Boston harbour. The requisite surveys in relation to the above have been commenced by a portion of the Topographical Engineers, and by Civil Engineers on the route between the Chesapeake and Ohio; and the greater part of those on the Eastern slope have been completed.

Under the Act of the 24th of May last, to improve the navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, arrangements were prepared, under the superintendence of an Officer of the Topographical Engineers, to carry into effect the first section, by making one of the required experiments over the sand-bar below Henderson, being one of those designated: but the river, when at its lowest stage last summer, being much higher than the ordinary level, at the lowest stage, it was conceived that a fair experiment could not be made, and it was accordingly postponed until the state of the river should be more favourable. To carry into effect the second Section, a contract has been made with Mr. John Bruce, of Kentucky, to remove all snags, sawyers, and planters, in the Ohio, between Pittsburgh and its junction with the Mississippi, and in the Mississippi between the mouth of Missouri and New Orleans, the execution of which during its progress, will be superintended by an Officer of the Corps of Engineers, who has been ordered to Pittsburgh to be in readiness for that service.

Under the Act of the 26th of May last, making appropriations for deepening the Channel leading into the harbour of Presqu'isle in Pennsylvania, for repairing Plymouth Beach, in Massachusetts, Officers of the Corps of Engineers were assigned to superintend the fulfilment of those objects, but were prevented, by unavoidable circumstances, from entering upon their respective duties before the month of August. It was found, after collecting materials, and making other preliminary arrangements at Presqu'isle, that the season had advanced too far, and the weather had become too cold, to authorize the commencement of the construction, the first stage of which would be driving piles, an operation that would require exposure in the water. The construction at Presqu'isle, therefore, will not be commenced until the next spring, unless it should be found to be practicable to drive the piles through the ice in the ensuing winter. The success of a partial experiment, lately made, has thoroughly satisfied the Engineer having the superintendence of the work, of the feasibility and efficiency of the plan, to fulfil the purposes for which it is intended.

The repair of Plymouth Beach, although commenced too late to admit of its being completed this season, has been three-fourths finished, and has put the Beach in a condition to afford very important, if not adequate, protection to the harbour, for the present.

The Military Academy not only continues to sustain the high character for discipline and scientific attainment which was exhibited in the last Annual Report, but has evidently improved in its general condition. At the last June examination, before a numerous and scien

tific Board of Visitors, a very favourable exhibition of the attainments of the Cadets confirms this opinion. The number of Cadets now at the Academy is 254, and the number of those which were graduated and promoted into the army last year, is 31.

Notwithstanding the Military Academy progresses with remarkable success, under the present system established for its government by the War Department, it is evident that the institution is susceptible of further improvements in its organization. These improvements have suggested themselves in the course of experience, and can be affected by legislative provision only.

This subject has been particularly noticed by the Board of Visitors who examined the Military Academy in June last. I take the liberty of presenting, herewith, a Copy of their Report, marked A., with extracts from their Journal of proceedings, marked B. C. and D., and beg leave to refer you to them, and also to my Report and the accompanying Documents on the same subject, dated the 21st of February last, which has been published among the State Papers of the 1st Session of the 18th Congress, in the 6th volume, Article No. 111.

I

From the growing importance, as well as from the extension of the duties asssigned to the Engineer Department, it is evident that the number of Officers attached to it is inadequate to the fulfilment of all that is required of it, and in consequence, the Department is under the necessity of employing individuals in civil life, at a rate of compensation far above that paid to the regular Officers of the Department. therefore respectfully submit to your consideration, whether under the increasing demands for the services of the Engineers, an augmentation of their numbers would not at this time be expedient, both on the score of economy and the faithful execution of the enlarged duties required of the Department. The whole number of the Officers of the Corps of Engineers, is 22, and of the Topographical Engineers, 10-a small number, when compared with the importance, extent, and variety of objects committed to the direction of the Engineer Department. Respectfully submitted,

ALEX. MACOMB, Major-General, Chief Engineer.

The Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Secretary of War.

SIR,

DOCUMENTS FROM THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

The Secretary of the Navy to the President of The United States. Navy Department, Dec. 1, 1824. I HAVE the honor to present to you the following Report, exhibiting the administration of this Department, during the present year.

There are now in commission for the Sea Service, the vessels named in paper A, subjoined to this Report.

Nothing worthy of particular observation has occurred with our Squadron in the Mediterranean.

It has been maintained at the extent which was proposed in the Report of last year, and has afforded the necessary protection to our Commerce there. The unfriendly relations, however, which exist between Algiers and some of the Governments of Europe, and the effects not unlikely to be felt upon our Political and Commercial Interests in that quarter, with other important considerations, have been supposed to render it expedient to augment our force. With this view, the North Carolina has been prepared, and will sail in a few days. The squadron will then consist of the Ship of the line North Carolina, Frigate Constitution, Corvette Cyane, the Sloops of War Erie and Ontario, and Schooner Nonsuch; and will be under the command of Commodore Rodgers, who has been, for several years past, the President of the Board of Navy Commissioners, and whose high qualifications are so well known and justly estimated by the Nation.

