances, the govergment of Great Britain is bound in honer and justice to make indemnification for the destruction of private property which this lawless vessel may perpetrate, is a question that may present it- self for disposal. 1 is alluded to now and hero, not only from a sense of duty towards our commercial interests and rights, but also by reason of the fact that recent iutel- Jigence indicates that sti!l otper vessels of a similar char- acter are beimg fitted out m British portato depredate upon our cominerce. Our own cruisers pot being permitted to remain in British ports to guard against these outrages, nor to coal while cruising, nor to repair daracges in their harbors when iwjuries are sustained, the arrest of them is difficult and attenaed with great uncertainty. This department has despatched vessels to effect the cap- ture of the Alabama, and there is now quite a fleet on the ocean engaged in pursuing her. ‘THE NAVAL PORCE. When Lentered apon the discharge of my public duties as the head of this department, in March, 1861, here were but forty-two vessels in commission, and, as stated in my last avnual report, but seventy-six vessels thea attached to the navy have been made available. Most of these in commission were abroad, and of the 7,600 seamen in the pay of the goverument, there were oa the 1Uth of March, 1861, bu two hundred and seven men tn all the ports and receiving ships on the Atlantic coast to man eur ships and protect the navy yards and depots, or to aid in suppress- ing the rising insurrection. Neither the expiriug administration nor Congress, which had been in sessign until the 4tm of March, had taken measures to increase or strengthen our vaval power, notwithstanding the lowering aspect of our public affairs; so that when afew weeks alter the inaug»ration I desired troops for the protection of the public property at Norfolk and Annayolis, or sailors to man and remove the vessels, neither svidiers nor sailors could be procured. ‘There were no men to man our sbips, nor were the few ships at our yurds in a cooditien te be put into immediate service. : ‘The proclamation of April placing our entire coast (rom. the mouth of the Chesapeake to the Rio Grande under blockade found us with a naval force, even were every vessel on our coast, inadequate to the werk required. Ihave in my former reports, at the special session in July, 1861, «ud in December last, made tull exposition of tho ete;s which were promptly taken to recall our foreign. squadrons and the progress which had been made in menting our navy by repairing and fitting, as expedi- tiously as possible, every available vessel owned by the government, by purchasing such others as could be made speodiy useful in guarding our shallow and peculiar coast, and by rapidly constructing as many steamers as could be built at our oayy yards, and employing, to the oxtent that we could procure materials, engines and machinery, the resources of the country in addmg others ‘from private ship yards. is that wo have at this time afloat or progressing to rapid compietion a naval ferce consisting of 42 here having been added to those of the Old navy enumerated ia my report of July, 1861, exclu- sive of those that were lost, 353 vessels, armed in the aggregate with 1,577 guns, and of the capacity of 240,028 tous. ‘the annais of the werld do not show so great an in- crease in so brief a period to the naval power of any coun- try. It affurds me satisfuction to state that the acquiai- tions made to the navy from the commereial marine have proved to be of an excellent character.and though these Veseols were not built for war purposes, aud consequently lave not the strength of war vessels, they have per- turmed all the service that was expected of them. No equal amount of tonnage was ever procured for any ser ‘view at prices correspondingly low, and with so littie dis- rbauce to che commercial community; and mo vessels wer constructed on better terms for the govern- mout, or havo better gubserved the purposes for which were designed, than the twenty-three gunboats for which the department contracted on its own responsi- bility at uh coment of hostilities, without wait- be action of Congress. In no respect, during this the government beeu better or more economi- cally aud faitnfully served than in the additions that have bean made by onstruction aud purchase to the way Iii order that the actual condition of the pavy, past and present, from March 4, 1861, to November, 1s6z, aud the expansion which has beck made, may be seen, ! present a tabular statement of the number of vessels, aud the og gregale 0! Ueir armament and tounage, with @ detail ac- nt of the Icases that have occurred since wy last an er AT DATE OF LAST ANNUAL REPORT. No Guns. Tons, 76 = 1,783 105,2' 136 51s Tet New vessels, co} des coustructivu, 62 6 41 ads DAM 60000 s0000 A 264 2,557 218,016 PRKSENT NAVAL FORCE. ld Navy... 0. seveceee Th 1,691 100,003 Purchased vessels =. 180 633 86,910 Transiecrod from War aod Trea- sury Departinenta...... ane 230 32,825 Vessels. cumpleted aud uuder ust volun: . 23 659 120,290 Total... cee sce c cece ercee eee ABT 3265 Jocrease sinoe last reported... . 163 TIL (122,020 | LOSES HY SILPWRECK AND IN BArTLE, A Name. Crass. & § Remark, K. B. Forbes|steamer 3} 32u| Wrecked Februar, 1862, couse North Carolin Congress ...{Frigate ....| $0/1867]fo action with M fimac. March 8, lso2. | Combertand [Sloop .. 24) 1726] Do. a0 Whitetail. /Steamor 4) 343) \t Old Point, March 9, 1862, by tire. M. J, Carlton|Mortar sebr.| 3} 178) Attack on Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Apeit 19, 1862. Varuna... {Steamer .... 9/1300/In uctionprith rebet boats below Orleans April , 1862. Sid'yU.Joves) 3) 265|Grounded — below Vicksbr at wo failing into the hands of the eve. | my. | Isinnd Belle, |Steamer 2) 125/Grounded in Appo | mat tox riverduue, | 1862, aud burwt to prevent falling | inte the hands ot | enemy. | Adirondack .|Screw stoop.| 9/1240) Wrecked near Abscu A’y Andrew) Steamer 3] 177) a gare | near Cape Heury, | August 24, 1862. | | Sumre Steam ram..| 2) a0u|Grounded in Miséie sippt river and abandoned 12]7908| ADDED INCE MaccH @, 1861, (Exclusive of those logt,) Number.” Qua. fe 180 transfer... 20 | Ry construction 669 POE. vases stb outs es 963 1,677 | AvpED RY CONsTETCTION. 1 Second class screw sloops- of a 116 | SerOW RMNVOME, ee we ee 108 } Site wheel pont vis. 208 | armored wuoden vessels. 7 } \rmaured trou vessels. “ 659 66 10,008 A nored fron 42 22,011 Wasiern Rivers Atmored wooden are o 1,568 | Arinored wooden vewsei (‘rans ferred (rom War Popartuvent).. 