The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-29 00:00:00

CROMWELL AND THE NAVY.

During the disturbances in the reign of Charles the
First the managing officers of the navy were directed
by the King to refuse obedience to .the orders of
Parliament,' and a number of ships having been
carried away by Prince Rupert, the naval force of the
country was reduced to so low a state, that at the
beginning of Cromwell's government he had only 14
ships of war of two decks, carrying 40 guns ; but
under the careful management of very able men in
different commissions which he appointed; such vigo-
rous measures were pursued, that within a short time,
though engaged in war with the greatest naval
power in Europe, the fleet was increased to 150 sail,
of which more than one-third were two-deckers.
The navy was by Cromwell raised to a height which
it had never before reached. During the Dutch war
Cromwell's cruisers took no less than 1,700 prizes,
valued at two millions sterling, from the enemy.
England was victorious in five general engagements
by sea, in the course of which the ablest commanders
that had ever been in the service of the States of
Holland—such as 1)e Ruyler, De Witte, and Van
Tromp—were vanquished. Never was greater at-
tention paid to the navy. Old vessels were not only
carefully repaired, but new ones of a larger size built.
It was di,covered that Raleigh, notwithstanding his
great talents, had committed an error when he main-
tained that a ship of war ought never to exceed the
size of 600 tons. Sealed orders seem to have been
first resorted to in the Protectorate, which forms a
memorable epoch in the naval history of England
Blake, the glory of his age, taught us that wooden
walls are superior to stone walls, and that a castle
could not. rvgist ships -;well stationed and bravely
fought. Blake performed an action in the Mediter-
ranean infinitely more daring than the recent attack
made by the French on Tangiers. Having presented
himself before Tunis, the Dey, by way of reply to a
meszage demanding the release of some Englishmen,
who we7e in captivity; desired him to look at the
castles at 'Porto Ferino and Guletta, then do his ut-
most. Blake; roused by this bravado, immediately
stood into the bay, and having carried his ships close
up to the fortresses,
,he commenced such a severe
cannonade, within musket shot, that they were soon
destroyed. He then manned all his boats and burnt
every ship in the road, including several corsairs,
which had long infested the trade of the Mediter-
ranean. This gallant action spread the terror of the
English name along the coast of Africa, and not only
the Tunisians, but the pirates of Tripoli and Algiers
were glad to agree to an accommodation.

WESTMINSTER SCHOOL.—We are requested to
state that the Queen has signified her royal pleasure
that an additional week's holydays be granted to the
young gentlemen of this school, in celebration of the
birth of the infant Prince. The school %ill, therefore,
meet on Wednesday, the 25th of September.
TEE COMMERCE OF FRANCE.—The Moniteur
publishes the returns of the principal imports of France
in. July last, from which it appears that the duties
levied thereon amounted to 14,980,828 f., or 3,571,601 f.
more than in 1843, and 3,815,551 f. more than in 1842.
The duties levied during the seven months of '1844,
ending on the Istof August last, amounted to 86,528,235 f.
They had been 78,290,550 f. in the corresponding period
of 1842, and 81,328,445 f. in 1843.

HERRING FISHING IN LOCIIFINE.—We are de-
lighted to learn the most favourable accounts of the her-
ring fishing in Lochfine. From the commencement of
the season, the labours of the boatmen bad been rather
unsuccessful ; but on the evening of Friday week the
herrings appeared in immense.numbers, and the fishing of
that night and Saturday morning was one of the most
abundant which has been known in the loch for thirty
years. The greater part of the fish on this occasion
mere taken in the loch a mile or so above Inverary. On
Monday night the fishing was equally abundant, the
heaviest hauls being made from two to three miles be-
low the town. The abundance of the shoal may be
learned from the fact, that some of the boats had taken
upwards of 50 maize at one haul. From Saturday till
Tuesday, the price for curing was 3s. the long hundred;
but should the fishing continue good, it will of course
soon be less. The quality of the fish is excellent. We
are happy to observe that the accounts from the other
fishing stations, viz., Dunbar, Berwick, Aberdeen, Wick,
&c., were, at the close of last week, much more agree-
able than they had previously been.—Scotch Reformers'
Gazette.
CLERICAL INTOLERANOE.-011 Sunday last a scene
occurred in the cemetery of Christ Church which has
been the subject of much remark in the town during the -
week. Michael Roche, a young man, who had been- a
member of the Rational Sick and Burial Society, and
who, in his last moments, had intimated a desire to be
buried in the above cemetery, was brought thither for
interment by his mourning relatives. The Rev. O'Neil
Pratt, minister of Christ Church, who officiated on the'
occasion, on coming to that portion of the service which
begins, " Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty Grad
of his great mercy to take•unto himself the soul of our
dear brother," &c., made a pause, and began to address
the friends of the deceased, in language which was cal-
culated deeply to wound their feelings, and which was
uttered in a, passionate and scolding tone, very ill adapted
to the solemn occasion. He told them they ought to
have been ashamed to bring the deceased there for inter-
ment, because he had lived and died an infidel and an
unbeliever in the doctrine of the resurrection. The by-
standers implored the reverend gentleman to consider
the feelings of the relatives, but he was deaf to their en-
treaties. He proceeded to make some remarks on the AUGUST MUIR OF ORD MARKET.—The August
• immortality of the.soul, and the resurrection of the body, market was held at the Muir of Ord on Wednesday and
Elating questions to the friends of the deceased, to which Thursday. There were many excellent lots on the
e pointedly desired' an answer, as if be wished to pro- ground from Dunrobin and the western parts of Ross,
v discussion, and yet when they attempted to speak, i which brought good prices. Mr. Sim, Drummond, pur-
he threatened them with punishment if they ventured to chased a lot of good two-year-olds at 71. 10s. The highest
interrupt him. The portion of the burial service above re- price we beard given for six
.quarters was 3/, purchased
ferred to was not read. A large crowd was collected on the. by Mr. Harper. There were only a: few crosses,
occasion, and on all hands the violent excitement and un- ; which were Weight by Mr. Harper, for 8/. 10s. Mr.
seemly irritation of Mr. Pratt are severely condemned, Boulderson sold a pair of capital three-year old Angus
as unworthy the clerical character, and verunbecoming cattle at 301. The -following are about the 'prices :
the occasion. We understand that two sisters of the de- Three-year-olds averaged from Si. to 8/, two-year-olds
ceased, who are Roman Catholics, were resent at the 4/. to 71. 10s., six quarters from 2/. to 3/. There was
funeral. A complaint, in regard to Mr. Pratt's conduct, - little doing in the sheep market, it being rather indif-
has been forwarded to the Bishop by the aggrieved eeta...l ferently supplied. Wethers brought from 18s. to 225.,
tives, but, we believe, no reply to it has yet been received. ewes from Bs. to 'SL, cheyiot lambs from 4s, to 65. 6d.—
.--Maccieffield Chronicle. -
_Boopshire:44onliser.. .

The Lcarned JUDGE summed up the case very elabo-
rately, and the jury, after a few minutes' retirement,
ment, found a verdict of Guilty of manslaughter.
The prisoner was sentenced to be transported for life.