The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-24 00:00:00

THE COMMAND OF THE BALTIC FLEET.

Admiral Sir Charles Napier has been appointed
to the command of the Baltic fleet. It is a safe
prophecy that the public at large will accept this fact
as a new proof that the Government are earnest in
their opposition to Russian aggression. Sir Charles
Napier has excited the enmity of certain cliques in
the Navy—but his bitterest opponents cannot deny
that he is a man of action. But if he has Tory
foes there are reasons for it. He is a Political
Reformer—he has represented Radical constitu•
encies—he is not a dandy—he has won the reproach
of being " indiscreet." But Reformers have little
difficulty in understanding that in official jargon
all men are " indiscreet" who expose official abuses,
and all men are unpopular with the obstructives
who solicit the votes of Liberal constituencies.
Up to the present time we have had in com-
mand of one naval force brought to bear on this
Russian question a Whig Admiral, and the result,
at present, has been far from brilliant. We shall
now see what a practical reformer can do afloat.
-Sir Charles Napier's services as a sea captain have
been varied. He ranks in the Navy as Vice-Admi-
ral, and is third in the list of that rank enjoying
the good service pension. He fought a 3 long ago
as 1806, as Lieutenant of the Courageux, and from
that year till 1813 was engaged in various naval
actions—in all cases showing himself an active and
fearless officer. His experience has been won on
many seas, and against various foes—Don Miguel
included—his last and chief exploits in the Royal
Navy being those at the storming of Sidon and
the bombardment of St. Jean d'Acre, in 1840. It
is more than probable that, before the present
year is out, we may find him again putting for-
ward claims on public approbation and applause
for duties done in the Baltic more important
and more memorable than any that have hitherto
distinguished his meritorious and remarkable naval
career. The fleet he is called upon to lead to the
North is to be one of the most powerful that ever
left the shores of any nation. It will include a class
of ships new in their warlike powers, and unparal-
lelled in their destructive capabilities. The list is
not yet complete, but, according to a recent state-
ment, we may count upon a muster of vessels amply
sufficient to do what the necessities of Russian ag-
gression may render needful to be done in the
Baltic, The catalogue is a noble one in its way.
At the naval review at Spithead, there were nine
line-of-battle ships. What these vessels might
be able to perform was tolerably well indicated
on that occasion, but the Baltic fleet will far
exceed in force the naval armaments then mus-
tered. At Spithead, besides the nine line•
of-battle ships, there were about seventeen
frigates and .sloops but, as our Portsmouth
correspondent has already reported, we are " now
equipping double that number of ships of the line,
and nearly double that number of frigates and
sloops," for this expedition to the North.
At anchor in the Baltic there are now a number
of Russian men-of-war, outside the ice and approach-
able ; and we may fairly anticipate--unless the
Czar, bully-like, draws back at the eleventh hour,
when he finds himself met manfully face to face—
we may see, before the end of the year 1854, those
same Russian men-of-war safely brought into Ports-
mouth harbour.

Besides this sign of earnestness shown by the ap-
pointment of Sir Charles Napier to the Baltic fleet,
it is confidently rumoured that a communication
similar in character to the letter of the Emperor of
the French has been sent to the Czar from En;.
land. Rumour says that a definite number of days
has been named from the date of the receipt of
such letter, ivithin which the Autocrat is to give
orders to his invading forces to fall back beyond
the Pruth— the penalty of non-compliance being
open and immediate hostilities on the part of the
allied forces of England and France.—Daily News.
REVOLVERS FOR Trie NAVY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlB,—The Admiralty, being in earnest, have done
wonders ; but why don't they supply a limited number
of revolving pistols to each ship for the use of the
boarders ? The old-fashioned ship's cutlass, pistol, or
pike has not a chance in attack or defence against hese
deadly modern weapons at close quarters. The Yankees
have proved it in, Mexico and the prairies. Heaven
grant we may not, when too late, find out that the
Russians are before us, as reported, in this matter !
Yours obediently, H. J.
London, Feb. 23.