19 322 6,086 Arimored iron vese!%... we AD 32 16/020 Leki veapevelvvsateds O6) NR SE NAVY ON WESTERN WATERS, Armored veasols........ ea 261 Wooden gunboats... - 1B 7” ‘Transports and ordnance steamers 10 2 RAPER Ba Ana ceanna es Tae yy -u 1B Total “6 7% 370 (87.038 When tho vessels. oow construction are com- pleted the navy will pn Ay g Ships, including store and reoeiy esses. 18,087 5,821 8,482 200 74,115 Screw gunboats (new) Iron clad vessels Side. wheel frigates Side whee! gunboats (new) . Side-wheel gunboats (old Screw steamers (purchased ), Side-wheel steamers (purchased )., 63 260 Screw steamers (old Navy)....... 6 at Gunboats, transports, &c., trans- ferred from other departments... 40 108 Sailing vessels 1,415 Steam vessels Total. 3,268 340,036 JRON-CLAD VRSSELS, ‘The attention of this department was tarned to the Subject of iron-clad vessels immediately after the com- Mencement of hostilities and the adoption of measures for the enlargomeynt of the navy. It was a subject full of difficulty aud doubt. * Experiments upon a large sealo of expense, both in England and Franoe, if not resulting in absolute failure, had achieved ‘but a limited and ques- tinable success. Yet it was evident that a new and ma- serial element in maritime warfare was developing itself and demanded inmediate attention. In this view I re- commended to Congress, at its extra session, on the 4th of July, 1861, the whole subject, and asked authorit: organize a commission for investigation, Thirty days after this action ou my part Congress conferred the an thority requested, and appropriated tifteen hundred tbhou- sand for the construction of one or more ircu ciad vessels upou such models as should receive the apyroval of the department. Oa the day after the Inw had been approved Lhe commission was constituted, apd the depart> meut advertised forproposals. Of the various plang aud propositions submitted, three vessels of different models were recommended by thp boatd, which received the ap- proval of the departmeat. Contracts were forthwith made tor constructing the Monitor, tue Galena and the Irunsides. All of these vessels are now in thevservice. It was the {ntention and constant effort of the department and the coutractors that the Mouitor should be completed in the month cf January, but there wag delay in consequence of the difficulties incident to an undertaking of such novelty and magnitude, und there wore also some slight defects which were, however, promptly remedied, aud she left New York early in March, reaching Hampton Roads on the night of the 8th. * Her arrival, though not as soon as anticipated .was moat Opportune and importaat. For gomo time the department had heard with great solicitude of the progress which the iusurgents haa made in armoring and @quipping she large war steamer Merrimac, which had (allen jnto their hanas when Norfolk was abandoned. On the of the 8th of March this formidable vessel, heavily armored and armed, and fully prepared to ope-ate both a8 a ram anda war steamer, came down the | ligabeth river accompanied by severai ‘smaller steamers, two of them partially armored, to attack the vessels of the blockading squadron that were in and aboat Wheu the Merrimac and her attendants made their appearance, the Congress and the Cumberland, two sailing. vessels, were anchored off Newport's News, and the remaining ves- sels were in the vicinity of Fortress Monroe, some six mies distant. The Minnesota, the Roanoke, and the St. Lawrence got immediatciy under way and proceeded to. wards the scene of action. * * * * * ° * Thus terminated the most remarkabie naval combat of modern times, perhaps of any age. The flerc@st and most formidable naval assault upon the power of the Union which bag ever been made by the insurgents was heroically repelled. and @ new-era was opened in the his- tory of maritime warfare. , Before the occurrence of these events, entertaining a conviction that at least one of the models of iron cia vessels—that of the Monitor, an original invention of Jon Ericsson, of New York—would prove a successful experiment, aud tbat it was particularly adapted to our harbor and coast defence, and service on the shallow ‘waters of our seaboard, I estimated, in my annual report, list December, tor the immediate construction of twenty iron-clad steamers. The House of Representatives Promptly responded to this recommeudation, apd a bill Cauthorizing aod cespowering the Secretary of the Navy to cause to be constructed, by contract or other-" wise, as he shall deem best for the pubiic interest, not exceeding tweaty-one iron-clad sterm gupboats.” "The Senate doiayed action on this bill unul February, when, foreseeing Lat the country would suffer frum longer inac tion, | addressed the Chairman of the Nayal Committee of the ‘Senate on the subject, and the result was the imme- diate passage of the bili which had originated in the House in December. At the earliest practicab!e moment after the enactment of this law the department commenced entering inte con- tracts for the construction of armed vessels, most of them on the plaa of the Monitur. The Galena, a less iormidable vessel, was for some time under fire from plunging shot at Drury’s Bluff, on James river. oad te ‘the lronsides, recently completed, has not been tested in action, but it is believed she will prove a formidable tighting vessel. That we might be prepared for extraordinary emergencies, it was deemed advisable to put armature ‘on one of our steam frigates, and the Roanoke was reiected for that purpose. Whatever success may attend the large and costly ar mored ships of the Warrior class, which are being con structed by some of the maritime Powers of Europe cruising in deep waters, they can scarcely causealarm here, tor we have within the Uuited States few harbors that are cessible to them, and fur those few the government can aiways be prepared whenever a ‘oreign war is tmmineut. It has been deemed advisable, however, that we should have afew large sized armed cruisers. of great speed, for ocean service, a5 well as of the cla*s of smaller vessels tor coastwise and defensive o jons, An the construction of iron-ciads of the Monitor class, the nautical qualities of the vessel have not been the gov- erning object, tor with light dranght and heavy armament, high speed isnot attainabie But ubey are adapted to the shallow waters of our coast and harbors, few of which i While tue y can penetrate even the r waters, rivers, harbors aod bayeus of our extenae:t double coast. YARD AND DE/OT FOR AN IRON-CLAD