The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-03 00:00:00

3,791
me these :

26,634

Horse-power.
Niger .
Odin 450
Gladiator 430
Bulldog .. ......... 420
Scourge
Inflexible . ...... 420

Simpson
Conflict .
Dauntless
Desperate
The largest, the Terrible, is one-third built, and will be
launched before the close f the present financial year; the
Amphion, 36, is in a very forward state, as are the Dragon,
Gladiator (will be launched in six weeks), Sampson, In-
flexible, Scourge, Trident, Vulcan, the six small dispatch-
boats, and the Spitfire. The Bulldog has her keel laid down,
and will be launched at the end of the year. The Sphynx is
laid down, the Centaur has her timbers prepared, and the
frame of the Avenger is being cut out. The timbers of the
Conflict, Dauntless, Desperate, Niger, and Odin are partly
prepared and in course of preparation.

NUMBER OF SEAMEN AND MA-
RINES IN THE NAVY.
Some most gross and seemingly wilful misrepresentations
of the number of seamen and marines of the navy having
been made by parties whose positions might entitle them to
some degree of credit, we have extracted from official sources
the following statement of the number of seamen and
marines voted during the last seven years :-
1837-38 Seamen
Supplementary 465
Marines .
1838-39 Seamen
. Marines ... 9,000
1839-40 Seamen
Marines ... 9,000
1840-41 Seamen .... .....
Marines
1841-42 Seamen
Marines
1842-43 Seamen
Marines
1843-44 Seamen
Marines • 10,500
1844-45 Seamen
Marines ..
The following is a statement of the actual number of sea-
men borne on the navy books :-
Ist January, 1838
Ditto 1839
Ditto lB4O
Ditto lB4l
Ditto 1842
Ditto 1843
Ditto 1844
And from undoubted authority we find that the number
borne on the books on the Ist ult. was above 28,000, so that
with our decreased number of ships of the line, and, as some
unhesitatingly assert, our " decreased number of smaller ves-
sels," we have actually a greater force of seamen and marines
than in 1841, with the so-much-vaunted-of 26 sail of the
line.—Morning Herald.

ALARMING AFFAIR AT GIIIRALTAR._The lateaors-t
ar-
rival of the Gibraltar mail brings informationvonity of that fur-
tress, of a most
alarming occurrence happening in the
tress, which has created the greatesthant, much respected in
sensation amongst the
residents. A Mr. Starkey, a merchant,
btArvio-
the town, was riding on horseibieea:ckw,hienu ctowmop
anmyouwntiteldi
other gentlemen, near San Rog
up
gands, armed to the teeth, rode and stopped them. They
they directed Mr. Sarkeyoto follow them, and told his com-
panions to proceed on -t Gibraltar, saying that if within
twenty-four hours the sum of 20,000 dollars was not sent to
them at a certain place, it would go hard with their friend
Mr. Starkey. They tcheen rode off with their prisoner, and
the gentlemen lost no time in making for Gibraltar, and com-
municating the affair to the military authories. Scouring,
par ties of the Carabiniers were promptly sent out in all di-
rections; but nothing was heard of the robbers or of their
a ptive until late in the evening, when a shepherd stated
thatc he had seen three horsemen enter a thicket adjoining
the Pine-wood. A strong body of military was quickly dis-
patched to the spot, and by the troops surrounding this part
of the forest, the escape of the brigands was rendered im-
possible. They were at last discovered, and being called
upon to surrender themselves as prisoners, made a most de-
termined resistance. One was shot; and the other, having
an excellent horse under him, dashed his way through the
Carabiniers, and eventually escaped. To the surprise of all
Mr. Starkey was not in the least injured. It appears that one
of his sisters had recently been married to a captain of the
Carabiniers, who has much distinguished himself in appre-
hending several of these daring ruffians, which no doubt in-
duced them to attack Mr. Starkey.
The Earl of Selkirk and suite were among the
passengers by the General Steam Navigation Company's
mail-packet Countess of Lonsdale, from Hamburgh, which
vessel brought tho mail of Wednesday from that place.
The General Steam Navigation Company's favou-
rite steamer Magician, was again employed, on Thursday
last, to bring the Indian mail from Boulogne to. Dover. She
landed the mail and about 50 passengers a little over two
hours after her departure from Boulogne.