Under the orders of the Honourable the Secretary of the Navy, the undersigned ill relinquish command of this Station wuecessor, Hear-Admiral David B.
on to-morrow, the 20th instant.
ile such relinguishiment carries with it desired present release from official cares it is saddened by the reflection that, in all probability, it winds up his last service afloat in an active career of more than 44 years, 24 ut which have been epent on sea duty.
With pleasant retrospections of the incidents of the cruise and agreeable recollections of the varied xsseciations it has brought to him, he begs in this manner to tender his sincere thanks and high appreciation to the Captains, Officers, Seamen and Marines of the Squadron and Stati for their zealous endeavour in all and efforts towards the promotion of efficiency of organisation and drill, and in the line of readiness of movement and action.
Bespeaking for his successor a like cordial and effective support, he bids one and all a heartfelt. good-bye, with best their present success and earnest hops their continued prosperity and advancement, Grorcr E. BetKxar, Rear Admiral U.S. Navy, Commanding U.S. Naval Force on Asiatic Station,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.