the case of the prize Levant, which was retaken by the enemy in a neutral port, the report of the committee of the House of Representatives was followed by an act of Congress, approved April 26, 1816, appropriating the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars for distribution among the commander, officers and crew of the frigate Constitution. During the war with Mexico several prizes of inconsiderable value were taken into the public service, but it is believed that in every case there was a condemnation, an appraisement, and payment of the appraised value. In any case where a prize has been taken into the public service and paid for, whether under the special authority of Congress or otherwise, it would be difficult for the department now to determine from any information in its possession that the compensation to the captors was other than "fair or equitable." I am, very respectfully, &c., Hon. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, President of the Senate. ISAAC TOUCEY. NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 11, 1858. SIR: By resolutions of the Senate agreed to on the 25th ult., the Secretary of the Navy is directed to furnish a statement of "the names, character, and force of all prizes of enemy's vessels-of-war captured by the United State's navy which were taken by said enemy in reutral ports, by which the captors were deprived of a right to property therein, which right was conferred upon them by the law regulating the apportionment and distribution of prize money arising from captures made by equal or inferior forces; whether prizes so taken have been reclaimed from the enemy or from any neutral power which has thus, in violation of international law, permitted prizes so situated to be carried from its port or ports by an enemy. And further, how or whether the series captors have been compensated or sustained in their right to property thus acquired; and so far as the records of this department may not supply the information, that he cause the same to be compiled from other sources (if such there be) worthy, in his judgment, of reliance, designating in such case the one from the other." And he is further directed to state "whether any merchant vessel has been justly captured by the United State's navy which has not been sent home for judicial examination or condemnation, but which has, from motives dictated by state policy, been taken from the captors and restored to previous owners; whether any, and if any, a fair and equitable remuneration has been made to the captors for restorations thus made." As the records of this department do not show in what cases reclamations have been made on foreign governments, founded on the re-capture in neutral ports of enemy's vessels-of-war captured by the United States navy; nor whether any merchant vessel captured by the United States navy has, from motives dictated by state policy, beer restored to previous owners, I have the honor to request, if the information required, or any part of it, exists in the Department of State, that it may be communicated to this department. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. LEWIS CASS, I. TOUCEY. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 29, 1858. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, requesting certain information supposed to be in this department, called for by a resolution of the Senate of the 25th of last month. In reply I have the honor to inform you that, after the most diligent search, no information of the character desired can be found in this department. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. ISAAC TOUCEY, Secretary of the Navy. LEWIS CASS. Remarks. Statement of vessels of the navy of the United States which have been captured, lost, or destroyed since the year 1798. ...... Albany Alligator Alligator..... 20 Com. J. T. Gerry Lost.. ..... Broken up.... Gulf of Mexico..... Lieut. R. Basset........... Sunk... Lost.... Port Royal Sound... 1822. Alligator Sloop....... 1 Sailing Master R. Sheppard Captured New Orleans.... 1814. Argus Ship.... 18 Burnt. ... Washington...... 1814. Argus Sloop...... 16 Master Com. W. H. Allen.... Captured.... English channel.. Aug. 14, 1813 Broken up..... New Orleans. 1821.. Lost........... At sea.......... 1820.. Broken up..... Norfolk.......... 1835.. Burnt..... Gibraltar....... 1843.. Off New York..... New York. Captured Lake Erie. Carscos R., W. I... New York. Lost...... Sunk.... Wrecked ... Broken up.. 14 Lieut. J. Renshaw Captured Schooner.. 11 Lieut. W. Bainbridge. Captured Schooner.. 12 Lieut O. H. Perry. Lost..... Off Newport................ Scorpion Schooner 2 Lieut. Daniel Turner.... Captured Lake Huron...... Sea Gull.... Sea Horse Shark ....... Siren ...... Somers.... Somers.... Spitfire.. Sylph Tigress. Truxton Brig....... 1 Lieut. R. Semmes......................... 10 · Com. E. W. Carpender. .... Captured Captured ..... Sunk..... ......... Broken up..... Captured West Indies...... Off Cape Horn New Orleans ......... At sea........ 1803......... Court of inquiry, June 29, 1805; no blame imputed. 1800......... |