the performance of the duties
required of them by law.

The efficiency of the Navy has been largely increased during the last
year. Under the impulse of the foreign complications which threatened
us at the commencement of the last session of Congress, most of our
efficient wooden ships were put in condition for immediate service, and
the repairs of our ironclad fleet were pushed with the utmost vigor.
The result is that most of these are now in an effective state and need
only to be manned and put in commission to go at once into service.

Some of the new sloops authorized by Congress are already in commission,
and most of the remainder are launched and wait only the completion of
their machinery to enable them to take their places as part of our
effective force.

Two iron torpedo ships have been completed during the last year, and
four of our large double-turreted ironclads are now undergoing repairs.
When these are finished, everything that is useful of our Navy, as now
authorized, will be in condition for service, and with the advance in
the science of torpedo warfare the American Navy, comparatively small as
it is, will be found at any time powerful for the purposes of a peaceful
nation.

Much has been accomplished during the year in aid of science and to
increase the sum of general knowledge and further the interests of
commerce and civilization. Extensive and much-needed soundings have been
made for hydrographic purposes and to fix the proper routes of ocean
telegraphs. Further surveys of the great Isthmus have been undertaken
and completed, and two vessels of the Navy are now employed, in
conjunction with those of England, France, Germany, and Russia, in
observations connected with the transit of Venus, so useful and
interesting to the scientific world.

The estimates for this branch of the public service do not differ
materially from those of last year, those for the general support of
the service being somewhat less and those for permanent improvements
at the various stations rather larger than the corresponding estimate
made a year ago. The regular maintenance and a steady increase in the
efficiency of this most important arm in proportion to the growth of
our maritime intercourse and interests is recommended to the attention
of Congress.

The use of the Navy in time of peace might be further utilized by a
direct authorization of the employment of naval vessels in explorations
and surveys of the suppo