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the Franklin on the 14th. On the 17th Admiral Farragut called on her Majesty the Queen at Osborn House. On the 18th the corporate authorities and others of Southampton visited the Franklin, and on the 19th she sailed from Cowes for Syra, at which place she arrived on the 4th of August.

Here Admiral Farragut transferred his flag to the Frolic and proceeded to Constantinople. The Franklin sailed for Smyrna. He reached the Dardanelles on the 6th of August, and, having received a firman from the Sultan, anchored in the Bosphorus, off Constantinople, on the 8th. On the 13th of August, accompanied by a large number of officers of the navy, he was received by his Majesty the Sultan, Abdul Aziz, in his palace on the Asiatic shore, and on a subsequent day called on the Viceroy of Egypt, then on a visit to Constantinople. The Franklin having been detained several days at the Dardanelles, awaiting a firman, anchored off Constantinople on the 21st. Here he was entertained by the Grand-Vizier and other officials. He left the Bosphorus on the 29th, and anchored in the harbor of Piræus, Greece, on the 31st of August.

At Athens he was presented to the King and Queen, and upon invitation of the King was present at the baptism of the young prince and attended a banquet at the palace. The Franklin was visited by the King, the Grand-duchess Alexandra Josephina, and the Grand-duke Constantine (mother and brother of the Queen), with their respective suites; also by the Greek officials and the diplomatic corps.

On the 10th of September he left Piræus, and on the 14th arrived off Trieste, where of ficial calls were exchanged and other courtesies extended. He sailed from Trieste on the 27th, anchored off Gibraltar October 9th, and left for New York on the 18th, where he arrived on November 10th.

The command of the Asiatic squadron was held by Rear-Admiral Henry H. Bell until January 11th, when he was drowned at Osaka. The command then devolved upon Commodore J. R. Goldsborough, who retained it until the arrival of Rear-Admiral S. C. Rowan at Singapore on April 18th. The squadron was composed of the Piscataqua, 23 guns; Oneida, 8; Iroquois, 6; Ashuelot, 10; Monocacy, 10; Unadilla, 5; Aroostook, 5; Maumee, 8; Idaho, 7; together with the Shenandoah and Hartford, which have subsequently returned to the United States.

Upon the opening of the ports of Osaka and Hiogo, in Japan, it was deemed necessary that a strong naval force should be present. Not that any serious trouble was apprehended, but certain discontented factions were known to exist, and the display of foreign power would, it was thought, prove a wholesome restraint on the turbulent and disaffected. A few days afterward, the unfortunate event of the drowning of Rear-Admiral Bell took place. His communication with the shore had been inter

rupted for several days by a storm, and he left his ship as soon as it abated, for the purpose of visiting the United States minister. But his barge was capsized, by a strong wind and heavy sea, on the bar, in sight of most of his command. Every effort was made, by boats dispatched. from the vessels present, to rescue the unfortunate party, but only three of the boat's crew were saved. The bodies of the lost were all subsequently recovered.

The harmony which prevailed at the opening of the new ports was of short duration. Difficulties, originating in the innovations on ancient customs and opposition to intercourse with foreigners, appeared among the Japanese, and soon broke out in hostilities.

On the 27th of January, the contending parties came in conflict at Osaka. The Tycoon, who favored the extension of commercial intercourse, was defeated, and during the night of January 31st sought shelter with some of his principal adherents on board the Iroquois, which was in the harbor. Protection was given him until daylight, when he was transferred to one of his own vessels-of-war.

On the 1st of February the several foreign ministers were compelled to abandon Osaka and were received and conveyed in the Iroquois to Hiogo, where they established their legations. On the 4th of February an assault was made in the streets of Hiogo by a detachment of Japanese troops on the foreign residents, during which one of the crew of the Oneida was seriously wounded by a musketball. In consequence of these outbreaks, which threatened the safety of the foreign population, the naval forces present made a joint landing and adopted measures to protect the foreign settlement. But on the 8th of February an envoy from the Mikado arrived at the United States legation with information of a change of government. Assurance was given that foreigners would be protected, whereupon a settlement was made and the forces withdrawn. The Japanese officer who had command of the detachment of troops, and ordered them to fire on the foreigners at Hiogo, was subsequently executed in the presence of a number of the officers of the vessels-of-war.

Rear-Admiral Rowan reached Yokohama on the 24th of June, and found the open ports in possession of the Mikado party. The foreign naval forces, in pursuance of agreement in conference, jointly occupied Yokohama for the defence of the foreign settlement. No serious disturbance took place there, and Rear-Admiral Rowan awaited the progress of events between the contending parties.

