The Express.
London, England, 1855-09-03 00:00:00

SIR CHARLES NAPIER AND SIR JAMES
GRAHAM.

Sir Charles Napier hu given publicity to the fol-
lowing letters, apparently a selection from his cor-
respondence with the late First Lord of the Admiralty.
The letters of Sir James Graham were marked "pri-
vate." We print them as we find them, without
expressing an opinion as to the propriety of Bret
making them public.

JAY= °LIAM TO Ilia MARIA/ SATIN&
Admiralty, Oct. 17, 1864. (Reed. 22nd.)
My dear Sir Charles,—You refer to soy letters at the end
of August, as eoutemplating then the early termination of
active operations in the Battle for this year.
I was not prepared, evea at that Use, fee the immediatel
departure of the Freesia army after the septum of Bomar- '
sand; and I pointed out to you Abe, Sweag, aad Revel,
as points which, with military aid, were open to attack.
Much less was I prepared for the withdrawal, of the French
squadron from the combined naval operations almost simul-
taneously with the departure of the army, so soon as 80.
raanuad had been destroyed.
These decisions were taken on the spot-1 believe, with
your consent, but without any reference to the English
government. Bat in August we had not seen the report of
General Jones on Elweaborg, which you forwarded to us
from Lediund on the 28th of August, and which was in
your hands before el,her the French army or the French
fleet had left the Aland Islands. That report is entitled to
respect. It made a great impression here, and raised a
strong presumption that with the aid of the military fens
then present with the fleet, in seven or eight days the
works at Bweaborg might be destroyed, and that the month
of September afforded ample time for the operation.
On the 6th of September you sent us the observations of
General B•raguay d'Hillian sal of General Niel on the
I report of General Jones.
General Barsguay d'Hillien says expressly, after having
reconnoitred Sweaboeg himself, together with General Niel :
We partake of the opinion of General Jones. Sweeborg
may be attacked and taken by the fleets, if they think fit to
make on that fortress a serious attack."
General Niel went further, and said that, without any
military co-operation, eight or ten sail of the line could lay
the works in ruins in two hours, by a bombardment near at
hand, on the sea front, +Care the works are weakest ; and he
intimated very distinctly an opinion that the attack ought
to he made.

In the face of thew reports, and within a week after re-
eelviag them, the Intelligence that the French army and
French fleet had left you, without • shot being fired,
except at Boananuad, was both a surprise and a disappoint-
ment.

Then mane your own aseold reconnaissance of Bwaborg,
and a plan of naval attack, which you considered practi-
cable. We wne anxious, if the French and English forces
could be reunited, that it should have been tried even this
year before the haseense lest which bad been aiseinhied
retreated frog the Baltic; but ear own sailing ships having
one to Kiel, and the French squadron being on its way
borne, the opportunity was loot, and nothing now remains
to be dose but gradually to withdraw the line-of-battle
ships, and to await the moment when ice shall enclose
the Roden lest within the Galt of Finland for the
winter.

No doubt, at the time of the equinox, there an heavy
gales of wind in the Baltic ; it is a narrow sea and then
is danger to large ships inlmaintaining the blockade, even
when at anchor. Bat war is not conducted without risks
and dungen; and prudence couista in weighing them, and
firmness in encountering them; end nothing great by sea
or land can be achieved without considerable peril, u your
own experience and example have demonstrated.
We await the next report of your movements, before we
send you farther orders.-1 am yours sincerely,
J. 0.
His Excellency Sir Charles Napier, H.C.S. GRAHAM.
No. minx= ZNPLY TO THE APOVI.

