The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-25 00:00:00

THE
COM _IA NDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE
BALTIC FLEET.

It
is strange, that although all the appointments con-
nected with the military expeditionary force to be sent to
the aid of the Turks from England have been officially or
-semi-officially published, some time, no such direct mention
of the naval Commander-in-Chief and his divisional flag-
officers has as yet been made. It is true that ono or
two papers have, now and then, through their port
correspondent's letters, mentioned the names of divers
officers whom they have heard as likely to be en-
trusted with the important and responsible post of
Commander-in-Chief. Thus we have had the Earl
of Dundonald, Sir George Seymour, Sir Charles
Napier, M. F. F. Berkeley, and others put forward
for a post certainly in our estimation far more important
than that of any military charge in such service
as
operations against Russia, but we believe the wish has
been father to the thought in one quarter which has so
pertinaciously denied the honour to the third men-
tioned officer in the above list. However galling it may
be to that journalist to find himself so ill-informed on en
interesting and important a matter, it is nevertheless a
settled thing that Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Na-
pier shall command in chief the Baltic fleet. Lord John
Russell most doggedly supported his old and pettishly
fulminated charge of want of discretion against the gal-
lant Admiral, and opposed his appointment with all the
power at his command, but that power was obliged to
succumb to the power of those who knew Sir Charles
and his worth better than Lord John, and words
ran very high upon the question, so high indeed that
we are informed Sir James Graham threatened to re-
sign if the appointment of Sir Charles (which was the
choice of the Board of Admiralty) was not ratified f
Thus placed en the horns of a dilemma such as he never
expected, Lord John "struck" to the heavier force of his
co-Minister, and left his gallant adversary of the pen and
sword " master of the situation." That Sir Charles
Napier is the man for the occasion is widely conceded in
the navy ; he is highly spoken of by most officers who
know his true characteristics or who have served under
him, and he is peculiarly adapted for making the service
on which he is going popular and palatable among all
other claeses in the fleet. He is capable of doing good work
himself, and he will take good care those under him
also do their duty. He is no chicken at war's ex-
periences, as the following epitome of his brilliant
exploits, given by the Admiralty in the Navy Esti-
mates now before the house, will amply testify —" Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.8., en-
tered the service let of November, 1799 ; was pro-
moted to the rank of Lieutenant 30th of November.
1807 ; Commander, 30th Nov., 1807 ; Captain, 22d of
May, 1809 ; Rear-Admiral, 9th of November, 1846 ;
Vice-Admiral, 28th of May, 1853, As Lieutenant of
the Courageux, in March, 1806, was present at the cap-
ture of the Marengo and Belle Poule. When Com-
mander of the Pultusk, cut out a Spanish merchant
vessel from under the batteries of Porto Rico, and
in the Recruit, 18-gun brig, fought a severe
action with the Diligente, French corvette of 20 guns,
when he had his thigh broken. Served at the reduction
of Martinique, in February, 1809, and distinguished him-
self by the gallantry he displayed in scaling the walls of
Fort Edward. In April following assisted in the Re-
cruit at the capture of the French ship Haupoult,
of 74 guns, which ship he closely engaged. As Captain
of the Thames, in 1811, performed an act of great gal-
lantry by running into the harbour of Porto del In-
freschi, on the coast of Italy, silencing the fire of eleven
gun-boats, and bringing out a convoy of fourteen
merchantmen. In November the same year, he car-
ried the heights at the back of the harbour of
Palinuro, and assisted in the capture and destruc-
tion of ten gun-boat, and twenty-two feluecas. Ia
1812 assisted at the attack on the Port of Sapri, and the
capture of 28 trading vessels. In 1813 took possession
of the Island of Ponza, under the fire of heavy batteries.
In the Euryalus, in 1813, captured La Fortune, and
drove the Balleine on shore in Calvi Bay. While still
serving in the Eurya,lns, assisted in the brilliant expedi-
tion under Captain James Alexander Gordon against
Alexandria, and was present in subsequent opera-
tions against Baltimore. Appointed to the Powerful in
1839, and fin the following year hoisted a pendant ae
Commodore of the first class. In September of that
year effected a landing at D'Journie, armed the moun-
taineers, and defeated a body of Egyptian troops at
Kelbson) ' The same month captured the town .of
Sidon, and made 3,000 prisoners. In October defeated
an Egyptian force under Ibrahim Paella, at Beyrout.
Was second in command at the attack on St. Jean
d'Acre, and subsequently, in charge of a squadron,
landed at Alexandria, and concluded a convention with
Mehemet Ali. In 1847 hoisted his flag in,the St.
Vincent employed on particular service, and struck
it in April, 1849. Has been actively employed afloat as
a commissioned officer about 19 years." We have al-
ready said the Duke of Wellington, 131, is to be the
flag-ship. The admiral's staff we may be enabled to give
in our next.—llanzpshfre Advertiser.

