will lead them from us; and their presence will give us less confidence in battle. Every Sailor, in our Ships, should have, located here, all those attachments which bind man to his Country. Long and steady service under his native Flag, will increase fidelity to it, give a more generous courage in its defence, and ensure that devotion which shields the home and the fireside from invasion.

In attaining this condition, so far as the Navy is concerned, it is a favourable circumstance, that habit induces the Sailor to prefer our Ships of War to the merchant or any other service; that although the discipline is more rigorous, his comforts are greater, his employments and vicissitudes less changing; he, will therefore, continue in them, even at less wages. If we can procure for, and place in, our Navy, as many native American Seamen as are required, we shall probably be able to retain them, and thus be prepared for every event which peace or war may produce. The numbers necessary for our Merchant Vessels and Ships of War may be readily estimated. Our tonnage, in 1826, amounted to 1,534,191; in 1827, probably to about 1,600,000; which, at the average before-mentioned, would require about 85,000 Seamen. Our Ships of War now in commission demand about 4,800 Seamen, Ordinary Seamen, Landsmen, and Boys. To man, in time of war, all the vessels which are authorized to be built, more than 20,000, including Petty Officers and excluding Marines, would be necessary. The average annual increase has been before stated at about 5000. What is the precise number of our own Citizens, whose sole employment is upon the water, and what the number of naturalized Foreigners, cannot be precisely stated. There is a great defect in the register of our Seamen; a defect which ought to be remedied by Legislative Enactment.

It is respectfully suggested as proper;

1. That Foreign Seamen, although naturalized, be as rapidly excluded from our Navy as possible. In conformity with this sugges tion, an Order has been issued to the Officers engaged in recruiting, directing them to seek, first, native Americans, and to enlist none others, except as matter of necessity. It is believed that this order will accomplish the design to a considerable extent.

2. That a larger proportion of Landsmen than heretofore, should, while peace continues, be placed in our Ships. An Order to this effect has also been issued, and a direction given that none be enlisted under 18, nor over 25 years. Good Landsmen of the proper age, will, after one cruise of 2 or 3 Years, become good Ordinary Seamen, and after a second cruize be good Seamen, and continue permanently in the service.

3. That Landsmen be enlisted in the interior. Such as are picked up in the Cities, are generally dissipated Men, advanced in years, with bad habits and enfeebled constitutions, who never can become useful in any

capacity. On the contrary, young Men may be enlisted in the country whose constitutions are vigorous, whose habits are good, and who will soon make efficient Seamen. By this course also, a more general feeling will be created in favour of the Navy,-the right arm of the national defence.

A conviction of the importance of this measure, and a desire to test its practicability, induced the Department, a short time since, to establish a Rendezvous in the neighbourhood of Carlisle and Harrisburg. Thus far it promises all that was hoped for from it, and should it continue to prosper, it will be used hereafter as necessity shall call for it, and the same plan will be adopted in other places.

4. That Legislative provision be made to require Merchant Vessels, in proportion to their tonnage, to carry Boys between the ages of 14 and 18; at least one for every 100 tons. In making this recommendation, it is not forgotten, that a slight effect will be produced upon the economy with which our navigation is conducted, nor that the subject has been heretofore presented to the consideration of the Senate, and the proposition resisted by an able Report of the Committee of Commerce. But the recommendation is believed to be sustained by the successful practice of other Nations; by the absolute necessity of providing a sufficient nursery, and constant supply for our rapidly increas. ing Mercantile and Military Marine; by the smallness of the burden which the provision would impose upon our navigation; and by the high importance of being supported in our commercial career by our own Native Citizens. The regulations for this subject do not properly find a place in this Report.

But 5th. The most important measure connected with this subject is, legal authority to enlist with the written consent of their Parents, Boys over 13 and under 16 Years, until they arrive at the age of 21; or which would, in many respects, be preferable, authority to take Apprentices of the ages and for the period mentioned. There should be from 15 to 30 in every Navy Yard, and 2 for every gun, to our Vessels in commission; making, in all, in the first instance, about 1200. Those in the Navy Yards should be assigned to the various duties performed there, and instructed in them, so as to furnish in a few Years most competent workmen in every branch, who, being habituated to their employments, would be a steady and unfailing supply for the publick wants in that Department. Those in our Ships should, according to their capacities, be assigned to the labours of the common Sailor, and as assistants to the Petty Officers, and would, before the expiration of their enlistment or indenture, be perfected in their respective duties. As their terms ended, their places should be constantly supplied, so as to keep, at every moment, the full number of Boys in the Service. Two Years would be sufficient to prepare them to act as Ordinary Seamen and 3 more as Seamen. This plan, united to that of enlisting young Landsmen, would give us an annual increase of from 3 to 500 good

Seamen, permanently united to the Service; and ultimately secure all that our interest, on this point, can require. These Apprentices should be clothed in our own manufactures-denied spirits in their rations, until they become Men-educated by proper Teachers, in reading, writing, arithmetic, and navigation-be entitled to hospital pension and prize privileges-have a small amount of money reserved for them, and paid when their time expires, if their conduct has been good, and a premium on re-entering. They would furnish, within 8 or 10 Years from the commencement of the system, all our Petty Officers of every description, and the best rewards of virtuous effort, should be presented to them, in promotions to the rank of Warrant Officers, and if their merits justified, eventually to the highest honours of the profession.

To those who may not have carefully made the calculation, the results of such a system would appear extravagant. When compared with our present plan, it would create a saving of not less than an 150,000 dollars annually-would give us, in every Department, the greatest efficiency and skill, and above all would make the Navy what it ought to be, in every thing-American. Respectfully submitted.

SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD. Hon. Samuel Smith, President of the Senate of The United States.

(Enclosure.)-Circular to the Commanding Officers at Sea, &c.-June, 1827. Navy Department.

SIR,

JUSTICE to our Seamen, as well as the interests of the Service, require, that efforts should be made to remedy the inconveniences which have resulted, from the time of enlistment expiring, while the Men are abroad, and no adequate means afforded for their return home. It will be the object of the Department, hereafter, as far as circumstances will permit, so to regulate the manning of our Vessels, that the time of a majority of the Crews shall expire about the same period, and to recall the Vessels before that period arrives, so that the Men may be in The United States when their contract with the Govern ment ends.

It will be obviously impossible that this should be effected in every individual instance. You will, therefore, consider it your duty, and it is hereby enjoined upon you, when the time of service of Seamen, Ordinary Seamen, &c., expires during your cruise, to induce them, by all proper considerations, to re-enter for the remainder of the cruise, informing them, as nearly as you can, what will be its duration. If they refuse to re-enter, and require their discharge, let it be promptly given to them, unless urgent necessity exists for their services; and you will procure for them, if possible, a passage in some Vessel to The United States, on the lowest and best conditions, giving orders on the Department for the passage money. If they refuse to take the passage, and to return home, you will apprize the Department of it, and of what you have done on the subject; and give the like information

to the Consul of the Port nearest which you are, that he may regulate his conduct towards them with a full knowledge of the facts.

In every instance in which any Person is discharged abroad, and his passage paid, or he declines accepting the passage, you will state the facts in his discharge. 1 am very respectfully, &c.

ADDRESS of the Grand Convention of Colombia to the Inhabitants of the Republick.—Ocana, 17th April, 1828.

YOUR Representatives, assembled in Grand Convention, direct their voice to you from the august sanctuary of the Law. Occupied with the important business of your happiness, they have no other object than that of securing your liberties under the influence of peace. Worthy of being free, you have triumphed over your Oppressors, you have conquered your Independence, and nothing remains for you but to secure irrevocably your sacred and imprescriptible Rights.

During 18 Years of an obstinate and bloody contest, during 18 Years of a war of desolation, torrents of blood have flowed, and thousands of illustrious victims have been sacrificed; so many sacrifices made on the altar of liberty ought not to be in vain: you should reap the precious harvest of your labours.

Colombians! The Convention, provided for in your Constitution, in order to bring it one day to perfection, has met, in compliance with your wishes. The Legislative Body have declared that that period has arrived, because extraordinary circumstances have hastened events, which it was hardly credible could have happened within the space of 10 Years. Your Chief Executive Magistrate has proclaimed, in the face of the World, that the Grand Convention was the cry of Colombia; convoked by Congress, all have applauded its convocation, and you have made the elections of your choice. No description of coercion has prevented the declaration of publick opinion, which this day calls together, your Representatives. The knowledge of this truth fills them with confidence and resolution in entering upon their arduous and interesting duties. It is their business to enquire into your Institutions, and to declare whether there exists a necessity to reform them. The Convention has already unanimously declared that it does exist, and the reforms will be such as are calculated to remove the causes of your evils, and to prepare for you immense advantages.

The Members of the Grand Convention, the elect of your choice, belong to no Party, they belong only to Colombia, to yourselves alone: divested of all personal motives, the common good is the sole object of their cares; and, on the altars of the Country, they will sacrifice, with

pleasure, every private interest; they are diffident of their talents, but their intentions are pure, their wishes for your happiness are unconnected with all personal views, and the sacred flame of a sublime patriotism, which burns incessantly in their hearts, will consume every feeling which is not essentially national.

At the installation of the Grand Convention on the 9th of this month, your Deputies have taken the most sacred of oaths, and by this solemn and religious act, they have contracted a fresh obligation of conscience, to maintain the integrity and independence of the Republick, the sovereignty of the Nation, civil and political liberty, the form of a popular, representative, elective, and alternative Government, the responsibility of Publick Magistrates and Functionaries, and the division of the Supreme Authority, for the administration thereof, into the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Powers. These are the bases on which repose the social edifice, and the foundation of your prosperity.

This has been the object which you have proposed to yourselves since the voice of Independence was raised in 1810. These are the maxims which you have consecrated in all your Constitutions, in all your labours, and in all your publick and national Acts. To this end have been directed all your endeavours, all your energies, in the glorious and arduous struggle for your emancipation from an oppressive Government. This has been the universal cry of Colon. bians. Your Representatives will never violate, in a single point, an Oath so sacred.

It is on these sacred, these holy principles, that the throne of liberty and of the Law should be fixed. Liberty is the standard under which you have marched in your political career; it has always formed the point of union of all opinions; it was that which, in 1810, inspired the Patriarchs of the Revolution, which enabled the Martyrs of their Country to mount the scaffold with serenity, which inflamed the courage of your Heroes, and which has directed the steps of your Legislators and Magistrates; it is that which has impelled its spreading flame from one extremity of Colombia to the other, and throughout the whole of America. But do not forget that liberty is a tender and delicate plant, raised in the midst of tempests, of Wars and Revolutions; it requires the benign shades of peace for its growth, strength, and perfection.

The great Men, worthy of eternal memory, who laid the first foundation of our present edifice, so many generous Citizens who laid down their lives in the field of honour, a vast number of virtuous Patriots immolated on the scaffold,-all these sacrificed themselves to their Country alone, and sealed with their blood the justice of our cause, for the purpose of bequeathing to us, who survive them, to the entire Nation and future generations, the sublime price of their heroick services, as so many other titles, which, added to those you have had