before suggested, been discontinued ; all the districts, except small por tious of two, having been explored as fully as is deemed useful till th. surveys of the land into townships and sections shall be completed, A. fast as they may be completed, arrangements have been made for additional reservations of public land, on which live oak has been ascertainen to abound ; and the prospect of a sufficient supply of that kind of timber in future is flatterivg, if that on private lands, as these are wanted to b. cleared for cultivation, be, from time to time, purchased at moderate prices, and placed in depot for the frames of vessels specially authorized or collected under the head of gradual improvement. On this whole subject, I have so recently and at such length submitted to Cougress, the views of this department, that further observations here are not deemert

necessary. (See report on live oak to House of Representatives, Decem ber 14, 1832.)

Some miscellaneous matters connected with the navy deserve a brief notice. The usual altention has been bestowed on the suppression of the slave trade. The colony of Liberia has been visited by the schooner Por. poise, while in pursuit of a piratical vessel ; and which vessel, it is gratifying to add, is supposed to bave been since captured by a British brig, and her criminal career terminated near the island of St. Thomas, on the coast of Africa, One-half of the usual appropriation on the subject of the slave trade will probably be sufficient for the ensuing year, as may be seen by the state of the account herewith submitted.

The renewal of an appropriation for the relief of Alexander Claxton, made in May, 1830, has become necessary, in consequence of its having been transferred to the surplus fund before all the persons entitled to it were able to procure the necessary vouchers. The proceedings of the Board appointed under a resolution of Congress to revise the naval regu. latinos, will be soon submitted in a separate report.

The survey of our seacoast having been placed in charge of the Trea. sury Department, it is not in my power officially to state its progress ; but officers have been detaile'', and all available facilities provided, whenever the wishes of those superintending the subject have been communiBated.

Some expenses under the contingent appropriation for enumerated ob. jects, have not bren included under any of the amounts already mentionled ; but they belong to courts martial, to pilotage of vessels, to transporlation of materials, to the purchase of charts and books, and various other small items, forming an aggregate of about $80,000.

Op a review of the whole affairs of this department, it appears that its expenditures, on all naval subjects, the past year, bave been somewhat less than four millions of dollars. It will be seeo how this result com pares with former periods, by adverting to the fact that, during the last twenty years, these expen.lituses, except during five years of that line, have never fallen so low as three millions; and, except during six years of that time, have never exceeeded four millions The whole estimate made the yast year for the general wanits of what is technically considered the navy, were only $3,176,766 Those for the year previous were X3 227.383 Those for the present year are $3,292,224. But it is to be remembered that, under the head of payal exponditures, besides what is paid from the amount voted on the annual pavul estimates, it is custom

ary to class what is paid froir half a million appropriated for a term of years to gradual improvement; almost $200,000 for the marine corps; the payments from the navy pension, hospital, and privateer pension funds; and several miscellaneous sums voted by Congress on motious, resolo. tions, and petitions; and part of which sums, though charged under this head, have little or no concern with our naval establishment. On the contrary, some of the expenses connected with the administration of the department at this place are included in the general appropriation bills for the support of Government, and are not usually classed under the head of naval expenditures.

It is a high gratification to be able to state that, since 1827, nearly half a million a year has been disbursed for gradual improvement: that within ten years a larger number than formerly, of seamen and officers, with increased pay to four classes of the latter, have been maintained very great and valuable iinprovements, besides the dry docks, have been begun and accomplished at many of the yards; and our force in commission considerably augmented ; and yet that all our ordinary Dayal ex. penditures are, and probably can be kept within four millions of dollars annually.

The smaller appropriations originally made for the navy, served to maintain the few officers and se a meu then employed, and supplied us with several fine vessels, four of which are still in existence

The subsequent appropriations on a more extended scale, besides supporting the current expenses of our force in its infancy, furnished the purchase money for most of our present yards, and defi ayed the expenses of our brilliant hostilities with France, and afterwarde with Tripoli ; till, a few years of comparative inactivity having ensued, the commencement and progress of the last war with England led to a great addition to the naval es. tablishinent, and to expenditures much larger than at present. The liberal appropriations that were continued for some years after that war, aided in laying a good foundation for the gradual increase of the navy, and helped to build not only many of the vessels now in commission and ordinary, but most of those upon the stocks

The appropriations for some years past have been similar in amount, and have enabled the de. partment to enlarge its policy, and widen the sphere of its operations.

