The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-04 00:00:00

EXTRACT OP A LETTER PROM SIR JAMES GRAHAM TO SIR

CHARLES NAPIER.

Admiralty, June 20, 1854 [Rec. 27th].
My dear Sir Charles—l am well aware of all the diffi-
culties of your position, and of the impossibility of
triumphing over an enemy who will not fight you on fair
terms, but you will discipline our fleet, and make our
officers and men fit and ready for any service. It is a
disgrace to Russia that she dare not show a ship in her
own waters, _and that sbe is driven to seek for safety
under the shelter of her fortresses.
It would be madness to play her game, and to rush
headlong on her granite walls, risking our naval supe-
riority, with all the fatal consequences of defeat in an
unequal contest with wood against stone, which in the
long run cannot succeed.
I had reliance on your prudence, which was doubted ;
your brilliant courage was proved long ago ; you will
now show to the world that you possess a combination
of those great virtues which are necessary to make a
consummate commander-in-chief.—l am, yours very
truly, J. G. GRAHAM.

( Front the Morning Advertiser of this day.)
We resume the publication of the Correspondence
between Sir James Graham and Sir Charles Napier,
during the time the latter gallant officer was Com-
mander in-Chief of the Baltic Fleet. Never, we unhe-
sitatingly say, has the publication of any correspondence
on great international questions produced a sensation
at all approaching that which has been caused by the
Correspondence which has appeared in our columns
within the last few days. And, no wonder ; for the
manner in which the Ministers of the Crown manage
our pubic affairs, was never before so fully exposed to
the gaze of the world.

It will be observed that Sir James Graham, in the
first few letters which we publish to-day, still emphati-
cally dwells on the necessity of great caution, and is
prodigal of warnings against the imprudence, if not in-
sanity, of attacking any of the more formidable forts of
Russia. This must sound very strange in the ears of
those who remember the vehemence of Sir James
Grabfkm in goading on Sir Charles to attack Svea-
borg in October, when the navigation of the Baltic
had, owing to the advanced season of the year, be-
come perilous to the Fleet. Yet it will be seen, that
up till the end of June, when the season was so
highly favourable to any demonstration avainst the
Czar, the Gallant Admiral is not only adjured, but
enjoined, not to make any attack on the Russian forts.
In other words, when Sir Charles thought an attack
might Le successfully made, he is prohibited by the
First Lord of the Admiralty from mak,ng it ; but the
very moment that Sir Charles writes home that, owing
to the want of the necessary means, he thought an at-
tack could not be made with success, and when, besides,
he considered the season too far advanced for such an
operation, Sir James Graham seeks to goad him into a
course which he felt persuaded would terminate in the
loss of the fleet, by a series of reproaches and insults, as
well as by something very much resembling the lan-
guage of command.

Btit we forbear from making comments of our own.
It is enough that we allow Sir Jai.les Graham and Sir
C. Napier severally to speak through the columns of
the Morning Advertiser.

No. X.
SIR JAMES GRAHAM TO SIR CHARLES NAPIER.
House of Commons, June 27, 1854.
[Recd. July 4.]
My dear Sir Charles,—l am glad that you you have
gone up to Cronstadt to see with your own eyes what it
may be possible to do there. Whatever man can do I
am certain will be done by you ; and if you are re-
strained by a sense of duty from embarking in any des-
perate enterprise, on your return to Baro Sound you
shall receive full instructions from rue respecting an at-
tack on the Aland Islands.
It is necessary to communicate with the Government
of France in the first instance, and these communications
have been already opened.—l am, yours, very truly,
J. G. GRAHAM.

No. XI.
[Extract.]
Admiralty, July 11, 1854. [Recd. 17th ]
My dear Sir Charles,—lf Bomarsund is to be attacked
by sea and land, Admiral Chads is peculiarly well quali-
fied to command the squadron sent on that service. You
are fortunate in having two such Rear-Admirals as Plum-
ridge and Ohads under your orders,* with Seymour and
Martin ready for emergencies.--I am, yours, sincerely,
GRAHAM.
His Excellency Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.

No. XII.
[Extract.]
Admiralty, July 11, 1854.
My dear Sir Charles,—l had anticipated your return
to the westward after an offer of battle, which I felt cer-
tain the enemy would decline ; and it now remains for
you to blockade the Gulf of Finland, to keep the fleets at
Cronstadt and Helsingfors disunited, and to await the
arrival of the French troops, when you and the French
Admiral and General must deliberate on the operations
ki be undertaken by the combined forces. Bomarsund
will clearly be within your reach. Sweaborg, if it were
possible, would be a noble prize, but on no account be
led into any desperate attempt, and, above all things,
avoid the least risk of the Russian fleet slipping out of
the Gulf of Finland when your back is turned ; and be
slow to land your marines, without whom your line of
battle is disabled. The Russians, though shy, are crafty ;
and if they can catch you at a disadvantage, they will
be down upon you
With 50,000 troops and 200 gun-boats you might still
do something great and decisive before the end of Sep-
tember.—l am, my dear Sir Charles, yours sincerely,
J. G. His Excellency Sir Charles Napier, S C.B. GRAHAM.

No. XIII.
[Extract.]
Admiralty, Aug. 1, 1854. [Recd. 6th.]
My dear Sir Charles,—By your foresight and good
arrangements the whole of the French army will have
joined you off Bomarsund before the end of this week,
and I hope that you will send back the line of battle ships
which carried them to you as soon as possible. . . .
I am aware that Bomarsund presents difficulties, but
I feel certai❑ that you will overcome them.
The next move must be well considered, but the fall
of Bomarsund will be no bad beginning.— I am, yours,
very truly,

J. G. GRAHAM.

No. XIV.
[Extract.]
Admiralty, Aug. 15, 1854. [Recd. 21st.]
My dear Sir Charles,—l agree with you in thinking
that before the end of September the fleet must begin
its movement to the southward. . . am, my
dear Admiral, yours, very truly truly,
J. G. GRAHA3I.
His Excellency Sir Charles Napier, S.C.B.

No. XV.
[Extract.]
Portsmouth, Aug. 22, 1854.
My dear Sir Charles,—l congratulate you sincerely
on the success of your operations before Bomarsund,
and I highly commend your prudence and wisdom in
effecting the capture of this stronghold of the enemy,
without the loss of a ship, or of many lives.
You have judged well in every respect, both in de-

* Both these officers are reovad from tha Baltic.