ecommendations of the Naval Advisory Board, approved by the
Department, comprise the construction of one steel cruiser of 4,500
tons, one cruiser of 3,000 tons, two heavily armed gunboats, one light
cruising gunboat, one dispatch vessel armed with Hotchkiss cannon, one
armored ram, and three torpedo boats. The general designs, all of which
are calculated to meet the existing wants of the service, are now well
advanced, and the construction of the vessels can be undertaken as soon
as you shall grant the necessary authority.

The act of Congress approved August 7, 1882, authorized the removal to
the United States of the bodies of Lieutenant-Commander George W. De
Long and his companions of the _Jeannette_ expedition. This removal
has been successfully accomplished by Lieutenants Harber and Schuetze.
The remains were taken from their grave in the Lena Delta in March,
1883, and were retained at Yakutsk until the following winter, the
season being too far advanced to admit of their immediate
transportation. They arrived at New York February 20, 1884, where they
were received with suitable honors.

In pursuance of the joint resolution of Congress approved February 13,
1884, a naval expedition was fitted out for the relief of Lieutenant
A.W. Greely, United States Army, and of the party who had been engaged
under his command in scientific observations at Lady Franklin Bay. The
fleet consisted of the steam sealer _Thetis_, purchased in England;
_Bear_, purchased at St. Johns, Newfoundland, and the _Alert_,
which was generously provided by the British Government. Preparations
for the expedition were promptly made by the Secretary of the Navy, with
the active cooperation of the Secretary of War. Commander George W.
Coffin was placed in command of the _Alert_ and Lieutenant William
H. Emory in command of the _Bear_. The _Thetis_ was intrusted
to Commander Winfield S. Schley, to whom also was assigned the
superintendence of the entire expedition.

Immediately upon its arrival at Upernavik the fleet began the
dangerous navigation of Melville Bay, and in spite of every obstacle
reached Littleton Island on June 22, a fortnight earlier than any vessel
had before attained that point. On the same day it crossed over to Cape
Sabine, where Lieutenant Greely and the other survivors of his party
were discovered. After taking on board the living and the bodies of the
dead, the relief ships sailed for St. Johns, where they arrived on July
17