may not deem it just to tax the illiterate part of his company (if such part there be) for the gratification of the more fortunate, whose correspondence may be too extensive to warrant a draft on the company fund; of the latter, the least said is best. The apparent inequality of the situations of those who enlisted for five years, and those who enlisted for three, will no doubt be satisfactorily explained by his captain, if "WAYNE" will condescend to ask him the favor. On his intimation, however, that such inequalities promote discontent, and will not prevent desertion, I have only to say, that whenever a man seeks for excuses for desertion, he will find them as readily as "Coleville of the Dale" found rebellion. Much has been said and much written on the subject of desertion, but when Government will adequately punish the cowardly deserter, and not only him, but all aiders and abettors, citizens or soldiers, and when officers will rigidly enforce Article 23 of the Rules and Articles of War, (for, to know the intention and conceal it, is to encourage, if not advise,) then a check may be given to the disease. A company may be considered very fortunate, which musters in its ranks, men evidently so well educated as "WAYNE," provided their talents are directed to the highly commendable objects of improving their less fortunate comrades and exercising the influence they must necessarily possess, for the promotion of harmony and subordination; but if their talents are perverted and directed to unworthy ends, they must feel almost responsible, when an illiterate comrade, with whom they have been intimate, is guilty of the dishonest crime of desertion. My paper is full, Mr. Editor; but one word to your correspondent "M." He must not complain that cadets are paid for learning, when the institution is as free to the son of a private soldier, as to the son of the President of the United States; and I think he will grant, that the situation of a sergeant, in point of emolument, particularly the non-commissioned staff and ordnance, is better than that of a subaltern, not commanding a company, and the more so, that the latter must furnish his own wardrobe, which is no trifle, when the changeableness of the times and the consciencies of our friends M W are taken into consideration. and I hope some one will more fully answer "M.," as there is much matter in his communication. AN OLD SOLDIER. 360 FIRST NAVAL OPERATIONS OF THE REVOLUTION. FIRST NAVAL OPERATIONS OF THE REVOLUTION. From Sparks' Edition of Washington's Writings, now in Press. When General Washington took command of the army, no measures had been adopted by Congress for prosecuting a naval warfare. The subject had never been in any shape brought before them. Rhode Island fitted out and armed two small schooners in June, 1775, which were chiefly intended to protect the waters of that colony from the depredations of the enemy's small craft, although before the end of the summer one of them was sent to cruise on the coast. Connecticut likewise, about the same time, fitted out one or two armed vessels. On the 20th of June, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts resolved to provide six armed vessels. But it appears by General Washington's letter to the Continental Congress, that none of them had been got in readiness as late as the 12th October. The English army, and the inhabitants of Boston, being entirely excluded from any communication with the country, it was necessary that all their supplies should come by water, and the multitude of small vessels employed for the purpose, suggested the idea of providing some means of diminishing the enemy's resources by capturing these vessels. The General had received no instructions from Congress, which authorized him to engage in naval enterprises; but he thought that the powers with which he was vested, by a proper construction, enabled him to attempt any designs to annoy and distress the enemy, which should not operate to the disadvantage of the great interests entrusted to him. There being sea captains and sailors in the army, he formed the project of employing a select number of them on their congenial element, and sent persons to Salem, Beverly, Marblehead and Plymouth, to find out and engage for the public service suitable vessels, which could be expeditiously prepared for a short cruize. He appointed agents to superintend the necessary preparations and furnish supplies, and also to take charge of prizes, when brought in, and to dispose of them according to such directions as they should receive. The first person commissioned as a naval commander, under the authority of the Continental Congress, or rather the authority of Washington derived from Congress, was Captain Broughton of Marblehead. Before the end of October, six vessels of a small size had been armed and manned, and sent out to cruize within the Capes. It was the design, as expressed in the instructions, to intercept the enemy's supplies, and not to seek for encounters with armed vessels. The six schooners were commanded by Captains Broughton, Selman, Manly, Martindale, Coit, and Adams, and the names of five of them were the Hannah, Har rison, Lee, Washington, Lynch. Several prizes were brought in, some of which were valuable, particularly one taken by Captain Manly, consisting of munitions of war, which was said to be worth ten thousand pounds. But, on the whole, the cruises of these vessels were not very satisfactory. Some