tion goes, towards appearances. Men are at best but | after, by which the public money would be uselessly grown up children, "pleased with a rattle, tickled expended. The plan to be adopted is designed to be with a straw." Take from military service its dis- permanent, and to embrace all the buildings and imtinguishing trappings, the possible "pomp and cir-provements which will at any future time be necescumstance of war," the probable vote of thanks of the sary at the Pensacola Navy Yard. National Legislature, and what will then be left them to aid their patriotism, in calling for the whole energies of the man, to support them in the perils of the battle and the ocean, the deprivations of their homes and its comforts? If we refer to the past services of the marine corps, they will be found to be among the most distinguished. Whether you take them at the charge of the bayonet, in unison with the seamen wielding the sabre and the pike, boarding the gun-boats off Tripoli, in their various actions on the ocean, or in their efforts with the seamen under Barney in resisting the advance of the British columns to your capital, you will find they have ever sustained a high reputation for discipline, conduct, and courage. Under these circumstances, I am decidedly of opinion that the marines cannot be beneficially dispensed with in our national ships of war. I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant, CHARLES STEWART. The Hon. JOHN BRANCH, Secretary of the Navy. In the month of August, 1830, he was appointed a member of the Board of Navy Commissioners, at Washington, where he remained until August, 1833; he then retired to his farm, in New Jersey. In the month of July, 1836, he received the following letter of instructions from the Navy Department, associating with him those distinguished officers, Commodores Dallas and Bolton, Commanders of the West Indian squadron, and of the Pensacola Navy Yard. For the discharge of your duty, therefore, it will be indispensable to look to the probable extension of this yard for future service. An enlarged view of all the matters connected with it as a dock yard and as a building and repairing establishment will be required, to enable you to make such a plan as will be permanently useful. To officers so experienced and intelligent, it is not necessary to enumerate the buildings and improvements which will be hereafter called for by the service. You will be careful to provide for them all, and upon an accurate map of the yard, you will designate the position in which every building and every improvement is to be placed. In your recommenda tion for these improvements, you will, of course, consider the means of approach by water, as well as the location on the land. I am, respectfully, gentlemen, Your obedient servant, M. DICKERSON. In compliance with the foregoing instructions, Commodore Stewart proceeded to Pensacola, in the United States sloop of war, Natchez, Captain Mervine. The following joint report was made from Pensacola : Pensacola, September 27, 1836. SIR-We have the honor to submit to you, (as commissioners to whom was assigned the planning of the Navy Yard at this place,) in compliance with your instructions of July the eighth, a plan of the Navy Yard, with all the docks, slips, and buildings, which, in all probability, will in future be required for the public service, and which appears to us necessary, at a station of such high national importance as this seems to the commissioners to be. The commissioners have been obliged to keep in view some peculiarities attending this extensive bay, such as its almost constant and strong ebb-tides, the destructive effects of the marine worm, and the invariable sandy nature of the soil. Navy Department, July 8, 1836. To Commodores CHARLES STEWART, ALXR. J. DALLAS, and W. C. BOLTON. GENTLEMEN :-Under the act of the third of March, 1827, the President of the United States was authorised to cause the Navy Yards of the United States to be thoroughly examined, and plans to be prepared and sanctioned by him, for the improvement of the same, and the preservation of the public property Under the influence of these considerations, they therein; from which plans no deviation is to be made deemed it essential, and therefore projected on the but by his especial order. This has been done with plan, a sea wall, sufficient to afford all the wharfing all, except the Navy Yards at Pensacola and New accommodation for ships in ordinary, repairing, mastYork. You are hereby constituted a Board of Com-ing, or fitting for service, as well as all transports em. missioners to make the examination, and prepare the ployed in bringing the necessary supplies for the esplan agreeably to that act for the Navy Yard at Pen-tablishment at any future time. sacola. Mr. William P. Sanger will report to you, and will act under your direction. His assistance as an engineer, will be serviceable in the discharge of the duty assigned to you. The object of the law referred to, is to make such an arrangement of the improvements and buildings at the yards, and such plans for future expenditures upon them, as shall best promote economy, and best fit them for the public service, and the transaction of the public business, and save the necessity of charges here About a quarter of a mile in the rear of the Navy Yard there exists a constant fresh-water lake, adequate to the supply, at all times, of water for the wet dock which this sea wall will form, to furnish all that may be required in the Navy Yard in case of fire, and sufficient for watering the ships of war. Thus the fresh water in the wet dock will prevent the effect of worms on the dry dock gates, as well as all wooden structures in its vicinity; it will also furnish the means of destroying the living principle in grass, barnacles, and other fouling substances of ships' bottoms, and act as a