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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
Friend, but stopped to arrange some matters at home that required my immediate attention, and which I shall arrange so that I can leave home again, and go down on the first boat-say tomorrow or next day.- I sent the $500 down to Van "\Vinkle & Bros, and directed them to pay the freight pr. Oral but no demur<rage. The balance, if any left of the $500, to be placed to· the credit of the Navy Agent, as they have an a/c for supplies furnished the Navy; so that I oan be shewn how the $500 has been .appropriated. You will excuse me for being particular in bringing little matters like this before you but it is a business habit, and can do no harm. Before you come to any final determination what to do with the Zavala, be pleased to wait till you hear from me again; which will be a fe,v days only.- You will have a Secretary of the Navy soon who will need none of my advice, I well know; nor do I wish you to consider me officious in giving advice, or making suggestions. Yet, from the disposition of the opponents of your administration to complain, it will be well enough to give no cause of complaint when it can be avoided. You will have to depend on your friends, in and out of office, for information (if not advice) about the man- agement and mismanagement of certain matters at a distance. Some kind of economy will be expected in the management of our Naval Affairs; particularly in the victualing department. What think you of Pork having been purchased at $100 pr. Bbl for the Navy! yet it is a fact I am told- and other articles in proportion-before you ,came into office I hope and suspect however! It is the business of the Navy Agent to purchase every thing of the kind for the Navy, not by the small quantity, but in large quantities, and usually by contrart; he must have means, however, to do this.- '\Vhen the articles are so purchased they are delivered to the Naval Storekeeper, who delivers them out per requisition from the Commandant &c. (see law 76 on the subject). Now the Navy Agent must be a business man, who knows how to make purchases to the best advantage, and as said before, purchase by the quantity; not a bbl or two of pork & bread at a time at Galveston prices. - Supplies must be obtained from New Orleans at wholesale prices. The present arrangement will not do; and that was one reason why I could not think of holding the officr. Although there was an appropriation of $:li'>0,000 by Congress for the support of the Navy yet none of it was available, and I had to furnish supplies tlie best way I could-at Galveston prices, which were fair enough, all things considered. Yet the very profit the merchant made on selling me these supplies should have been saved to th Govt. independent of freight &c. To get this matter straight at the 'beginning, if you are disposed to hear my suggestions on the sub- ject, say so in an early communication, which I will answer, (or see you in person) at once. For, as one of your friends, I am not dis- posed to see any va1itage ground given the enemies of the Admr, when it can be. avoided. The expense of the Navy at present is far beyond what you may imagine. By as you will soon have at the head of that department a gentleman of talents and practical in- '"The act of Dec. 15, 1836; reprinted in Gammel, H. P. N., Laws of Texas, I, 1146,
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