After the death of Rear-Admiral Bell, Commodore Goldsborough transferred his flag to the Hartford, and left Nagasaki on the 1st of February for Hong Kong, on his way to Singapore and the United States. At Hong Kong he paid an official visit to the Chinese viceroy at Canton, who rules over the two extensive and populous sea-coast provinces, Kwantung

and Fuhkien. The reception was cordial and gratifying; and, to check in some measure the frequent piracies, the viceroy promised to issue a proclamation prohibiting fishing-junks from carrying an extra number of men, or arms, or munitions of war.

In April the Shenandoah was sent to Corea to make another attempt to rescue the crew of the schooner General Sherman, which had been destroyed by the Coreans some eighteen months previously, it having been stated upon apparently good authority that some of them were still alive and in captivity. From all the information that Commander Febiger could gather, he concluded that none of the crew or passengers of the schooner were living.

The Aroostook, Lieutenant Commander Beardslee, conveyed the consuls for Amoy and Foo-Choo to Formosa in April, to enable them to visit the various ports on that island coming under their charge. The savages inhabiting the lower part of this island some time ago murdered the shipwrecked officers and crew of the American bark Rover. Satisfied from inquiry that no foreigners were in captivity on the island, Lieutenant-Commander Beardslee obtained assurances from the natives of kind treatment to and restoration of any persons who may hereafter be shipwrecked upon the island.

The North Atlantic squadron was under the command of Rear-Admiral James S. Palmer until December 7, 1867, when he died at St. Thomas. He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral H. K. Hoff, who took command on February 22d. The squadron consisted of the Contoocook, 13 guns; Saco, 10; Penobscot, 9; Yantic, 5; Gettysburg, 9; Nipsic, 6. The squadron was actively employed in giving assistance to merchantmen and protection to citizens of the United States wherever needed within the limits of its operations.

The disturbed condition of Hayti called for more than ordinary attention to American interests on that island. Instructions were from time to time issued to the admiral in command, by the Government, to watch the progress of events, and be prepared at all times to afford necessary protection to citizens. In pursuance of these directions, the Contoocook, De Soto, Shawmut, Saco, Penobscot, Gettysburg, and Nipsic have, at different times, been in Haytien waters, and some of them have remained there for weeks successively.

The South Atlantic squadron was under the command of Rear-Admiral Charles H. Bell, and consisted of the Guerriere, 21 guns; Pawnee, 11; Quinnebaug, 6; Wasp, 3; Kansas, 8. The continuance of hostilities between the allied powers and Paraguay rendered it necessary to keep some portion of the force as near as practicable to the scene of military operations. On the 7th of February, in concert with the commanders of other squadrons and at the request of Governor Flores, of Montevideo, fifty seamen and marines were landed for the pro

tection of foreign residents and the customhouse. On the succeeding day, affairs having quieted, the detachment was withdrawn. On the 19th of the same month another force was landed and remained on shore until the 26th, in consequence of the disturbances occasioned by the assassination of Flores.

Early in the year, at the request of Secre tary Seward, the Wasp was dispatched to the capital of Paraguay for the purpose of bringing away the American minister resident, Mr. Washburn. When she arrived at the seat of war in the Parana River, the passage of the ves sel through the blockading fleet was refused by the Brazilian authorities, and after waiting some months and failing to convince them of the right of a neutral man-of-war to ascend the river as far as Asuncion for the purpose stated, that vessel returned to Montevideo. In August the Brazilian authorities withdrew their objec tion and the Wasp again ascended the river, which is of difficult navigation, owing to its tortuous course, and shifting sand-bars. Only the smaller class of naval vessels can ascend to Asuncion, on the Parana River, in the interior of South America, 930 miles from Montevideo. On the 10th of September, at Villeta (below Asuncion), the Wasp took on board Mr. Washburn and family and conveyed him to Buenos Ayres.

The North Pacific squadron was under the command of Rear-Admiral H. K. Thatcher until August 6th, when he was relieved by RearAdmiral Thomas T. Craven. The squadron consisted of the Pensacola, 20 guns; Mohong, 10; Lackawanna, 7; Saginaw, 6; Resaca, 5; Ossipee, 6; Jamestown, 15; Cyane, 18. The west coast of Mexico, the commercial ports of Central America, and the Sandwich Islands have been frequently visited during the year. The importance of the whaling and commer cial interests at the Sandwich Islands is show by the fact that at one time in November, 1867, forty-two American flags were flying from ths: number of whaling and merchant vessels in the harbor of Honolulu, while but six flags of all other nations could be seen.