Kiel, Oct. 27.
illy dear Sir James—So far back as August 29 I an-
nounced to you the intention of the French General to
withdraw his troops. I agreed with the French General sad
Admiral that Sweaborg @sold not be attacked at this season
of the year, and I have no hesitation is saying, bad we
moved the troops and ships op to Miolo Roads, and landed
6,000 men, we should not bars brought aim man, and how
many ships we would have lost I cannot my.
After the rapture and destruction of Bonsarsond till I
left Nargen, there have not been three days fit for operations
that required Devon or eight, and then the daps and
transports mast have lain amongst the rocks and shoals of
Miolo Roads—a pettiest that might have doss for a general,
but certainly not for an admiral.
Shortly after the troops sailed, I communicated to you
that the Preach admiral had received orders to go to Cher-
bourg, that they IMO dated the 30th of August; so that
the decision was not taken on the spot, as you suppose.
General Jones's report made no change whatever in our
opinions.
You say the French generals partook of General Jones's
opinions ; then why did he not carry them out ? Surely,
Sir James, you could not have read them; they are quite
opposite. The French generals thought the fleet could
knock down Sweaborg in two hour.. General Jones re-
quired a combined movement, which would require oven or
eight days. The:French general, in hie letter to me' says :
"Noce partageoul l'opinion de M. le General Jones,
Swishing peat-dtre Mugue et prise par his &Mee si ales
vsulent fairs matte setts fortes-seas aae Miscue serif/sae."
You will find no sash thing in General Jones's re-
port. The French panel must have meant General Niel's
meet.
Tie epistle's General Niel gave, in writing, after he
had landed, he certainly did not give to the admiral on the
spot; and the more I think, the more I am satisfied that
sack an attack would end in a signal failure—even if we
succeeded in knocking down theses face the work would be
only begun.
You say, Sir Jaws that Osumi Niel intimated very
distiectly that the attack ought to be made your board
and you, Sir lames, do sot agree OD that point; in their
letter to me they my, "Hut General Niel at the same
time remarks that so bold an operation has not, to his
knowledge, been yet attempted by ships against forts, and
that it is sot his province to advise it ;" and they desired
me to confer with Admiral Parseval, and ascertain whether
he wan willing to join is a naval attack. " And if it ap-
pears both to you end to him an attempt too rash, yea are
to cause thin Joint ispiaioa to be recorded ; but Rene agrees
sad the other does net. the Admirals present should be
gelled and their advice sad opinion taken."

Thu wen 63 r;ldeoliaad attend-
ing the conference, u he had before given an opinion
against attacking Sweshorg, sad the Mulish admi-
rals, after having read his (Guard Niels) report, said
they had no reams to chugs the opinion they had
already given, and in which Admiral Martin outlined.
The troth is, the troops came too late—too many for Bomar-
sired, aid too few for fisresborg. The cholera got amongst
them. General Jones made a proposal which the generals
declined acting on. The people In Zealand were diseatis.
fled, and, is some was moat be blamed, the gourmand
waist to t►rew It ea ait, bet 1 will mot Move it.
I ask you, Sir James, to examine the shad of timbers,
mad ask yoamelf, if any seas In kie sloe% at this masoa of.

the year, would anchor his ships in Mobs Heade, sad sow'
MOOS operation that would require seven or eight days to
finish, which was General Jones's proposal ; and I ask you
whether may admiral world attack Sweeborg with hisakipe
alone, contrary to his own judgment, and the opinion of the
admirals whom he was ordered to scamp, bowies as
*sewer thought It could be done t
You were angry with me when I made use of the word
mad," but, on my conscience, I believe it the may word
applicable to such an operation.
You say General Jones's report made a great Impression.
I have no doubt it did ; it is very easy to make a report.
Gwent Jesse knew that the French general would not
land a man—we all knew it; aadl am site certain, after
the emitinuatiou of bed weather General Jones saw on board
the Duke of Wellington, he himself would not have landed
• man. Had people eousidensh one lemnent, they would
haw seen the impramicability of the attempt ; bat they
thought Sebastopol was takes, and I must take Sweaborg,
Revel, and Cronatadt.

