The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

MAY 13, 1854. were put on board a Russian ship by order of the Russian Minister, to wait orders at Copenhagen. The prisoners have been released under a guarantee they would not be permitted to serve against the Western and united powers during the present war. The Russian Minister expressed his unfeigned astonishment at such extreme liberality being displayed towards the prisoners, he having made all necessary arraugemelits for beds, bedding, and all other necessaries for their comfort, supposing they would have been delivered over to him with what they stood clothed iu. In proof of the honour of the captors there were instances related where sums of money were found on the persons of the seamen, which were immediately returned to the re spective owners, much apparently to their astonishment. to all of whom it appeared a most agreeable surprise, and they did not fail in the highest terms to express their gra titude. Several other instances occurred towards masters and mates. In one instance the sum of 2001. sterling was found on the person of one of the Russian masters, which was returned to him on his declaration that it was positively his personal property, over which the owners of his ship had no control whatever. In many other in stances sums of greater or less value, with gold and silver watches, chains, jewellery, &c., were taken away by their respective owners without question on the part of the cap tors. NOTES ABOUT THE NAVY. No. V.—" OLD CHARLEY," AND HIS TIMES. HIS TIGHT WITH THE DILIGENTE, NEAR MARTINIQUE. HAVING last week taken a historical review of the antecedents of the family of Napier, in the present number of the PRESS, Pilot will com mence his account of the personal exploits of " Old Charley " himself. He was born on the Bth of March, 1786, being the eldest son of the Hon. Charles Napier, of Merchistoun-hall, county of Stirling, Captain R.N. Thus, as " Ohl Charley" counts a Vice-Admiral of Scotland amongst his ancestors, his own father was a captain in the profession to which he has devoted his life. His mother was Chris tian, daughter of Gabriel Hamilton, Esq., of West. burn, county of Lanark. The admiral is grandson (by a first marriage) of Francis, fifth Lord Napier, brother of Colonel Erskine Napier, and cousin of the late Lord Napier, who died while discharging the office of Chief Commissioner for regulating the trade with China. He entered the Navy on the Ist of November, 179 9, being then thirteen years of age, so that he has been afloat fifty-five years. He joined as a first class volunteer, and the first King's ship in which he served was the Martin sloop, commanded by the Hon. Matthew St. Clair. It is probable that young Charley (as he was then) was very happy in sailing under a countryman of his own, who, like himself, was sprung from a famous old Scottish family. The Martin was employed in service in the North Sea, but her captain was unfortunately lost off Yarmouth in 1800, in the spring of which year young Napier removed to the Renown, a 74-gun ship, carrying the flag of Sir John Borlase Warren. That gallant admiral, though not one of our first•class naval celebrities, was a very distinguished officer. He had joined the navy at a very early age, but after making a voyage or two he entered himself at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he became pupil to Martyn, the eminent botanist. On attain ing his majority, Warren purchased Lundy Island, in the Bristol Channel, and amused himself for some time yachting, and afterwards again joined the navy, in which he rose to great eminence. Under that admiral young Napier went on the expedition to Ferrol, and proceeded to the Mediterranean, where, in November, 1802, he became a midshipman, on board the Greyhound, 32 guns, commanded by Cap tain W. Hoste. He afterwards shifted to the Egyptienne, 40 guns, in which he made a visit to St. Helena, and in 1804-5 he successively joined the Mediator and Renommie frigates. He was made a lieutenant ou the 30th of November, 1805, into the Courageux, 74, Captain Richard Lee. Those were stirring times when Napier was com mencing his career. The country looked to the navy as its defence against foreign invasion, and as its principal resource in asserting its rank amongst nations. The prowess of our army had not as yet been proved in the Peninsular campaigns, and it is not too much to say that the blue jackets were far more popular than the red coats. There are some still living who remember with what enthusiasm the most eminent of the naval heroes of that time were bailed on their appearance on public occasions. The highest place was accorded to them at the feast., and the most beautiful partners assigned to them in the ballroom. They had dispelled the panic of invasion, sustained our public credit, and given additional glory to our historical annals ! The musical piece of The Waterman enjoyed an amazing run in those days, and Dibdin's words and Incledon's tones were familiar to every tongue and ear. One can easily imagine how, in such times, a bold dashing spirit like