of the officers proved incompetent, the men mutinied and caused difficulties, and the season was unfavorable. Captains Broughton and Selman had been unsuccessful in their cruise to the St. Lawrence, and shown but little discretion in conducting the enterprise. They sent in several vessels, which were restored to the owners, as not being subject to capture. Captain Martindale's vessel was taken by the enemy, and himself made prisoner. At length, on the 1st of February, 1776, the navy, if so it might be called, was formed into a new establishment, being comprised of four vessels; the Hancock, commanded by Manly as Commodore; the Warren, Captain Burke; the Lynch, Captain Ayres; the Harrison, Captain Dyer. The instructions were the same as those originally given to Captain Broughton, with the addition of three articles. As Commodore of this little fleet, Captain Manly sustained and increased the high reputation he had already acquired. His valor and discretion became the theme of public applause, and so far attracted the attention of Congress, that when the navy of the United States was organized, he was appointed to the command of a frigate. The four vessels, put under his command in February, were successful; but after the evacuation of Boston, and the march of the army to New York, Washington had no more to do with naval affairs. His conduct in this matter received the full approbation of Congress. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. NAVY DEPARTMENT, To the President of the United States: SIR-In submitting to your consideration a review of the operations of the naval branch of the public service during the past year, I would first invite attention to its administration in this place. The separate organization of the Navy Department, in the manner originally established by Congress, and the change since made by the addition of a Navy Board, have with the several clerks now allowed, furnished a sufficient number of persons for the suitable discharge of all ordinary duties immediately connected with this office. So far as my knowledge extends, those duties have generally been performed with promptitude and accura cy. But some changes in the present laws respecting them, would proba bly prove beneficial. Though the number of clerks, and the aggregate amount of salary paid to them, are deemed sufficient, yet more substantial justice could be enforced, if that amount was so appropriated as to permit the department to divide it in conformity to the usefulness of their respective services. It has happened that some of them, receiving large salaries, perform no greater or more difficult duties than those receiving less pay; and no power exists here to equalize their compensation, except by an occasional transfer of duties, not always convenient, appropriate, or useful. A different arrangement of the Navy Board has, for a few years, been a subject of consideration by Congress. The board itself, and the head of this department, once united in recommending such a change as to apportion its ordinary business among the several members with a view to greater convenience, despatch, and responsibility. This could be accomplished without any material increase of expense; and it seems on many accounts very desirable. The reasons for the change have been so fully detailed in former reports, as not to need, at this time, further explanation. There might be some useful alterations connected with the administration of the naval branch of the service in the office of the Fourth Auditor, whose duties, though nominally belonging to the Treasury Department, are intimately allied with, and very essential in most of the operations of the navy. The great amount of property which is in charge of this department, and which is yearly increasing, seems to require that a regular account of it should be opened in that office, and kept in such manner as to insure safety and responsibility. In another particular, improvement could be made. The old balances on his books, due from defaulters who were once in the naval service, are large; and though few such balances have occurred lately, yet the collection of all of them would doubtless be promoted, if it were devolved upon him, as the person who, from his official station, is best acquainted with the situation of the claims, and the means of payment possessed by the debtors, and who could act with most promptitude in securing the public. Auxiliary to the central administration of the naval service, the inspection of our ordnance was, a few years since, assigned to an officer of rank residing in this neighborhood, and authorized to receive the usual extra allowances while engaged in actual duty. His employment during the past season has been much extended, having embraced the inspection of all our ordnance and ordnance stores in depot of all the naval stations. The result, it is hoped, may prove highly beneficial in our future operations. Under a similar arrangement, the custody and correction, as well as occasionally the purchase of charts, chronometers, compasses, and nautical instruments generally, were devolved on two intelligent officers stationed at this place. The system has worked favorably, and the small increase of expense attending it has been amply repaid in the better preservation and quality of those articles; and in the probable increase of safety to our vessels afloat, and to the lives of their gallant officers and crews. A specific estimate