chart. These purchases were afterwards supplemented, 



during the vessel's cruise, by such additions as were from 



time to time suggested by the wants of the ship or the 



judgment of the commanding officer. At the end of a cruise 



Disposition the charts and instruments were tumbled into storerooms 



Sftflnstraments at the place where the ship happened to be put out of com- 



atendofacmise - mission, and there remained with little care or attention 



until the fitting out of another vessel found them in many 



instances unfit for use. (Report No. 449, H. E., 27th Cong., 



2d sess.) 



The recommendation of the Board of Commissioners, be- 

 fore quoted, failed at first to receive from the Department 

 the consideration that it merited ; but it called forth in No- 

 vember of the following year a communication upon the 

 same subject from Lieut. L. M. Goldsborough, addressed to 

 Hon. John Branch, Secretary of the Navy, from which the 

 following extract is taken : 

 Letter of Lieut. a The Navy Commissioners, with the same degree of vig- 

 oiigh to the sec- ilance with which they have ever regarded the interests of 

 the y foundi ? D|ofItbe service, are not insensible to the necessity of adopting 

 &c?° ° e arts ' a systematic and efficient course in relation to our nautical 

 instruments. This Board, to whom the Navy is so largely 

 indebted for so man}- happy and important improvements, 

 have expressed in their report of last year a general opinion 

 on this subject, from which conclusions may be inferred 

 not at issue with what is here, with great deference, sug- 

 gested : 



"First. That a suitable place be designated to serve as a 

 general depot for all the chronometers, instruments of re- 

 flection, theodolites, circles, telescopes, charts, &c, belong- 

 ing to the Navy. At present, such instruments as are not 

 on ship-board are dispersed about among the naval stores 

 of our yards, in charge of individuals perfectly unacquainted 

 with such matters, and corroding and becoming ruined for 

 want of proper attention. 

 Anofficertobe « Second. That to this depot there be attached a compe- 



m imm ediate x r 



charge of the De- tent officer, and an artist of known merit and capacity — the 

 former to act under the immediate orders of the Navy Com- 

 missioners, to be made personally responsible for all instru- 

 ments submitted to his charge, and especially required to 

 determine the rates and characters of chronometers, to make 

 it his duty to inform himself of all improvements and dis- 

 coveries in connection with navigation, and to furnish upon 



