The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-05 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, DEC. 5.

T. New York papers show that the " Captain
" Wimp " of the San Jacinto in Commodore
Wii.xa of the United Slates Exploring Expedition.
Ro much depends on the character of the was-
milder on such an occaaioss, and on the kind and
degree of authority under which he eats, that we
may be glad that the Commander of the San ie..
cinto is an officer so well known in this country as
Commodore CliAllLte WHAM,

The first important fact in the case is that, true
to his character, Commodore WILIIIOI assumes the
responsibility of the whole transaction. According
to the New York journals, he declared, when he
went ashore at Hampton, that he believed he had
done right ; that he felt it necessary that Means.
SUDIU. and MASON should be secured ; and that
" if he had done wrong. be could do no moire than
"be cashiered for it." This declaration h cha-
racteristic of the man. He will never shrink froze
the consequences of his act; but nobody will
believe the responsibility to be his, without quali-
fication. If he really 'poke those words, it is
clear that he judged for himself as to the mode of
seising the Confederate Cominiatioriers ; bet there
is abundant evidenos that the Washington Go-
vernment, or Commodore WILK'S'. immediate
stiparime, desired that the Cotrunimionen should
be intercepted. However the responsibility ought
to be shared, Commodore Wanes affords his
Government the opportunity of throwing the
blame upon him, and backing out of the scrape at
his expense.
The English friends of this officer have doubt-
less felt more pain than surprie at his having
once more got into hot water before his low naval
career is ended. He must be one of the oldest
othoers in the United titans smarise—and that
service never had one more loyal---but his
sagacity, judgment, and bowled. are not equal to
his moral qualities. The readers of his Narrative
of the Exploring Expedition, of which be was
commander, must be well aware of this ; and few
and short se are his references in that work to his
troubles in that command, they leave a painful
impression of either incapacity on his part, or
sotaathing worse in others. His courageous readi-
ns
to ammo* reaponibility is no alanonsent he
ablaut which caonot be repaired.
. .

The &pier* ExpeclitiOn was projected I.
1896, and tbe masted ad it awed to Osptaisi
WILLI& He spud to repair to London, fa
ardor to obtain informatics, sad to precast the
bait arousal instruments led Mbar scientific aids ;
but ho sasplatisd his aticeptancs al the onsusand
till Ito should be ratislisd that he amid ham
adequate powers and support. In Latina he
um seiremed with a kiadams which made a deep
Impression on bias, is aware in his Narrative, ,
'M as his Engtidi trios& do not forget. Re
was by marriage a rabilim al Lord JZTYRIT. Ho
was aosiiisk aided sad advised at the Admirdty ;
and a good deal ol attsmaims was natorally axed
ea his adventure, whit the Expedition finally
startled in 1838. Our maisrs nay remember tho
oollisiost whisk wove roported tom limo to Moo—
the &Woo about Animas ditooystito—oo.
_ _

only about lie rival skims of British and
American commandors, bat about the actual
lids of the reported American disooveries.
/hem them were rumours of diflientnes '
and dimensions co board the ships of the'
moans ; and of great severity on the commem
der's part in eeppnesing mutiny. He aptilre ott
that occasion as he speaks now. He pebhely
said that he meant to do la daty—ebit he
believed he bad done It—and that if be was
wrong he was ready to beer the aonsequeseen
The whole tramaction exhibited the character of
the man—loyal to duty and to his government,
conscientious and ciourageous. His complaints of
enemies on every hand, and of their machinations,
seem to show a radical incapacity for propitiating
other men's judgment and feelings. It could be
nothing went that was thus indicated ; for he is a
man of smarm' sprit and amiable temper. Con-
scientious and amiable as be is, he was brought
before succemeiveeourte-roartialoo his return from the
expedition ; and for three weeks a court of thir-
teen mambas was engaged in investigating eleven
charges, expeodod into thirtraix specifications,
against Commodore Wiszni's acts at various periods
of the long voyage. This is his own published
statement ; and he adds that on only one point
was be judged to have transgressed the laws of the
navy—that point being merely the amount of
punishment he bad awarded to certain of his crew
under urgent circumstances. Yet he himself evi-
dently retained an irritating sense of ill-usage
throughout the whole transaction, while readies
and observers were generally irapromed with his
being unfortunate in • certain weakness or pes,
reissue's of judgment, aggravated by lack of suf-
ficient knowledge for a punka like his. Those
who are best acquainted with his mind and cha-
racter will probably agree as to what he will
feel and do on the protest occasion. He will
be surprised that he never heard of Munsos's
depreciation of the honour of any flag
being at the mercy of any petty commander.
He will be astonished to find that it was • mistake
to Mae the men and leave their despatches behind.
He will declare that he desired every courtesy to
he shown to the British edgers. He will instal'
that it wu the great object of the hour to get hold
of the Commissioners, and that be meld hem no
doubt of its being his duty to eseoniplieli the feat
He will °tabu that no caber should be awe-
wided with the instant seems of esseetnieing the
law of the cue when ma maims Miss. He
will sincerely declare (as he boo dim dais) his
strong regard for England mod the 11041114, Ind
lie brotherly feeling towards the albeit of our
navy. He will finally avow that he Ws he as&