the greatest prudence in the expenditure of money, admits an expenditure fully sufficient to carry into effect the great design of making this institution worthy of the age, and worthy of the country, upon which it is calculated, if properly regulated, to confer so many benefits.

By reference to the regulations," it will be ascertained that each cadet, upon entering the institution, is required to furnish himself with certain articles of furniture and clothing, necessary for his comfort and health. The amount which he is thus required to expend upon entering the institution, is about $75. Your committee have ascertained that very niany cadets do not bring with them, when they come to the institution, money for this purpose. In such case the cadet is forced to contract debts in anticipation of his pay, to an amount which must occasion him much embarrassment and difficulty; and, besides, should he be so unfortunate as not to pass at the January examination, he is without the means of returning to his place of residence.

It is much to be regretted that parents and guardians should not more generally attend to this. Your committee think it right to bring the subject to the view of the board, so that it may, if the board should consider it proper, be made the foundation of a recommendation to the War Department, that each parent or guardian of a cadet, who is previously appointed, should be informed of the importance of sending, for his son or ward, to the Superintendent, a sum sufficient to meet the expenditure referred to. Perhaps it would be always best to send this money directly to the Superintendent, so as to avoid any improvidence on the part of the cadet.

Among the inquiries which engaged the attention of the committee, were the personal expenses of the cadets, with a view to consider whether some reduction in them could not be effected. The committee were satisfied that the amount now appropriated for the pay and subsistence of the cadet is barely sufficient to maintain him. There is no item of expense incurred by the cadet, in which it appears a reduction could be made, unless it should be in the item of board, which is charged to the cadet at $10 per month. Comparing this with the expense of boarding in other literary and scientific institutions in our country, the committee have been induced to suggest the inquiry whether the charge for board night not be reduced without injustice to any one.

CHARLES B. PENROSE, Chairman of Committee.

An Act to increase and regulate the pay of the Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons of the army

[SEC. 1.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passing of this act, no person shall receive the appointment of assistant surgeon in the army of the United States, unless he shall have been examined and approved by an army medical board, to consist of not less than three surgeons or assistant surgeons, who shall be designated for that purpose by the Secretary of War; and no person shall receive the appointment of surgeon in the army of the United States, unless he shall bave served at least five years as as an assistant surgeon, and unless, also, he shall have been examined by an army medical board, constituted as aforesaid.

SEC 2 And be it further enacted, That the surgeons in the army off

the United States, shall be entitled to receive the pay and emoluments of a major; and the assistant surgeons, who shall have served five years, shall be entitled to receive the pay and en.oluments of a captain; and those who shall have served less than five years, the pay and emoluments of a first lieutenant; and that said assistant surgeons shall be entitled to receive the same allowance for forage as they are at present entitled to. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That every surgeon and assistant surgeon, who shall have served faithfully ten years in these grades, respectively, shall be entitle to receive an increase of rations, per day, equal to the number of rations to which he may be entitled under this [Approved 30th June, 1834.]

act.

An Act to provide for the payment of claims, for property lost, captured, or destroyed, by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, during the late war with the Indians on the frontiers of Illinois and Michigan Territory.

[SEC. 1] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any officer, field or staff, volunteer, ranger, cavalry, or other persons engaged in the service of the United States in the late campaigns against the Indians on the frontiers of Illinois, and Michigan Territory, who have sustained damage without any fault or negligence on their part, respectively, by the loss of a horse, or necessary equipage in battle, or by the loss of a horse that was wounded in battle, and afterwards died of said wound while in the service, or who has sustained damage by the reason of the loss of any horse which, in consequence of the United States failing to supply sufficient forage, while engaged in said service, died, or was unavoidably abandoned and lost, or who has sustained damage by reason of the loss of any horse, because the rider was dismounted aud separated from his horse, and ordered to do military duty on foot at a station detached from his horse, or for the loss of necessary equipage, in consequence of the loss of his horse as aforesaid, shall be allowed and paid the value thereof: Provided, That if any payment shall have been made to any officer, soldier or other person as aforesaid, for the use and risk, or for forage after the death or abandonment of said horse, said amount shall be deducted from the value thereof, unless said officer or soldier or other person shall have satisfied the paymaster at the time he made the payment, or shall hereafter shew by proof, that he was remounted, in which case the deduction shall only extend to the time such officer, soldier, or other person, served on foot: And provided, also, That if any payment shall have been made, to any officer o soldier on account of clothing, such payment shall be deducted from the value of his horse and accoutrements. And provided, further, That no claim shall be allowed. under the provisions of this section until the best evidence which the nature of the case will admit of, shall be produced before the accounting officer shewing the number of horses lost, in manner aforesaid, the time when lost, and the name of the owner.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That any person who, in the Indian wars aforesaid, has acted in the military service of the United States as a volunteer or draughted militiaman, and who has furnished himself with arms and military accoutrements, and has sustained damage by the capture, or destruction of the same, without any fault or negli-}

