The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-17 00:00:00

Earl GREY rose and said, I should be extremely sorry
if a charge could be brought against me, with any
foundation, of a want of courtesy either to the
Noble Earl who has just sat down, or to any Member
of this House. As to the charge of ignorance of what is
going on under my administration, I am certainly less
anxious, but I must state to your Lordship shortly how
the facts stand. I stated at the time, as well as I
can now recollect, that I could not say, whether
Admiral Napier was actually in his Majosty's service or
not; but that I had no doubt the Admiralty had done
what their duty required. From the moment there was
a report that Admiral Napier had gone to com-
mand the fl-et serving under Donna Maria, it was
determined by Government to proceed in this case, pre-
cisely as they had done in the case of Admiral Sartorius.
I really did not know at the moment whether any
authentic information had been received and acted on,
but the determination had been taken, and on the Friday
preceding, it is to my regret that I state it, because ad-
miring, as I do, and as I think every one must—(Hear,
hear)—the gallantry, the daring, the spirit, the skill,
--(Loud cheers)--with which that person has upon
this occasion distinguished himself,—(R,newed cheers)—
and upheld the character of a British sailor.—(Loud
cheers.) I say, it is with regret 1 state it, that on the
receipt of that intelligence, a few days before,
by a steamer that had como from Li-bon, that
officer had been struck from the lists of his Majesty's
service. It was great regret the Admiralty did so,
but consistently ; with their duty that step
could not be avoided, and it had been taken.
Wilh respect to the other part the Noble Lord said he
believed he had said that no official account of the battle
had been received by the Governtnent, and that all they knew
of it was by the letter which was published in the pipers
written by Capt. Napier, and signed Don Carlos de Pouzi.
The Noble Marquis (Londonderry) asserted that he
(Lord Grey) could not but be aware of the notice sent to
Lloyd's, but he did not see how that proved anything.
If the Nob'e Marquis meant to bring any charge agains,,
Ministers, let him do it, and he (Lord Grey) lwould he
prepared to meet it; but all he could say, both with
respect to the former and the present notifica-
tion, it had been done merely to put persons engaged
in commerce on their guard, and the notice
would only be acted on when an effective blockade should
be es-ablisied.
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM said that no one
lamented more than he did that a Gallant Officer like
Captain Napier should, by a breach of regulations
have made it necessary to dismiss him from his Majesty's
service. Whatever that breach was, it was gratifying to
to know that so great an achievement had been accom-
plished by a British officer. It was, however, now esta-
blished as a fact, that although the dismissal of that officer
by his Majesty's Government took place on Friday, it was
not known to the head of that Government until the fol-
lowing Monday.
The Bishop of LONDON begged to notice that the
petitioners in the petition which he had present• d were
opposed to the clause relating to churches in which divine
service had not been performed for three years. He had
forgotten to state that point before.