The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1541.

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen held a Privy Council at half-past two
o'clock yesterday afternoon at Buckingham Palace. It
was attended by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the
Lord Privy Seal, the First Lord of the Treasury, the
Secretary of State for the Home• Department, the First
Lord of the Admiralty, the Lord Steward, and the Lord
Chamberlain.

The Honourable Fox Maule was, by command of the
Queen, sworn of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Council, and took his place at the Board.
Her Majesty in Council was then pleased to appoint
the Right Honourable Fox Maule President of the Com-
mittee of Council appointed for the consideration of all
matters relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations, in the
absence of the President of the said Committee for the
time being.
The Marquis of Normanby officiated as President of
the Council in the absence of the Marquis of Lansdowne.
The Hon. William Bathurst was the Clerk of the
Council in Waiting.
The Court was attended by the Vice-Chamberlain,
Lord Byron, Lord in Waiting ; and Sir Robert Otway,
Groom in Waiting.
Viscount Melbourne had an audience of her Majesty
yesterday. -

----- -
Her Majesty had a dinner party last evening at
-Buckingham Palace. The company consisted of
their Majesties the King and Queen of the Bel-
gians, M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister,
the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Wellington,
the Duchess of Sutherland and Lady Elizabeth Leveson
Gower ; Marquis of Normanby, Earl of Uxbridge, Earl
and Conntess Cowper, Viscount Melbourne, Earl and
Countess Sandwich, Lord and Lady Barham, and
llon. Louisa Noel, Bishop of Norwich, Lord George
Lennox, Hon. Miss Paget, Hon. Miss Anson, Countess
Vilain XIV., General Goblet, M. Van Prwt, Dr.
Carswell, Lord Byron, Hon. C. A. Murray, Sir Robert
Otway, Colonel Wemyss, Sir Edward Bowater, and Dr.
Proetorius. _ _ _

The band of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards,
attended during dinner. Her Majesty's private Band,
increased by the addition, of several Members of the
Philharmonic Band, was in attendance in the Picture
Gallery, and in the course of the evening
,performed
the following pieces:—Overture, "Idomeneo' —Mozart;
Larghetto and Scherza, from Sinfonia No. 2
Beethoven ; Finale, " Oberon," 1 Act—Weber ; Over-
ture, "Le Vampyr,"—Lindpainter ; Grand March—
Weber ; Le BOuquet des Dames—Strauss. The Band
was led by Mr. Anderson.
His Royal Highness Prime Albert has been graciously
pleased to purchase Mr. John Martin's large picture of
the " Eve of the Deluge."
We are gratified to learn that Mrs. Stevenson, the
lady of the American Minister, who has been danger-
ously ill for some weeks, has so far recovered as to be
able to leave London yesterday, for Upleatham, in York-
shire, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Zetland.

INCREDIBLE I—A bellman of a, seaport not
one hundred miles. from Whitby, in announcing a tee-
total meeting, to be held in the Temperance Hall at that
place, said that the meeting would be addressed by six
females " who had never spoke before."
The benefit for the performers and artists of the
late Amphitheatre, at Sadler's Wells, took place, on
Thursday, the 24th. Mr. Honnor, the lesiee, has paid
40/. to the Committee as the profits of the night.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Monday even-
ing, the 21st instant, a party of eight individuals
left Port Allan, near Errol, about seven o'clock, to cross
the Tay by the passacre-boat to Newburgh. The wind
blew strong and in sudden. squalls from the west."' 'When
about mid channel the boat was upset, and the -whole
passengers and boatmen were precipitated into the water.
By great exertion four were saved, but we regret to state
that other four were drowned. The names of the un-
fortunate sufferers are—Mr. George Butchart, farmer,
Lumbenny, Mr. William Watson, millwright, New-
burgh, and two carpenters, whose names we have not
ascertained. Both Mr. Butchart and Mr. Watson were•
much respected in the neighbourhood, and, as may well
be supposed, this sad catastrophe has cast a shade of
deep solemnity over the minds of the inhabitants of New-
burgh, and of sincere sympathy with the bereaved fami-•
lies.—Edinburgh Courant.
WESTMINSTER ELECTlON.—Turncoats St:6ll
to revel in exhibiting the depth of the (lye which dis-
tinguishes their present from their former habits. Will
it be believed that. Sir Robert Wilson is moving " heaven
and earth " in Westminster, for Captain Rous, against
Evans and Leader, whose opinions he once shared. It
would seem that mortification prompts him to exclaim,
in the words of Magestius, " Si superos flectere nequeo
Acheronta movebo." Sir Robert is " neither fish, flesh,
nor good red herring," as honest Jack says of Mrs. Quickly :
"nobody knows when to have him." Who does not
remember his speeches and conduct in Westmin-
ster, at the time of Queen Caroline's trial ? Cobbett
predicted then that Sir Robert's " hatchet nose" would
not vary its political direction without good " con-si-de-
ra-ti-on." But Sir Robert (there are two Sir Roberts,
Arcades ambo, in the field) may let his former opinions
fight against his latter, and so save the trouble of confu-
tation, by putting each other down. First he was a
Tory—then a Reformer—and then a Tory again. One
time he addressed the Bourbons, and at another (witnes-
Lavalette) he was anti-Bourbonite to the backbone. At
one time, it was his cue to make a demi-god of Napo-
leon ; at another he was the most infamous of poisoners,
and the horror of humanity. What can be done •hvith
such opinions ? What can be said of their versatile pro-
prietor ?
His life all see-saw, between that and this,
Now high, now low ; now master up, row miss.
—British Queen.
STATE OF THE WORKING CLASSES INItOCH
DALE.-L—From a return by parties who accompanied the
enumerators of the population of Rochdale, with a view
to present a report to the House of Commons of the con-
dition of its inhabitants, we observe, with deep-commise-
ration, that many of the working classes there are in a
most deplorable state of wretchedness. In the house of
one weaver there were eight persons in the family, and
only two beds to lie on ; in several other families of
seven members each only two beds, and the weekly in-
come from 10s. to 13s. ; in another family of four mem-
bers, only one bed, and the earnings Bs.; in another seven
persons, with three beds, and earnings only 10s. ; in another
of four persons, two beds, and earnings only ss. ; in an-
other of seven persons,two beds,and earnings 55.; in another
of three persons, two beds, and income only ls. 3d. per
week ; in another of five persons, with two beds, and
earnings 6s, ; in another of two persons, with one beds
and earnings is. 2d., with 2s. parochial relief ; another
of four persons, with two beds, and no earnings, nor
parish relief. In all these cases the bedding is de-
scribed to be in a wretched condition, the quilts being
insufficient to cover the parties. They have to pay the
rent of the dwellings from their earnings, which averages
about ls. 9d. Such is the condition at which the indus-
trious working class'es Of this county have arrived under
the soul and body-destroying Corn-laws.