Afton the French Generals had reoonnoitred fiwasborg, I
examined it again, sad sent home my opinion u to how it
ought to be attacked—by ships, batteries, gun-hosts, mor-
tar boats, itc.—et great length ; and the Admiralty, as if
anxious to get up a case against me, take it into their heads
that I meant to attack it with the fleet shut, and were
~toiag to send back the French squadron and Admiral
ge's ships, and though I have remonstrated, they
=in still thinking so, and you, Sir James, seem to have
Into the same error. Foamy, then seam your own
semi vesonlelasance, and a pima of naval attack, which

you considered prestimible." -
Had I lima the smallest chance of swum I sbould ban
attacked without the French, but I did not; end swely my
on is worth more than a general of engineers; but the
Admiralty seem to think different. The general talked of
dentruping Sweaborg in two hours. It is much more likely
the ships would bare been set fire to by red hot shot and
shells, and some of them on shore by that time. Be assured
it is a most dificalt place to attack, and whostru does it
will have • hard nut to crack. No admiral hes, as yet, ven-
tured to attack such a fortress, defended as it is by art and
thellare. The sunken rocks alone, combined with the smoke
bens the guns and steamers, is no bad defence.
You observed, Sir James, that the month of September
gave ample time for the operation ; all the month of Sep-
tember ft was blowing a gale of wind, sad it was all that
Captain Watson could do to keep his station. I did not
wonder at the people of England expecting isaposdbilities,
but I am surprised at the government countenaanag them at
my east.
I am glad the French ships did not come back ; the
admiral had already given his decided opinion that it wee
not practicable, and it was with that conviction that I de-
cided in complying with your wishes in sending away the
sailing ship, which the Admiralty disapproved of.
I do not wonder at your surprise and theappoiatment when
you heard the French fleet and army had returned—the go.
vernment ought to have informed you of it. I always
warned you, even before the arrival of the troops, that
nothing more than Bentarsund could be done. They came
too late, and I think they were fortunate in getting home
safe ; It is more than I expected.
I am quite aware that the Baltic is a dangerous sea, and
that even blockading at anchor at this season is dangerous ,•
and I knew that war is not conducted without risks and
sad I amready to enesanter them as any man,
tie it millas
not be driven by glamour to act oontrary to my
Own Judgment.
All summer, Sir James, you were cautioning me, and so
were the government, not to risk my ships against stone
walls, for which you had a great respect, and praising me
foe the 1114[1.01. I had conducted the fleet; now winter is
come, you axe dissatisfied at my not doing impossibilities;
and as the people are not satitfled, the government are pre-
paring to abandon me, because I will not follow the advice
of a general, contrary to that of my own admirals, and dia-
metrically opposite to the opinion of the French general of
engineers, and attack a fortress at a season of the year when
it is more than probable I should have lost half my fleet.
I have gone into this explanation at great length ; it has
riven me much pain. lam conscious of having done my
duty, and, if you are dissatisfied, you can bring me to a
newt-martial, or remove me, u I before mentioned to the
Admiralty.
I am very far from well, and I assure yen this corre-
spondence has not improved my health, and I am suffering
much from cold.—l remain, dear sir, yours very truly,
CHAO. NAI.IIII.
The Right Ron. Bir James Graham,
Bart., G.C.8., Admiralty.

NO. 111.—SIR JAUU GRAHAM TO SIB CHABLIS NATI=
My dear Admiral, I am very unwilling to be in-
volved in a written controversy with you, but you have
brought it on yourself, by :your report of the 25th of
September, after your second resonnalseanee of Swiss-
borg. That report appeared to me to be entirely at
variance with the opinions previously esprueed by you, and
I certainly understood you then to say, that if you had
mortar', rocket', and Lancaster guns, you considered Swea-
borg assailable by sea. In May you declared it to be unu-
sailable, by sea or laud, and the Admiralty did not send to
yea the appliances wbicb, in September, you declared to be
waati•g, because they believed, from your account, they
would be useless against a place which in the ant instance
you pronounced to be impregnable. I could not tiling
myself to believe that the want of Lancaster guns or even
of mortar', rendered • sea attack, on your plan of
of September, impossible, it you had 26 sail of the line
re-auembled before the plum, with all their sauna of ver-
tical fire.

lam sincerely sorry to hear that you ars unwell. I hops
that Kiel Harbour and milder air will restore you to
health.—l am, yours ♦ery truly, J. 0. GRAHAM.
His Excellency Sir C. Napier, 10., 10., &C.
NO. CHABLIS NATIRR TO SIR JANIS GRAHAM.