NAVY, Io March lust, aud again m June, I invited the et- teation of the ‘aval committees of Cemgress to tue importance of taking prompt preliminary measures for establishing a navy yard, tucluding tounderies, shops aud docks, adapted to Uke growing wants of the service and the country. It was pot Chat we needed an additional navy yard, but that we required ono of a different charac ter, in mauy respects, from any that we possess: U) view of the unportance of posseesing, somewhere in this country, a navy.and dock yard for the purposes iron navy, the suggestions of the deparcment receive favorable consideration of Congress. The city of lhila hia, the comercial centre of the iron and coal re gions became mterested ja the question and was induced to make a tree offer of League Island, a body of Ia ut six hundred acres, near the confluence of the Dela ware aud Schuylkill rivers. to the United States for uaval purposes. In Go euee of this liberal otier, Congres authorized the Secretary of the Navy to receive und ae cept League Island: provideds bowever, that tt should hot be secepted until the title shall be perfect w low water mark, nor if, ujou more thorough exuminuten avd survey of tho premises by @ competent board of officers to be appointed by the y of the Navy, he shail discsver that the public interests will uot be promoted by acquiring the title as atureswid, that the bourd to be appoited decision of the questions re 4 examination of the barber of New Lond n and ite surroundings, with reference ‘0 its val depot aud navy yard: and that they alsu make investigation in regard to the waters \¢ Nurra. ganset Bay. Pursuant the requiremeuim of the act of Congress above referred to, | appointed, on the 12th of Aupust,a board of oflicers. consisting of Kear Admiral St:ingham, Commodores Van Brunt and Gardner, and Captain Marston, of te wavy, Professor Bacho and lnginver savger, to make (he required examination, and repurt. The board was assiduously engaged for over two mo: ths upoa the duty assigned it, and after completing the survey and examination revived their laber. and, upon a full discussion of the eubject, the members wan preposition for tb arraganset Pay was divided in opinion minority reports. The majority, bere, award to New London tie preterence Jelawd (ova aavy yard. The minority as { phaticully give their pretere to Teague te Scasing important reqnisites whieb the other as beibg better adapted to the special wants: thie meut and the ob.ects of the law authorizing the wp text of the corm: Without attempting. lamanions reports, oF te by even, tb widored it my duty to jeot to the atten grese. and to 1 opiivn ib favor of a new yard and depot betty construction of fron vesselt and io is than any we now bare, aud whore tl of vessels may be repaired, OF, in tine oF pe iw ordinary. im eoleting the site fur such a navy there are two essentia) and controlling der that must govern. One i the vory grest \\! ojortty ond oe vert any Hot absuiute necessity) of fresh water over # for the prevervar.on of irom vestels. The other is. soc nur (vom an attack by a foreign enemy. Those two prowiry qualities are to be had at League istand, Trot oa iso in clowe proximity to that focn'ion, London has © commodsious terhor, and, yore it Jess exported, xome good qualities tO. led it bo the intention ef Congre ber jar to those we now have | q wooden versels, For an iron navy wu for iron purpuses Tam not aware that tt has apy adva: over Brook or Charlestown, or Portsmout: ‘1, © wat ogress must determine whether anor och yard shail be established lepartment ha: vot cuggeered oF coutompiated the acquisition of a yar! en deyot of that description, but called attention to the growin. ne cossity of uu establishmont for uy iron navy. The iw, while requiring an oxamipation o other plrces by a beard, anthorives no action by the depariment jor we seytance of aay other thao Logue Island, aud 1 du nos, | therefore. propose to canvass the merits or demerits of | New London or Narraganset Bay Teague Isivnd bas the requisite of fresh water, which is indis; ensavie for vn iron avy yard, anu 1s remote from | the sea, which renders it a place of security, The ob- Jections to Wave its tow alluvial soil, the cost of raising it toa proper grade, the depth it will be necessary w penetrate before reaching safe betiom, and the expevse of piling,on which to erect saperstrrctures, These aru weighty objections, twill require no inconsiderwble expenditure (o overe me them. In addition to those above enumerated is the fact that the navigation of the Delaware river is sometimes obstructed by ico, and injury 1 sometimes caused by tloating ice; but there is Do river east Or north of it where the objection is not much greater Tn regard to the location of naval depote and the neces sity of having them secure trom foreign enemies. [ cannot more distineuy apd clearly present what are the toqui Bites Lhan by quoting frogs the report of a very able board of eminent of Aud engineers on seacoast deiences: made in 1820:-— 7 “Security against an attack by sea or land is undoubt odly the firet condition required; for the destructioa of an establishment of thig nature involves with it the destruc- tion of all those elements of a naval force which have been eoilected 4 long time beforelmnd during peace, to the im- caloulable loss of the public. Such a misiortune mugt ve eeverely felt during the whole course of a war, and ¢an..ot weil be repaired whilst it continues, This mdispensible quality (seeurity) must be obtained, a% well as jvgalities will admit, without having recourse to artiticial fortitica: tions; for these must be very costly, and if that expense can be avoided, the sume sunis will be uch more advantageously laid out in improving and dizing the establishments of the depot. ‘Thus, if equal im other respects. @ place whese site is uaturully strong, and whose position with respect to the general frontier is weli covered, should be preferred to anvther that requires to be fortified.” Toe t essential here specified of security from at- tack by a foreign enemy, appertains to League Island, whieh bas, in that respect, strong topographical advan? tages. Its’ interior kcation might have constituted an objection at a former period, wien only sailing vessels were in the naval service; but the introduction of steam hag wrought a revolntion’ in this respect. rendering the movements of Our war vessels independent of wind and tid@ Immediate contiguity to the ocean is uo longer & | | | | be deemed an advantage, but a disadvantage. Steam, rifled cannon, and modern improvement in ord: nance, have rendered harbors and depots itime diately on the seaboard insecure. Ina révent debate in the british Parliament it was emphatigally urged that Portsmouth and its immense and costly works must be abandoued, for the reason thatavaval depot should not be within the range of Gre or six miles of an attacking force. 