One of our daily contemporaries has again anA
nounced the appointment of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles
Napier, K.C.8., to command the Baltic fleet. We
believe the announcement is made without any au-
thority, other than that of those very few with
whom " the wish is father to the thought ;" and
who, it is said, have been giving out. at- Ports-
mouth that ne less than four Cabinet Ministers will
resign if Sir Charles be not appointed—namely, Lord
Palmerston, Sir Wm. Molesworth, the Duke of New-
castle, and Sir Jas. Graham. Moreover, the fact, as re•
ported at the clubs, that Sir James Graham had for then
first time admitted Sir Charles to an interview on Wed-
nesday last, has been interpreted as the actual appoint-
inent.—Morning Herald.

SPORTING NOTES.

NOTES ON NOTTINGHAM.—LIKINGS FOR
LIVERPOOL.
The success of the recent meeting at Nottingham walk
marked and unequivocal; and in extending the proceed-
ings to two days, the result showed that the committee
acted on a sound and judicious policy. The efficient and
straightforward manner in which the business was con-
ducted is calculated to extend the popularity of the gather-
ing among all classes and conditions of Turfites, and the
liberal spirit in which the various arrangements were car-
ried out is sufficient to secure for the meeting the cordial
support of owners of horses. By the returns which .have
already been published, it will be seen that the supply of
sport was unexpectedly ample, and that the character of
the racing was not utterly insignificant. For the Handicaps
in particular the encounters were good and interesting, and
the large fields which those events brought out, and the close
contests which they occasioned, attested most satisfactorily
the ability and impartiality with which the scale of weights
was balanced andadjusted. The running is likely to exer-
cise no particular influence over "coming events,' it would
therefore be superfluous to enter into a lengthened discussion
of it. The only events which I touched upon in my anti-
cipatory remarks on Monday were decided precisely in ac-
cordance with the opinions I then expressed ; indeed for
the Sprit,. Handicap my selections ran first and second.
Last year el
was especially favoured by Dame Fortune and
thus early in the season it appears that I em still guided
by her lucky influence.
I The meeting was marked by one foul incident. The pro.
ceedings to which I am about to refer are of constant
occurrence at every place where the recently, established
Selling Races are tolerated. Their frequency, however,
does not render them the less disgraceful and detestable.
On Wednesday five horses started for the Castle Stakes, the
conditions for which stated that the winner only was to be
sold, but the "selling system" was not limited exclusively to
the horses. At the commencement of the betting Jessa-
mine was a great favourite, 5 to 4 being laid on her • but
before the close the eagerness to " get on" had abated,' and
the desire gradually evinced to lay against her became so
decided that she soon found no supporters. Suspicions
were then excited, which the result of the race confirmed--
Jessamine was not intended ; her jockey displayed no
alacrity to leave the starting-post, amid she never once took a prominent part in the encounter. After the horses had
passed the winning-chair, a scene of riot and confusion
ensued in the " ring." The owner of Jessamine was hooted
and hustled until he appeared heartily ashamed of himself.
When, &c., honest men hear the truth. From the alterca-
tion and wrangling which prevailed, it appeared that certain
parties had been commissioned to back Jessamine, and had
consequently lost their money to the amount of abobt 701.
They consequently loudly expressed their indignation at the
mare's inglorious exhibition, which they unhesitatingly attri-
buted to the orders her jockey had received. Ultimately mat-
tors were accommodated, angry feelings allayed, and the
principal "belligerents" walked off arm-in-arm ! Tho "ring.
leader" and chief promoter of the row is known to have
an " Itching palm" where Selling Races are concerned, and
he not unfrequently takes French leave in the ma
went of those affairs ; his loud outcry and virtuous in • nation therefore on the present occasion excited. no Litt •
amusement. Selling Races as at present managed, are in.
tulT
tolerable • I trust that the Jockey Club will adopt some
measure to' check the mal-practices which are now invari-
ably connected with them.
Speculation on the Liverpool Steeplechase is now ans
tively pursued, and as a betting race at least, the Grand
National is not likely to disappoint expectation. Miss Mow.
bray steadily maintains the position of leading favourite, and
the growing fondness daily evinced for Bourton, exercises
no diminishing effect on the confidence of her partisan, she
is sound in health and condition, and notwithstanding her
comparatively heavy weight, well-founded expectations are
entertained of her success. That I share those expectations I
am compelled to admit; for Miss Mowbray is a mare of a
I willingly admit Bourton's
high order of merit. She has been prepared solely for hem
although I de not deem his chance
present engagement, and the betting indicates that her par
&as Still,brunbpesplo?eihato perhapsf the best of the light weights.
le than either Peter Simple or Oscar.
Springmorepretensionst yf larinmsdii
duct earnest:'
On Thursday, however, at Tattersall's, even -money was
betted that Crabbs would not be on the race-course when
the
singular winna
bet is beyond
horse passe
mykend the post ! The meaning of so
.On Monday I will state my opinions in full re tin
the probable competitors for the Liverpool Steeple Chspeoase.
Fe. 25.
A FRESH" MAN.
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