THE SEA DEvli.--4 fine specimen of the
finny: inhabitant of the deep which has, by vulgar con-
sent, obtained the above name, but is classically known
as tad Lophius, was last Weell caught on the Humber
bank, near the citadel, by a fisherman of this port. It
is a very beaUtiful fish, although the head, which is very
broad and round, forms the greater half of its body. It
was about a yard in length, with a most capacious pair
of jaws, and two rows of shark's teeth; beneath its two
side fins it has a pair of five-fingered and webbed paws,
with which it forced itself along the mud for 20 yards.
It was forwarded to Leeds last Monday.—Bustern
Counties Herald. _

THE CHUSAN FEVER.—Soine account of the
Chusan fever, as I have heard it described by Mr.
Wrightson, and other gentlemen who have had these
cases under their care, will probably be interesting, both
from the peculiarity of its features, and from the fearful
ravages which it has made among some of our corps, es-
pecially the Cameronians The disease usually com-
mences with an attack of fever, which is followed by dy-
sentery, sometimes of a
.pretty acute character. To this
usually succeed a chronic diarrhcea, and a general wast-
ing away of the system, to which we may add occasional
anasarca and asettes. The tongue assumes a morbidly
red appearance, looking as if the epithelium had been
removed ; yet the appetite remains good. From this
condition the patient rarely ever rallies, an in-
crease of diarrhoea supervenes, and he is carried
off in a few days. The cost-mortem appearances
are the stomach and intestines pale and shrivelled,
not ulcerated (though some think they have de-
tected slight abrasion's near the pyloric orifice) ; the liver
and spleen aro generally enlarged, soft, and gorged ; and
what appears to be most characteristic of this disease,
the mesenteric glands are enlarged to the size of beans,
and full of concretions : so that mesenteric obstruction,
and consequent atrophy, would almost seem to be the
cause of death. The systems and appearances above de-
tailed were common to the Europeans, and to the Ben-
gal volunteers ; and it is a melancholy fact, that scarcely
a man of the invalids who have returned to this country
is likely to recover. No very satisfactory reasons have
hitherto been assigned for the origin of this disease, al-
though the report of the superintending surgeon of the
expedition may, when published. throw some light on the
subject.—Correspondent of the Medical Gazette.
The Colliers of Blackwood, Argoed, and Gelly
Gaer have joined their fellow workmen in the pledge
not to give more than 4i-d. per lb. for beef, mutton, or
veal. They are now consuming bacon.—Montlimith
Merlin. _ _

TORY GOVERNMENT.—In the Annual Re-
gister for 1830, we have the following picture of the
state of things which prevailed over more than one-third
of England when the Tories went out of office, and
handed over the Government of the empire to the Whigs,
after having been in power well nigh 50 years :—" Night
after night new conflagrations were lighted up by bands
of incendiaries : corn-stacks, barns, farm-buildings, and
live-stock, were indiscriminately consumed. Bolder bands
attacked mills and demolished machinery. All protec-
tion for property seemed to be at an end. Bands of
rioters pillaged and destroyed during the day, and so
soon as night 'fell in, simultaneous . conflagrations start-
ing up in different quarters, spread over the country
consternation and dismay. The military force in the
disturbed districts was daily iffereased ; and proclama-
tions were issued, offering rewards of 500/. for the ap-
prehension and conviction of any person engaged in
wilful fire-raisings
; and a special commission was or-
dered to proceed into the counties where the outrages
were committed."

MR. O'CONNELL.--CA RLOW ELECTION.
Mr. O'Connell left town this afternoon, on his return to
the county of Carlow, where the prospects of the Re-
formers were never more cheering. The Hon. and
Learned Gentleman was accompanied by his friend and
relative Mr. William John O'Connell, who came direct
from London, to take an active part in the agitation for
that county. This gentleman took a prominent part in
the celebrated election of Clare, in 1828 ; he also agi-
tated in Waterford, Limerick, Kilkenny., and Kerry, with
great success.—Dublix Evening Pest, Saturday.

MEMOIR

OF

SIR CA ARLAS NA_ PIER,

K. C. 8., &c. &c.

Our historic annals present a-dazzling display
in the achievements of our military heroes, but
these, whatever their renown or magnitude, lose '
sensibly in prominence and lustre, when forced
into contrast with our naval feats. First and
foremost on the British page—pre-excellent in '
glory, as pre-eminent„in importance—the signal
deeds of our naval men take upon themselves,
in relation to our country, a most lofty and accli-
vitous position. It is these which almost alone,
have raised her to that stately height which she
at present occupies among the company of Eu-
ropean nations ; and though the recital would
be long, yet illustrious would be the list that
should recount the names of our naval warriors,
beginning with the Saxon Sea-Kings down
to immortal NELSON. With him it might be
supposed that the sun of our naval glory had finally
set; and that as with him it rose, so with him it
had irrecoverably descended. The maritime
hemisphere, if we may so express ourselves,
seemed at . his departure to be buried, perhaps
for ever, in-gloom; and Britain, as she looked
wistfully to the horizon where he had gone down
in darkness, feared that no other sun would arise
in his stead, to gladden her id discomfOrt, or
lighten her stepsinperil. But small as was her
faith, Providence hair not yet deserted--her ; and
when foreign despotism grew high, and angry
Powers leae:ued against her, her horizon teemed
with a new birth; and the NAPIER SUN sprang
forth, dispelling all her clouds, and disannidling
her distrust. This new Sun, rising before men,
commenced its career with promise ; and in the
subjoined Memoir. our task will be to trace its
progressive steps, till it arrives at its present
point of almost meridian splendour. -
The noble family of the Napiers traces its a ncestral descent
from the ancient Earls of Lennox, who became ,so created in
the early reign of King Malcolm 111., 1057, taking on them
the name of Napier from the following occurrence
King David 11.. in order to sustain his wars against the Eng-
lish, convoked his subjects to _battle: Hereupon the Earl of
Lennox sent Donald, his second son, with such fog ces as his
duty obliged him. Shortly afterwards; coming to an engar-
metit, wherein his Suits gave ground, this Donald, beholding
his father's standard quail to the ground, snatched it from'
its coward bearer, and valiantly encountered the enemy
with the Lennoxmen, so that the fortune of the battle
bore reverse, and Donald gained high victory. It was
then the custom among warriors, after the achievements of a
battle, to advance forward before the throne of the King, and
each to report his acts: so did all, and so did Donald ; whereon
the King made royal declaration that all had valiantly done,
but there stoodone among them who had na pier (no peer, or
equal) ; from-that day amald took upon himself the honour-.
able name of Napier ; holding also, in reward of his good
services, the lands of Gosfield, and other estates in the county
of Fife.