cleanser to their copper on coming from sea, as well as to preserve their bottoms from fouling while repairing, fitting, or lying in ordinary at the Navy Yard. The rigging loft is placed near the rope-walk for convenience sake, on part of the seawall wharf, and under it we contemplate having sufficient store room for cables and cordage, handy to be put on board ships in its neighborhood, or boats to convey to ships elsewhere, with as little manual labor as possible. The sail-loft is also conveniently placed on the sea-wall wharf with the same view: and underneath store-room will be found sufficient for all the pitch, tar, turpentine, rosin, and oil, where they will be convenient to water carriage, as well as for extinguishing those combustible articles should they accidentally take fire. On the opposite angle of the seawall we have placed the building slips, boat and mast houses, with the heavy blacksmithery, anchor, and tank foundries, castings, and plumberies, from whence all those heavy appurtenances for ships of war can be conveniently boated and transported; and with a view to concentrate the necessary working fires as much as possible, we have located the cooper-shop, bake-house, and cook-house in the vicinity, with the accommodations for negro laborers, near the entrance gate, under the eye of the marine guard there stationed. The commissioners, in obedience to the farther instructions of the department, of August tenth, made a reconnoisance of the grounds contiguous to the Navy Yard for a site for the marine barracks; and they find the ground to the right too unequal in its surface, and too many water-pools on and about it, to answer that purpose. On the left, the ground is more favorable, and would present an eligible position stretching along the front of the bay, open and airy, with a pleasant water view; but here the ground is, in part, occupied with settlements under lease from the Government, which might not be conveniently or easily got rid of: in which case, there only remains the rear of the Navy Yard, about five hundred feet in depth, with the same extent as the Navy Yard; which would af ford ample room to erect all the necessary buildings, accommodations, gardens, and parade ground, that may at any time be found necessary. The commissioners, in compliance with your letter of August twentieth, have examined the two several places pointed out as eligible sites for a Navy Yard within this bay; that is to say, the Navy Cove, oppo site the town of Pensacola, and a place above the town called Five Fathom Hole. The former, (Navy Cove,) the commissioners are of opinion would not answer the purpose at all, and is liable to very many objections; its location is beyond the reach of any immediate protection from the fortifications or their garrisons, for any small military expedition would be able to surprise it through the Santa Rosa sound; it is shut in from the advantages of the sea breezes, and, consequently, is excessively hot for laborers and mechanics; and, indeed, were those disadvantages removed, the extent of the flats is too great to be overcome without very heavy expenditures. With respect to the latter, (Five Fathom Hole,) the commissioners cannot discover any advantages over the present location to induce their recommending a change; ships there placed would be much exposed to the great range easterly winds, which are the strongest that blow in this quarter; it is, also, at the head of the deep water in the bay, and will be that portion of it most likely to fill up and shallow hereafter, when the surround ing country becomes cleared, cultivated, and liable wash from the heavy rains of the summer season. All of which is most respectfully submitted, By your obedient servants, CHARLES STEWART, A. J. DALLAS, W. C. BOLTON, Commissioners. To Hon. Mahlon Dickerson, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. During the stay of the Commodore at Pensacola, he made extensive notes, and observations, and shortly after his return to Philadelphia, he addressed the fol lowing letter to the Secretary of the Navy. Philadelphia, November 20, 1836. SIR-In your instructions directed to me of the eighth of July last, relative to the plan for the construc tion of the navy yard at Pensacola, you direct that "A| the buildings and improvements should be comprised in the plan which at any future time would be necessary at that yard;" and that "an enlarged view should be taken of all the matters connected with it as a dock yard, or a building and repairing establishment." Having completed a plan for the improvements of the yard, and submitted it to you, I beg leave now to submit to you, also, some ideas which occurred to me in taking that enlarged view of this establishment which your instructions scem to aim at. In studying the position of Pensacola, with reference not only to our own adjacent coast, and the great out let of the Mississippi which it is so favorably placed to protect, but also to the neighboring countries o Mexico and the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, and St. Do mingo, which are all liable at some future period t be occupied by nations at enmity with the Unite States, the national importance of the place could no but force itself on my mind, and excite some surpris that it had not hitherto attracted more the attention the Government. In evidence how little has as ye been done there, I may mention the fact, that the re venue schooner Dexter had to resort to Charleston t get her sides caulked, and a few other trifling repai which she needed. Yet, at the same time that th great section of our country, of which Pensacola mu hereafter become the naval depot, has been thus ove looked, we find large appropriations applied to th construction of navy yards in the middle and easter states. Casual observers unacquainted with the luk warmness with which the