that of Napier panted to have an THE PRESS. opportunity of performing some gallant exploit. Nor was he long without an opportunity of proving of what stuff he was composed. Though after Tra falgar the enemy did not attempt to dispute the command of the ocean, he endeavoured to annoy our commerce and insult our colonies, by detaching his ships-of-war in various directions. The Courageuz, n which Napier was a lieutenant, was part of the squadron commanded by Sir John Borlase Warren when, on the 13th of March, 1800, the Marengo and the Belle Futile were captured; and, having shown his energy and zeal for the service in a variety of ways, Napier, in 1807, was made acting commander of the Pultusk brig, then serving in the West Indies, and the Admiralty confirmed the appointment in the same year, so that he was a commander at twenty• one years of age. In 1808 Napier was appointed to the Recruit, an 18-gun sloop, on the West Indian station, and in her he fought his first action, on his own account, and right gallantly he fought it. There was at that time a noted French corvette called the Ditigente, carrying 24 gnus, and manned by 140 mon . She was com manded by a brave and vigilant officer, Captain Le marcsquier, and she had baffled the efforts of our best ships either to take or damage her. On the oth of September, 1808, Napier was cruising in lat. 17 deg. 50 min. north, and long., from Green wich, 58 deg. 20 min. west. The wind was east by north, and a couple of hours alter dawn, while Napier was standing closehauled on the starboard tack, he discovered the Diligente, in the north-east, going free on the larboard tack, in the direction of Martinique. The Recruit immediately tacked, and Napier hoisted every rag of canvas that he could spread. At half-past seven iu the morning he fired two shots at the Diligente, gad hoisted his colours. A little after eight the Diligente also tacked, as her skilful captain endeavoured to keep the weather-gage, and shortly afterwards he hoisted a French ensign. At half-past eight the two vessels passed each other within pistol-shot, the Recruit on the larboard, and the Diligente on the starboard, tack. They ex changed broadsides, and at the very first discharge Napier received a severe wound, from which he still suffers, as is seen in his limping gait. His thigh was broken, and the officers in vain endeavoured to persuade him to go below; but that would not meet the disposition of one who was not only " ready " but " aye ready." After delivering three broadsides the two vessels then passed out of gunshot, but tacked, and again exchanged broadsides. The Diligente then wore, with the intention of raking the Recruit astern. But Napier was the clever Frenchman's match at everything, and he wore also, and brought the French ship to close action with the larboard guns. The two vessels then continued manoeuvring and discharging at each other, and, though severely cut up in rigging, the Recruit's crew did not suffer very much from the enemy's fire ; but her second lieutenant was seriously wounded. At half-past eleven the superior weight in guns of the Frenchman told upon the Recruit, whose mainmast fell overboard and hung over the stern, trailing in the sea. Napier then worked his bow guns as hard as he could, and, recollecting Nelson's maxim, " Always board a Frenchman, but outmantruvre a Russian," he made several attempts to board the Diligente, hut the latter adroitly sheered off and succeeded in raking the Recruit ; and, in the disabled state of the smaller English vessel, there wag every chance that the Frenchman would be enabled again to rake her. While making the attempt to do so a rattling fire was kept up from the Recruit, which blew up a piece of the Diligente's quarter and cut away her boat filled with small-arm men. On this the Diligente put her helm up and ran away before the wind. The ships remained within sight of each other, out of gunshot, till the afternoon. Napier and his second lieutenant (as before stated), along with several of his sailors, were wounded, but only one seaman was killed. Every attempt was made by Napier to con tinue the action, but the Frenchman declined the polite invitation. When Napier, after having re breeched and remounted his carronades, bore up to close again, the Diligente set courses and topgal lants, and bore away rapidly. Napier rigged a jurymast; but the Recruit was a slow sailer, and before evening fell the Frenchman was out of sight. The loss of the Frenchman could never be clearly ascertained; but, as the Diliyente fell into our hands afterwards at the capture of Martinique, we know that she was 370 tons; and the loss amongst her crew must have been very considerable to justify her captain in scudding away before an English vessel greatly his inferior in guns and tonnage. In Cap tain Lemarcsquier's account of the action he says that several English ships-of-war hove in sight, and that it was from them that he ran away ; but his ex cuse was like an Old Bailey alibi—to be believed in " with great scepticism." The Recruit wa., obliged to make her way into the nearest port to get a new mast ; and, for the present, Pilot will leave Napier refitting in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes. PILOT. [Tu be cuntinuedi tout anb Intim,. 