Our Naval Force in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, has continued under the command of Commodore Porter. By direction of the Department, he has, from time to time, despatched one of the vessels of his Squadron to the Coast of Africa, to touch at Cape Mesurado, minister to the wants of the agency there, and return by the usual track of the Slave ships. None of these, or any other of our Public ships, have found vessels engaged in the Slave Trade, under the Flag of The United States, and in such circumstances as to justify their being seized and sent in for adjudication: and, although it is known that the Trade still exists, to a most lamentable extent, yet, as it is seldom, if ever, carried on under our own Flag, it is impossible with the existing Regulations and Instructions, to afford very efficient aid in exterminating it. That object can only be accomplished by the combined efforts of the Maritime Nations, each yielding to the others the facilities necessary to detect the traffic under its own Flag. The Agency for recaptured Africans has been maintained in the same manner as in the last year. The eleven negroes which were taken from Captain Chase, at Baltimore, and sent to the Agency, were restored to their homes, under circumstances very gratifying to humanity, and calculated to produce a good effect upon their several Tribes. The near relations of some of them were on the shore when they arrived, manifested much sensibility at their unexpected return, and furnished safe means of restoring them to their families.

The Agent, Dr. Ayres, was compelled, by enfeebled health, to return to The United States, and left Mr. Ashmun as acting Agent; he likewise was obliged, by the same cause, to be absent for a time; inconveniences necessarily resulted, and it was thought expedient to send the Rev. Mr. Gurley to examine into the situation of the Agency, with directions to make certain arrangements, should circumstances

require them.

His Report, marked B, with other papers, will be annexed, should his health enable him to make it in time, and will show the condition and prospects of the Agency. The principal difficulties which have been encountered there, have arisen from the want of a fit position and suitable accommodations for the Agent and the recaptured Africans, on their arrival on the coast. These difficulties have been, in a great degree, overcome, and will with the expence, be regularly diminished, as the Establishment made by the Colonization Society increases, and is rendered more permanent and well regulated, furnishing facilities for all the objects for which the Agency was created. The expenditures during the year, so far as they are yet known, of the appropriation for the prohibition of the Slave Trade, has amounted to 15,326 Dollars, 02, and there remains, of that Fund, a balance of 47,391 Dollars 39.

The manner in which the Force assigned to the protection of our Commerce, and the suppression of Piracy in the West Indies, has been employed, will be seen by the annexed Letters and Reports of Commodore Porter, marked C. The activity, zeal, and enterprise of our Officers, have continued to command approbation. All the vessels have been kept uniformly and busily employed, where the danger was believed to be the greatest: except for short periods, when the Commander supposed it necessary that they should return to The United States, to receive provisions, repairs, and men, and for other objects essential to their health, comfort, and efficiency. No complaints have reached this Department, of injury from Privateers of Porto Rico, or other Spanish Possessions, nor have our cruisers found any violating our rights. A few small Piratical vessels, and some boats, have been taken, and establishments broken up, and much salutary protection afforded to our Commerce. The Force employed, however, has been too small, constantly to watch every part of a coast so extensive as that of the islands and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and some Piratical depredations have therefore been committed; but they are of a character, though, perhaps not less bloody and fatal to the sufferers, yet differing widely from those which first excited the sympathy of the public, and exertions of the Government. There are few, if any, Piratical vessels of a large size in the neighbourhood of Cuba, and none are now seen at a distance from the land; but the Pirates conceal themselves, with their boats, in small creeks, bays, and inlets, and finding vessels becalmed, or in a defenceless situation, assail and destroy them. When discovered, they readily and safely retreat into the country, where our Forces cannot follow, and, by the plunder which they have obtained, and which they sell at prices low and tempting to the population, and by the apprehensions, which they are able to create in those who would otherwise give information, they remain secure, and mingle at pleasure, in the business of the Towns and transactions of Society, and acquire all the information necessary to accomplish

their purposes. Against such a system, no Naval Force, within the control of this Department, can afford complete security, unless aided by the cordial, unwavering, and energetic co-operation of the local Governments; a co-operation which would render their lurking places on land unsafe, and make punishment the certain consequence of detection. Unless this co-operation be obtained, additional means ought to be entrusted to the Executive, to be used in such manner as experience may dictate.

The health of the Squadron, and of Thompson's Island, has been much better than during the last season; yet many of our Officers, and among them Commodore Porter, have suffered severely from disease, and several have died: most of the latter have fallen victims to the necessity, real, or imagined, of visiting unhealthy places upon shore, which they were warned as much as possible to avoid, and which a sense of duty, no doubt induced them to visit. A list of those who have died during the year, on that and other stations, will be annexed, marked D.

Some improvements have been made, and others are proposed at Thompson's Island, by cutting the timber, clearing and draining the ground, and building storehouses, and, if the means are afforded, it is confidently believed that it will be made comparatively comfortable and healthy, before the next summer and fall. A balance of 28,784 Dollars, 69, still remains of the appropriation of December, 1822, "authorizing an additional Naval Force for the suppression of Piracy," but claims exist against it, to a large amount which have not yet been presented.

Two of the small schooners, the Greyhound and the Jackall, purchased under the authority of that Act, have been found " 'so much out of repair, that it was not for the interest of the United States to repair them," and were disposed of; and one other, the Wild Cat, it is feared, is lost with her Officers and Crew, in a passage from Havanna to Key West.

The Force on that Station has been, in this way somewhat reduced, and it has been considered expedient to augment it, by the addition. of the Frigate Constellation, which will be ready to join it as soon as men can be enlisted for the purpose. One of the Sloops of War now in the Mediterranean, will, probably, be ordered there in the spring, should circumstances permit.

The surveys directed by the Act, entitled "An Act authorizing an Examination and Survey of the Harbour of Charleston, in South Carolina, of St. Mary's, in Georgia, and of the Coast of Florida, and for other purposes," have not yet been completed.

Competent Naval Officers have been ordered upon the service. It was thought useful to unite with them, in a part of the examinations, one or more of the Corps of Engineers, which could not be effected.