The New Hampshire Gazette

To Mr. Fowle.

Achievements of the English in the present happy Administration, is become a fashionable Topic of Conversation, the following Extract from the Naval History of Great Britain may entertain some of your Readers, who will make an easy Transition from the Life of the brave Admiral Blake, who flourished about a Century ago, to some who are now honor'd with the Command of the English Fleet ; and have, like Blake of old, made new Acquisitions to the Glory of the British Navy.

THE memorable Robert Blake, one of our most famous Admirals, whose Actions will be mentioned with Honor to the latest Posterity, was a Man of low Stature, with a quick lively Eye, and a good Soldier like Countenance. He was brave beyond Example, yet cool in Action, and shewed a great deal of military Conduct in the Disposition of those desperate Attacks which Men of cooler Composition have reckoned rather fortunate than expedient. He loved his Country with extraordinary Affection ; and as he never intermeddled with State Intrigues, or under whatever Government he served, he was solicitous to perform his Duty. He was upright to a high Degree ; for notwithstanding the vast Sums which passed thro' his Hands, he scarce left Five Hundred Pounds behind him of his own Acquisition : So far was the making of his Fortune from being the main Object of his Attention. In fine, He was disinterested and free from Ambition, exposing himself on all Occasions for the Benefit of the Public and the Honor of the Nation, without any View to his own Profit or Fame. He was pious without Affectation, strictly just, and liberal to the utmost Extent of his Ability. His Officers he treated with the Familiarity of Friends, and to his Sailors he was truly a Parent. He was the first Man who declined the old Track, and made it manifest that the Science might be attained in less Time than was imagined, and despised those Rules which had been long in Practice, to keep his Ship and Men out of Danger ; which had been held in former Times a Point of great Ability and Circumpection, as if the principal Art in the Captain of a Ship had been to be sure to come home safe again. He was the first Man who brought Ships to contemn Castles on Shore, which had been thought ever formidable ; and were discovered by him to make a Noise only, and to fright those who could be rarely hurt by them. He was the first that infused that Proportion of Courage into the Seamen, by making them see by Experience what mighty Things they could do if they were resolved, and taught them to fight in Fire as well as upon Water ; and tho' he has been well imitated and followed, he was the first that gave the Example of that Kind of Naval Courage and bold and resolute Achievements.

As such Blakes live in the present Age, may the English Nation never want such Admirals to command her Navy.