But if brave blood filled the veins of the first progenitor o I
Sir Charles's race, no less than it does his own, it is additionally
gratifying to find that the genealogical' chain of his ancestry
contains many bright links in its descending series, and that
no few " blazoned surcoats" lend dignity to his eseGcbecut.
On taking a retrospective view, among the members of this
illustrious family, we find Sir Alexander Napier, of Merchis-
ton, Knight, who in the reign of James 11. (1450). was made
Comptroller of Scotland ; and by, James 111. (1463), Vice- Ad
miral.* His grandson, Sir Alexander Napier, was made Master
of the. Mint by James VI. (Jam's I. of England.t ) To him
succeeded John Napier, the ce!ebrated mathematician, whose at-
taehment to aAattionly and spherical geometry, finally invested
his mind with power tri work out that memorable system of
logarithms with which his name is always allied. t This dis-
tinguished man was- succeeded by his son Sir Archibald, the
first Lord, who accompanied James I. to England ; and was
-made by him (1615) one of the Privy Council, Deputy Trea-
surer, Lord Chief Clerk, and one of the Senators of the Col-
lege of Justice .for. Scotland ; by Charles I. he was continued
in the Treasurer's office ; made one of the extraordinary Lords
of Session ; on the 2d of March, 1627; created a Baronet, and
en the' 4th of May following, a Baron ; and Archi-
bald the second Lord, 'continued -dur:ng his whole life
true to. liis dtity to his King, by most eminent services. He
retired with his uncle, the Duke of Montrose, to the Cantinent,
where he died in 1660.

The title has been retained in the same noble family to the
present day, the existing Baron being the ninth of that name.
Charles Napier, the subject of this memoir , (horn March 6.
1766), is the son of the Hon. Charles Napier, R.N., son of
FranCis, the eighth Baron Napier.

Scotland enjoys the enviable honour of having produced a
comparatively equal number of sterling warriors with either of
her sister nations, and among, her heroes whose warlike deeds
have been recorded in the temple of Fame few will shine with
greater resplendence than those of the intrepid CHARLES NA-
PIER. The popular voice of the present day has already
prided itself on crowning him unanimously with the
title of " England's second Nelson ;" and when we consider
the heart-glow and exalted thought associated with that vene-
rated name, this tribute assigned to him carries with it no un-
capacious honour. ' tooi.is the assimilation of the two
characters ;- both of 'thern, in Our imaginations, seem invested
with the same distinctive qua.lities, leading to the same grand
results ; both of them bear a look of combat and of high
crusader-like enthusiasm. Thews and- courage signalize each,
while their individual bearings are eo• equally plain and inarti-
ficial, distinguished, at the same time, by that generous cour-
tesy and trustful kindliness which make a man always be-
loved of men ; so that, as a hero, he becomes no cold super-
human being, but one round whom warm sympathies entwine,
and universal affections fasten.

It must indubitably be a convincing sign that that man's
glory can be of no secondary or unnoticeable order, towards
whom an united town rises up for the single purpose of claim-
ing him as the child of her own bosom, permitting to none other
the honour of the parentage, or the pride of enrolling him as
her own. Suoh has been the case with Falkirk—the domes
natalis of the gallant Captain—and every proof that could in-
vest the fact with certainty, has by his admiring townsmen
been protruded into light The church has been ransacked
and the parish register flung open, and that dusky chronicle of
births and baptisms yielded them ample satisfaction by the
following entry :--" March 11th, 1756, Charles Napier, lawful
son of the Hon. Captain Napier and Mrs. Christian Hamilton,
born 6th March current." The town may unequivocally re-
joice that she has proved the paternity, for the Napier family has
ever had a warm side to Falkirk, and every one of its inha-
bitants, be he boy or aged man, delights in his very heart of
hearts to know that " Charlie's lot" is led by a star whose
lustre will continually broaden, till it fold him in a splendour
that will place him among the loftiest of naval heroes.
His birth-place being thus ascertained, pass we at once to
his boyhood. After having passed with credit through all
those usual and preliminary forms of education, which fit supe-
rior seamen for discharge of commanders' office, Charles Napier
first planted his foot aboard for service on the Bth May, 1801, in
the good ship Revenir, bearing the flag of Sir John Warren.
From thence he was removed into the Greyhound in August,
1801, of which Sir William Hoste was commander. Early in
May, 1802, he joined the Egyptian. In November, 1804, he
was transferred to the Mediator, commanded by Sir Thomas
Sangston, and served a second time under Sir Thomas Sang-
ston, in the Renomme, in the March of 1805. Eight months
after his last appointment-viz., on the 30th of November,
1805, he was advanced to a Lieutenancy, and appointed to the
Courageux.

Prompted by a noble and heroic ambition, the youthful Cap.
tain was now desirous of pushing his fortunes abroad, and of
gaining to himself on the broad seas, naval wreaths of honour
and renown. Accordingly in April, 1807, he sailed, under
Sir Alexander Cochrane, for the West Indies, by whom he
was shortly made a commander, and on the subsequent 30th of
November he was confirmed in command to the Pultush.
From this last vessel he was removed into the Recruit, an 18-
gun British brig-sloop, and excellent sailer.