gence on his part, or who has lost the same by reason of his being wounded in the service, shall be allowed and paid the value thereof.

SEC. 3 And be it further enacted, That in all instances where any minor has been engaged in the military service as aforesaid, during the Indian wars as aforesaid, and was provided with a horse or equipments, or with military accoutrements by his parent or guardian, and has since deceased, without paying for said property, and the same was lost, captured, destroyed or abandoned, in the manuer before mentioned, said parent or guardian shall be allowed pay therefor, on making satisfactory proof as in other cases, and the further proof, that he is entitled thereto by having furnished the same

SEC. 4 And be it further enacted, That the Third Auditor of the Treasury shall adjudicate and decide such claims as may be pre-ented against the United States, under the provisions of this act: Provided, That every claim which exceeds the sum of two hundred dollars, instead of deciding the same, the said Third Auditor shall report the whole of the proof to Congress at its next session after taking and closing such proof; and he shall have power by constituting a commission or otherwise, to take testimony in any case where he shall think the interest of the United States require further testimony to be taken.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That any sum of money to any amount not exceeding two hundred dollars so allowed by said Third Auditor shall be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Approved, June 30, 1834.]

Resolution, manifesting the sensibility of the two houses of Congress and of the Nation, on the occasion of the decease of General Lafayette. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the two Houses of Congress have received with the profoundest sensibility, intelligence of the death of General Lafayette, the friend of the United States, the friend of Washington, and the friend of liberty.

2. And be it further resolved, That the sacrifices and efforts of this illustrious person, in the cause of our country during her struggle for independence, and the affectionate interest which he has at all times manifested for the success of her political institutions, claim from the Government and People of the United States, an expression of condolence for his loss, veneration for his virtues, and gratitude for his services.

3. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to address, together with a copy of the above resolutions, a let er to George Washington Lafayette, and the other members of his family, assuring them of the condolence of this whole Nation in their irreparable bereavement.

4. And be it further resolved, That the members of the two Houses of Congress will wear a badge of mourning for thirty days, and that it be recommended to the People of the United States to wear a similar badge for the same period.

5. And be it further resolved, That the Halls of the Houses be dressed in mourning for the residue of the session.

6 And be it further resolved, That John Quincy Adams be requested to deliver an oration on the life and character of Gen. Lafayette, before the two Houses of Congress at the next session. [Approved, June 26, 1834.

THE NAVY.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, November 29, 1834.

To the President of the United States:

SIR, Inlaying before you, at this time, a succinct view of the condition of our navy, and its operations during the past year, it affords me great pleasure to state that its gradual increase and improvement are such as might have been anticipated from the ample means for that purpose which have been afforded by the liberal policy of Congress.

All the services required of our naval force have been promptly performed; our commerce has been protected in the remote as well as the neighboring seas; our national character has been sustained at home and abroad, while a large portion of our naval officers, seamen, and marines, have been kept in active service, under a strict discipline, calculated to fit them for all the duties which may be required of them, whether in defending our property on the ocean from pirates or open enemies, our shores from hostile aggression, or our flag from insult.