441 THE QuEEN gave a grand concert on Mo;iday night at Buckingham Palace. ON Thursday her Majesty held the third drawing room of the season. The following presentations to the Queen took place in the diplomatic circle : By the Countess of Claraudon.—Misr Harriet Lane, niece of his Excellency the United States' Minister; Mrs. Lawrence, wife of Colonel Lawrence, Attaché to the United States' I.e._ation, By Madame Comyn.—Cointesse de Punier, wife of Biligadier- General 1e Comte de l'etner, of the Spanish army. By the French Ambassadur.-11. Arthur Hetryer, C,111111ili• sionaire de Houvernement Imperil'le. By the Austrian Minister.—M. Charles Perceval, Major au service de S. M. 1. et B. A. By the Danish Miniater.—La Colonel d'Ozholtu, Chombellan de S. M. le Bad de Damning*. By the Swedish and Norwegian Minister.—Le Comte Alubjoru Spare; M. Lorentz Lorek, a Norwegian gentleman. By the Spanish Charge d'ittraires.—Le Comte de Pouter, Bri gadier-General in her Must Catholic Majeaty'a sery ice. LAST night the Queen honoured the French Am bassador and Countess Walewski with her presence at a grand bat costume. PRINCE ALBERT on Monday visited the Gallery of the New Society of Painters in Water Colours. On Wednesday his Royal Highness was present at the festival of the Sons of the Clergy in St. Paul's Cathe dral, and at the anniversary banquet given in the evening at Merchant Tailors' Hall. A MARRIAGE is to be solemnised next month be tween the young Princess Agnes Borghese, the late Lord Shrewsbury's granddaughter, and Prince Piom bino's eldest son, the Duke of Sore. The bride is eighteen and the bridegroom twenty-two years of age. THEIR HIGHNESSES PRINCE GHOI.AM MAHUMED and his son, Prime Feroze Shah, attended Mrs. Reay's soiree dansante on Tuesday in Gloucester gardens, Hyde-park. THE VENERABLE DUKE ore SOMERSET, who for some time has been suffering from indifferent health, con sequent on advanced years and infirmities, is in rather improved health. 'rue DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE has left Devonshire house for his marine villa at Kemp-town, where the noble duke is expected to remain until the close of the month. THE EARL OF ROSSE, as president of the Royal Society, gave his first soiree for the season on Satur day last. It was very numerously attended. THE BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS is still suffering from severe illness at Brighton. Prayers for his lordship's recovery were offered in the churches of Wells on Sunday last. THE MARQUIS OF ANGLESEY will succeed to the Lord Lieutenancy of the county of Anglesey, ren dered vacant by the decease of his father. Lord Ha therton has been appointed Lord lieutenant of Star fordshire, also in the room of the late marquis. Mn. Pulse LOVEDFM, M.P., will in all likelihood be the new Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire, in succession to the late Colonel W. E. Powell. LORD COWLEY, the British Ambassador at Paris, has arrived in London on a brief visit. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER and Mrs. Gladstone received a distinguished circle at dinner on Wednesday evening, at the official residence of the right honourable gentleman in Downing-street. THE LORD AND LADY MAYORESS on Thursday entertained at dinner, in the Egyptian-hall of the Mansion-house, the mayor, magistracy, and corpora tion of Leeds, together with a distinguished party, consisting of members of the House of Peers, the Church, and House of Commons. THE CHEVALIER DE BUNSEN has been invited by the King of Prussia to fix his residence at Berlin. M. de Bunsen has proved that he had confined himself within the limits of his instructions. _ HER MAJESTY has granted the rank and precedence of the daughters of an earl to Miss Mary Annette Talbot and Miss Owendaline Elizabeth Talbot, the only sisters of the youthful Earl of Shrewsbury, as if their father, the Hon. Colonel Charles Thomas Talbot, had lived to succeed to the title. THE MEMBERS OF THE STAR CLUB have resolved to invite his Excellency Count Walewski, the French Minister, to an entertainment in the month of June. The meeting is to be made special to enable the members to invite as large a number as possible of the corps diplomatique, members of Parliament, and gentlemen connected with the city of London and large provincial towns, to give effect to an expression of sympathy and satisfaction at the cordial union be.. tween France and England so worthily supported and represented by his excellency. LETTERS sox ST. PETERSBURG announce that, albeit the Anne M'Aiister will not be allowed to quit Cronstadt, the effects of Sir Hamilton Seymour are at his disposal to be removed by land, and that every facility will be accorded for such removal. Mn. JAMES WILSON, M.P., has resumed his duties at the Treasury, having recovered from his recent indisposition. A GRAND BAZAAR will be held in the last week of Jane, under the immediate patronage of the Queen, - 11 P ~►