development of our nav energies has been prosecuted, might naturally conclud that this disparity had its origin in an indifference our true policy, or in sectional selfishness; or how el could they account for the extraordinary fact, that o whole seaboard from Norfolk to the Sabine, an exter f nearly two thousand miles, does not afford the means If even repairing a sloop of war; whilst to the north nd east, in less than one thousand miles of coast, the means not only for repairs, but for construction, are so ingularly multiplied, that in the Chesapeake waters ve have two-the navy yards at Norfolk and Washngton; and in the bay of Massachusetts, two othersne at Portsmouth and one at Boston. There is great leficiency in the southern section of our country, as espects preparation for naval defence, where it may e most needed, to protect the rich and exuberant egion which has its outlet in the straits of Florida. n the event of war, every means would be wanting o afford a permanent protection for its great and valuible products issuing forth through so many arteries, and now rendering all Europe tributary to us, and promoting the prosperity not only of the states which produce them, but at the same time the wealth, power, and aggrandizement of our whole Union. Through the Florida stream flow all the commerce and valuable productions of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. All the produce of these various states, except that of South Carolina and Georgia, must pass through the straits of Cape Florida, the only practicable outlet of the great Gulf of Mexico, which is thus constituted for egress, a close sea, as much so as the Mediterranean, owing to the northeast trade wind which prevails to the south, and the island of Cuba and the Bahamas closing it on the east. All the states enumerated are highly interested in the establishment of an efficient naval depot within the Gulf of Mexico, embracing all the elements necessary for the repairs, construction, and equipment of ships of war, and the gradual acclimating of troops for southern service. at Ferrol, and another at Cadiz, immediately by the straits of Gibraltar, could not protect her Mediterranean commerce, without another formidable establishment at Carthagena. Thus must it be with the United States. The Gulf of Mexico is our Mediterranean, and Pensacola will become our Toulon; also, at no distant period, some port on the coast of South Carolina or Georgia must furnish the same facilities as Cadiz, for the protection of the exterior mouth of the straits of Florida. However inclined some may be to pass over this important question, it does appear to me, that if our Government be true to the purposes of its institution, they will accord ample protection to every section of our Union. The period for according this protection may be delayed, to the injury of our interests, and the dishonor of our national character; but it cannot be always avoided, for, in some future maritime warsuch as, sooner or later, must take place, and which we may be engaged in-the productions of that vast empire, which has for its only outlet the straits of Florida, will be effectually locked up, to the fatal injury of the country, or possibly to the dissolution of the Union. It is not probable that an enemy will hereafter ever attempt to make permanent conquest of any part of our territory; yet past experience has shown us with what facility an inconsiderable military force, sustained by a naval one, could agitate our whole seaboard, harass the militia, burn our towns and plantations, and arrest entirely our commerce and coasting trade, for the want of adequate means of defence, proportioned to the resources and real power of our country. At a later period, we have seen with what facility a handful of pirates, without territorial protection, skulking into and out of the harbors of the neighboring islands, could pillage and destroy our vessels trading to the Caribbean and Mexican seas, and sacrifice the lives of our citizens with relentless barbarity. Foreign powers, with whom we are liable, from conflicting interests, to be brought into collision, border on our territory, and occupy a chain of formidable posts, stretching along and overlooking our whole southern coast-such as Jamaica, Mexico, Cuba, Bermudas, and the Bahamas; some of which are maintained at great expense, and might be the rendezvous for future means of annoyance and attack of our territory and commerce. By means of the strong current of the Gulf Stream, naval protection could be afforded to Georgia and South Carolina with as much facility and despatch from Pensacola as from any of our northern naval stations; and, on the contrary, a naval force rendezvousing at Portsmouth, Boston, New York, or Norfolk, would be as unavailable for our coast and commerce in the Gulf of Mexico, as a naval force at Brest or Cherbourg would be for the protection of the south of France and her commerce in the Mediterranean. Indeed, the ships of our northern ports would be still less available than the French ships under those circumstances; for, owing to the circuitous navigation round the south of Cuba, which the strong currents of The Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida, constithe Gulf of Florida render necessary, it would take tuting as they do the outlet of so many productions from thirty to fifty days for a fleet to reach the Gulf of of a rich and valuable nature, thus surrounded by Mexico from any port on our north Atlantic coast. | various nations, bid fair to be the scenes of much fu The Natchez sloop of war, in which I took my passage in the fulfilment of the orders of the eighth of July last, took thirty-four days to get from New York to Pensacola; and the year preceding, the same ship was fiftysix days in conveying Commodore Dallas from New York to the same place. France, situated