In June last, Rear-Admiral Thatcher, in the flag-ship, visited the Northwestern coast, touching at Port Townsend and Esquimault. Sev eral vessels of the squadron have visited the newly-acquired Territory of Alaska. The Ossipee conveyed the commissioners from San Francisco to Sitka, and was present and partici pated in the ceremonies incident to the transfer of the flag. The Resaca and Jamestown, although sent there primarily for the influence of the cold climate in disinfecting them of yellow fever, afforded such protection to citizens as was desired. In April last the Saginaw was dispatched to Alaska, where she remained several months, for the purpose of making explorations and surveys, and of determining the most suitable harbors and anchorages on the coast, and in the adjacent islands. The Sus nee, under orders for the same point, w

wrecked on the 9th of July, by running on a hidden rock in Shadwell Passage, while in charge of a coast-pilot. The officers and crew succeeded in landing on the nearest beach. The vessel soon broke up, but Rear-Admiral Thatcher, who was at the time at Esquimault, made the best practicable terms for saving the engines and other articles.

The South Pacific squadron was under the command of Rear-Admiral Dahlgren until July 14th, when he was relieved by Rear-Admiral Thomas Turner. The squadron consisted of the Powhatan, 17 guns; Tuscarora, 10; Kearsarge, 7; Dakota, 7; Nyack, 6. The operations of the squadron have been confined to the west coast of South America, in consequence of the disturbed condition of political affairs, and the disasters from physical convulsions.

On the night of the 10th of January, General Prado, ex-President of Peru, and other officers, came alongside the Nyack, and requested asylum from personal violence, which he apprehended from the revolutionary party. He also requested transportation to Chili. His requests were complied with, and he was safely landed at Valparaiso.

The disasters to the naval vessels in consequence of physical convulsions have been of an unprecedented character. They occurred during 1867, in the West Indies, and in 1868, on the west coast of South America.

A violent earthquake, which occurred in the harbor of St. Thomas, and in that vicinity, on the afternoon of November 18, 1867, caused the stranding of the United States steamer Monongahela, and two other vessels of the squadron barely escaped serious injury. The De Soto, in the harbor of St. Thomas, was swept from her moorings by the force of the waves, both chains snapping, and was thrown violently upon the iron piles of a new wharf, but fortunately the next wave carried her again into deep water, and she sustained but little injury. The Susquehanna, in the same harbor, succeeded in getting away from her dangerous position without damage.

The Monongahela, which at the time was anchored off Frederickstadt, island of St. Croix, was carried by a wave over the warehouses and into one of the streets of the town. She came back with the returning sea and was left on a coral reef at the water's edge. Fortunately, but five of the crew were lost, and no very serious injury was sustained by the ship. As it was deemed practicable to relaunch her, the officers and crew remained by the vessel. The first attempt failed, but on the 10th of May a successful effort was made. She was safely launched, and left St. Croix on the 13th of June, arriving at New York the 29th.

On the 13th of August, 1868, a violent earthquake visited the western coast of South America, by which two of the vessels of the South Pacific squadron were lost to the service. The storeship Fredonia had, in consequence of the prevalence of yellow fever at

Callao, been moved up to Arica, and was there with the Wateree, quietly riding at anchor. A short time after the shock of the earthquake was felt, the sea receded, leaving the Fredonia on the bottom, and a moment after the waters rolled in with such power as to break her to fragments. Twenty-seven officers and men were drowned-three officers, who were on shore, and two seamen who were rescued, being all that were saved.

The Wateree was thrown ashore, and left high and dry, about 500 yards from high-water mark. She was badly strained, and her position was such that the expense of any attempt to launch her would have exceeded the value of the vessel. Under these circumstances, it was deemed for the best interests of the Government to sell her, and the necessary directsons were accordingly given. But a single man was lost from the vessel-a seaman in charge of the captain's gig, on the beach, who was carried out to sea by the waves.

Rear-Admiral Turner was at Callao in his flag-ship, the Powhatan, when this calamity occurred, and as a matter of security steamed out of the harbor until the next morning. On learning of the disastrous results of the earthquake at Arica, he proceeded to that point. The Powhatan, on application of the authorities of Peru, was permitted to convey surgeons, nurses, etc., for the relief of the thousands of sufferers at Arica. The commanding officer of the Wateree also furnished such aid as he could to the destitute inhabitants, with provisions from the ship's supply. The senior officer at Valparaiso promptly responded to an application of the Chilian Government, by placing the Tuscarora at the service of the authorities to convey provisions and other necessaries to the sufferers along the coast.