11, then, fresh water be indispensable for a navy yard for the construction, repair, and. dockage of iron vessels, aml vessels that ave clad with tron, there is no position east of the |elaware where the di from ice do not exceod those urged against League Isiand, nor fis any place ben proposed that presents equal advan- oF 18 BO Secure an attack. While there are some and adimitted Oyections to League Island, a0 ce has been proposed that comnbimes so many advan- unless it be the contraefed and altogether inade- t Philadelphia. That yard may perhas be € 20 13 Lo donble tts present capacity, but, besides invelwing a large expenditure, 1. would be insum- cient for our future iron navy. . ‘tbe eccupat of League Island would not increase tae number of navy yards that we now have, for, when once in operation, the discontinuance of the present gite ut Philadelphia would take place asa matter of cguree, and the avails could be, and doubtless would be, devoted to the improvement of the new loca- tion; whereas, the adoption of any other site would be the addition of another navy yard similar in character to those we uow have, which is uot.required, The conflicting reports, avd the conditions annexed to the iaw authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to receive and accept League Island, have occasioned embarrass- ment, and I have thereture deemed it respectiul to delay action until Congress should coavene. As neither the harbor of New Loudon nor the waters of Narraganset Bay are adapted to the purposes and wants of an iron navy, whatever may be their advantages in other respects, and ag Leagne island has the requisites of fresh water, secu- rity [rom external enemies, and proximity te iron and coal, | propose vo receive-and accopt for the government the nvunificent donation of the city of Philadelphia, unless Congress shall otherwise direct. wie ‘ MATERIALS f The time has arcived when, in order to maintain our- selves and our true position a8 a nation, we must bave a formidable navy,not only of hght draught vessels to guard our extensivo and shallow coast, but ope that with vezsels always ready for the ‘service,and. of stfficient size to give them speed, can seek and me-t an enemy on the ocean. In order to obtain the enormous steam power essential to great speed, we must have vessels of the greatest magnitude, Vessels of wood will aiways be built; but the causes that have operated to retard the introduction of fron ves - sels are disanpearing. The working of iron has been much simpliied; {ts application facilitated; new tools.and inachinery fur working it are constantly being invented and improved; artisans skilled in its manufacture are be- comivg more common, aod the material more casily ess of events renders it certain tha’ ver enter largely into the structure of vessels for merine service, although it will never entirely supersede wood. Our country preduces the material in abundance, we have oo occasion to seek it from abroad. While our torests. are disappearing inexhaustible resvurces of iron are being developed. ‘That it is for the interest of the governmen&to be prepared to meet some change in the material and structure of our naval vessels need not be repeated. It must provide the necessary yards and estabiishments for each, and have them pro- perly located, in which to build 1ts ships of and at Jeasi one ot them should be specially adapted to iron. private establithmeut can undertake such heavy work as the goverment requires for its armor and steam pur- poses. Possessing advantages that no other nation en- joys, we should avail ourselves of them. Our iron aud ‘coal are found in the same region,and we bave fresh wa- ter rivers in which iron vessels can Le docked and kept clean, and from which ull enemies can be excluded. In the construction of the iron and iron- clad vessele which the department has now in progress every eflort has been made to have them promptly completed. It is believed that nearly P iron will every rolling mill has been engagod that is able .o do the work; and yot these vessels ure several months behiud the tine within which they were to have been completed. ‘The department is convinced that the centractors have done their best; and yet it is with great difficalty that these comparatively small vevsels and the moderate sized wired can be procured for them as soon ax wanted, 60 much dees the demand exceed the capabilities of the mills tosupply. These facts demonstrate the necessity for public Works where vessels of great maguitude are to be constructed. Had the government been prepared fer this heavy work, much of the delay which has embar- rassu@uaval operativns might have been avoided, Pri- vate establishments would have been felieved, and ena bled to furnish a larger quantity within the scope of their own mannfacture, : It is as important that the government should build its own ships of iron as of wood. if the apparent cost in oither case 1s greater, the actual value is also greater. Lt is of Lhe first importance that the material, whether of iron or wood, should be of the best quali 4 9s regards tron, this can be insured and’made certain by its being received and reworked at government nts. The’large quantities required will always the government to purchase on economical terms It 1 well understood that the qualities of trou vary greatly, aud the use of interior kinds will be both injurious and expensive. Experiments with shot in target practice demonetate Lat some qualities bave much greater powers of resistance than others,and are therefore better for armature Other qualities may better resist corrosion, ‘sud be More suitabw to the action of sea water, and still orate may be adapted to the internal paris exposed to different chemical action. Tuese qualities aud denomina tious will he ascertaied by observations and tests thas ment can alone well make and faithiully apply clon of its war vessels, Contractors and Suraents will not be equally vigilant and ing the proper selections and assortings. Nment such as the department bas in view and nded, will enable the government t deseriptivn® am the construction of vessels of iron aud of iron arteature. Stem machinery, anchors, chain eabies and neavy trou