precisely, with respect to the Mediterranean, as the United States are to the Gulf of Mexico, found it necessary to establish her great naval depot at Toulon; and Spain, with her establishment ture contention. Our own interests in that quarter are of immense and rapidly increasing value, and which being thus open to assault, it appears to me it would be a wise policy in our Government to provide the arsenals and establishments for ships of war necessary to the protection of our vast interests in that sea, and thus prevent its falling a prey to the rapacious grasp of future belligerants, as well as to avoid the necessity of our ships of war navigating (perhaps in a crippled condition) a dangerous coast of such extent, to procure the necessary repairs and refit, from the destruction] of battle, the disasters of the elements, and the decay incident to our vessels, and subject to great loss of time in going from and returning to their stations at the south. The new principles of European policy and reform in relation to their American colonies, aided by the fanatics, spread over our own country, exciting an insurrectionary spirit among a numerous class of our south-western population, together with the cupidity which the rich productions of that country are calculated to create, seem to admonish us not to trust too far to our own peaceful habits and passive disposition, but to apply all the means in the possession of the Government for the permanent defence of that interesting portion of the Union. On the first of July, 1837, Commodore James Barron resigned the command of the Navy Yard, at Philadel phia, and Commodore Stewart was placed in command of that establishment. By the most strenuous exertions, Commodore Stewart succeeded in launching the line-of-battle-ship Pennsylvania, on the eighteenth day of July. This ship, not only the largest in our navy, but the most magnificent in point of model and construction, was ordered by the Secretary of the Navy to be removed from Philadelphia to Norfolk, to be coppered, and Commodore Stewart was appointed to equip and take her to that place for the purpose. The order of the Secretary of the Navy to transfer the Pennsylvania to another place to be coppered, produced a deep and universal dissatisfaction among the citizens of Philadelphia, and indeed of the whole State. Large and spirited public meetings were convened to remonstrate against the measure, and to urge upon the Executive, the necessity of having her completed in the yard where her keel was laid. In this just state pride of his fellow citizens, Com mination of the Department was irreversable, and he yielded with regret to the fiat of the department, which took from the State of Pennsylvania the honor of giving the finishing stroke to the noble ship that bears her own name. If these impressions are just, it appears to me of the greatest importance that the construction of the dock and navy yard at Pensacola should be pushed on with all possible despatch; and that the navy should obtain there every essential to its efficiency; and the Government and country should find at that place, on the first emergency, all the means of defence for the coast and its commerce. The best harbor in the Gulf of Mexico, accessible at all seasons of the year, enjoying an ex-modore Stewart warmly participated; but the deter. emption from tropical diseases, and a mild climate, nature seems to have formed it for the great naval depot and rendezvous for our ships destined to protect the Mexican seas. This harbor admits, with facility of ingress and egress, the largest sloops of war and merchant ships; but this will not be “adequate to the future wants of the nation in the Gulf of Mexico." The deepening of the bar, or entrance, so as to admit vessels of the largest class, is essential to that port, and is an experiment well worth trying. Should, however, the experiment fail, a new channel could be cut through the island of St. Rosa, which, I should think, would not be a work of much difficulty, as the island is very narrow, and has deep water close to the shore on the sea side. The abundance of the finest timber for the construction and repairing of vessels of war, which grows on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, and immediately in the neighborhood of Pensacola, which now has to be transported to the northern navy yards at a great expense and labor, added to the facilities which the internal improvements in a state of progress in that country will afford for the transportation of every material for fleets of war, constitutes a strong reason for the early establishment of a school of workmen and mechanics, so essential to the ends proposed, of meeting "any future wants at that place," and developing its utility as a naval depot and rendezvous for the ships of war. Considering the exposed state of this section of our Union from the causes before enumerated, and that the Gulf of Mexico and its outlet (the Straits of Florida,) is our vulnerable point, through which flows so large a portion of our national wealth, no time ought to be lost in rendering Pensacola the key to, and the defence of, the Mexican seas. The want of a dry dock at Philadelphia, was the alleged ground of justification for this procedure, and called the immediate attention of Commodore Stewart to this important appendage of a complete navy yard at this city. الى The commercial importance of Philadelphia, its facilities for procuring timbers and other materials for building and repairing ships, and its central location, all combined to force on his mind the propriety of recommending the establishment of a dry dock, and enlisted the utmost energies of almost all the public men and people of Pennsylvania in support of the measure. As the Commodore enters into the matter with his characteristic vigor, it is hoped that in a short time this salutary