Up to this point, the career of the young Captain was little
more than initiative; but the upshot of events was quickly
destined to engage him in one of those perilous engagements,
which should show him to be wkat he has become, no faint-
hearted or un-lionlike man.

Political dissensions between France and England had long
been threatening to fester into animosity, and at the period of
which we speak, broke out at last into fierce and open rupture.
To salve over these mutual irruptions, or to heal the breach
that had calamitously happened, was now a remediless task, and
immitigable hatred, with " war to the knife," was the battle-
word of either party. The West India seas were at this time
literally on fire ; and among the terrible fights and counter-
fights which were hourly taking place, with successes that
alternated to each, one of great severity fell to the lot of our
youthful Captain, for his first essayal. Our leading facts are
furnished by a naval record :

On the 11th of August 1808, at bh. 30m. r.m., latitude
45 deg. 58 min. north, longitude 5 deg. 4 min. west, the
British 18-gun ship-sloop Comet, Captain Cuthbert Feather-
stone Daly, observed three strangers in the north-north-east.

s He was one of the Ambassadors sent to England in 1451 ; and,
in 1468, was sent with the Lord Chancellor to negotiate the mar-
riage between King James 111. and the King of Denmark's daugh-
ter,. He died in 1473.
He accompanied that monarch to England, was sworn a Privy
Councillor, and in 1615, constituted Lord Chief Clerk.

Published in 1814, under the title of " Logarithmorum Ca-
nonis Descriptio," now so well known in Naval Schools as
pier's Logarithres.'.

These were a small French squadron, which had sailed from
L'Oricnt on the 9th, bound to Martinique with a supply of flour
for the colony, and consisted of the 18-gun ship-corvette Dili-
gente, Captain Jean Francois Lemaresquier, and 16-gun brig-
corvettes Espiegle and Sylph, Captains Joseph Francois-Leon
Moujouen and Louis-Mafies Clement, all armed, we believe,
with French 24- pounder carronades, and long sixes for bow-
chasers.

- Of these vessels, the Sylph, on the 12th of August, being the
backwardest sailer of the two, was chased and compelled into
action by Captain Daly, who, after twenty-minutes' hot engage-
ment vanquished her, and hauled down her colours. The
Espiegle had during this time made fast sail for her remaining
consort, and the two vessels proceeded in company to the west-
ward. On the 16th, however, they were fallen in with by the
British 38-gun frigate Sibylle, Captain Clotworthy Upton.
After a chase of some continuance, the Diligente by her goo i
sailing, escaped ; but the Espiegle was captured, and under the
name of Electra, became added to the British navy.

According to the saying of Gothamites and grandams, the
" third time" has, in their category of accidents, a singular
fatality about it. The Diligente, by means of a swift-keel and
wind-favoured sails, twice had escaped the grapple of Briti h
tackling-irons, and distanced their shot ; but as MN ift a racer as
herself was on the waters, and whose cannonry and commander
made her no mean antagonist. Napier was the Adelantado on
her deck, and his keen eye soon singled her out, while he
buckled up himself for stout contest. A naval historian has
recounted this action with ability, and to him we turn for the
details :

ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE RECRUIT AND
DILIGENTE, 1808.

Proceeding alone to her destination, the Diligente met no
further obstruction until .the 6th of September, in latitude
17 deg. 50 min. north, longitude from Greenwich 23 (leg.
20 min. west. On this day, at. six 'A.M., the British 18-gun
brig-s:oop Recruit, Captain Charles Napier, standing close
hauled on the starboard tack, with the wind from the east-by-
north, discovered the Diligente in the north-east, going Lee
on the larboard tack, or in the direction of the Island of
tinque. The Recruit immediately tacked, and made alt sail in
chase ; and at 71t. 30m. A.M. tired two shot at the strange ship, •
ant hoisted her colours. At sh. 15m. A.m. the Diligente
tacked to preset ye the weather gage, and iu less than a quarter
of an hour afterwards hoisted a French ensign and p.niant.
At Bh. 33h. A.M., the two vessels, the .Recruit on the lar-
board, and the Diligente on the starboard tack, passed each
other within pistol-shot, and exchanged broadsides. At Bb.
40min. both vessels having passed out of gun-shot, tacked, and
again exchanged broadsides. The Diligente then wore, with
the intention of raking the Recruit astern ; but the brig wore
also, and brought her antagonist to close action with the lar-
board guns. At 9h. 20m. a.:tr. the second lieutenant, Moses
Da Willets, was wounded. In this way, broadside to broad-
tbe action continued until 1I h :30m. A M., when the
Recruit had her - mainmast shot away. While this lay over
her stern, the brig continued. the action with her foremost
grins, arid made several attempts to board her antago_
nst ; but the Diligente every time sheered off. The
French ship then backed her wizen top-sail, and shortening up
under the brig's stern, raked her. As the Diligente stood
along her starboard beam, the Recruit returned ehi,i tire; but
the Diligente reserved her next broadside, untd, hearing up
athwart the bows of her disabled antagonist, she was enabled
to bestow it with more effect. The Diligente then stots,' along
the brig's larboard beam, with the intention, probably, of run-
ning round her a second time; but a well-dnected tire from
the Recruit blew up a part of the ship's quarter, and cut away
her s crn-boat filled with. small-arm men. *- Immediately en
this the Diligente put her helm up, and ran away before
the wind.

