The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

MARCH 11, 1854. them for Robinson Crusoe ; but who should it be but the gallant admiral, and a marine who followed him ? lie said, ' Why, Napier, what are you doing here?' Why,' said my Fallout friend, ' I want to take Valenca: Said Lord William, ` Valence is a fortified town, and wesoldiers know how fortified towns are to be taken ; the trenches must be opened, approaches must be made, batteries must be erected, and a number of other things must be done, ac cording to rule.' Ah,' said my gallant friend, I have no time for all that. I have got a number of blue jackets here from the sh i p—(cheers)—and I mean to take the town by letter; and so he did. He sent the governor a letter to sur render the town at discretion; and the governor, being a sensible man, knew the sort of fellow he had to deal with, and so surrender he did ; and, the trenches, approaches, breaches, and batteries being all left undone, the town was not the less handed over to the Queen of Portugal. The next occas ion in which my gallant friend took a part—a part which I in my official capacity, and the Government of which I was a member, felt deeply indebted and obliged to the gallant gentleman—was the war in Syria, and there my gallant friend distinguished himself as usual. On sea or shore, all was one to him, provided he met an enemy; and am full sure that there the enemy wished he was not to er e found. (Laughter and cheers.) But not content with acting a successful part as an admiral and a general, he must needs act the part of a diplomatist too, and that with equal success, for he went to Alexandria and landed there, and persuaded Mehemet Ali to sign a convention which eventually led to the peaceful evacuation of Syria, to the ac complishment of the purposes of the war, and which rescued Syria from the horrors of invasion. Then I say that, my gallant friend having had the good fortune to succeed in all the operations he has hitherto undertaken, we have reason to hope he will be equally successful in the future as the past; and, bearing that in mind, I cannot refrain from repeating an observation made to me by a very discriminating and calculating friend of mine, who passed some portion of his time inthe Eastatthe period to which I have adverted—who saw a good deal of my gall an t frien d there, and who, when he came home, came to me to give me some account of what he had observed there. I mentioned my gallant friend to him, and praised his boldness, his intrepidity, his daring. My friend said, ' Yes ; all that is very true, but there is another quality Sir Charles Napier possesses as valuable as any of those, and a very important ingredient in them—l never saw a man in my life who calculated so many moves beforehand as Sir Charles Napier.' (Great eheering.) Now, when a man calculates his movesbeforehand, and has a spirit and genius to execute them, I think that the country which places its fortunes in his hands may well feel confi dence in his success. (Cheers.)" In responding to this speech, and the enthusiastic cheers which accompanied the toast it introduced, Sir C. NAPIER expressed his inability to give due ut terance to his feelings, and then proceeded to testify some surprise as to where Lord Palmerston got all his amusing stories. " Most of them," he added, " are trne—some of them area little exaggerated in my favour." Adverting to present circumstances, the gallant admiral continued:— " I cannot say that we are in a state of war, because we are still in a state of peace ; but I suppose we are very nearly at war. And I suppose that when I get to the Bal tic I shall have an opportunity of declaring war. (Loud cheering.) And certainly, if f have the opportunity, I hope it will end in a prosperous war ; because I can safely say that this country never sent out such a splendid fleet as that which is about to go into the Baltic in a few days. And I think that my right honourable friend, Sir James Graham, deserves the greatest credit for having, after such a long peace, when we had no seamen, or very few, been able to fit out such a magnificent fleet. Nor must I forget the services of my hon. friend the Surveyor of the Navy, who has corrected all the faults of his predecessors, which for a number of years I was imprudent enough to point out. But since he came I do not think it is possible to point out a single fault in the construction of the s hips. He, in conjunction with the F irst Lord of the Admiralty, and with his predecessors too—for I must not forget to give the preceding Board of A dmiralt y their weed of praise. —the Surveyor of the Navy had changed the whole style of building ships ; instead of the small ships which were for merly built, he substituted enormous ships of the line with the screw, which has altered the character of naval warfare. (Cheers.) We have now a fleet well advanced—l do not say that the fleet is yet in perfect order—but which I be lieve, considering the officers that have been appointed, very soon will be. With the force that we have—l do not say that it is equal to the for ce of Russia—but I believe with the assistance of the screw we shall be able to attack a very large and a superior force, and that every officer and sailor on board the fleet will remember the words of the immortal Nelson, ' England expects every man to do his duty.' (Loud cheers.)" Sir C. NAPIER then in his turn proposed