In estimating the condition in which the navy of the United States should be maintained, it is asserted that, in the event of a war with any maritime power, the battles would be fought on the sea and not on the land-by fleets and not by armies. No nation of Europe could transport any considerable military force across the ocean, and if the attempt were made it would be speedily arrested. Notwithstanding the experience of the past, the circumstances of the navy have not been brought up to this standard. None of the navy yards possess the area and appliances, nor have they the necessary establishments and machinery for manufacturing engines and armature, nor the materials that should be collected in anticipation of the national wants. In no one of the navy yards is there more than a single dry-dock, and there are but six in all-three built of stone, and three floating docks. The dock-yards of France and Great Britain, at Cherbourg and Portsmouth, each contains a greater number of dry-docks than all the Federal yards combined.

Congress, by reducing the day's labor of those who work for the Government to eight hours instead of ten, imposed on the department, as a necessity, the employment of a larger number of hands to execute the same amount of work; and if it had been intended that the per diem compensation for a working day of ten hours in outside establishments should, under the statute, fix the rate of wages in navy yards, twenty per cent. would have been added to the cost of labor.

The estimates for labor for the current year were based on the standard which had always previously been recognized and observed; but Congress, while diminishing the appropriations below the estimates, also lessened the amount of labor to be daily rendered by each individual workman. While, therefore, the department was furnished with less means, it was compelled to employ one-fifth more laborers than in preceding years for the same amount of work.

The available resources for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1868, were..

By request of the Navy Department there was

carried to the surplus fund of the Treasury
on the 30th September, 1857....
Leaving subject to draft.
There remained in the Treasury on the 30th
Juno, 1868..

Showing an expenditure during the fiscal
The resources for the fiscal year 1868-69 are
year of...

as follows:
Balance in the Treasury.
Appropriations, act June 17, 1868.

Total.

There has been designated to be carried to
the surplus fund.......

Leaving unexpended and available for the
fiscal year 1868-'69..
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1870, are as follows:

Repairs of buildings, docks, and incidental
Pay of officers and seamen of the navy.
expenses in navy yards.

Pay of civil establishment in navy yards, hos-
pitals, etc....

Ordnance, repair of magazines, etc..
Coal, hemp, and equipments..
Navigation and navigation supplies..
Naval Academy...
Naval Observatory and Nautical Almanac..
Repair and preservation of vessels.
Steam machinery, tools, etc....
Provisions and clothing.
Repairs of naval hospitals and laboratories..
Contingent expenses..

The Naval Academy, during the year, was
under the charge of Admiral Porter. The
number of graduates at the close of the acad-
emic year was seventy-nine; the number of
admissions forty-nine; the total number of
midshipmen at the academy at the close of
the year was two hundred and eighty-six. Support of marine corps..
Several midshipmen have been appointed from
States recently admitted to representation in
Congress, but subsequent to such admission.

The importance of the States on the Pacific coast, the increasing intimacy of their citizens with the islands of that ocean, the growing trade with China and Japan, and the varied interests of commercial interprise which are opening from the Indian Ocean to the islands of the North, require that a more complete and systematic survey should be made of the North Pacific Ocean. The Brooks or Midway Islands were discovered a few years ago and recently surveyed by order of the Navy Department. The charts of the survey represent two islands enclosed in a lagoon, forming a perfectly secure harbor, accessible to vessels drawing less than twenty feet, and affording an abundant supply of pure, fresh water. These islands, which are uninhabited and unoccupied, are situated about midway between California and Eastern Asia, on the track of the mail steamships, and furnish the only known refuge for vessels passing directly between the two continents.

It is represented by the naval officers who made the survey, and also by Rear-Admiral Thatcher, that the bar at the entrance of the harbor might be deepened at a very small expense, and a port vastly superior to Honolulu be thus opened to mariners, where a depot might be established for the supply of provisions, water, and fuel to the ocean steam lines, and a refuge afforded to merchant-ships navigating that ocean.

The resources and expenses of the navy have

been as follows:

Total......

.$103,465,754

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NEBRASKA. Covering an area of more than seventy thousand English square miles this young State is yet very thinly settled The number of inhabitants scarcely amounts to fifty thousand. She possesses, however. not a few cities and towns-as Omaha, Nebraska City, Lincoln, and others. The mo profitable occupations of the people seem to be agriculture and the raising of cattle.