The Recruit quickly set about clearing the wreck, refitting
her rigging, rebreeching and remounting her carronades, many
of which had upset aid preparing hrr,clf to renew the action.
with the French ship, who then lay upon her lee beam repair-
ing her damages At 2 r.m., haviiig got ready to engage,
the Recruit bore up to dose; but the Diligence, setting courses,
topsails, and top, gallant-sails, hauled to the wind on the star-
boatd tack. At 4 r.m., the Recruit got up a jury main-mast,
and set a royal upon it, and, hoisting her fort-topsail, ende. -
vowed again to close; but every effort was in vain, and by
7h. ,om. P.M., the Diligente had run herself completely out
of sight.
The brig was of course obliged to make the best of her way
into port to get a new mainmast, and on the 10th she an-
chored in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes. Ihe extent of the to s
which the Diiigente sustained has cot been made public, but
we must suppose it to have been very heavy, to excuse Captain
Lemaresqther for having abandoned the action after lie had
knocked away his antagonist's mainmast. He inde-d takes
- care to assign a sufficient reaso,i for his ret eat--no 1 S 3 than
that several enemy's vessels Were in sight, although not a sail
of any kind, except the Diligence hersel, could be discovered
from the Recruit. His opponent the Fri nch Captain takes
to have been " Le Curieux, de 20 catvonades de 32" (which
brig was then lying at anchor in the harbour of Halifax, Nova
Scotia), and says, Le dernier a ete totalement desempare, et
n'a echappe parceque la Diligente, ayant une mission inakior-
tante, t voyant plusieurs Latimens ennemis, n'a pas du s ex-
. pcier tn pour.uiYant son avantage, a ns voir couper le chemin
de sa destination."

The braver) of the first trarraction, however unproductive
its issue, wils marked and conspicuous on the part of our
youthful hero. Disabled and dismasted as she was, the conduct
and Activity of :her Captain and crew was laudable in the
highest degree, and displayed most admirable spirit. On this
occasion there were 8 men kil'ed, 21 out of 106 were

wounded, and half of whom subsequently died, while the
gallard captain had his thigh-bone broken, by a ball that per-
foratedthe Precious as was the " licking" in this Lis
" maiden" encowder, from the Frrnch corvette, his own flag,
far from being tarnished, wore honour in the holes it that
day got.
THE SIEGE OF MARTINIQUE. FEB. 1809.

The affair of the " Diligente" was the first step in the ladder
of our Captain's fame, and proved him to be abundantly full of
the requisite "metal," an assurance which his ad mice to a
second and ascending stage quickly confirmed in the siege of
Martinique. Martinique was at this time the especial•seene
%%here the antagonism of the two parties raged fiercest, and the
Captain threw himself, with the ardour of a maritime ',atlas,
among the conflicting bellicose parties. Admiral Villas-et, was,
at this period, the Captain-General and Goveinor of the
island, but such was the formidalle appearance of our besieg-
ing fleet and army, thai, p'eiceiving he was overpowered, he shut
himself up within his forts, having about him a force of about
three thousand men; with an abundant supply of ammunition.
Thus retired within the impregnable fortresses of the place, he
relied on the destruction of our forces by the comhincd opera-
tion of the insufferable climate and the deluging rains which
were perpetually in fall. But this wily French Hannibal soon
found, to his cost, that English tactics were but little framed
after the delays of 'a
Fabius, and the active measures of
Lieutenant-General Beckwith tended to bring the contest to a
speedy issue. Viilaret supposing (as he afterwards declared) that
port Bourbon was impregnable, abandoned Fort Republique or
Fort Edward, leaving in it four b3-inch mortars and 38 heavy
guns, with a quantity of shot and shells: From this fort

.... . . .
being so well commanded by Bourbon, whose dark ramparts
almost frowned above it, he doubted not that he cou!d, with
ease, txpel his enemy at any time; but in this the sagacious
Admiral was mistaken.

The retreat of Vil'aret from Fort Edward had been ob•

served, and his abandonment of this and another redoubt con-
tiguous to it had taken place with evident marks of disorder.*
Upon this, in order to cut off the retreat of the enemy, Sir
Alexander Cochrane despatched the Recruit sloop of war with
Napier on her deck, in conjunction with the tEolus and Cleo-
patra frigates, to the upper part of Fort Royal Bay.t They
accordingly beat up in the night between Pigeon Island and
the main, and anchored close to Fort Edward. No sooner
was this perceived by the enemy than, fearing an attack, they
set tire to and destroyed the Amphitrite frigate of 44 guns,
and all the shipping in the harbour.f With that intense and
most acute watclifu'ness which no man than the Captain pos-
sesses more in perfection, Napier, with the first break of morn-
ing-light, on surveying the battlements of Fort Edward,
seemed filled with a conviction that Fort Edward was, in ac-
cordance with the actual fact, abandoned. Doubt, however,
was at first thrown upon the Captain's cleat- sightedncss, who,
prompted by the quick spit it of an heroic and valorous mind,
offered to his fe:low-captains' without reserve, himself to
ascertain the fact. Placing himself at the head of only five
men—picked and sturdy veterans—in the face of a thousand
unseen perils that might befal him, with the chances of being
perhaps torn in two by the murderous fire of the ramparts,
cannons, or secret ambuscades, the Captain with these soli-
tary five, landed in the open front of day, fastened his ladder
on the wall, scaled it with an intrepidity scarcely to be de-
scribed, and planted, a second after, the Union jack trium-
phantly on the rampart •tops. Cortez, in the old days of Spa-
nish chivalry, could not have dared more. The Captain has
himself since shuddered at the peril of this enterprise on relat-
ing it, for though Fort Edward itself was totally evacuated, yet
had he been discovered from Fort Bourbon, which stands but
100 yards off, and thoroughly commands it, not an angel of
Heaven could have saved him from terrible and total annihila-
tion. On this investment of the place by Napier, Sir Alex-
ander Cochrane ordered Major Henderson, with his Regiment
of Royal York Rangers to march into the fort and take pos-
session, who accordingly landed under cover of night, and at
daylight the British flag was displayed on its walls. This
drew on it a furious, though unheeded bombardment, from
Bourbon, which demolished the houses and barracks, but
hurt none, and in the course of two hours the mortars were
unspiked and returned the fire. Perhaps the best eulogium on
this spirited affair, because it came from official head-quarters,
is be found in a letter in a Captain's possess,on, written to him
on the occasion by Sir Alexander Cochrane, who its this broad
and comprehensive sentence admits that " his conduct was the
means of saving many lives, and of shortening the siege of
Martinique."
THE RECRUIT SLOOP AND THE THREE FRENCH
SAIL OF THE LINE.
_ . _

The high gallantry and courage displayed by our hero in the
ensuing engagement, brought " blushing honours thick upon
him."

