months, until within a few days. It was the purpose of the Department to order the brig Spark on that service, but upon her arrival from the West Indies, she was found too much out of repair, and consequently sold. The Schooner Shark, Lieutenant Otho Norris, left Norfolk about a week since, with orders to remain one or two months, as occasion may require, and afford such protection to the Agency as its situation shall demand After performing this duty, the Shark will cruise a short time in the neighbourhood of La Guayra, and then resume her Station in the West India Squadron.

In the Report to the President at the commencement of the last Session of Congress, and in other communications fom the Department, several evils under which the Marine Corps and the Naval Service laboured, and which could only be relieved by legislative interference, were exhibited in the hope that a remedy would be provided. It would be unnecessary, and perhaps improper, to renew the representations respecting them. Reference is made to the views and opinions heretofore expressed, and it is respectfully added, that the Marine Corps and the Service still continue to feel, sensibly, the necessity for a remedy for some of the inconveniences there suggested.

A few subjects of importance are not mentioned in this Report, because they must be, hereafter, presented to Congress, in Answers to Resolutions passed, and calls made during the last Session.

Paper X contains a list of the Officers of the Navy and Marine Corps, who have died since the 2nd of December, 1825.

Paper Y contains a list of resignations during the same period. Paper Z. contains Estimates for the service of the Navy and Marine Corps for the Year 1827.

Respectfully submitted.

Navy Department, December 2, 1826.

S. L. SOUTHARD.

(I.) Exhibit, shewing the Disposition and Force of the Vessels of The United States Navy, and of the Vessels Building under the Laws for the Gradual Increase of the Navy, and for Building 10 Sloops of War.

Constellation... 36 West Indies and Gulf of Mexico. In service.

Frigate of the 1st class, lately purchased, and in Ordinary at New York. Grampus......... 12 West Indies and Gulf of Mexico In service. Shark............ 12

Do.

3 Baltimore

Norfolk

Philadelphia

Fulton, Steam Frig: New York.

do.

.Receiving Vessel

do.

do.

do.

Frames for 3 Frigates of the first Class, contracted for.

(M.)—List of Vessels of The United States' Navy in Commission, their Commanders, and Stations.

Lexington....... 18 guns Master-Commandant W. B. Shubrick.
Shark....... 12 do. Lieutenant Commanding Otho Norris.

(Q.) Correspondence between The United States and Brazil, respecting the Brazilian Blockade of Buenos Ayres and the Banda Oriental.

1825-1827.

(1.) Capt. J. D. Elliott to the Secretary of the Navy.
United States' Ship Cyane,

(Extract.)

Rio Janeiro, March 18, 1826.

On the 15th instant I had the honour to address you, and have now to say that I am supplied with provisions and water; that in the morning I shall depart hence for the La Plata.

By the same Vessel which conveys this Letter, the State Department will be apprized of the Protest entered by both of our Representatives at the Courts of Buenos Ayres and of Brazil, against the legality of the Blockade, proclaimed of the whole extent of the Coast of Buenos Ayres, and of that of the Banda Oriental, by Admiral Lobo, of the Navy of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Brazil.

Here I am called upon to adopt a course, in relation to this Proclamation, entirely new and novel, but which, I hope, in the end, will prove satisfactory to the Government and the Nation. The present Force employed in the Blockade is extended to nearly 30 Vessels, and an additional one of 3 Frigates is now preparing to relieve and to reinforce that already at the La Plata. A Schooner has just entered this Port from Monte Video, and brings the information, that, in order to enforce more fully the Blockade, all Vessels warned off are obliged to enter into Bonds at Monte Video, to an amount equal to the value of both Vessel and cargo, that they will not repeat the attempt to reenter the River. It is here said, the English Vessels of War resist this measure, and that the English Consul at Monte Video has protested in toto against the Blockade; but how far this is correct, I am not prepared to say. I have had a full and a free intercourse with Mr. Raguet, as you will perceive by the Correspondence enclosed. With the Laws of Nations before me, and with the constant and steady grounds taken and maintained by the various Administrations of our Government in relation to this subject, I shall deport towards the Squadron as becomes both the interests of the Navy of the Nation, and of its Commerce.

The Hon. J. L. Southard.

SIR,

on shore.

J. D. ELLIOTT.

(2.) Capt. Elliott to Condy Raguet, Esq.

United States' Ship Cyane, Rio de Janeiro, March 14, 1826. THE Government of The United States has assigned to me a cruize on the Coast of Brazil, for the double purpose of giving protection to our commerce, as also to have intercourse with our Publick Agents Destined farther South, the stay I shall make in Port will be only sufficiently long to enable me to replenish my stock of provisions. Should you have any communications to make touching the two first points, I shall be glad to receive them. At the period of my departure from The United States, our Government was not then possessed of the information as to the Blockade of the Rio de la Plata, and perhaps it is important I should have information from you on four points; 1st, as to the legality of the Blockade; 2d, as to the Force, both Naval and Military, employed in carrying it into effect; 3d, whether designed to exclude from the River both the Civil and Military Marine of each of the various Nations; 4th, whether each point

is presented with such force, by both sea and land, as will enforce its declaration.

With great respect, I have the honour to be. &c. Condy Raguet, Esq.

SIR,

J. D. ELLIOTT.

(3) Condy Raguet, Esq. to Captain Elliott.
Legation of The United States of America,
Rio de Janeiro, March 18, 1826.

I HAD the honour to receive, on the day subsequent to its date, your Communication of the 14th instant, and, in reply to it, submit the following observations.

The presence of one or more of the Publick Ships of The United States on this Coast, during the continuance of the War now existing between the Empire of Brazil and the Republick of the United Provinces of the River Plate, cannot fail, for reasons well known to you, to be highly beneficial to the commerce of our Citizens. Even long before the existence of hostilities, the want of such protection as could only be afforded by a Naval force, was in some degree felt; but our Government, aware of the existence, in some parts of this Country, of a disposition to oppose the present order of things, and desirous to avoid all imputations of intermeddling in the concerns of another State, very wisely and discreetly abstained from the employment of any portion of its Marine in this quarter. I need hardly state to you, that had our Government resolved to station on this Coast even a single Ship, during the time when an attempt was making to establish a Republick in the Northern Provinces, it would have been difficult to persuade a suspicious People that we were not instrumental in promoting revolutionary schemes. The President, no doubt, foresaw this, and it was the determination of our Government to act, in regard to the Brazilian Question, with, the same fairness and neutrality which have invariably marked our political conduct in regard to the other States. A course has been pursued which cannot fail to eutitle us to the character of a just and consistent Nation. The independence and tranquillity of Brazil having, however, placed her on a footing with other established Nations, all occasion for extreme delicacy, on our part, is at an end; and I cannot but hope that our Government will see the advantage of maintaining in this Sea, a respectable Force upon a permanent establishment. The very presence of a Publick Ship always commands respect for the Nation to which it belongs, and that respect acts as a check upon aggressions which might otherwise be attempted. This I have no doubt, will be fully proved by your visit to the River Plate; and should it happen that your active interference be not required for the protection of American Citizens and property, I am well persuaded that this will be the result of that passive influence which silently operates, and prevents the commission of outrages.