Duke of Wellington, Kiel, Nov. 6, 1864.
I can assure you, Bir James, it is far from my wish to
enter into a controversy with you, bat I will not admit that
I have brought it on myself; there is not a word in either
my public or private letters that justifies the construction
that you and the Admiralty hare thought proper to put on
them. • My letter in answer to their lordships' last
despatch is plain enough; but if their lordships think proper
to deliberate on one part of my letter, and ignore another
put, I can only protest against it; and I am quite prepared
to defend myself against any unjust attacks that are made
against me. I have documeets enough in my possession to
justify my peados% Enough has not been done to satisfy
an impatient public, as you celled them—some one must be
blamed, sad I am the chosen one but I will not allow
myself to be crushed bemuse I could not do impossibilities.
All this stir has been caused by the reports of two engi•
risers (one French and the other English), diametrically
opposed to each other; in addition to which was the report
of the capture of Sebastopol, not yet taken, though the
fleet there is assisted by an army of 70,000 men, in a Sae
climate ; and I have been expected to take places much
stronger with a deft alone; and the tame people, who so
often warned me against unnecessarily risking my eet, are
now dissatisfied because I did not expose them to certain
destruction.

I presume you have seen Captain Sullivan by this time
he is capable of opening the eyes of the government, If they
are not hermetically sealed.
I have gone through the world with honour and credit to
myself, and just as I am about to leave it unworthy attempts
are being made to ruin my reputation ; but they will fail,
and recoil on themselves.—l remain, yours very truly,
CHAS. NAPIER.
The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Bart., G.C.B ,
Admiralty.

The following additional letters have appeared in
the same journal this morning. It will be seen that
they are dated earlier in the year:
NO. 1.-111 H JANTS °WWI TO SIN CHAIM'S NAPTIN.
Admiralty, Feb. 24, 1864.
My dear Bir Charles,—The conversation which I had
with yen yesterday has left on my mind the painful im-
pression that the means which the Admiralty has provided
for fitting out and manning the North Bea Moat, are, in
your opinion, insufficient for the occasion, aad unequal to
an encounter with the Russians on fair terms.

I have done my but to provide a fore' which I consider
adequate to the duty to be performed ; and any exertion
which this Board considen necessary, will be made wittout
lintermiseion.

You urged on me the propriety of offer*? bounty. If you
are dissatisfied with the preparations that have been made
and are in progress—if you have not entire confidence in
the strength of the combined forties of France and England,
you had better say so to me at onto, end decline to accept a
command which, in your opinion, will not redound to your
honour, or to the safety of your couatry. It will be far
better that you should refuse the offer of this command thus
undertake it with any sash misgivings.
I have marked ray confidence in you by cffering it. If
you decline it on account of the insufficieney of the moans
which will be placed at your disposal, I must eadeavout to
make mum other arrangement as soon as possible.
Without a good will and hearty coacurrence, this Board
and the Conitnander-in•Chief of the Baltic feet cannot work
well together.—l am, my dear Sir Charles, yours very
faithfully, J. G. OzAuAx.
Vke Sir Charles Napier, H.C.B.

I NO. matzo NAP'S& TO am JAIL= ORANAM.
18, Albemarle-street, Feb. 24, 1854.
My dear Sir James,—l thought it my duty to point out
to you what I thought the best way of manning the Beet,
to ensure a great, glorious, and speedy victory over the
Russians.

I ---
made difficulties when service was rental' Id, and,
after a long life spent in honour, I am not going to make
Itheas now.

