The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

The newspapers have lately informed the public, that some of our armed vessels have been ordered to rendezvous in Hampton Roads, to sail on a secret expedition.
Having taken pains to enquire into the truth of this rumour, we find it to be premature.
The absurdity of the suggestion is indeed too apparent to deceive. It would be a strange sort of secret expedition which should be thus published by anticipation.
But should a destination be, at any time hereafter, allotted to our vessels the nature and success of which required secrecy, we ought to confide, that the prudence and precaution of the Executive would be sufficient to protect it from hazard by an untimely exposure of their views.

It is indeed a fact that some of the public ships are ordered to Hampton Roads:
and without stepping out of the ordinary course of accounting for common occurrences, we may solve the enigma. It is well known, that the law providing for a navy peace establishment, contemplates the retaining of several of the ships in service, to be employed as convoys to the East-Indies and elsewhere, as shall be found necessary, and to exercise and discipline the officers and seamen. In pursuance of this law, some of them are ordered to Hampton Roads, to await ulterior orders for the destination or destinations, which on mature consideration may be allotted to them. The convenience of the station, from its vicinity to the seat of government and other circumstances, is evident. The administration not being as yet fully organized has prevented definitive arrangements for their employment being settled;
at the same time it is desirable to have them prepared to act as promptly as possible.
Whether any other port has been assigned for a similar purpose, we have not learnt.