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 De Ruyter, 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 discovered 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 resist ships well stationed and bravely
fought.ade
by action in the Mediter-
ranean infinitely than the recent attack
m
nagiers. Having presented
tßhlea l e
french
e performedninehoroe n daring,r a n
himself before Tunis, the Dey, by way of reply to a
message demanding the release of some Englishmen,
who were 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 pirateA of Tripoli and Algiers
were glad to agree to an accommodation.

HERRING FISHING IN LOCIIFINE.—WC are de-
lighted to learn the most favourable accounts of the her-
ring fishing in Lochfine. Preto the commencement of
the season, the labours of the boatmen had 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 must
abundant which has been known in the loch for thirty
years. The greater part of the fish on this occasion
were taken in the loch a mile or so above Inverary. On
Monday night the fishing
made
from
mas ,te"qouatloly
tahbreuendmanittes, theheaviest hauls being
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 INTOLERANCE.—On 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 bath pleased Almighty God
of his great mercy to take unto himself the Foul 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 seolding 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
immortality of soul, and the resurrection of the body,
putting questions to the friends of the deceased, to which
lie pointedly desired an answer, as if he wished to pro-
voke discussion, and yet when they attempted to speak,
he threatened them with punishment if tPey.ventuFed to
interrupt him. The portion of the burial service above re-
ferred to was not read. A large crowd was collected on the
occasion, and on all hands the violent excitement and un-
seemly irritation of Mr. Pratt are severely condemned,
as unworthy the clerical character, and very unbecoming
the occasion. We understand that two sisters of the de-
ceased, who are Roman Catholics, were present at the
funeral. A complaint, in regard to Mr. Pratt's conduct,
has been forwarded to the Bialiop by the aggrieved rela-
tires. but, we believe, no reply to it has yet been received.
—/liaceleafield Chronicle.
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