work for the naval service would manufactared at the same establishment to ad- vantage. ‘The necessity of such a dockyard and establishment is becoming so important that I deem ik prope present the subjcet to the crnsiderati @ of Congress. As yet we Lace but few iron vessels, and these chiefly of foreign consteretion; but we have’ built and are building trom-clad vessels at private extablishments—not one at our public yards In sustaining our position as a naval Power we must be prepared (or reverses that may befall us im battle or by calamities inedent to ocean service. A wise precaution will always provide a reserve of ships to take the place of those that may be injured or destroyed. Vessels should be in different stages of progress of con- struction, thereby giving constant employment to a cer. fain number ot skilfal mechanics. Stores of material can well bo avcumulated in days of peace for the emer. gencies of war. ‘Such was the former policy of the government, and for many years on aupuel appropriation was mide for the gracual therease of the pavy. were i times of peace larg the dicerent yards. It was from the stock thus and seasoned that our vessels were mainly bi igen. supplics koep its te i, ty Amounts barely suffi literally destitui materials in our navy yar's, as weil wa with but lew ships th sus- tain Ue tatioual integrity. From: mistuken economy or from dosign, the gow in shies and destitute of material for their construction, No alternative was left, wha resistance was made, bub for the departinent to build its vessels as spoedily as pox. sible, and of suck timber as cuuld, in the great haste and emergency, be procured. AS a consequence, ¢ should have {nated ior secre will soon perish, in Uh ‘antime invoive heavy expeuse for’ nec repairs in order (6 Keop (hem dtioat AS vessels Of wood will alwave be aed to somo exten for naval purposes, and aa they evn, for the present at Jenet, be constroctea more speedily than of irou, it wil he Wise economy to Lave a roxsouable quantity of tinder ajways in ste A Special appropriation annually for the purpose of goovniniating a stock of taaterial must olways be adray- eve government. In that way ie navy cau Tost ec nomically supplied: cau make Batter bo hort purer oud have more time Ww oxunive aot cost the deliveries NUT HEN Se wilh t early period to catablish « Naval depot i the rivers fi the valley o: the Mis- Awsippl, Where ke now hove . cquadeon equal in sumbers Hey States at the commence- ‘he want of an éetablish ely may be constrycted, ped and repaived, has been vee of such an establishment compeled Lo Fesort to expedi- ment of this admintstratier ment in that quarter, w) armed and armore eeverely felt, ani! ti iy the department has bee ents that may have beon sometimes disadvantageous: ran iron navy the great rivers of the Weat are well ved, aa) the unmense resources jp irom and oa} hay F Ada are distributed be the undoubted volioy of the government at no di period in relation to sueb an establishiwent. The ime may not have arrtved when the selection of & permanent loca- tivo for a navy yard and foundry shall be made, but it must be io the near future, and until then the depart- ment will be dependent ina ‘great degree on private os- tablishineats and such temporary arrangements as oat be secu HARBOR DEFENCES. PD my ing od peace had rendered the government we lv the defence of the harbors, aod under re cent alarms the municipal authorities of many of our cities bave made application for navad vessels to protect them from apprehended danger. Although solicitous to relieve aay portion of our citizens oven from unuecessary uiarm, the departm ent could not furnish tho force quired (or every place exposed, nor has it haen ant pater that such force weuld be expected of the navy. It has beon the nnderstanding that the fortifications were to be relied upon as furnlahing the roquired security, while the navy performed a different service. No longer ago than May Inst the chinf engincer of the War Department, in a commanication to Congress, states that ‘fas a general rule, with hardly an ex ception, the permanent defensive works of the United Slates ¢ designed to forbid tho passage turough the waters sulsjéct to their firo of hostile vessels, or to pre- vent the use of such waters by an enemy in his veesels, or to secure the use of the waters for our own vease's So long as these forta full! these conditions our fortitiod ports, Davy yards..and harbors of refege will be secure against injury from an enemy's sins, and the waters pyro: tected by them will be availible for the use of our ves- seis and forbidden to those of an ene: these forts are designed ag dofences tang power afloat.” “While there may be difference of opinions as to the views bere expressed, there is none whatever that the fortifications at our principal porta should be, and doubt- loss ure, adequate defences against any cruisor or,cruisers that may bo afloat im the cause of the ivsurgents. has not therefore entored into the estimates and urrangemonts of the Navy Peyartment to furnish vessels for the defence of our ports, nor to detach thom (rom other i ive duties (or that purpose, when other provisions have made by the government aud have been uniformly relied npon for their protection, DocKING. Uur facilities for docking ships are altogother inade ‘quate to our naval wants, and in a foreign war with a for- midable power onr condition would be deplorable. We have but ove dry dock at euch naval station, and three of our six docks are of wood, being bota perishable and combustible. The capacity of these docks is much boiow the size required tor seme of the vessels we are now building, and such as we must build for the futuro. Other nations, finding themselves in a similar condition, are now enlargiug their dry docks; and we, having but three permanent oncs, and they desigued for veesels of less dimensions than some we now Daild, shoaid have new and suitable ones, and their construction should be forthwith commenced, Some of them should be at least 650 feet in length, with a ‘breadth of 80 feet, to admit of large increase. Docks of ‘wood are too perishable, and require greater depth of wa- ter for heavy ships than our dar! ean furnish. ‘The importance of constructing wet basing at such of the navy yards as are sufficiently eapacious to admit of it adverted to by the Chief of the Bureauot Yards and Docks, is commended to the consideration of Congress. REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THR NAVY. ‘The act of the 6th of July last, reorganizing the Navy