Besides building some additional vessels, and defraying all the current expenses of an increased force, both personal and material, it has been able to erect hospitals, to construct dry docks, to improve greatly the old yards, to add and maintain a new one on our southern frontier, and to col. iert in depot a large amount of valuable stores as a part of tho due preparation in peace for the various contingencies of war.

With a careful reeard to systein and economy, and with strict accountability in agents and office is, this policy can long be pursued and extended without inaking the originary annual demands for this branch of the se, vice often exceed four millions: and if, without essential changes by Congress, increasing our present expenses, and without any unforeseen and extraordinary wants,

our fiscal operations can usually be confined within that amount yearly, it is coufidently hoped the naval establishment will not be considered wasteful or burdensome beyond its benefits to the country.

lu disbursing between three and four millions the past year, it is no knowu that a single instance of any loss has orcurred.

The balances on hant, unexpended, are about $1,400,000, but mos of them will probably be wanted to close the different accounts, on all the different subjects, when finally adjusted, i onnected with our financial concerns, is one other circumstance of urgent inportance. The period of time at which the annual appropriations for this branch of the service are usually mare, is a source of great inconvenience and injury. The estimates and appropriations are known generally not to extend heyoudi the current year; consequently, it happens that, after the 1st of January, there is nothing on hand under some heads to meet the daily demands up the service, amounting on an average to $10,000 per day, unless a new

appropriation has been made, or there happen to be some balances of the
former year not called for. Under some heads such balances always ex.
ist, because some disbursements, by means of absence, distance, and other
causes, are not completed within the year. But they seldom exist under
other important heads, and ought not in, if the accounts are seasonabiy
seuiled and the estimates were accurate, and the appropriations, as is
usual, conformed to the estiniates. The power now vested in the Presi.
dent to transfer a balance from one appropriation 10 another, is confined
to certain classes of claimis, small in aniount, and bence as to all others
no transfer can legally be made; and, if no balance remain at the end
of the year, and the new naval appropriation bills have not passed, pay
ment is entirely stopped, or the whole operations of this 'department de-
pendent ou them are suspended. Considering how large a part of these
operations and of our expenditures necessarily takes place in distave
quarters of the world, it will be seen that the embarrassment in this
branch of the service must of:en be peculiar and aggravated.
of bills of exchange drawn abroad, chargeable to the appropriations al.
ready exhausted, the public faith, under the above circumstances, is some.
times in da nger of being violated; our credit in foreign countries becomes
injured ; and the Treasury, as actually happened during the last winter,

is exposed to large losses, if the holders choose to resort to protests and
claims for the mercantile rate of damages.

Under the present system of passing so late the naval appropriation bills, it happens that, unless inoney voted under one heat, is without authority as was once the practice, applied under other heads, this unfor. tunate coprition continues in every short session of Congress about two monihs, and every long session about four months. It can easily be remedied in iuo methods : one of them is, to make, previous to the 1st of January, new appropriations for a quarter or half of the year towards all perinanent objects. By limiting them to such time and to such obljects, and by taking the estimates of the former year as a guide, no in.

convenience will interpose, and no error can occur, which may not be reactily corrected when the residue of the appropriations for the whole year is voted at a later period in the session. Another mode is, to authorize the President to make recessary transfers from one bead to another, in all cases whom the new naval appropriation bills do not pass by the

commenrement of the year, and to requue from him a report to Congress of the amount and causes of such transfers. If the authority be thus restricted, it is difficult to dig over any danger likely to result from its ex: ercise ; and it is believed that the surplus or balances on hann unster some of the appropriations would usually prove sufficient to supply the

In the case

(under others. The detail and earnestness with which legislation on this subject is now urged, must find their excuse in my strong convictions that oo measure whatever, requiring, like this, no increased expenditures, could be more conducive to the reputation and efficient operations of our naval establishment. Thus, sir, under an examination of its central administration, of its personal, or civil and navy list, of its materials, with the appurtenants thereto, and of its miscellaneous concerns, I have submitted a review of all its transactions and expenditures during the past year, that possess any degree of importance. This has been accompanied by suggestions for such improvements as observation and reflection have convinced me might be useful; and should they neet with the ap{probation of yourself and Congress, I look forward with confidence to a flong continuance of prosperity in the affairs connected with this department. With great respect, yours, &c. LEVI WOODBURY.

