The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-17 00:00:00

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES

FROM

SIR CHARLES NAPIER.

( From the London Gazette of last Evening. )
ADMIRALTY, JUNE 14.
Despatches, of which the following are copies, have been
received from Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, Com-
mander-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships and vessels in the
Baltic.
Enclosing a copy of Captain Key's Despatch (and reply
thereto), relative to the capture of Libau.
Duke of Wellington, Hango Head,
May 30, 1854.
request you will lay before their lordships the
enclosed copy of a despatch I have received from Captain
Key, of the Amphion, senior officer on the coast of Cour-
land and Livonia, giving an account of the measures he
adopted to effect the surrender of the town of Libau, and
the shipping in that port, which was happily accomplished
without having occasion to fire a shot.
Enclosed I have the honour to transmit a copy of my
reply to Captain Key's despatch.
I have, &c.,
CHAS. NAPIER, Vice-Admiral and
Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty, London.

Enclosure No. 1 in Sir Charles Napier's Letter No. 107.
Her Majesty's ship Amphion, Coast of
Courland, May 18, 1854..
Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that I arrived off
the port of Libau on the evening of May 10, in company
with her Majesty's ship Conflict, and having r..lceived in-
formation from various sources that the town was defended
by only 500 or 600 soldiers, and two or three guns, and
that several Russian merchant vessels lay dismantled in
the port, I determined to bring them out.
On the morning of the 17th we stood in towards the en-
trance of the river, and by careful sounding with boats
ahead succeeded in anchoring both ships within gun shot
of part of the town. I then directed Captain Cumming to
take a summons to the Governor, under a flag of truce,
calling on him to surrender the merchant vessels within
three hours. The Governor refused, but said that a final
answer would be sent before the time specified in my let-
ter. At 3.30 P.M., Captain Cumming, who had informed
me that there was a considerable body of troops in the
town, again landed to receive the answer—a letter, which I
enclose. On ascertaining its contents I took the armed boats
of both ships, withCapt.Cumming in command of those of the
Conflict, into the river. With the exception of one or two the
soldiers kept out of sight, and not a shot was fired. It was
well for us that they did so, as we pulled up the creek,
which was fifty yards broad, for one and a half miles
before arriving at the shipping. I desired the authorities
to point out the Russian vessels, of which I then directed
Captain Cumming and Lieutenants Wodehouse and Hore
to take possession. I detained a small steamer (originally
Russian, now owned by a Dane), got her steam up, and
kept her as a refuge for the boats in case of an attack.
The magistrates stated that they were induced to yield
thus submissively, from their being convinced that if they
were to overpower us, a large force would be sent, and the
town perhaps destroyed.
The boats captured eight merchant vessels all new and
well found, but dismantled, sails unbent, some scuttled
and aground, nevertheless they were all brought out and
taken in tow by Amphion and Conflict, before 9 p.m.
The private property found on board was restored to the
owners on application for it.
Although I had the opportunity of destroying a large
amount of the enemy's property, such as their houses,
vessels on the stocks, and vessels repairing, I did not con-
sider it right to do so, as the troops had left the town so
pitifully to its fate, and the, people had assisted in getting
the vessels out, by opening the bridge, &c. which would
have detained us some considerable time, had we been
obliged to blow it up, though I was prepared to do so.
The fact of the town of Libau containing 10,000 inhabi-
tants, and formed by nature with unusual facilities for
defence, being temporarily taken possession of by 130
men without a shot being fired, I attribute almost entirely
to the judicious conduct of Captain Cumming during his
conference with the magistrates when he landed with a
flag of truce.
I have great pleasure in testifying to the exemplary
behaviour of all the officers, seamen, and marines em-
ployed on this service.—l have, &c.,
A. COOPER KEY, Captain.
To Vice-Admiral Sir C. Napier, Commander-in-Chief.

Sub-Enclosure No. 1, in Sir Charles Napier's Letter N 0.107.
Her Majesty's Ship Amphion, off Libau,
May 17, 1354.
Sir,—The duty of summoning you to surrender the mei,
chant vessels in the port of Libau has fallen upon me.
I would willingly spare the town and the lives of the
inhabitants ; if, therefore, the steam-vessel, and all the
Russian merchant vessels in the port (above and below the
bridge), are sent out in their present condition, within
three hours after the receipt of this letter, not a shot shall
be fired. The men bringing them out shall be lauded
under a flag of truce.
If at the expiration of that time this demand is not
complied with, the consequences rest with you. In which
case I trust that you will cause the women and children
to leave the town and the invalids to be removed to some
conspicuous building, which, if indicated by a flag, will be
respected.—l have, &c.,
A. COOPER KEY,
Captain and Senior Officer.
His Excellency the Governor of Libau.

Sub-Enclosure No. 2, in Sir Charles Napier's Letter, No.
107.

Town Hall, Libau, May 17 C.), 1854.
Sir,—The notification addressed by her Britannic Ma-
jesty's Commander of the Amphion, to deliver up the Rus-
sian merchant vessels in the port of Libau, has been re-
ceived by the magistrates of this town, there being no mi-
litary or civil governor.
The town of Libau being in a defenceless state, has no
power to resist the demand.
The peaceable inhabitants are compelled to submit them-
selves to any demands put to them ; they expect, hoivever,
that her Britannic Majesty's power will only undertake
that which is consistent with humanity and honour.

The ships demanded cannot, and will not, be refused;
but it is entirely impossible to deliver them in the time
proscribed, as the most of them are unrigged and lying on
a swampy ground.
Under these circumstances the magistrates can only re-
ply that her Majesty's Commander should convince him-
self of the impossibility, and resolve in which way the said
merchant vessels aro to be brought out of harbour.
Trusting that meantime no hostilities will be under-
taken against the town and its inhabitants,
I have, &c.,
In the name of the Magistrates of Libau, the
presiding Burgomaster.
(Signed) FRE SD'OR GRENTIIER.
Enclosure No. 2, in Sir Charles Napier's Letter, No. 107-
Duke of Wellington, Hango Bay,
May 23, 1854.
SIR,—I have received your letter giving an account of
the surrender of the town of Libau, and the delivery of the
shipping in that port ; and I much approve of the prompt
and judicious steps you took to accomplish this, and the
humanity you showed in not injuring the town.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) CHA4. NAPIER,
Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To Captain A. C. Key,
MM.'s ship Amphion, Senior Officer.