The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-03 00:00:00

410

Sir CHARLES NAPIER lived to be the most
distinguished member of a family so eminent
as to have called forth a parliamentary tribute
from a Minister who was usually sparing of
eulogy. In reverting to his career, we are
struck with the extraordinary contrasts in his
character. Personally brave even to heroic in-
trepidity, and seemingly courting danger for
the " rapture of the strife," his earlier military
life in the Peninsula and elsewhere discloses
a series of acts of personal daring and endur-
ance for which we must seek a parallel in the
deeds of the fabulous heroes of romance.
When, in later years, he was removed to a
sphere of action where different qualities were
demanded, Sir CHARLES NAPIER proved that
dashing bravery and daring intrepidity are not
incompatible with the coolness and calculation
of a military chief. His career in Scinde
stamped him as possessing a rare military
genius. Every General-in-Chief on a dis-
tant mission must be a Dictator and
a Proconsul. Sir CHARLES NAPIER was
eminently qualified thus to concentrate
in his sole person the various elements of
government. He could negotiate as well as
conquer, and administer the territory ho con-
quered. Heroic as he was in his personal
bravery and passion for danger, he was equally
so in his justice and clemency to the fallen
enemy. He achieved by his civil rule a second
victory over those who had yielded to his mili-
tary prowess. Like WELLINUTUN, he was great
in poke us well as in war ; and it is difficult
to lay in which he most excelled—as a soldier,
a commander, a negotiator, or an adminis-
trator.
Called from his retirement by the general
voice to go to India at a moment when our
empire was threatened, he arrived only to see
his destined work accomplished by others ;
but there was much to be done in the reform
and reorganisation of the army of India ; and
he set himself to the task. He was a discipli-
narian of the right school, holding that duty
and subordination level all distinctions, and
demanding from the officers the same rigorous
submission to rule that was exacted from
the privates. In his eye, too, bravery in
the held equally levelled distinctions ; and in
his despatches he did justice to the valour and
good conduct of the common soldier as well
as of his superior. His rigid regulations as
to matters of discipline, his resolute war
RtfltillSt the luxurious impedimenta of an In.
dian marching force, and-his plain, blunt re-
proofs of the vices that had crept into the
service, recul in their spirit, if not in their lan
tTage, some of the memorable proceedings of
WELLINOTON in the Peninsula. In his des-
patches and general orders he dashed at
truth through conventional language, as in
the tight he dashed at the enemy through
all impediments.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER was of an order of men
necessary to great states. It is often their
fate not to be fully appreciated by their con-
temporaries ; but it is well for mankind that
their memory should be cherished and
honoured. The fame of their deeds is the
heritage of posterity, who profit alike by the
fruits of their valour and wisdom, and by the
emulation they inspire.

THE DUNGARVAN ELECTION.—MEssRs.
MAGUIRE AND O'FLAIIERTY.
NEARLY every week reveals some fresh scandal
about the " Irish Brigade." When we last
alluded to Mr. EDMUND OT LANE KTY'S appoint
went we had not before us the very suspicious
circumstances relating to the recent contest
at Dungarvan. It appears that Mr. 6 KOROE
HRNRY MOORE AS Member for Mayo) drew
up an :agreement. between Messrs. MAauIILE
and CYFLAtutc•ry, in which it was arranged
that, on condition Vtf Mr. O'F LA 11 KIIT Y with-
drawing a petition oggainst Mr. MAO uiRE, the
latter would accept Ole Chiltern Hundreds, so
as to give Pdr. 011.aisavy an opportunity of
again contacting the borough with him. Mr.
OTLAHRIITY, not many days since, eagerly
pressed Mr. MAGUIRE to carry out the agree