Department, creates additional bureaus. Thie in- sures a much better distribution of the labors and very much simplifies and facilitates the business of the department law’ #0 recently gone into ope- bave 80 lately enterod upon ‘their duties, that the results and benetits ‘aro but partially ‘developed. I am satisfied, bow- ever, even in this errly stage of the proceedings, that the change will be productive of efficiency and economy, and be advantageous in pa ng nt while the energy and talent of the chiefs who havo brought into the coun- sels of the department will inspire it with additional vi igor. The greatly increased labor imposed upoa the depart- ment in consequence of the greatly increased force of men and veasele in cervice, with a vasily more active employment, calls for additional clerical torce in order that justice may be done to the service and the govera- ment. By the law of Deceraber, 21, 1961, it was enacted that any naval officer whose name bad been borne the Na- val Register forty-five years, or who had attainéd the age of sixty-two years, sball be retired from active service, and his name be eatered on tho retired list of officers of the grado to which he belonged. The President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, was authorized © to detailretired officers to active duty and might om their receiving a vote of thanks from Congress, upon the ro- commendation of the President, be restored to the active lst, and not otherwise. By the saine law the President was authcrized to x b ration, and the Y lect any officer from the grades of captain or commander i and assign him to the command of @ squadron, with the rank and tile of ‘flag officer,”’ and the officer thus as- signed was to have command in full as if be were tho senior officer of the —— The officers of our bl ding squadrors and of the Mia- siSsippi flotilla were recognized flag officers untii the pas- sige of the act of the 16th of July eatabiishing the grade ot rear admiral. when thoy received that appeintment. establish equalize the gi ade of line officers of the United States navy,’ does justice in conterring ranks and grades that had, uotil (eat time, been withhold from as meritorious and gatlant a class of officers as ever devoted their days and periiled their lives for their country. Though the justice to awhich they were entitled has been long delayed, it waa gracefully and geoerously rendered by the present Con- grees, and has been and is appreciated by the bravo mon who are its recipients, and by all attached to the service, ‘a8 a just recognition of the worth and ability of the offi- cers of the American navy _It is a grasifying fact, also, that our countrymen have responded with ene: unanimi- ty (© the action of Congress, and that the uaworthy prejn dices agaist naval titles and honors that once existed we 40 genorally disappeared. The commanders of our squadsoos now hold rank with those of other naval Pewers on the ocean, on distant ser- vice, and wherever they carry our flag or appoar as the representatives of their country. The operations and working of the law may be im Proved and moditied, in some respects, without changing the general principies of the bili, wbich are correct. Votes of thauas having ' been reudered Fiag Oitcers I. M. Golasborough, $F. Dupont, D. @. Farragut and A. H. Foot,’ they wore dominated to the senate for the piace o. rear admurai ou ‘the day subsequent to the approval of the act. At the samo time the names of Captains Charles Stewart, George €. Read, Willian B. Shubrick, Joseph smith, George W. Storer, Francis H. Gregory, Kli A. F. Lavalette, Silas H. Stringham, and Hiram Paulding were sent in fur confirma- tion as rear admirals on tbe retired list. The nomina tions not having been submitted until the closing hours of the session were nut acted on by the Senate, but the otticers have been eoutinued ia the piaces to which they were promoted. Officers commanding squadrons, who, bythe act of December last, were entitied to the rank and title of flag oliicers, have, since the of the act of July 16, been awarded, while on duty, the position of acting rear admiral, thereby conferring on them rank corresponding with that of officors in similar position in the navies of other countries, and relative rank with the army officers of our own, when co operating or brought together on active service. In pursuance of the requiroments of the fourth section of the “act to estabiish und equalize the grade of line officers of the United States Navy,’ direct- ing that the “Secretary of the Navy shall ap- point an advisory board of not less than threo ollicers Seuior to those to be upon, who shall carefully scrutinize the active list of live oflicers above and iuclud- ing the erate ‘of masters in the line of promotion, and ro- port te bim in writing thure who, in the opinion of the board. are worthy of promotion,’ I,on the 22d of July, appowted Capt. William U. Shubrick president, and Cap. tains Francis Grogory, E. A. F. Lavalotio, W. fi. Gardner abd William W. McKean as members of the board. ‘This board assembied ia Washington on the 2ith July, and concluded thew labors on the 6th of August. Notice was forthwith given the officors whom they had desig- mated of their rank and position. The filth section of the Jaw enacts that ‘the officers recommended shail be inme- diately commissioned;"' but as the Senate was not thea in gossion, and as the right of selection aud == appointment cannot be conferred on an advisory board, or by law or Congressional action to any ether tribuval than is specified by the con- stitution, tho names recommended will be preseuted for ‘nomination and confirmation, subject to the decision of the Presitent and Senate respectively. The jaw having made no express provision for officers not recommended by the advisory board, ether by pro motion or retiring them, @ question arises as Lo the dispo sition that is to be made of the oflicers thus suporseded, for it is presumed they are not to be dismis-ed, although @ strict and literal compliance with the act would seem to require it. Im another respect the jaw inadvertontly does injustice to certain officers of tho grade of cap: tain, who, though meritorious, are suporseded by the act. ‘These and some other defects and incungruities require reassial legisiation, and T respecttully invite attention to then. SavaL acaDLaty. ‘The largeiy increased number of vessels as. the groatly Avgmented force of the navy ia overy respect, cali for an additional number of edvested and properly ‘disciplined officers Bot it ts well