that it be made as effective as possible, in the grand purpose of its creation. The report of the secretary of war, will inform you of the present condition of the army. Its numerical strength has been fluctuating on account of the frequent accessions and discharges of volunteers, under short enlistments. A more permanent establishment will obviate this, with many other and more serious evils. ·The army has suffered, and is still suffering some privations; but considering the very limited financial resources of the government, their supplies have been as abundant as regularly administered, as could reasonably be expected. The Executive government has been anxiously and assiduously intent upon rendering them as comfortable as possible, and if occasional failures have occurred, they are attributable to inevitable circumstances. The quarter master general has been sent to New Orleans, for the purpose of facilitating the procurement of supplies from that quarter. The approach of winter admonishes us of the great necessity of obtaining comfortable clothing, and ample provisions for our gallant troops, whose exposures in the tented field, will command your earliest and most active solicitudes. Orders to a large amount have been transmitted, for provisions, clothes and other requisites; and a hope is entertained that an adequate supply will be speedily obtained. But orders had previously been issued of a similar character, and owing to the want of means, they have resulted in disappointment. The present condition of the navy, is by no means commensurate with the importance of that arm of the public defence. The defect of means has restrained the executive government, from effecting any actual iricrease of its strength. Some efforts have been made to improve its organization. Conceiving it of importance that an immediate and responsible commander-in-chief should be created, who was himself a practical man, and practically engaged in the service, I appointed, with the advice and consent of the cabinet, Charles E. Hawkins Esq., a gentleman whose gallantry and nautical science, would grace any service, lo that high office, with the rank of Commodore. The operations of the navy, have been as efficient as could have been expected. They have prevented any depredations on our coast, by the enemy, and have expelled his maritime forces from the gulf. The want of one or more vessels, of larger class than any in the service, is sensibly felt, and no efforts should be untried, lo accomplish the important acquisition. One brig of 18 guns, in
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