The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-28 00:00:00

DRAM OF REAR-ADMIRAL GODBY.

Retired Rear-Admiral J .hn Hardy Godby (1850) died,
on the 25th inst., at Surbiton, Kingston-on Thames.
This officer was son of the late John G elby, E-q.,
steward of the Royal Hsspital, Greenwich, and cousin
of Captain John Duff Marklancl, R.N. We extract the
folio Nine account of his services from O'Byrne's Naval
Biography :
" This officer entered the navy June 23, 1794, on
board the Monarch, 74, Captain John Cooke, bearing
the flag at Newfoundland of Sir Jas. Wallace. On next
joining, as midshipman, the Liebe, 33, Capt. Paul Mm-
chin, he assisted, in company with the Melanipus, at the
capture, July 3, 1795, of six out of 13 French vessels,
laden with military stores, and convoytd by a ship of 26
guns, a lugger, and also by two armed brigs, one of
which, La V6.suve, was likewise taken. Until pro-
moted to, the rank of lieutenant, October 15, 1800,
we next find Mr. Godby successively serving in
the Tourterelle, Captain John Cooke ; Seahorse, 38,
Captain John Peyton ; La Nymphs, 36, Cap-
tains J. Cooke and Percy Fraser; Royal George,
100, flag ship of Lord Bcidport, and Amethyst, 36,
Captain J. Cooke. Ls Nyrnplie, during the period of
his attachment to her, took, in company with the San
Fiorenco, 36, the French frigates La Resistance, of 48,
and La Constance, of 24 guns, March 9, 1797. After
serving nearly five years as lieutenant on the Mediterra-
nean, Newfoundland, and home stations, in the Esperi-
nient, Captain John Saville ; Athunienne, 64, Captain
Sir Thomas Livingstone ; Lapwing frigate, Captains
Alex: Skene and Francis Wm. Fans ; and Boadicea,
38, Captain John Maitland, Lieutenant Godby was pro-
rooted to commanders rank by commission, dated Sept.
25, 1806. His subsequent appointments were, in 1808.9,
to the Rollo, Trompeuse, and Prospero sloops ; in the
latter of which he destroyed a Danish privateer cutter,
of 2 guns and 25 men, near Christiansand, on the coast
of Norway, Feb. 17i 1811. He continued in the Pros-
pero until his advancement to post rank June 27,
1814 ; and on Oct. 1, 1846, he accepted the retire-
ment,"

PRER9GATIFE OF TEE PRESIDE .NT OF
THE UNITED STATES.

It is not unnecessary clearly to define a matter which,
from the daily discourse upon American affairs, ought
to be thoroughly understood ; for it is our habit in this
country to speak very freely of matters which we often
but partially understand. The President is the deposi-
tary of the executive power of the States. Bath he and
the Vice-President, who is ex officio President of the
Senate, and who succeeds bin, should he die during his
term of office, are elected for four years by the electors,
who meet within their respective States, and vote for
them by ballot. The list of votes in each State is for-
warded, under seal, to the President whose term is ex•
piring, and who, having opened them, declares his suc-
cessor.

The President is assisted in the government by a
Cabinet, clnsisting of fire heads of departments and an
attorney-general, all of whom hold office during his plea-
sure. The various departments are—those of the State,
embracing home and foreign affairs, the Trektury De-
partment, superintending all fiscal affairs of the Govern•
merit, and all matters relating to the regulati,n and inn-
prevenient of the revenue ; the War Department, su-
perintending every branch of military aflars ; the
ercctiou of fortifications ; • the making of topographical
surveys, &c. ; the Navy Department, and the General
Post-office.

The President is, moreover, Commander-in-Chief of
the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the
militia of the several States, when called into active ser-
vice. He has also the power to make treaties, provided
two thirds of the Senate concur. He appoints the
officers of state, ambassadors, consuls, and judges of the
supreme courts ; he receives foreign ambassadors, and
can grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the
'United States, except in cases of impeachment. The
refusal of Washington and Jefferson—the first and third
Presidents of the great A merican Republic—to be elected
a third time, has had the effect of establishing it as a rule
that no President shall hold office for inure than tw,
terns. Under the first and second Presidents—Wash-
ington and Adams, both Federalists—the Republic way
be said to have been consolidated. Under Jr-fferson—
the leader of the Democrats, and dismissed by Washing-
ton from the office of Secretary at War on account of
his extreme opinions—it commenced the extension of its
territory, which it has punu,d with such tenacity and
success to the present time.—Morning Advertiser.