I should consider myself a coward, end unworthy of bold-
ing her Majesty's OSIIIMISSiOII, wing I to decline any rervioe,
be it ever so desperate. L,rd Nelson never declined any
service, no more shall I, particularly after the confiding*
you placed in me ; bat, with the means at my disposal, will
do all I ;an fur the honour and glory of my Gluon and
country, which shall not be tarnished in my bands; and I
certainly have no apprehension of failing, either In good-
will or hearty eoncrirreacc with th. Board of Admiralty.-1
am, my dear Sir James, yours very faithfully,
CHAS. NAPIOP..
The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, But, Admiralty.
[Note.—The above latter is the best &sower to the rinses
for not throwing up my command. The last paragraph of
my letter will show that I reckoned without my heat —C. N.]

so. 111.-011 3AX211 0141.1tAX TO BIZ CHARM XATIIi.
Hosea of Commons, Feb. 24, 1861.
toyear Fir do not anticipate that I Mull ask
ygo adertake any "detteeraN"aerrun. Whoa I offered

yew the minsead, I felt oertain that the hamar of rw
country and of the flag might be safely sodded to ye%
Your=nt distrust of the imam which I mild platy as
Part
was the sole muse ef some uneasiness ea my
P
Your sot* of this evening has dissipated:all doubt sad
appisbension. I shall be moat happy to see you al the
Admiralty to-morrow, at eleven o'clock, when we will
discuss the arrangements which it will be necessary tkatake.
—I am, my dear Bir Charles, yours vary faithfully.
J. G. Qom.
pia-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, H.C.B.

NO. IT.—ILITILior OP LETT= PEON SIR PARIS MUZAK
TO SIR CRARLIS NAPIER.
Admiralty, Marsh 12, 1854. (Recd. 13th.)
My dear Sir Chutes,—la the first place let me **gnaw
late you on the perfect ensues of year proceedings of rho.
terday. Never did a fleet sail in more regular order,
eR
under higher auspices.—I am, yoan sincerely,
J. G. Giumue.
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, H.C.B.
NO. T.—EXTRACT OP LETT= PROW SIR PARIS OLEAN
TO SLR CRUZES NAPES&
Admiralty, April 5, 1854. (Recd. Bth.)
' My dear Sir Charles,-1 am highly satisfied with you
movements, and with the position which you have taken up
for the present. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Grey can reedit
p
00MRIEsieRt• with you where you now are ; and most safe
information from Stockholm readies you without loss 41
time.-1 am, yours very truly, J. G. Ghanuir.

OP LOTUS PROM BM JAM OLEAN

TO SIR CHAIM= NAPITIL
Admiralty. April 10,1864. [Reed. 19th.)
My dear Sir Charles,—l um entirely satisfied with you
proceedings. Neither Lord Clarendon nor myself amid.
ported your movement inside the Belt, and believed that
you would watch is the Kattegat the entrance of the Bona 4
and of the Belts, until you received orders to enter the
Battle. You judged, however, wisely, and the Ulna whiek
you have gained has been very precious, and the passage d
the Belt in fine weather, and in safety, has been ama
successful expleit.-1 am, my dear Admiral, voun TIT/
tral J. G. ()immix.
is Excellency Vice-A.dnairai Sir Charles Xavier, R. 0.3.
[Note.—On the 24th Marsh the Admiralty called ay
atuntioa to their order of Bth Much, directing me le
remain in Wingo Sound until farther orders, and salad
that I appear to have left it without smigaing ng
reasons, sod to hams Well therein without the emu-
roues of the Board, although I took out sealed askew,
dated 10th March, directing me, with nference at ay
first orders, to follow Lord Clarendon's instructions, hi,
taking tip a position near the entrance to the Bahia, to
prevent any Russian ships :passing out into the North
Sea on the opening of the bre. I accordingly anchored ki
Hive Bay on the let April, and received the declaration of
war the following day. On the Bth of April the Admiralty
wrote, that, under tl.e elmemnstances stated by me, them
lordships approved of my • But, strange tomy,
on the 13th January, 1 the Admiralty mined me of
having quitted Wingo without orderx—C. N.l