a toest, and gave the health of his official chief, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to whom he assigned " the merit of beginning the war—if it he war —by pr a ducing a fleet which d oes him infinite credit. That awn will in a few days lea ve Spithead, and any gentleman who comes to see it will approve of it. And, when the fleet returns, I have no doubt it will be either in better or worse order, as the case may be. (Laughter and cheers.)" Sir J. GRARASI replied, congratulating himself, the present company, and the country, upon the prospects before them:— " Happy combinations abroad, fairly un ite d ) o hs at home, and o ffi cers selected possessing equally the confi dence of Government and of the country —these form a combination of circutostances of which any conntry d w h ey well be mond. (Cheers.) had the pleasnre sa d t honour Of first niskanfl the it.:vaintence of my pliant esa THE PRESS. when in command of the Thames and Earyaius frigates, in the fleet of Lord Exmouth, and even in that fleet, officered as it was by some of the greatest naval heroes of the age, there was no officer, without exception, who had morellen tirely the confidence of Lord Exmouth, or was more gene rally remarked for his distinguished gallantry, than my honourable friend. (Cheers.) My friend was distin guished for his remarkable daring and bravery ; but even then be verified the phrase of the noble lord. He looked several moves before him; and in my judgment he is not only a gallant but I look upon him as a most discreet commander. ((.'heers.) He possesses my entire confi dence, and I rejoice in having had the opportunity on this great occasion to commend him to the choice of my Sovereign. He does int go forth under the hypocritical pretence of conducting a religious war--( loud and vehement cheering)—but he goes forth to assert the independence of Europe—to resist, and I hope successfully to resist, that lawless spirit of aggression and aggrandisement which now threatens to disturb the general peace. My gallant friend says that when he gets into the Baltic he will declare wax. 1, as First Lord of the Admiralty, give him my free con sent to do so. (Loud cheers.) I hope that war will be short. It may be sharp, but I trust that with the spirit and energy that has ever guided my gallant friend it will be decisive. I hope that the time is not distant when you will invite me here again, to celebrate the triumphant return of my gallant friend. This evening has been begun under happy auspices ; our next meeting, I hope, will be to celebrate a brilliant success. (Loud cheers. )" Various toasts followed, including among others the "Turkish Minister," the "Turkish Army and Navy," "Admirals Hamelin and Dundas, and success to the combined fleets." The company did not separate until a late hour. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. THE ARMY. THE safe arrival of the first detachments of British troops, after a rapid and prosperous voyage, is announced by telegraphic despatches from Malta. The Orinoco, with the Coldstreams, arrived at the island last Saturday morning, the 4th inst.; the Ripon, with the Grenadiers, in the afternoon of the same day ; and the Niagara, with the 28th Regiment, on Sunday. The 4th Regiment (King's Own) left Edinburgh Castle on Wednesday, and embarked from Granton pier on board the Golden Fleece, screw-steamer (2,500 tons), lying in Leith Roads. The regiment goes out to Malta under the command of Lieute nant• Colonel Sadleir, the commanding officer, Lieu tenant-Colonel Trevor, being detained by indis position. Its strength, as embarked, is 37 officers, 47 sergeants, 16 drummers, and 850 rank and file. Two ladies and 30 women accompany the regiment. The Duke of Cambridge, Lord Raglan, Sir George Brown, and some other generals, were expected to arrive at Paris this day (11th), but there are some doubts whether they will arrive before the 21st. The Duke of Cambridge will occupy the apartments in the Pavillon Marsan of the Palace of the Tuileries, lately occupied by the Duke of Saxe Coburg during his visit to the Emperor. The Earl of Cardigan is to have a cavalry command in the expeditionary army. Prince Albert on Thursday inspected the Royal Artillery under orders for the East on Woolwich Common, when an immense number of persons were present to witness the imposing sight. The hour named for the troops assembling was a quarter past ten o'clock, but at an earlier period his Royal High ness arrived on the ground, with the Duke of Cam bridge, Lord Raglan, and the principal officers of the staff. The royal personages having gone through the various lines and inspected each company, the whole force passed in open review order. The Prince expressed his satisfaction to the officers in command at the soldierly appearance of the men, and the acti vity and readiness shown in their various evolutions. Active measures are being adopted at the Tower to complete the 19th Regiment for service in the East. A large number of men have volunteered from the depot companies of other regiments, and, having undergone a most minute inspection, were incorpo rated with the 19th. On Wednesday evening the regiment mustered 963 strong, leaving a deficiency of only 37 bayonets to complete the war establishment. When the regiment arrived three weeks since in the Tower it was not quite 550 strong, so that nearly 450 men have been raised during that short time. It is believed that this corps will march on Tuesday for Southampton, to be in readiness to embark. Orders have been issued for the instant return of several regiments, and of a large portion of artillery, now in our colonies. All the assistant-surgeons of the cavalry regiments at home are to be immediately placed under orders for foreign service, for the purpose of being employed in the East with the British contingent. This plan is adopted in preference to that of engaging civilians for extra work. The field hospital, with tents, field panniers, and other appurtenances, has been sent out to Constantinople to await the arrival of our troops, when a certain proportion of tents and other requisites will be distributed to each battalion. 227 Theisle of Wight is to be made the bead-quarters of all the regiments sent to the war in the East. Thirty thousand militia will be encamped early in May on the open downs in the neighbourhood of the Royal Military College of Sandhurst. The chief objet in view is to drill this body of men into effective soldiers, and to give a large number of them an opportunity of voluntering into the line as occasion may require. The Admiralty has given notice at Lloyd's that eight more ships will be required for conveying cavalry and troops to Malta. They will be en gaged for four months certain. It is said that Government has made arrange ments with that of Portugal for relieving our regi- ments in the lonian Isles, and partially even at Gibraltar and Malta, in order that Lord Raglan's force may be rendered as effective as possible. Prince Albert, as colonel of the regiment of Grenadier Guards, has suggested that the blue cloak should be set aside, and a great-coat, the same colour as that of the men, worn in its stead. The reason is, that the officers at the head of their regiments, in the blue cloak, would be marks for the enemy's rifles. The new coat, designed and ap proved by his Royal Highness, has immense ad vantages over the cloak. It may be worn without using the sleeves, the latter being so placed that the arms may be put through or withdrawn with. out assistance even on horseback. The pockets are large, sufficient in an encampment to contain linen, and the requisites for the toilet. The skirts may be withdrawn from the front, so as not to impede the free use of the legs on the march. The shoulders and arms are also protected by a large cape. THE FLEET. The departure of the splendid fleet lately mus tered at Spithead for the Baltic is appointed for noon to-day (Saturday). Sir C. Napier, the Com mander-in-Chief, will then take his final leave of the shore. The Queen will review the fleet before sailing, having travelled yesterday to Osborne for that purpose. Her Majesty is to be among the squadron at an early hour this morning, and will witness its departure for the Baltic. Sir I. Graham and other members of the Admiralty Board will also be present, and vast crowds of intending spectators have been pouring into Portsmouth and the neighbourhood for some days, attracted by a scene whieh to-day is being enacted at Spithead. The rendezvous of the fleet, it is said, is at present fixed at a concerted anchorage some distance below the Cattegat. The division of the fleet reviewed is a most mag nificent one, and consists of twenty-three ships ; of this number there are— Sm.uno—Royal George, 121, flag of Rear Admiral Corry ; Prince Regent, 90, Capt. H. Smith, C. 8.; Monarch, 84, Capt. Erskine ; Boscawen, 70, Capt. Glanville. ScitEws—Duke of Wellington, 181, flag-ship of Sir C. Napier ; St. George, 121, Capt. Eyres; St. Jean d'Acre, 101, Capt. Hon. H. Keppei ; Princess Royal, 91, Capt. Lord Paget; Cressy, 80, Capt. Warren; Blenheim, 80, Capt. Lord F. T. Pelham ; Hogue, 60, Capt. W. Ramsey ; Edinburgh, 58, flag of Rear-Ad miral Chads ; Ajax, 58, Capt. Warden; Imperieuse, 61, Capt. Watson, C.B; Euryalus, 51, Capt. H. Ram say; Arrogant, 47, Capt. Yelverton ; Amphion, 34, Capt. key. Pm:miss—Leopard, 18, flag of Admiral Plurnridge ; Odin, 18, Capt. F. Scott; Magicienne, 18, Capt. T. Fisher; Valorous, 16, Capt. Buckle; .Bulldog, 6, Capt. W. K. Hall; Gorgon, 8, Com. A. Cumming. The total force will comprise 1,320 guns, 13,326 men, and the steam squadron of 8,340 horse-power. The four sailing-vessels, 304 guns ; thirteen screws, 944 guns; and six paddles, 78 guns. Rear Admiral Corry hoisted his flag, white at the mizen, on board the three-decker Neptune, 120, on Wednesday morning in Portsmouth harbour. The ship will be rigged and ready to leave to-day for the rendezvous. The Duke of Wellington went out of Plymouth harbour at one on Thursday, and left the Sound at two. Her departure was delayed some time through the thickness of the fog. Rear-Admiral Chads has been vigorously exercising the squadron at gunnery. The target practice is stated to have been of surpassing exet Renee. The Amphion men cut the flag-staff in halves twice at 1,000 yards range, and every shot would have sunk a dingy at the same distance. The launch of the Royal Albert, 131, screw steam ship, building at Woolwich dockyard, is ordered to be postponed for a fortnight after the 15th of April next. The Shields harbour-masters have received instruc tions to elea • away berths for two French war-steam ers expected in the Tyne immediately. They are corning down to make arr.: igements for a supply of steam coal for the war-steamers to be employed in the Blade fleet. I I I --~