The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-17
HI.

The materials for an estimate Of the strength
OF the English merchant navy at this period are
rcanty. but we observe In this reign a beginning
OF tho plan, largely extended under Elizabeth, Of
obtaining returns OF the vessels belonging TO
various ports. Henry. moreover. followed his
fathers example in granting a bounty on large
ships. In 1913 Bristol had nine vessels OF 100
tons and upward ready to Join the royal nee,.
In 1928 there were l4s vessels engaged In the
Iceland fisheries, all OF which. with the eIeep-
ton Of eight from London, belonged to the East
Coast force. To the herring fishery In the North
Sea went. 22e, of which the Cirque Ports
sent ITO and tho east coast the re-
mainder. Trading to scotland were 90 ships,
OF which only six sailed from Lon.
don. Nearly 700 sail were reputed to enter
Calais harbor every year. and at least $40 for
oign herring boats also traded there. From
nine ports mentioned in one document there
went forth thirty two vessels Of over one hum
were ninety.-aine other vessels. Of from forty 10
and included Lonaon. Bristol. sonthsmpton.
and Dartmouth. we should infer a sur
relatively large ships belonging to The towns
mentioned: Foreign Observer. such as tho
IVGnsiSssn, Considers. % tho s @sFl ssrsss, isA as r ls.
land much greater than would be assumed from
Ne fey sources Of we posses In
Henry could arm 100 sail; In 1881 Barbara
thought that the Crown could mt out 800 sail,
remarked that there were great plenty Of Eng
lish sailors who were considered excellent for
t iisns ' paid sspec, al al att Hi,%". To The f4sff Ss m:-
rine., and In no instance do they write Of II de-
The extensive Investigations made BY Mr.. Oh.
penheim In tho English naval archives of the
royal navy have led him to agree with Mr.. Frouds
II concsiyins 4 very high idea OF the Intellect Of
The hhsn ysx eau da.. MsSO Of n ael, T' G @er',: s ss,s T ,nso
considered in the widest tense Of the word. But
the arminG Of his Kingdom was an important
and the views on which It WAS planned and tho
way In which It was carried out must form .
fitness for his post. So far M the navy is con-
eerned, there Is little but, unqua.rRed praise, TO
to u settled policy. and was not tho pro.
duct Of a momentnry vanity or desire for dis
cease. For Utmost thirty-c!ghJ years every
year marked some advance IN conttrnctton ~
the navy q more effective nghting instrument.
So far as numbers went no made It the most
tho limited radius within which il was called
upon to act. He reyolutionlZed It's armanent
he himself inventing or adapting a type
thought tit for tho narrow seas. lie enlarged
formed two others in positions so suitahls for
their purpose that they remained In nso .s long
ton with Which they were suit. 'irIproved
regulations FOR the manuuvring Of fleets and
the discipllning OF their crews were duo to him,
He discarded the one medieval officer OF the
Crown. aud organized an administration 20
broadly planned that. In an extended form u
remains r. existence to-day. In those changes
history gives no sign OF there bcing any extra
ncous influence acting through the King. Min:
listers might come aud GO, huttEr work OF naval
extension done under his personal supervision
and direction. went on meth ideally and mn
coasinglS. le trod n path that some of his
predecessors had indicated, but none had
entered. II may he said that events
direction given to national endeavor and tho
new value attached 10 tho naval arm, Bat,
after due, weight Is allowed for the altered con-
dltiOns, the fact remains that Henry VIII. nc
Ceptcd them and carried out the Innovations
they involved with mn energy and thOroughres-
ak IN to genius, The maritime systems o; Francs
and spain. whether in details vi shiubutliing @,
the larger measures Of administrations, renamed
uhchanGing and inclastic. ignoring the mute.
tlons or a century remarkable for activity nrl
progress. spain tried Ia hold the command Of
the sea In the sixteenth century with AL organ.
ization little altered frum that found sunicienl
~ the previOus one. Circumstances brought
England into conflict with her and not with
France, and she had to pay for her pride o.
sluggishnsss with The ruin Of her empire