Lincoln sprang up, as it were, out of the prairie, in midsummer, 1867, and before eighteen months had elapsed was grown to such an extent in buildings and residents that on this account as well as the prospective bene fits resulting from its local position to the whee community, the people by a majority of votes declared it to be the capital of Nebraska. la accordance with this decision the seat of gor ernment, which, during her territorial condition and the first two years of her existence as a State, had always been in Omaha, was by the end of 1868 removed from the last-named place and permanently located in Lincoln. A suitable building destined for that purpose had been in course of erection for some time, and a portion finished, to accommodate the Exec tive, and both Houses of the Legislature for opening and holding their respective sessions at the beginning of 1869.

From the numerous railway lines projected. and even partly executed, in other States around Nebraska, but chiefly from the works in course of construction for the Union Pacie Railroad, which runs along on the north bank of the Platte, and so traverses the State in the

middle, through her whole length from east
to west, her speedy growth would appear as
the necessary effect of this cause, even though
she possessed no internal resources of her
own. On the contrary, they are many and
great. An unmistakable proof of such being
the fact is the progressive increase in the
amount of taxable property within her limits,
which, during the last three years, has been
steadily increasing. The assessment for 1867
was four millions above that for 1866; and the
assessment for 1868 is nearly double the whole
amount assessed for 1867. The official state-
ment for 1868, made by the State Auditor and
published in 1869, exhibits the total assess-
ments for the last three years. It indicates
also the names of some among the counties to
which the largest sums of county assessments
belong, or which possess the largest quantity
of certain kinds of property in comparison
with other counties, as follows:
Assessment for 1868 (Gage and Kearney
Counties not in)..
Increase over 1867..

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$31.981.691 37

constitution since Nebraska was organized under a State government, and admitted as such into the Federal Union. In financial matters, she is represented by the Governor in a previous message to be almost clear of debt.

The lands given by the General Government to Nebraska for internal improvement, school buildings, and other purposes of public interest, Governor Butler states to be more than three and one-fourth millions of acres, which Congress, by an express provision in the grant, forbids to be sold under $1.25 per acre, while a law of the State has fixed its minimum price at $5.00. The selection and entry of these lands in the name of Nebraska having now been completed, the Governor says that "the land interests of the State have thence assumed grand proportions." As "not less than 250,000 acres of these lands, in addition to a large quantity of the school lands, will be brought into market within the next two years," he intimates the necessity of creating 14,145,809 80 a distinct office for this branch of the execu$8,066,779 8,191,200 tive department, "for the successful manage1,895,432 ment of the interests of the State in the dis1,881,349 1,577,007 position of them, and in the handling and in$16,863,180 vestment of the funds derived." The accounts of moneys due by the Federal 15,118,511 Government to the State for military services $31,981,691 have been settled, except a remainder of about $8,015,550 $15,000, for which the Governor asks that an $13,563,025 agent should be sent to Washington to prosecute the claim and collect the amount. The same agent, he adds, should be empowered to receive the sum of $12,000 due by virtue of the act of Congress giving the State five per cent. on the receipts from the sale of pub2,862 lic lands within her boundaries. The Governor 2,835 2,435 states that he himself had recently settled the 2,096 account of this percentage at Washington, and that the forementioned sum "is now lying in 5,404 the national Treasury, because no one has been authorized to receive it for the State."

17,835,881
31,981,691

Otoe County, amount of entered lands, 285,704 acres.
Richardson

1867..
1868.

Nemaha 46

66

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260,350 220,134 215,015 173,462

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Douglas 66

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1,417

7,066

4,856

2,769

2,720

2,638

2.312

333

318

218

144

4.969

1,621

Besides the great sources of wealth which 2,678 Nebraska possesses to an eminent degree in the quality and quantity of her soil adopted both for cultivation and pasture, vast beds of coal have lately been discovered and ascertained to exist 162 near the surface in Pawnee County, and generally in the southern and middle portions 3,794 of the State. Beneficial as such a discovery 2.530 would be anywhere to people of all con1,503 ditions, producers, manufacturers, merchants, or only consumers, it is peculiarly so to Nebraska, where wood is scarce, and in whose 4,524 weekly lists of prices, published in the papers 2,806 of June, 1868, and January, 1869, coal is quoted at 14, 16, 20, 26, and 30 dollars per ton, according to quality, and the shorter or greater distance of the places from which it is imported thither; whereas it has been ascertained that their own coal at the mine can be bought at $5, which cannot fail to be greatly reduced, as easy means of transportation are opened.

1,244
6,298
4,609

1.171

1.165

Vashington 1,110 The condition, resources, and wants of Neraska are pretty fully exhibited in Governor Butler's message delivered to the Legislature t the opening of its session, in Lincoln, on anuary 7, 1869. This was the first regular neeting of the General Assembly under the

VOL. VIII.-34 A

There is also, within sight of the capital, "a

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