known that, while the demand tor officers bas increased, there has been a large diminution of their number by the desertion of those who, at the commencement of the insurrection, left the service. Ef. forts to supply the deficiency, and moet our necessities from the Naval 4catemy as early a8 possible, have been atrended with embarrassment, irom legislative action in regard to appointments The school itself has been re stricted, not only by its removal. but by the failure tw compicté the authorized nutaber, in consequence of tw 66 lections of candidates having been made by representa Hmient was, in Its weed, deficrent | MYye Im many of the districts ever nay be thought of th ypriety of surren- to the popular branch of t egiative etmout of the government apointineuts, of the control of nts, exprossly cofitided, in ail uses, by the constitution to Other departinents of whe government, and never to either bianel ot Coo or’ of the pokey of mingling the Ie y | gisiative authority With executive duties the practice | of the departront has been Wo make the rule of appoint ment aceard with the laws which are enacted, tts Hot necessary Ww discuss 1 this place the right of Congres® prescribe the lveality from which appointinents shell Be made, A’ au fniiGabioo of a dispesition that the ofigors ehou!! be distributed throughent (he cou the Executive hag made ita point to peaction the rule of requtitian scented we the soveral laws upon the subject. consequence of tive yn surrection, however, and the | vr retusul O several of the States Ww eléot re nteR 1G COMET OE, The number of midstipmen had become reduced at the whan the countey required aa inerowe ind | tMe of the navy woe thus Impaired or dinitanshed b, bellion, for the eunpression of which ita flies pow er wus invoked. Netw ithssandn bgt goed 7 Wr ita the Wishes of Congroae, so. far As they cout practicnt be carried uve otlebt, 16 was. deanied uussiwe by poe mit these who were waging War ogame the Qovorpinent to wenkon Ike OnerEy ALG Hui} air its wLrOngEh, OF to destroy oF lesson . megenta, th va ie an institution as ‘the Nava: Academy, through « literal adherence to regulations of doubtiui ouvatituti mal. {ty Forescoing Wis state of Uhings i uave, iu former re that-rogion indicato whit mpat | ports, inten waval power by permitting the | rednee the numbers of go | sugrested to Congress that the Rxecutive shoud have authority, im form of law as in fact, to select candi. dates ior unrepresented diatricts as well as for districts whose renresentatives: Nid have made no selection, When, therefore, the em approached for the forma:inn of the class of present year, and there remaicd a large number of vacancies unsupplied -tt was coveluded 40 fill up the Academy by ir ments for sme Of the vagaucies croated by vo. bellion. Such ‘a course of action, plainly demanded by the exigencies of the public service, appeared to be in aceoréavce with the policy and spirit of the wet ot July 16, 1862, though some of the provusions of that act, as ik was appear t be expressed in apt term to be, , W seine extent, confused, if not ovatrad. y ‘he number of midshipmen authorized by law is 516, (the number now in the lomy is 376, leaving 139 va- ‘cancies, and itis proposed, unless Congress shall other- wise direct, to (orm a second class at tho bal yearly ex. amination in Fedruary by appomtments to all the existing vieancies, the represcatatives baving ua opportunity tw select candidates from their respective districts, the places belonging to which have been made vacant. ' Duc. jug the disturbed and unsettled condition of the school and the country, 1 have been under the necessity of de- tailing and.orderipg to active duty eome of the officers connected with the matitution, and, for tho time bom, have selected civilians a8 instructor® or assistant pro- fessurs. Under the extreme pressure for trained dnd educated naval ollicers, the midshipmen of the two highest cliskas were last year detached from the school and ordered into active service. Two advanced classes have been formed, which are striving with, commendable zeal t compiete their studies a year within the prescribed period. In- struction in practical seamanship is continued during the: whole academic year. The midshipmen are ail organized in two ehipe’ cor ies, cach onc having his station aa- signed him im movements. In addition, they are barkod overy wook om board the practice ships Joho Adams and Marion. +1 earnestly commend the Naval Acadomy to the fogter- ing care of ,and reiterate my sense Of its im- portunce w the Capes of the naval service. Is cost, even upon & liberal of expenditure , be insig- niticant aa compared with its usofulness properly managed. PRIZES. Porsisteat and systematic offurte to evade the blobkade, ‘land to convey articles, contraband of war, to the insur: gents, have led to muzy captures. At the date of my last aa- dual Communication one hundred und. fifty vessois were reported to bave been seized by the er ge | squadrons. There have beon sino® captured reported to the departmont three hundred and ninety ‘vessels of all descriptions, taaking # total of five hundred | and torty three vessels that havo been seized sinco the i blockade has been instituted. Some of the vecsels cap- { tured, which were [rail and not caiculated for a sea voy- age, wore destroyed; but most df them, including a num- er of valuable steamers, havo eeu seul in for udjuds- tion. . Some modifications of the laws relative to proceedings: in prigo casee were inade during the last session of @ou- Gress; but further legislation would seem to be necessary to facilitate the adjustmont of thove cases, and insure tne Prompt distribution of prize money. Of the large number of voasels sent in for adjudic in only forty-five have the Deon brought wo @ ove, oe while several millions amount , would wheh dollars in heon captured and are in process of condemnativa, th amount yok ordered to be distributed is bat $554,176 51. this sum $376,596 65 iv under deorces of the court at Key West. ‘MARINE OORPS. In submitting hia annual report the colunet commend- ‘ent Of tho marine states that the corps ie vow six bup- dred men short of the complement, a8 exhibited by the general return, while, in bis opinion, an ivcreasé of hve laundrod mea, with & proportionate number of officers, is required. There has always been a divided cpinion among naval efhcers in rogard to maintaining a distinct organization of marines for service on ee, dofore the groas chango which the service undergone by the introduce tion of steamers, with their corps