1st Session.

No. 107.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

FEBRUARY 15, 1854.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. MALLORY made the following

REPORT.

[To accompany Bill S. 212.]

The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the petition and accompanying papers of Captain Philip F. Voorhees, of the United States navy, has had the same under consideration, and thereupon report:

That the Secretary of the Navy, on the 15th of February, 1849, gave the petitioner, then commanding, at Boston, the United States frigate Savannah, bound to the Pacific, the following order:

NAVY DEPARTMENT,
February 15, 1849.

SIR: Be pleased to afford a passage in the United States frigate "Savannah," under your command, to Charles Eames, esq., United States Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. Y. MASON.

N. B.-Mr. Eames may be detained here for his instructions, so as not to be able to reach Boston before Monday. You will please await his arrival and give him a passage.

Captain P. F. Voorhees,

J. Y. MASON.

Commanding United States frigate Savannah, Boston.

In compliance with this order Mr. Eames was conveyed from Boston to San Francisco, and messed throughout the voyage-and while the ship remained at San Francisco, a period of six months-in the cabin, at the expense of the petitioner.

On the 21st of August, 1849, the Secretary of the Navy gave to the petitioner, then flag captain of the United States ship Plymouth, the following order:

UNITED STATES NAVY Department,
August 21, 1849.

SIR: This letter will be handed to you by Mr. Joseph Balestier, who has been appointed by the President special agent and envoy of the United States for the purpose of proceeding to Cochin China, and to

other parts of southeastern Asia, in the execution of important public duties, which the instructions of the Department of State to him will explain.

You are hereby authorized and directed to receive Mr. Balestier on board your flag-ship and convey him, in conformity to his instructions, to the different ports and places indicated therein; and you will afford all the facilities of your command to accomplish the objects of his mis

sion.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. BALLARD PRESTON. To the COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE U. S. SQUADRON,

East Indies.

Under this order Mr. Balestier joined the Plymouth at Macao, China, on the 21st February, 1850, together with the interpreter of the mission, Mr. Dean; and both were provided for, at the expense of the petitioner, until the 3d of April following, when they landed in Siam.

Mr. Balestier re-joined the ship on the next day, and continued the guest of the petitioner until the 9th of July following.

The petitioner conveyed these gentlemen, in the execution of their duties, to several points in the China seas, where they and the ship were visited by public functionaries and representatives of the sovereign authorities-all of whom were more or less entertained at the expense of the petitioner. He presents no schedule of the details of the aforesaid expenses, but alleges that they amounted to at least $1,500; and he presents the statements of Messrs. Eames and Balestier, and the affidavit of his clerk, Mr. Wert, proving the matters hereinbefore detailed.

It is evident that the expenses were entailed upon the petitioner by the orders of the department; which orders were promptly carried out and resulted beneficially to the country, and that he is entitled to repayment. The sum of $1,500 does not seem to be unreasonable, and the committee report a bill to this extent for his relief.

The committee refer to the following precedents in support of the views herein expressed:

Naval appropriation act of 20th February, 1833.

"SEC. 5. That there be paid to Master Commandant John D. Sloat, of the United States navy, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of one thousand three hundred and sixty dollars; being the amount of his account exhibited to the Navy Department for expenses incurred in entertaining, on board the St. Louis, under his command, General Bolivar and several of his officers, at Guayaquil, in the year 1829; and General La Fuente, President of Peru, and Major General Miller, of the Peruvian army, in the year 1831."

Civil and diplomatic appropriation act of 2d March, 1833.

To indemnify Captain Daniel Turner, of the United States navy for the expense of conveying the Netherlands' minister, and his suite, from New York to Curacoa, by order of the Secretary of the Navy, in the year 1828, $1,182 78."

Same act.

"To indemnify Captain George W. Storer, of the United States navy, for the expenses of accommodating Commodore David Porter, charge d'affaires of the United States at Constantinople, on board of the United States ship 'Boston; and for the expenses of conveying George Porter, consul of the United States at Tangiers, from Port Mahon to Tangiers; and of conveying Lieutenant Ebenezer Ridgway, consul of the United States at Tripoli, and his family, from Port Mahon to Tripoli-in all five hundred dollars."

Private.-Act for the relief of Daniel T. Patterson, July 7, 1838.

"That the Secretary of the Treasury pay to Captain D. T. Patterson, of the United States navy, out of any money not otherwise appropriated, $3,391, for extraordinary expenses incurred when he commanded the United States squadron in the Mediterranean, in the years 1832, 1833, 1834, and 1835, in receiving and entertaining, on board of his ship, the head officers of the governments of the countries where the presence of said squadron was required for the general protection of the commercial interests of his government, and for his extraordinary expenses in visiting the courts of those governments."

Private.-Act for the relief of Chas. W. Morgan, June 17, 1844.

"That the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized and directed to pay to Captain Chas. W. Morgan, of the United States navy, the sum of $4,200, for extraordinary expenses incurred by him while he commanded the United States squadron in the Mediterranean, in the years 1841, 1842, and 1843, in conducting the negotiation with the minister plenipotentiary of the emperor of Morocco, in relation to the indignity offered to the United States consul, Thos. N. Carr; in entertaining the queen of Prussia and her suite; and in relation to the reception and entertainment of the prince of Syracuse and the prince of Lucca; including, also, losses on stores laid in at Toulon for a cruise, which were abandoned and sold upon being suddenly recalled by the Navy Department; the said allowance being made in full compensation for all extraordinary expenses incurred by the said Captain C. W. Morgan, during his command of the Mediterranean squadron, as aforesaid, and to be paid out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated."