perience, with several skilful surgeons, to ascertain the origin of the fever, and the probability of its recurrence there in future seasons; to furnish every assistance to those who were suffering, and, if practicable to avoid the necessity of abandoning so important a station. Commodore Rogers, with a promptitude which did him honour, cheerfully accepted that trust, and has discharged it in the manner anticipated from his skill and patriotism. Before his arrival, commodore Porter, with the greater part of the squadron, had removed from the island and returned to the United States, in consequence of the prevailing sickness. Much useful information has however, been obtained, as to the state of the island, and great relief afforded to those who had been necessarily left there.

Although our expedition, cooperating with an invigorated administration of the government of the island of Cuba, and with the corresponding active exertions of a British naval force in the same seas, have almost entirely destroyed the unlicensed piracies from that island, the success of our exertions has not been equally effectual to suppress the same crime, under other pretences and colours, in the neighbouring island of Porto Rico. They have been committed there under the abusive issue of Spanish commissions. At an early period of the present year, remonstrances were made to the governor of that island, by an agent who was sent for the purpose, against those outrages on the peaceful commerce of the United States, of which

many had occurred. That officer, professing his own want of authority to make satisfaction for our just complaints, answered only

by a reference of them to the government of Spain. The minister of the United States to that court was specially instructed to urge the necessity of the immediate and effectual interposition of that government, directing restitution and indemnity for wrongs already committed, and interdicting the repetition of them. The minister, as has been seen, was debarred access to the Spanish government, and, in the mean time, several new cases of flagrant outrage have occurred, and citizens of the United States in the island of Porto Rico have suffered, and others been threatened with assassination, for asserting their unquestionable rights, even before the lawful tribunals of the country.

The usual orders have been given to all our public ships to seize American vessels engaged in the slavetrade, and bring them in for adjudication; and I have the gratification to state, that not one so employed has been discovered; and there is good reason to believe, that our flag is now seldom, if at all, disgraced by that traffic.

It is a source of great satisfaction, that we are always enabled to recur to the conduct of our navy with pride and commendation. As a means of national defence, it enjoys the public confidence, and is steadily assuming additional importance. It is submitted whether a more efficient and equally economical organization of it might not, in several respects, be effected. It is supposed that higher grades than now exist by law would be useful. They would afford wellmerited rewards to those who have long and faithfully served their country; present the best incentives to good conduct, and the best means of ensuring a proper dis

cipline; destroy the inequality in that respect between the military and naval services, and relieve our officers from many inconveniences and mortifications, which occur when our vessels meet those of other nations-ours being the only service in which such grades do not exist.

A report of the postmaster-general, which accompanies this communication, will show the present state of the Post-office department, and its general operations for some years past.

There is established by law 88, 600 miles of post roads, on which the mail is now transported 85,700 miles, and contracts have been made, for its transportation on all the established routes, with one or two exceptions. There are 5,240 post-offices in the Union, and as many postmasters. The gross amount of postage which accrued from the 1st of July, 1822, to the 1st of July, 1823, was 1,114,345 dollars and 12 cents. During the same period the expenditures of the Post office department amounted to 1,169,885 dollars and 51 cents; and consisted of the following items :-Compensation to postmasters, 353,995 dollars and 98 cents; incidental expenses, 30,866 dollars and 37 cents; transportation of the mail, 784,600 dollars and 8 cents; payments into the Treasury, 423 dollars and 8 cents. On the 1st of July last, there was due to the department, from postmasters, 135,245 dollars and 28 cents; from late post-masters and contractors, 256,749 dollars and 31 cents; making a total amount of balances due to the department, of 391,994 dollars and 59 cents. These balances embrace all delinquencies of post-masters and contractors, which have taken place

since the organization of the department. There was due by the department to contractors, on the 1st day of July last, 26,548 dollars and 64 cents.

The transportation of the mail, within five years past, has been greatly extended, and the expen ditures of the department proportionably increased. Although the postage which has accrued within the last three years has fallen short of the expenditures 262,821 dollars and 46 cents, it appears that collections have been made from the outstanding balances to meet the principal part of the current demands.

It is estimated that not more than 250,000 dollars of the above balances can be collected, and that a considerable part of this sum can be realized only by a resort to le gal process. Some improvement in the receipts for postage is expected.

A prompt attention to the collection of monies received by post-masters, it is believed, will enable the department to continue its operations without aid from the Treasury, unless the expenditure shall be increased by the establishment of new mail routes.

A revision of some parts of the Post-office law may be necessary; and it is submitted, whether it would not be proper to provide for the appointment of post-masters, where the compensation exceeds a certain amount, by nomination to the senate, as other officers of the general government are appointed.

Having communicated my views. to Congress at the commencement of the last session, respecting the encouragement which ought to be given to our manufactures, and the principle on which it should be founded, I have only to add, that those views remain unchanged,

and that the present state of those countries with which we have the most immediate political relations, and greatest commercial intercourse, tends to confirm them. Under this impression, I recommend a review of the tariff, for the purpose of affording such additional protection to those articles which we are prepared to manufacture, or which are more immediately connected with the defence and independence of the country.

The actual state of the public accounts furnishes additional evidence of the efficiency of the present system of accountability, in relation to the public expenditure. Of the monies drawn from the Treasury since the 4th of March, 1817, the sum remaining unaccounted for on the 30th of September last, is more than a million and a half of dollars less than on the 30th of September preceding; and during the same period a reduction of nearly a million of dollars has been made in the amount of the unsettled accounts for monies advanced previously to the 4th of March, 1817. It will be obvious that inproportion as the mass of accounts of the latter description is diminished by settlement, the difficulty of settling the residue is increased, from the consideration that in many instances it can be obtained only by legal process. For more precise details on this subject, I refer to a report from the first comptroller of the Treasury.

The sum which was appropriated at the last session, for the repair of the Cumberland-road, has been applied with good effect to that object. A final report has not yet been received from the agent who was appointed to superintend it. As soon as it is received, it shall be communicated to Congress.

Many patriotic and enlightened citizens, who have made the subject an object of particular investigation, have suggested an improvement of still greater importance. They are of opinion that the waters of the Chesapeake and Ohio may be connected together, by one continued canal, and at an expense far short of the value and importance of the object to be obtained. If this could be accomplished, it is impossible to calculate the beneficial consequences which would result from it. Á great portion of the produce of the very fertile country through which it would pass would find a market through that channel. Troops might be moved with great facility in war, with cannon, and every kind of munition, and in either direction. Connecting the Atlantic with the western country, in a line passing through the seat of the national government, it would contribute essentially to strengthen the bond of union itself. Believ ing, as I do, that Congress possess the right to appropriate money for such a national object (the jurisdiction remaining to the states through which the canal would pass), I submit it to your consideration, whether it may not be advisable to authorize, by an adequate appropriation, the employment of a suitable number of the officers of the corps of engineers, to examine the unexplored ground during the next season, and to report their opinion thereon. will likewise be proper to extend their examination to the several routes through which the waters of the Ohio may be connected, by canals, with those of Lake Erie.

It

As the Cumberland road will require annual repairs, and Congress have not thought it expedi

ent to recommend to the States an amendment, to the constitution for the purpose of investing in the United States a power to adopt and execute a system of internal improvement, it is also submitted to your consideration, whether it may not be expedient to authorize the executive to enter into an arrangement with the several states through which the road passes, to establish tolls each within its limits, for the purpose of defraying the expense of future repairs, and of providing also, by suitable penalties, for its protection against future injuries.

The act of Congress of the 7th of May, 1822, appropriated the sum of 22,700 dollars for the purpose of erecting two piers as a shelter for vessels from ice, near Cape Henlopen, Delaware Bay. To effect the object of the act, the officers of the board of engineers, with commodore Bainbridge, were directed to prepare plans and estimates of piers sufficient to answer the purpose intended by the act. It appears by their report, which accompanies the documents from the war department, that the appropriation is not adequate to the purpose intended; and as the piers would be of great service both to the navigation of the Delaware Bay, and the protection of vessels on the adjacent parts of the coasts, I submit for the consideration of the Congress, whether additional and sufficient appropriations should not be made.

The board of engineers were also directed to examine and survey the entrance of the harbour of the port of Presquisle, in Pennsylvania, in order to make an estimate of the expense of removing the obstructions to the entrance, with a plan of the best mode of

effecting the same under the appropriation for that purpose, by act of Congress, passed 3rd of March last. The Report of the Board accompanied the papers from the War Department, and is submitted for the consideration of Congress.

A strong hope has been long entertained, founded on the heroic struggle of the Greeks, that they would succeed in their contest, and resume their equal station among the nations of the earth. It is believed that the whole civilized world takes a deep interest in their welfare. Although no power has declared in their favour, yet none, according to our information, has taken part against them. Their cause and their name have protected them from dangers, which might, ere this, have overwhelmed any other people. The ordinary calculations of interest, and of acquisition, with a view to aggrandizement, which mingle so much in the transactions of nations, seem to have had no effect in regard to them. From the facts which have come to our knowledge, there is good cause to believe that their enemy has lost for ever all dominion over them; that Greece will become again an independent nation. That she may obtain that rank is the object of our most ardent wishes.

It was stated at the commencement of the last session, that the great effort was then making in Spain and Portugal, to improve the condition of the people of those countries, and that it appeared to be conducted with extraordinary moderation. It need scarcely be remarked that the result has been, so far, very different from what was then anticipated. Of events in that quarter of the globe, with

which we have so much intercourse, and from which we derive our origin, we have always been anxious and interested spectators. The citizens of the United States cherish sentiments the most friendly in favour of the liberty and happiness of their fellow men, on that side of the Atlantic. In the wars of the European powers, in matters relating to themselves, we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to do. It is only when our rights are invaded, or seriously menaced, that we resent injuries, or make preparation for our defence. With the movements in this hemisphere, we are, of necessity, more immediately connected, and by causes which must be obvious to all enlightened and impartial observers. The political system of the allied powers is essentially different, in this respect, from that of America. This difference proceeds from that which exists in their respective governments. And to the defence of our own, which has been atchieved by the loss of so much blood and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of their most enlightened citizens, and under which we have enjoyed unexampled felicity, this whole "nation is devoted. We owe it, therefore, to candour, and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers, to declare, that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power, we have not interfered, and shall not interfere. But, with the governments who have declared their independence, and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great VOL. LXV.

consideration, and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power, in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States. In the war between those new governments and Spain, we declared our neutrality at the time of their recognition; and to this we have adhered, and shall continue to adhere, provided no change shall occur, which, in the judgment of the competent autho rities of this government, shall make a corresponding change on the part of the United States, indispensable to their security.

The late events in Spain and Portugal show that Europe is still unsettled. Of this important fact no stronger proof can be adduced, than that the allied powers should have thought it proper, on any principle satisfactory to themselves, to have interposed, by force, in the internal concerns of Spain. To what extent such interpositions may be carried on the same principle, is a question in which all independent powers, whose governments differ from theirs, are interested; even those most remote, and surely none more so than the United States. Our policy, in regard to Europe, which was adopted at an early age of the wars which have so long agitated that quarter of the globe, nevertheless remains the same; which is, not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers; to consider the government de facto as the legitimate government for us; to cultivate friendly relations with it, and to preserve those relations by a frank, firm, and N*