The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-15 00:00:00

THE GREEKS.

(From the Weekly Dispatch.)
It is surely something more certain and less unpre-
meditated than mere chance which has given to the
Emperor of all the Russias his Christian name. St.
Nicholas, as all know who study the Popish calendar,
is the tutelar of thieves. To the simple thinking of any
" plaint blunt man, that loves his friend," it may appear
gaen
gevangelical
eguardian
After a
en
igl
it toiewatch over
ex-
its
matter of surprise that the meanest of the vices should
not
" This was for sometime a paradox—but now
vhthoaetvaearies.
traordinary that, in the intervals of business, burglary
or petty larceny should be of a " serious turn of mind."
Macbeth indeed admits that "Amen stuck in his throat,"
but he very justly observes, after Duncan was regularly
taken in and done for, that the crown stealer " had most
need of praying." The Czar is the most pious of pick-
pockets. He never annexes until he has said grace. His
proclamations all declare that he only steals for the sake
of his religion ; his burglaries have for their exclusive
object the propagation of the Gospel. He is truly
the Moses Moses of monarchs. His empire is made
up of thefts. It is a " back shop " of unconsidered
trifles, a bazaar of stolen goods. The ethnology of
of Muscovy is as piebald as a circus horse, made
up of snore patches than Harlequin's suit of motley.
Chinese, Calmuck, Tartar, Persian, Circassian—Geor-
gian, Greek, Fin, Turk, Samoiede—Mongolian, Sclave,
Cossack, Pole, Armenian European, Asiatic and
American—his dominion is the marine store-shop of the
nations, filled too by the same means, with but this dif-
ference, that, in the case of his Imperial Majesty, the
receiver is also the thief. Who that examines his ante-
cendents can doubt as to his present resolves, or future
intentions ? It was said by Napoleon that without the
permission of France and England no hostile shot could
be fired in Europe. Prefer the Great perfectly understood
that—and left to his successors a corresponding policy.
As the swindler looks down with contumelious pity on
the footpad—as the light finger is a more elegant as well
"-kuncessfal-justrozaistit than th, erowbar-lElaiji

_svorou ithont ever being luau
the reason, 'or digested by the conscience. We \\%,
our convict ;ion that the Turks are really ne.
" kingdom of God, which cometh not with observation,"
than the Greeks or the Muscovites. While iivis.quite -04.54 I:p4
possible that this war may become the ineans of if;.,i.!i
turning the professors of Al Koran to the Gospel, it
will not be by either the precepts of the Greek patri- 1 S
archs or tlxi 3 practices of the Czar. The English and
French of the Sultan are, in this case, the true
missionaries of Christianity. The extension of the do-
minion of Ens ;sia is but the propagation of superstition and
paganism, umurping the name of true religion. Before
she can evanjelise the Turk, it is first of all nece..‘BBl7
that she herse If should be converted—and, we may add,
that the mind and thought of the Turk are in a far better
state of preparl ttion to receive the seed of the " kingdon
of heaven" than the unprincipled Hellene, or the heathen
Muscovite. "'.Thou art not far from the kingdom of
God," said the.author of our faith to one who had never
heard of the Gospel. The virtues of the Osmanlee are
much nearer the religion of Christ than is the mere creed
of the Greek Church.

"OLD CIIARLEY," AND HIS TIMES.

( From the Press. )
Having last week taken a historical review of the an.
tecedents of the family of Napier, in the present number
of the Press, Pilot will commence his accot'nt of the per-
sonal exploits of "Old Charley" himself. 31e was born
on the 6th of March, 1786, being the eldest son of the
Hon. Charles Napier, of Merchistoun-hall, oounty of
Stirling, Captain R.N. Thus, as " Old Charley" counts
a Vice-Admiral of Scotland amongst his ancestors, his
own father was a captain in the profession to wh,;ch he
has devoted his life. His mother was Christian,
daughter of Gabriel Hamilton, Esq., of Westbttrn„
county of Lanark. The admiral is grandson (by a &rat
marriage) of Francis, fifth Lord Napier, brother ,of
Colonel Erskine Napier, and cousin of the late Lent
Napier, who died while discharging the office of Chief
Commissioner for regulating the trade with China.
He entered the Navy on the Ist of November, 1799,
being then 13 years of age, so that he has been afloat
55 years. He joined as a first-class volunteer, and the
first King's ship in which he served was the Martin
!loop, commanded by the Hon. Matthew St. Clair. It
verywho hlappy
is probable that young Charley (as he was then) was
in sailing under a countryman of his own,
ike iinKhelf,e 14waratsinsp7r;stigerafrpolmoyaedfaiinnoserusviocled
in the
Scot-
tish