After the successful attack on Martinique in 1809, which we
have just mentioned, the British land and sea forces, in the
month of April, steered for the Saintes, a cluster of small islands
lying near the southern extremity of Baste-terre and Guada-
loupe, where a squadron of three French ships of the line and
two frigates had taken up an anchorage. These ships had
slipped out of L'Orient, unseen by the British cruisers, to the
relief of Martinique, but finding that island was taken, had re-
paired to the Saintes as the only pine of refuge remaining to
them in the Windward Islands, and watched for an opportunity
of getting across to I3asse-terre or Guadaloupe. Scarcely,
however, had the French ships anchored than a superior British
force arrived to blockade them. The line of battle portion of
the force, consisting of Hear-Admiral Sir Alexander Coch-
rane in the Neptune 98, with the York 74, Pompey 74, Cap-
tain 74, and the Pelyph,mus 64.
On the 14th of April the Neptune was off the south-west
passage at some distance, and the Pompey about a mile and a
halt to the westward of Terre d'en 13as, o- the Lower Sainte.
In a very few minutes the Pompey discovered the three French
ships bearing down under a press of canvas, followed by the
Hazard and other vessels belonging to the in-shore squadron.
At 10 P.M., the Pompey closed with the sternmost French
ship, and endeavoured to stop her by the discharge of tw o
broadsides; but, having a st ong breeze in her favour, the
latter continued her course to the west-south-west, without
returning a shot. At 10h. 15m. P.M. the 18-gun brig-s!oop
Recruit, Captain Charles Napier, got up and opened her fire
on the enemy's sternmost ship. At 11 P.M., the Neptune
joined in the chase, and at 30 minutes past midnight crossed so
near to the same ship that the latter fired into her and killed
one and wounded tour of her men.

On the 15th at 4 n. at., the Recruit, by her superior sailing'',
again got near enough to discharge a broadside at the d'Haut-
* Lieut.. Gen. Beckwith's Despatch, dated Martinique, Heights
of Suriney, Feb. 5, 1309, and which appeared in the London Ga.
zette, of March 28, 1809.

-I- Despatch of Sir Alexander Cochrane, dated Feb. 4, 1509.
t Sir Alex. Cochrane's Despatch, same date as the preceding.
H It may be as well to note here that every ship that Commo.
Fiore Napier has commanded has proved a superior sailer ; and
may there not be something in the men working with the Captain
as well as in the mete build of a ship?

