The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-12 00:00:00

SIR G. MURRAY and COL. NAPIER

In Colonel Napier's " Reply to the Third Article in the
Quarterly Review, on Col. Napier's History of the Penin-
sular War," published in the last Number of the London
and Westminster Review, the gallant author says—
" When I first commenced my work, amongst the many
persons from whom I sought information was Sir George
Murray, and this in consequence of a message from him,
delivered to me by Sir John Colborne, to the effect that,
if I would call upon him, he would answer any question I
put to him on the subject of the Peninsular War. The
interview took place, but Sir George Murray, far from
giving me information, seemed intent upon persuading me
to abandon my design, repeating continually that it was
his inteniton to write the history of the war himself. He
seemed also desirous of learning what sources of informa-
tion I had access to. I took occasion to tell him that the
Duke of Wellington had desired me to ask him particu-
larly for the " Order of Movements," as essentially necessary
to a right understanding of the campaign, and the saving
of trouble ; because otherwise I should have to search out
the different movements through a variety of documents.
Sir George replied that he knew of no such document ;
that he did not understand me : to which I could only
reply that I spoke as the Duke had desired me, and knew
no more. I then asked his permission to have reduced
plans made from Captain Mitchel's fine drawings, informing
him that that officer was my intimate friend, and that he
was desirous so to assist me. His reply was uncourtcously
vehement—' No ! certainly not !' I proposed to be
allowed to inspect those drawings if I were at any time
at a loss about ground. The answer was still No !' As
Sir George then intimated to me that my work could only
be a momentary affair for the booksellers, and would not
require plans, I took my leave. I afterwards discovered
that he had immediately caused Captain Mitchel's draw-
ings to be locked up and sealed.
" I afterwards waited on Sir Willoughby Gordon, the
Quarter-Master General, who received me with great kind-
ness, and sent me to the chief of the plan department in
his ffice, with an order to have access to everything which
might be useful. From that officer I received every atten-
tion, but he told me that Sir George Murray had been
there the day before to borrow all the best plans relating to
the Peninsular war, and that consequently little help could
be given to me. Now Captain Mitchel's drawings were
made by him after the war, by order of the Government,
and at the public expense. He remained in the Peninsula
for more than two years, with pay as a staff officer ; his
extra expences were paid, and the whole mission was costly,
as he was attended constantly by two Spanish dragoons as a
protection. Never was money better laid out, for I believe no
topographical drawings, whether they be considered for ac-
curacy of detail, perfection of manner, or beauty of exe-
cution, never equalled Mitchel's. But those drawings be-
long to the public, and were placed in Sir George Murray's
keeping merely because he was at the time Lieutenant-Ge-
neral of the Ordnance. I believe that they are still in his
possession ; and it would be well if some Member of Par-
liament were to ask why they are thus made the property
of a private man ?
" Here I cannot refrain from observing that, in the
course of my labours, I have asked information of many per-
sons of various nations, even of Spaniards ; and that after
my first volume was published, and the unfavourable view
I took of their exertions known, yet, from Spaniards,
Portuguese, English, French, Germans, and others, whe-
ther of high or low rank, I have invariably met with the
greatest kindness, and found an eager desire to aid me. Sir
George Murray only has thrown obstacles in my way ; and
if I am rightly informed of the following circumstances, his
opposition has not been confined to what I have stated above.
Mr. Murray, the bookseller, purchased my first volume,
with the right of refusal of the second volume. When the
latter was nearly ready, a friend informed me that he did not
think Murray would purchase, because be had heard him
say that Sir George Murray had declared it was not The
Book.' He did not point out any particular error ; but it
was not The Book,' meaning, doubtless, that his own pro-
duction, when it appeared, would be The Book.' My
friend's prognostic was not false. I was offered just half
of the sum given for the first volume. I declined it, and
published it on my own account ; and certainly I have had
no reason to regret that Mr. Bookseller Murray waited for
The Book.' Indeed, he has since told me very frankly
that he had mistaken his own interest. Now, whether
three articles in the' Quarterly,' and a promise of more, be
a tribute paid to the importance of My Book,' or whether
they be the puff preliminary to The Book,' I know not ;
but I am equally bound to Mr. Editor Lockhart for the
distinction, and only wished he had not hired such a stum-
bling sore-backed hackney for the work."

During the plague season the Coptic Priests recite
the prayers of the dead over their congregations in the
churches ; and if any of them die between that day and
their next meeting, their bodies are interred without the
braver being repeated.