of engineers, firemen and attondants, An incongruity attaches to the system, for the marinas are partly under the army laws and regu- tions, and partly under theuaval code. Onshore are paid by s marine paymaster, ou shipboard by a . Davy paymaster. They aro subsisted.on tho army ration on share, while 6d oii they have the navy ration. Consequently tho condition of the marines vary from shore to ship, or ship to shore, aa they may be employed. It would be better were the corps to be permauently attached to either the naval or army sorvico, instead of ogcupying an equivocal attitude as rogueds both. ‘The discipline and proficiency of the corps are reported to be satisfactory. It is respectfully submitted that it is due to ihe trom its cumbers and position, that the com: should be mado a brigadier general, and thereby have rauk corresponding with like commands. SKAMEN AND BMPLOYES IN NAVY YARDS. ‘The number of persons vessels, including reosiving 28,000; and thore are not leas than 12,000 mechantos and laborers employed at tho different navy yards and vaval siations. it would bo difficult to stase tho numbers employed as- private yards and establishments on govorninopt work and under contracts with She Los ainsi * ry * . RXPENSES AND WETIMATEA. “nh appropriations made at the rogular and speociat srasions of Congress for tho year ending June 30, 1862, were $43,015/051 77 ° the Yopert- ment during the samo time balance of meat, together with all the increased to-tho enlarged navy. ‘The amouni a ated for the current fiscal year (ending June 30, 1863,) te 862,814,359 07. e eetinates submitted for tho fiscal Year ending June 30, 1864, umount to $68,257,266 1, via— Navy propor Marine corps... Navy yards. Hospitals. The objects ‘appropri req: are given in detail in the reports of tho chiefs af the- ‘bureaus and the commandant oi the marine corps. CONCLUSION. - I have thus endeavored to place before you aad the country an exposition of the action of the Navy Department, and of the achiovements of the navy during the past year. My account i, 1 am aware, necessarily imperfect, wad | therefore again refer for in- teresting und important details to the subsidiary reports: herewith presented, which I commend to the attention of the goverument and the country. If what I nave writtea: shail be considered as attesting in any the fore sight and energy of this department, then I request that ‘4 generous Measure of approbation yy be awarded to those by whom [ have deen official . 1 esteom rayseif and the country fortunate in the selection of those who have been associated with me in administering the duties of this department. In tho Assistant Secretary t have ever found an abie, caruest and efficient condjutor. And it givos me pleasure to acknowledge tho aid which I have at all Limes received from the energy, experience and wise counsel of the several chiefs of bureaus in my administration of our paval affairs, and which have bees: of the biguest value to the service and the country. Bat most of all do I commend to the gratitnde and praise of their government and country the officers and men of the pavai service. In my last annual report | said that in their hands the historic renown of the American. navy had been elevated aud augmented. Another year of their boroie and trivinphant service authorizes and impels me now to state that no country ever owed @ higher appreciation to its navy than is justly due to vure. No choice of naval officers for high commands or import- ant adininistrative positions was over more fortunate or success ul. For myself 1 claim only tLe merit—which, being maat- fest official obligation, can searcely "be considered merit—of having in’ @ conscientious spirit devoted in this memorabie crisis of our history, with unwearied and unceasidg eflort, my best powers to the performauce of the arduous and responsible duties of the hesdof this department. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of tho Navy. To the PReupErr. % Superior Court—General Term. Before Hon. Judges Robertson, Moncrief and Moneil. PROOF OF TITLE UNDER SALE FOR TAXES. Stevens vs. Palmer.—-This was an action brought tore” cover a lot of land in the city of New York, partof the Hermitage farm. On the trial before Justi¢e Robertson the plaiutif proved a title to the premises in feo, whigh was mot by the defendant setting up title under a sale for the taxes of the years 1841, 1842 and 1843. In sup. port of this title the defendant introduced the tax books for the years 1841, 1842 and 1843, showing the tax upon the preinises, next the certificate of a sale of the prem- ises, a lease from the Mgyor under the corporate seal, the advertisements of the notice to redeem from the sale, affidavits of the service of notice to redeem on the person last asgessod as owner and on the occupants, and rested his case. The plaintiif moved for judgment on this 2 on the ground that it did not show any title in the de- fendant; that the tax books did not prove themselves, Uhat po, warrant to collect any tax and 90 demand of A mont of the tax was proved. The Judge directed jury to find a verdict for tho plaintiff, to which the de- tendant excepted aud ordered the exception to be heard in the first instance at General Term, xcaption was argued at the Uctober General Term by Joho Towashond for the plaintiff and Geo. W. Stevens for the defendant, whon the Court ordered judgment for the platatiit oa the verdict, holding that the fects proved as the trial did aot establish any (Ue tn the defeudant ster to the Ship Chapt Di Tom, Dee. ‘The sbip Chapin, from Boston for Sai Kraucieoe, Ne vember 24, bas pat beck here teal ‘She bad to throw part of her aa ego overboard vhets. STOCK BOARD, te ioe wane arent Comes 1962 Stocke strat: meyivauta fives, ( ing Riwroad. ati. Morrie Canal, 6154, Doug Islam Rail rend. 22: Peonsylvama Raitrond, 5556 Sight exchangeoo New York at par 1908 Waar totes Dee. ‘ | Plow dart Wheat steady, Coen booyant: av Tle a 180, Whe AE 780. 0 THe, thls Ho At a 68e Whiskey Gray at se. #48) Mm: PHIL ADELPHL va Pie, with am Corns At mde Pier anes Floor fray bat dull, Wheat seeree: Readericy saies ot red Ot sh 48 wR AS ’ a londanay: salee dt TR Whiskey 91 406 Flower quiet, Wheat dutt; ad gules Corn scm, aemiand tdorate. sales 6,000 bashola Chionge at atid 5,000 bushels, in bage, at 68e 0 Me Outs ano ethergrairs quiet, Whiekey in moderate denmad, bat fem enles 186 } Pole, at 88e per vallon, Gas | fro ghts or ded for (ne gem sun, Imports for chetaat Twenty four bout —i5,000 ubis, { @our, 43,000 Dushels heer, 36,000 Dupagig Cora,