VESSELS IN ORDINARY. Names, distribution, and condition of the vessels of the Navy in ordinary,

1st November, 1833.

AT PORTSMOUTH, N. H.
Concord, sloop of war, requiring slight repairs.

AT CHARLESTOWN, Mass.
Columbus, ship of the line requiring moderate repairs.
Independence, ship of the line, requiring a thorough repair.
Constitution, frigate, undergoing a thorough repair.
Erie, sloop of war undergoing a thorough repair.
Boston, sloop of war, requiring considerable repairs.

AT BROOKLYN, N. Y.
Ohio, ship of the line, requiring extensive repairs.
Washington, ship of the line, requires thorough repairs.
Franklin, ship of the line, requires thorough repairs.
Hudson, frigate, requires rebuilding.

Brandywine, frigate, has just been coppered, aud is nearly repaired for sea service.

AT PHILADELPHIA,
Cyane, sloop of war, to be replaced.
Warren, sloop of war, just arrived, requires slight repairs.
Sea Gull, unfit for repairs.

AT GOSPURT, VA.
North Carolina, ship of the line, requires considerable repairs.
Java, frigate, to be replaced.
Guerriere, frigate, requires extensive repairs.
Congress, frigate, requires extensive repairs.

VESSELS ON THE STOCKS.
Vessels building at the several Navy Yards under the law of the gradual

increase of the Navy. At Porismouth, N. H. one ship of the line. One frigate. At Charles. lown, Mass, two ships uf the line. One frigate. Ai Brooklyn, N. Y. two frigates. Ai Philadelphia, one ship of the line.

One frigate.

At Washinglon, one frigate. At Gosport, one ship of the lioe. One frigate All of these vessels are under cover, a va iu a good state of preservation.

1

port, Va.

There is building, at the navy yard, Gosport. a frigate of the second class, to replace the Macedonian, condemned and broken up under special act of Congress. Statement showing the progress made under the law for the gradual im

provement of the Navy. Frames of live oak bave been delivered at the different navy yards, as follows:

For two ships of the line, two frigates, and one sloop of war, at Charlestown, Mass.

For one frigate, at Brooklyn, N. Y.
For two frigates and one sloop of war, at Philadelphia.
For one frigate and one sloop of war, at Washington.
For two ships of the line, one frigate, and one sloop of war, at Gos-

Contracts for the frame of a frigate and sloop of war,'at Portsmouth, have been made, but a sınall part only has beeu delivered ; and upon a contract for the frame of ship of the line, at Brooklyn, N Y. none has been delivered. Total quantity of live oak received, cubic feet

365,435 There is also on hand, at the different navy yards, belonging to

this appropriation, of white oak plank, board measure 206,887 White oak timber, cubic feet

198.652 Yellow pine timber, for plank, cubic feet

188,204 Yellow pine, mast and spar timber, do.

44,560 White oak knees, in number

5,500 There have also been built, from this appropriation, at the different navy yards, for the preservation of timber, fire substantial timber sheds.

of the dry docks authorized under this apporpriation, that which was constructed at Charlestown, Mass was so far completed on the 24th June last, as to receive the frigate Constitution for repairs. It is now pleted. The total cost, including the engine and pump house, which will be available for other useful purposes, and all other incidental expenses, has been $677,089 78% The cust in detail is shown in the annexed Table. That which was constructed at the navy yard, Gosport, was so far completed on the 17th of June last, as to admit the ship of the line Delaware, and subsequently the North Carolina.

The only objects yet unfinished are the floating gate, vecessarily delayeri to admit the above mentioned ships, and to drepen the entrance a little Jirom the channel to the gate The expenditures to the 31st of October were $943.676 73, and the engineer estimates that it will require $7,000 to coinplete it. This, as at Charlestown, includes the engine and pump house, and all other incidental expenses. It is expected it will be finally completed in the course of the present year. The detailed expendituies on this dock, are exhibited in the anner Table. From tbe test given by the actual occupation of both docks, the Board feel confirmed in the

opinion that they are constructed in the most substantial and durable manner, and will prove highly useful to the nation, and permanent testimonials of the ability and attention of Col Baldwin, the superintepling engineer.

Abuut $150,000 have been expended for the purchase and reception fof tinber, and for the preservation and cultivation of live oak timber.

com.