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

SIR CHARLES NAPIER AND SIR JANES

GRAHAM.

The following is the correspondence in continua•
tion of what appeared in The Sun of yesterday :

No. I.
SIR JAMES GRAHAM TO SIR CHARLES NAPIER.

Admiralty, Feb. 24, 18.54.
My dear Sir Charles—The conversation which I had
with you yesterday has left on my mind the painful im-
pression that the means which the Admiralty has pro-
vided for fitting out and manning the North Sea fleet
are, in your opinion, insufficient for the occasion, and
unequal to an encounter with the Russians on fair terms.
I have done my best to provide a force which I con-
sider adequate to the duty to be performed ; and any
exertion which this Board considers necessary, will be
made without intermission.

You urge on me the propriety of offering bounty. If
you are dissatisfied with the preparations that have been
made and are in progress—if you have not entire confi-
dence in the strength of the combined forces of France
and England, you had better say so to me at once, and
decline to accept a command which, in your opinion, will
not redound to your honour, or to the safety of your
country. It will be far better that you should refuse
the offer of this command than undertake it with any
such misgivings.
I have marked my confidence in you by offering it. If
you decline it on account of the insufficiency of the
means which will be placed at your disposal, I must
endeavour to make some other arrangements as soon as
possible.

Without ft good will and hearty concurrence, this
Board and the Commander-in• Chief of the Baltic fleet
cannot work well together.—l am, my dear Sir Charles,
yours very faithfully,

J. G. GRAHAM,
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.

No. 11.
SIR CHARLES NAPIER TO SIR JAMES GRAHAM.
18, Albemarle-street, Feb. 24, 1854.
My dear S:r James—l thought it my duty to point
out to you what I thought the best way of manning the
fleet, to insure a great, glorious, and speedy victory over
the Russians.

I never made difficulties when service was required,
and, after a long life spent in honour, I am not going to
make there now.

I should consider myself a coward, and unworthy of
hold'ng her Majesty's commission, were I to decline any
service, be it ever so desperate. Lord Nelson never de-
clined any service, no more shall I, particularly after the
confidence you placed in me ; but, with the means at my
disposal, will do all I ca❑ for the honour and glory of
my Queen and country, which shall not be tarnished in
my hands ; and I certainly have no apprehension of fail-
ing, either in good will or hearty concurrence with the
Board of Admiralty.
I am, my dear Sir James, yours very faithfully,
CHARLES NAPIER.
The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Bart.,
Admiralty.
(Note.—The above letter is the best answer to the
Times for not throwing up my command. The last
paragraph of my letter will show that I reckoned wich-
out my host.—C. N.]

No. 111.
SIR JAMES GRAHAM TO MIR CHARLES NAPIER.
House of Commons, February 24, 1854.
My dear Sir Charles—l do not anticipate that I shall
ask you to undertake any "desperate" service. When
I offered you the command, I felt certain that the honour
of the country and of the flag might be safely confided
to you. Your apparent distrust of the means which I
could place at your disposal was the sole cause of some
uneasiness on my part.
Your note of this evening has dissipated all doubt and
apprehension. I shall be most happy to see you at the
Admiralty to-morrow, at 11 o'clock, when we will discuss
the arrangements which it will be necessary to make.
I am, my dear Sir Charles, yours very faithfully,
J. G. GRAHAM.
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.

No. IV.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM SIR JAMES GRAHAM TO
SIR CHARLES NAPIER.

Admiralty, March 12, 1854. [Received 13th.]
My dear Sir Charles,—ln the first place let me con-
gratulate you on the perfect success of your proceedings
of yesterday. Never did a fleet sail in more regular
order, or under higher auspices. I am, yours sincerely,
J. G. GRAHAM'.
Vice• Admiral Sir C. Napier, K.C.B.

No. V.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM SIR JAMES GRAHAM TO SIR

CHARLES NAPIER.

Admiralty, April 5, 1854. [Received Bth.]
My dear Sir Charles—l am highly satisfied with your
movements, and with the position which you have taken
up for the present. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Grey can
readily communicate with you where you now are ; and
most useful information from Stockholm reaches you
without loss of time.—l am, yours very truly,
J. G. GuArreu.

No. VI.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM SIR JAMES GRAIIIII TO SIR
CHARLES NAPIER.

Admiralty, April 10, 1854. [Received 19th.]
My dear Sir Charles—l am entirely satisfied with
your proceedings. Neither Lord Clarendon nor myself
anticipated your movement inside the Belt, and be-
lieved that you would watch in the Cattegat the entrance
of the Sound, and of the Belts, until you received orders
to enter the Baltic. You judged, however, wisely, and
the time which you have gained has been very precious,
and the passage of the Belt in fine weather, and in safety,
has been a most successful exploit.—l am, my dear Ad-
miral, yours very truly, J. G. GRAHAM.
His Excellency Vice-Admiral Sir C. Napier, K. C.B.
[Note.—On the 24th March the Admiralty called my
attention to their order of the Bth March, directing me
to remain in Wingo Sound until further orders, and say-
ing that I appear to have left it without assigning my
reasons, and to have acted therein without the concur.
rence of the Board, although I took out sealed orders,
dated 10th March, directing me, with reference to my
first orders, to follow Lord Clarendon's instructions by
taking a position near the entrance to the Baltic,

to prevent any Russian ships passing nut into the
North Sea on the opening of the ice. I accordingly
anchored in Kioge Bay on the Ist of April, and re-
ceived the declaration of war the following day. On the
Bth April the Admiralty wrote that, wider the circum-
stances stated by roe, their lordships approved of my
proceedings. But, strange to say, on the 13th January,
1855, the Admiralty accused me of having quitted Wingo
Sound without orders.—C.N.]

No. VII.