Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-09-09

From the New York Commercial Advertises.
II has often been a subject of remark.
how the officers of the British Navy
should bs so efficient, when il is so we'll
known that there is so much favoritism
in the rapid promotion Of the young
branches Of the nobility, who place their
sons on the Admiralty records at s,
and 7 years Of age. Various anecdotes
are related, bearing ca this subject. A.
meng the many ] give you one:
Nelson, to his honor it may be said,
was a soldier. or rather. sailor, Of Tor
tune A conbinaiira Of fortunate Cir.
cumstancss enabled him to olace bis "a.
lent and courags 10 a conspicuous light.
Rapid promotion toliowed-y yet he ney.
er lost sight Of his early associations,
and when the discipline of the feet he
commanded permitted, he would in the
night watch, enter into familiar canver-
sation with his former equals, though
now far his interiors in rank.
When Nelson commanded the chan
mel heet, on certain OCCASION, an old
ntil.bipsfan. growing grey in The ser.
vice, addressed the Admiral in some.
thing like the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
have served his Majesty, God bless him,
forty years and sti | no promotion; tho
] have seen every day these young spriss
OF nobility pass over my head Nelsoa
replied thstit was impossible to promote
every one, aud inquired what be bad
done to entItle him to promotion more
than thousands in tho same situation.
The reply was, Il have served faithfully
- have boen in every fleet action, and
in many single battles, and took an &C.
tive part in every prineipa! sea fight
thathas occurred for the last thirty yeas.
| have the certificates and
datioas OF avery commander | have ser.
we'd under-sGd yet at the age of fifty.
five, | am n midstipman' Nelson obser.
ved, that it was indeed hard. very hard;
but still there were hundreds in the
same situation, and his majesty could
not promote every ore. What can
do replied the midshipman, TO ebtaia
promotionp Tbs Admiral paused a lev
moments, and then said. I'll tell you
what to do-take my gig and -four hands,
row into Brest barbour, and bring ma
| Out two French officers NsIson was
al thattime blockading the French fleet
in the harbour Of Brest.
The Midshipmsn started the next af-
ternooa with the gig snd four men
tive were placed down in the bottom Of
the boat-ths other two raued careless
ly 10, and contrived to pass three lines
Of the French fact about Sun set, (when
they wers nceupisd in sending yards
down unneticed, arrived in the inner
harhor they pulled about in a careless
name until the dusk Of tha evening,
| passed aud re -pssse6 the numherless
boats taking off men and officers. Pre-
aenily they discovered a bomb-boas,
rowing off by a single man, having two
officers in :he stern; quick they land her
alongside, everpowered, gagged and Ii.
I'd tha two officers; left the bombboat
man gagsud and tisd in the bottom Of
bis W boat. All this was the work Of
a few minutes, and escaped observa-
ton They then pulled caFelessly thro'
the fleet with two oars, and as soon as
they ware out Of the reach Of musketry,
raised themselves up, gave three cheers,
and gave way. Repeated broad sides
were frsd at them: but they arrived
safe alongside the a dmiraI's ship.-lt is
needless. to say that the officer was pro-
NOTED on the spot regret that can
pct give the name Of the officer; but the
story is fact.
w q ore Glad II hn,r tbak