object will be attained, and all agree that it will materially contribute to the benefit of the many industrious mechanics and laborers who will thus find employment, and to the advancement of the commercial interests and prosperity of his native city, as well as to the naval resources and strength of the country. Should this undertaking prove successful, it will stand a monument, as enduring as the “right angled city" itself, commemorative of the public spirit and devotion to the navy, which have ever distinguished his career. Commodore Stewart is about five feet nine inches in height, erect and well proportioned, of a dignified I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, sir, and engaging presence, and possessed of great constiyour most obedient servant, CHARLES STEWART. To the Hon. MAHLON DICKERSON, tutional powers to endure hardships and privations of all kinds. Although fifty-nine years of age, he is still as active as if he was but in the prime of life. Secretary of the Navy. His complexion is fair, like that of Mr. Jefferson, for proof of his mechanical genius. Recur to his able but bears the weather-beaten marks of naval service. and masterly letter to General Sucre, among many His hair is of a chesnut color; his eyes blue, large, others, the principles of which have now become the penetrating, and intelligent. The cast of his counte- guide and rule of our government, on the subject of nance is Roman, bold, strong, and commanding, and blockades, for a proof of his knowledge of the Law his head finely formed. It has been pronounced by of Nations. Recur to the magnanimous stand taken a phrenologist, the head of a man of great vigor and by him in conjunction with Commodore Bainbridge, mind, high sense of justice, and inflexible resolution on the employment of the navy at the outset of the of purpose. It is well known that his character cor- war, for proof of his chivalric patriotism; to which responds perfectly with these indications. circumstances alone are justly attributable-according to the Secretary of the Navy-our glorious victories on the ocean, victories which covered the flag of the nation with imperishable honor, and inspired the drooping hearts of our countrymen with that confidence and valor which enabled them to vanquish the foe, wherever they met him on sea or land. Recur for proof of his skill and bravery to the many actions in which he fought and commanded, and especially to his victory over the Cyane and Levant, a victory unprecedented in naval history, by which he reduced to practice his own prior theory, that one large ship could capture two ships of combined superior force.* His mind is acute and powerful, grasping the greatest or smallest subjects with the intuitive mastery of genius. He not only fully understands his profession as a naval commander, but all the various interests of commerce, the foreign and domestic policy of his country, the principles of government, and the "law of nations," are as familiar to him as "house hold words." Recur to his numerous reports to the Navy Department, and to the President of the United States, at different periods, for proof of his intimate and comprehensive acquaintance with the domestic policy and Let any person consult his numerous official letters and reports, embracing a wide range of subjects; or sit down and converse with him upon the political and social relations of our country, its internal resources, and the true policy of developing them, and he will be astonished at the extent and accuracy of his information. Often has the question been asked, how did this man, amidst the rapid events of a life spent in the active sorvice of his country, acquire so much useful knowledge beyond the apparent life of his pro-interest of his country; and, if farther proof be needfession? The answer is,-Commodore Stewart has always been an observer, a reader, and a thinker. Nothing has escaped his vigilant attention. He has devoted himself to the service of his country, and he holds that who ever would serve his country well, should understand its government, its laws, and its interests, in order to uphold, represent, and sustain them. His control over his passions is truly surprising, and under the most irritating circumstances, his oldest seamen have never yet seen a ray of anger flash from his eye. His kindness, benevolence, and humanity are proverbial amongst those who know him, but his sense of justice and requisitions of duty are as unbending as fate. That this is not the strained language of panegyric, recur to the indisputable account, in the preceding sketch, of his noble rescue of the women and children from a watery grave, for proof of his humanity. Reeur to his invention of our cannon sights, an event which added so much to our superiority in gunnery, ed of his ablity and patriotism in the service of his country, every President, from Mr. Jefferson down to Mr. Van Buren, has conferred upon him his emphatic approbation, and some testimony to his satisfactory discharge of every duty. Such is a brief outline of the character of Commodore Stewart, a son of whom Pennsylvania, as well as the entire Union, has just reason to be proud. His counsels and his services have contributed so much to the glory of the Navy, that they must be gratefully remembered, as long as the star spangled banner affords protection against foreign aggression to those over whom it floats, and is honored and respected throughout the world. Long may he live to serve his country, and to behold the navy, with which he has been so long and so honorably associated, hoist her flag in every breeze, and protect her commerce and her rights on every sea. * See his Letter, twelfth of November, 1812, to the Secretary of the Navy. THE BUDS OF HOPE. The fragile hope-buds of an old man's heart B. APPEAL TO DEATH. Dan Death, much do I muse and marvel, Dan, |