An inspection of our navy yards at Portsmouth, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Norfolk, made in August and September last, in company with the Commissioners of the Navy Board, has afforded me the most satisfactory evidence of our means, in a short time, of increasing our navy to any extent the exigencies of our country may require

The officers in charge of those stations perform their duties with great ability and zeal; the building and repairing of our ships are conducted with despatch and economy; and the ample materials on hand for naval purposes are preserved with the greatest care, and by all the means which science and experience can suggest to prevent decay

Our naval force consists of six ships of the line, and seven frigates now building, for the completion of which additional appropriations to the amount of $1,527,640 will be required-of five ships of the line, two frigates, and six sloops of war in ordinary, requiring repairs which will cost $1,362,000, in addition to the materials on hand for that purpose; and of one ship of the line, four frigates, eight sloops of war, and six schooners in commission; in all, twelve ships of the line, thirteen frigates, fourteen sloops of war, and six schooners. Besides which, the frames of ships procured, or under contract, for the gradual increase of the navý, and other materials on hand or under contract for that purpose, will afford the means of bringing into the service, as soon as it can probably be required, an additional force of five ships of the line, eleven frigates, seven sloops of war, and two schooners, the building of which may be immediately commenced on launching our vessels now upon the stocks.

Our vessels in commission during the past year have been employed, as heretofore, in protecting our commerce in the Mediterranean, in the West Indies, on the coast of Brazil, and in the Pacific Ocean.

The ship of the line Delaware, the frigates United States and Constellation, the sloop of war John Adams, and the schooner Shark, have been thus employed in the Mediterranean; and the frigate Potomac, after her return from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, was repaired, and sailed on the 20th of last mouth to join the Mediterranean squadron,

from which the frigate Constellation had been ordered to return. This frigate arrived at Norfolk on the 20th instant. The sloop of war John Adams returned to the United States in February from the Mediterranean, and sailed again for that station in August last, after receiving necessary repairs.

On the West India station, the sloops of war Vandalia, St. Louis, and Falmouth, and the schooners Grampus and Experiment have been employed. The St. Louis returned to Norfolk in July last, where she has been repaired, and from whence she sailed on the 14th instant to resume her station in the West Indies. The Vandalia returned in August last to Norfolk, where she is undergoing considerable repairs, which, it is believed, will be completed early next month, when she will return to the West India squadron.

The sloops of war Natchez, Ontario, Erie, Lexington, and Peacock, and the schooners Enterprise and Boxer, composed our squadron on the coast of Brazil. The Erie did not sail for this station until August last. The Lexington returned to the United States in April, and the Peacock in May last. The Enterprise returned in April, and sailed again for the Brazilian station in July last, in which month the Boxer returned to the United States, and, after being repaired, sailed for the Pacific. The Peacock is now undergoing considerable repairs, and is expected to be ready for sea early in February next.

For our station in the Pacific, the frigate Brandywine sailed on the 2d of June last, to co-operate with the sloops of war Fairfield and Vincennes, and the schooner Dolphin, and with the Boxer, now on her way to that station, from which the Falmouth returned on the 1st of February, and, after having been repaired, sailed for the West India station, in March last.

Our naval force, consisting of commission and warrant officers, petty officers, seamen, ordinary seamen, landsmen, and boys, amounts to 6,072; and our marine corps, under its new organization, will consist of commissioued officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, to the number of 1,283; making a total of 7,355.

The dry docks at Boston and Norfolk have fully answered the most sanguine expectations that were formed of their usefulness. They are now deemed indispensable to a speedy and economical repair of our large vessels. But the two already finished are not sufficient for the purposes of our navy. An additional dry dock, at some intermediate point between Boston and Norfolk, would greatly promote the purposes for which our navy is established and maintained. As a site for such additional

dry dock, the harbor of New York presents greater advantages than are to be found in any other situation; among which may be enumerated the great commerce of the place, the facilities which the city of New York affords for recruiting seamen, and for procuring all materials, as well as for employing skilful mechanics and laborers necessary for repairing vessels.

The experience acquired in making the two dry docks already finished cannot fail to be of great advantage in the construction of a third.

I would respectfully repeat a recommendation of my predecessor, that authority be given to construct two or three steam batteries, as the means of testing the application of steam to the purposes of national defence.