for the purchase and maintenance of a lithographic press is submitted as a means of saving, under charge of these officers, still more to the public in the procurement of charts, circulars, and blank forms, of such kinds as are employed, not only in this office, but at the several yards, and on board vessels in commission. (A.) Its various conveniences and usefulness in other respects, and especially in the drawings and plans connected with the survey of our coast now in progress, are more particularly detailed in the reports annexed. (B. 1. and 2.) To prevent any nominal or real increase of appropriations in consequence of the purchase of this press, it will be seen in the general estimates, that a corresponding, or, indeed, a larger reduction has been made in what is asked for the general contingent appropriations for this office and for the service, and out of which appropriations most of the above articles are now provided. It was formerly recommended to organize at this place a Naval Medical Bureau, and a bill is now on the files of Congress reported for that purpose. As that bill was not finally disposed of, I did not deem it proper to adopt any different system for attaining, in a difierent manner, most of the benefits expected to be accomplished by that measure. But if nothing be done during the ensuing session of Congress, regulating this subject, it is intended, under our present laws, that one of the older surgeons, in connexion with other services either at the barracks or navy yard in this city, shall be detailed and employed in performing many of the duties contemplated for a surgeon general. The whole expenses, the past year, for all persons situated here, and belonging to the administration of this department, as well as the expenses for the care and repair of our furniture, buildings, and the grounds appurtenant, were about $48,000. This amount, I trust, will be thought to bear a favorable comparison with the same class of expenses at former periods, or in other similar establishments, when the large increase and extent of duties at this place are duly considered. Passing from the central administration of this department to that of the persons connected with its operations elsewhere, I would next submit to your consideration a few remarks on the situation of such of those persons as fill official stations, but are not technically denominated naval officers. They are a large and useful class, belonging to what may be considered our civil list, and consist of agents, storekeepers, constructors, builders, schoolmasters, secretaries to commanders, clerks of yards, engineers, live oak superintendents; and some others attached to stations and hospitals. In an establishment growing, like the navy, in a few years from so small a beginning to its comparatively great size at the close of the late war, and at the present moment, it was perhaps unavoidable that many measures and appointments, considered as incidental to other important objects expressly authorized, should be left to the discretion of the department. In this way, most of the above persons have been employed and paid, usually by virtue of estimates and general appropriations, without any specific provision in any act of Congress regulating the manner of their appointment, or the amount of their compensation. Indeed, a system similar in some respects has been extended to others; as the only limit which now exists to the number of every class of naval officers is the same discretion, restrained solely by estimates and appropriations, and by the confirmation required from the Senate in the case of commissioned officers. These practices have not, in my opinion, been the safest; though the custom of this department to submit to Congress, through the Executive and otherwise, full communications of its doings in relation to most of these subjects, enables the Government to exercise any control deemed necessary over any supposed abuse. My own desire has been, whenever convenient and practicable, to impose still further limits on that discretion. With this view, on a former occasion, the estimates for the contingent appropriations were made by me more specific, and settled rules of allowances and compensation, in most cases, were established or collected, and then digested and published. The revision of our whole naval regulations by the board heretofore appointed for that purpose, will, when finished and adopted, probably introduce greater system and certainty in relation to some of these matters. But it still deserves consideration, whether additional legal provision might not judiciously be made concerning the appointment and wages of some of the classes before named. All the persons on the civil list now under consideration, are believed to have conducted, during the past year, with fidelity to their duties. The only essential changes in relation to them have been the following:-There has been a discontinuance of two naval constructors, whose services were no longer needed; and new and more economical arrangements have been made as to the duties of some of our agents and storekeepers abroad. The few live oak agents, appointed for certain districts, who remained in office last December, have been dispensed with; and no salary is now paying on that account, except to one person, in temporary employ for a few months, in the examination of an unfinished district. In some cases in which we have had warranted officers competent |