EYENINt4 SUN

poult (an 18-gun brig at a 74 !), now the rearmost French
ship ; and the Pompey was very soon in a situation to open
distant fire from her bow-chasers ; all three French ships as
they steered in line abreast returning the fire with their stern-
chasers. At 10h. 30m. A.M. Captain Napier had his aergeant
of marines wounded by a shot from one of the French Fhips;
but the Recruit still persisted to harrass them with her a'-
tacks. So annoying were those attacks, that at 10h. 45m• aJlt.
the d'Hautpoult broached to and discharged her main an..l
cuttingquarter-deck guns, away two of the brig's fore-shroud;
on the larboard side, anerdin damage to her riggin;ft
but materially wounding noo oneg .other Even this did not intimidate,
Captain Napier ; for no sooner had the d'Hautpoult rateux!ie:l
her course before the wind, than the Recruit ran &expo J? r
stern, and poured in one or two broadsides, recfav-
ing in return a fire from the severity. four's ate nu
chasers. The Pompey also joining occasionally its
the running fight ; and thus the day passed. At the
P.M. the trench ships separated, the Pompey followed tn
d'Hautpoult, and, with the Castor, took her on the 17th aft,tr
nhjoh co-
a gallant battle beginning in a running fight,
menced to the southward of Vieux Fo, Guadaloupe, at In,lo
_,.
P. M. on the 14th of April, and endingrt within eight !caOnteo.
ca
north-east by north of Cape Roxo, Porto Rico, at 511. ;
A. Mt. on the 17th. The brave little Recruit, though COM
pelled on the 16th to drop astern on account of her darn ing
was in at the death on the 17th, being less than toe
miles to the westward of the Pompey, t eh
s an in
of canvas when the d'Hautpoult struck. sl
g under s,prs
The Recruit in this audacious exloit lost only one nal,
The author of the Naval History, en scornmentieg upon We
action, says, " The conduct of the Pompey was assess
expected of her, and the Castor gave proofs of a conamenua,ll
zeal in closing with so powerful an amegunist ; but yvhatalft.
we say of the Recruit? Her behaviour was gallant in the !a _
treme. Next to the pleasure of recording acts of intrepntft,Y,
like that performed by the Recruit, is that itleasure of hartr
able to announce that they were appreciated in the quail!.
possessing the power to reward them. Sir Alexander COOI4
such -il
rane, with feelings highly honourable to him, all'uil;lsti„
Captain Napier to the command of the
didd'llautpoult...,j-
-this on the spot. The d'
Admiral
,ably tine ship of 1,871 tons, and, under the name r.:Csh
bercromby, cruised for three or four }ears in the 131:1 ,
service.Admiralty'
In his despatch concerning this action to the thef
dated on board the Neptune, off the Mona passage, the 17,f ,
April, 1809, which appears in the London Gazette uf
,u..
Hautpoult mat alrec._,:e
23, 14109, !tear-Admit al Sir Alexander Cochrane makes In
ties a Captain Nattier in the
enemy'sfollow sailing ing terms :
The p ittrity of this' left little chance d°r;
the Neptune getting up unless some of the ships were disable
and if any accident had happened to the l'ompeY'' nia ttfebtl
nicest inevitably have all eseaped; I ther4 ore directed OP.
Fahie to endeavour to cripple the sterntuost ship,
ing e n the collected fire of the three, then in line abreallt' spi.
this attempt he was mosf gallantly supported by CaPtailtni, ',Fh
constantly :no:
pier, of his Majesty's ship Recruit, who kept elo:enitlh4"87:::
fired at from all their stern-chase runs, and did everythingi
rib
was possible to be done to cut away' the enemy's n'l ''''lisseee
wbolc c
gittg ; and continum4 in this service during the
which lasted wail this mot fling at half .past three.
cornets"
" Until their Lo dships' pleasure is known, I have ntri
sioned the prize, and appointed Captain Napier to the 0,1 19,a,'
of her, as a rem ant for his si irited conduct during the c"!°-.the
Captain Falai , of the Pomy, alto bore testimony Ur,
:„....
same Gazette of the intrepidity 0, Captain Napier as foll'lle cei
" It may not be imp roper here to go back to the occursin,.
of the I..th list., in order to express my adunratien 0i the ts-
lseaamnialtitoc,roinlndhuekeet?oniten', Captain Na; ier, of his Majesty's brig thpathtee
gthwri,thagnillotiet
,fithat
odfayt,he stern-chaeers 0 ing
them with his guns.'
NAPIER'S CAPTURE OF A FRaEnNdC":I ,ott l' OF
TWENTY-SIX SAIL OFF PORT INFREBCHit ' d-,.
Western secs and tropical skies were now, for a time' iii•
tined to be lost to the Captain, and the 'prow of l''' vlsiialt•
stead of pushing out on new excursions, or bolder un inure
lugs, sped with himself and his late eat Cell laurels, onc,.e.n ro
to Lngland. One mould hav sosd that having v`o-oole
sorely shaken by the freeze and-thee battle-storm 11° aisi
have delighted in the quietude aids green-hiled eou:tiraYil„, by
wracping the soft mantle of repose around him' Lay ~,,eaue
awhi ein pei'ee. But With the usual re,tlessness ol a''
t lion;
he was altogether cut of his element Then out teafication
storm-tossings and s; a-fights were like wine and extt", et.
to his spirit. Accordingly, he sought again for aPP°,'lL)leedi-
and immediately oblaitted it in the Thames ship in the ~ be
terrancan. Once more launched uprn the bread wa..c,',sei
swept them iiitrefidly with his guns, wheresoever th'ir ,lobtall
was in request, which at these times was cn the Nta;
`illness
sros. No spot from Naples to the Faro Point, but borealtoo,
o f his mark, and on the 21st of July., the following sign
section took place
Captain
Scrh.aa,iie,sthNeaißierirt,isjhoinl2ed-p_
tchuend
(Ferp3i;ugsu,n frigate °
,r. lanes.,
t 1 nu.") v'ellse
freschi, into which port the latter had the day be
_lle ro haltc't
a French convoy of 26 sail to run Ur shelter. '-'%lnd the
followed by the 'limn:es, then stood in and anchored ; 'n boats
two opened a heavy cannonade upon eleven French guundcrs,
and a felucca, mounting between them six long le"-P°„,,cterse
t wo 12-pounder carrommer, three brass and two iron 6.l°thE, Ire
and mannod with 280 mt n, moored at ross the port ttir r, for
' tection of fifteen merchant vessels and of thirty-sta Se fire
the line-of-battle ship and frigate building at Nalile''' both' 111
of the gun-boats, as well as of a round tower, and of ara vhile
Imusketry on the adjacent hills, was seen silenced ; and
the yes-
he hosts, under Captain Clifford, took osse4i°n 0-
ten'llt
eels of war and merchantmen, the marines
under Lieu oak-
AP At'am, landed, and stormed ad cart led The round to boas.
ing an officer and eighty men prisoners. Within t'w° again
fr,m their am-holing, the Thames and Cephalui c'er,,e spars
under weigh, with ail-their prizes in company, andi.llt;or spars
alongside excer.t two which could not be got °"anonon;
this daring and important enterprise cost the life of ,
the whole loss sus'ained amounting to the boatswat°,;
Douglas) and three seamen of the Cephalus wounded, 'al Foles
Of this told and spirited achievement Rear-Achnirum'
observes, in his despatch to tt-ir Edward Pellewe " Thed brit'
plete success of the above-mentioned instantaneGus °Tut Ce"
lint attack on the enemy's convoy by the Than,lesitiitry °f
phalus is fleets conch honour en ie nduct and ~allay
Napier and Clifford, their officers and crews. on, ~.'0
The total capture was-11 gun vessels, 20 merchant
large spars, and 1 armed felucca with a TOE
NAPIER'S ATTACK AND CAPTURE ''',
_A
TOWER OF SABRI. 1812. ''d .he Ode'
Success now trod on the heels of success, an „t7{- sere;
aureole round Napier's name was widening Inure - tvie :J."'
The strong battery and tower of Sabri, mounting , bt melt:
pounders, and garrisoned by an officer and thirty -4 brace°
was next his object of attack. With hearty zca`,ll,,efonder
himself to the task, and on the 14th of May his own '' rk,(l 114
attac iiitbin
32 gun frigate Thames, accompanied by the l'i:ott
port of Sabri. After having battered for 150 hOtIP sub'
pistol pistol shot, the garrison surrendered at discretion. Vie •
Captain Napier's de patch: — 4 02'
tt SCk 4
" 11. . Thames, Sabri, MaY 1-'
" Sir,—l have this day, in company with ttre pilot, a tower
the port of Sabri, defended bya rong batterY.Larit,,eight,
mounting two 32-pounders, with an officer and tui.it'el,...igi for
ra, n, which surrendered at discretion, after being 114.6ir tgli‘f
two hours within pistol-shot ; but in consequence us,"„ ars°'
lint defence, I allowed them to march out with the 1:flion
themww.who
, were launched
e 1
Ei
flanked
nme ,
kea
erldy a
war, but not to serve against us in this expedit:on.
oils oieet
twenty-eight large vessels cn the beach loaded with f eibic°
;iehela''
muchthe tboatttheerysuipapaormt loarte
jc.ueidvieediotarosinuiCanariP;ar,intatileauftteentd:
quarter of obfaattemriyleia irnaitnlstebecfooruentsruyt,,,eaill.
wards commanded the launching, assisted by 019;Jr:it Ji g'ii
ant, Archibald Campbell, an officer of six yea" S.-hi' CI ' I
well as Mr. Langford, Acting-Master of the Pilot, who,
able disposition of the marines, who were under his loll°
(there being no officer of that corps on board), kept uP 004°.
two hundred armed peasantry incheck, and had °fli„Yne°rier,,to,
wounded. The firing of both ships' companies wasp;.' oe
anything I ever saw, and their conduct on shere
praiseworthy.yr—boar-
woa e
dia threNe Neither silsi ipthl:res trn enmonatebroiaarlditn j°oityr oe beEe
suffered. ~ I am, onlysm. .rglL
-- • RLES klAr'--

Adroeeticl
lisin,usiinsrvosaeeml
tcTe,apa.ontFfudtr.
let,Fehtmreloießinnreabiantirittslltyhee.raf'i
quuonafdrtstir
bconriity:.
esigs
.hibtloigsetber,
" CHA-
at
ladeno;m‘ I' Is
thisei,ba. rh' 0. , ~ glue •
country.os t''''
But the Captain's despatch on this occasion coco .tll'
high and excellent traits, which it were treasonable' total sSpeaking of the garrison, he says, " in consequence boOtiol'
of war, but not to serve against us in this ex
gallant defence I allowed them to an arch out will ihe "
reditiol?iliti of 0 '
in minor circumstances like these that the true o:victor-it;
la'.
man's nature is most plainly perceivable, and when, di- ..,
so steady in his triumphal hour, and pays so calm an napt27_,
a deference to those fallen under his power, his °f ~doerl
forbearance and toleration bear the stamp °' —...3J11 eboi
exalted virtue. Again, Captain Napier, 'we unive"
ebod
serve in his despatches, adopts ahandsome and his co
pointing out the better qualities of those under hieid he 0°,1.61 ....-
seemingly anxious that the credit of the action show tbit lit.:
touch " an officer of six years' standine
to them and not to himself. Who cannot perceive in. ;,,111ic..."
he considered should have been bestowed upon Illr. I„ta eteross;,
Kind-h 'art t edness and noble-heartedness are plants.sti'al ler•
and exuberant rowth in the breast of the Gallant id.A. 'OIL'
NAPIER'S CAPTURE
He who explores the Portuguese histories of two 0. Goot , •
date of the Portuguese w. ar of succession, will find theof Cat
Captain figuring conspicuously under the cognorne!,.,l' „
de Ponza, a title which he bears from the signal caPtw_i-I,i e OM',
he made of this isle, by running the Thames an F?re reel'? d` :
the small• mole of the same name. This exqui ,do '-'i ,I,
grace, executed without the loss of a man, was briefly per 0:4 ;
"On the 26th of February, 1813, Captains I"PibetlY- '
ith $ ...el- •
Mounsey, in the Thames and Furieuse frigates, w loth An,
S.
~ the remotio
n„ford?
..
troops consisting only of the second battalion of the r milk?' -
ment of Infantry, took the little island of Ponza Pea, $ ole 31
by tea Pea il :
This island has a small harbour, about a quarter °` reces
breadth, and a mole, which was' defended
heavy cannon and two 9-inch howitzers. w2iti.qa'o,o2: '..
wind suited, Captain Napier ran the two ships in an" nopy 0:, ;
across the mole head, sustaining the fire from the_ke ,hips t
half an hour before their position enabled the Briteo„latle
return a shot ; but the moment the guns could b. u'ecrom.
bear, the ships engaged on both sides, while Ceiineights• 1
land. d, and marched directly for a tower on the A fbig o
which the enemy had retreated, when they sent downs not $
truco to say that they surrendtred. The was bulled tote
man in either service, although the Thames Wes • sads *ll
times and the Furieuse twice, besides having thel .•
rigging a good deal cut " Vice',ln
The followini, are extracts from the despatches ir°
,„,..e of
Admiral Sir E.'Pellew to the Admiralty :
the Island of Ponza, on the coast of Naples, whi .
0 I have the honour to inclose a statement of thcr;clecht
~cOlOO,
* The following is Captain Napier's despatch on this
"'"
copied from the London Gazette, Sept. 24, 1811 Thames,
I
“ His Majesty's ship ,itllt•
...
" Off Porto del Infreschi, Jta
tle' jou olio:
" Sir,--Captain Clifford, of the Cephalus, having soils!, P,,,k
v ateer, of a convoy of 26 sail attempting to Vin
off Paleniaro, on the 20th instant, informed me, 10:_„0, wh''''
th.t P" and cop'' . t
he, with his usual activity, prevented them from doing, an FOG'
pelted them to take shelter' in Porto del Infreschi, °° wed CalOi:
we arrived at five this evening. I immediately ''rrongied irtb-0
Cliffuld to lead In and anchor, which service he Pciiiohip, e',.% •
most handsome style, and was closely followed 11 t wiling ''n
soon silenced eleven gun-boats and an armed felucca
_nd teo lc
618-pounders, two I 2.pounder carronades, three brass,ec' tin, of
~...:t
-pounders, and 280 men, n,oorcd across for the Prel..,i, obip 1172,.. , s
teen merchant vessels and 36 • ars for the tine-of-1o" d the tR4
frigate at Naples, and under cover'p of a round tower ae od pc?' .
~
Lichteno4 -:,
ir :At. r.'
cent hills lined with mu- uetctrs from the xnerchantractl
Santry. The marines ;gem then landed under the . the'''. ~..,
•
M` Ad .c. t th,e, '
infantry manoeuvres in a very pretty style, taking a.,..";eboste.,:_yoy. „di:l
men prisoners, and driving the rest before therm 1.,f. the ".. .ot ~..,'
_ am, and got possession of the tower, perforratonlf_e and 8° -, ~
Sams time, under Captain Clifford, took possession yid toot 17 l'egs • s
cou_eigh, In 7:-. ~.,-:
together with all the spars, except two, which
off, all of which were alongside, and the ships under, :oil the 711 .
,11.
than two hours, without the loss of one man, and lon Olirco , .:,1
swain and another man badly, and three of the br'l! :1; were "tbe '', '
wounded. On entering the Bay our sails and rigr,ehoed 100,33, , e
deal cut up. The whole of the ship's companYZst et.01it.0... on ..T
most steady manner, which ever reflects the gre_n, disclpifill.„A ~
board. Captain Clifford likewise speaks in the Intn`
predecessor, Captain Waldegrave, for the excenef:,t tool n' ' 5,
first-lieutenant Richardson, officers, and crew.
" I have the honour to te, c. r/Ario*-
~ &
cianto
" Bear• Admiral Boyles, __

ti
Nava
Prot

Col,:
tl
boor

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nlort

lure
and,

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