The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-05 00:00:00

SIR JAMES GRAHAM AND SIR CHARLES NAPIEIL—II
these two hon. baronets continue their dispute until
either one or other succeeds in persuading the public
that he is absolutely in the right, the controversy will,
in all probability, last as long as their lives. Last night,
in the House of Commons, there was a renewal of the
old argument, but this time at the instigation of the ex-
First Lorsl of the Admiralty. It must not be supposed
that we are any longer discussing the events of the
Baltic campaign even of the year before last. The two
adversaries are actually, engaged in settling the merits
of Sir Charles Napier 's conduct at the siege or bombard-
ment of Acre in the year 1840 ! Who cares about the
decision on such a point The question has passed into
old
don which we
have observation the domain of historians, antiquaries, and biographers.
We scarcely see why the time of the House of Commons
i
should be occupied in listening to the statements and
gentlemen upon a
c matter) s n t
toe r o
- osftffatet
this
knoituns
rdo.rf
at
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the matter is that the
House of Commons is a most unsuitable arena for the
settlement of private quarrels.. It is clear enough in
thanwpaurbelicthiantterienststhweerceoucorsneceronfed:
this instance—to use a Parliamentary phrase—that there
was "no question before . the house,"—h(e)no. question
Graham has contrived to earn
that is, in which
James
and in whichwaeiccilhetcisoionne ofw way
yhe
could
cfsea r rsyi
r perfectly
for himself the reputation of
in un
a statesman. Everybody is
also aware that Sir C. Napier the course of an equally
long life has earned for himself the reputation of a sea-
man. Neither one nor the other was ever esteemed to
be, as statesman or sailor, a man of the highest order,
but each in a certain way has held his own during a
career of long duration. Granted that Sir J. Graham
has upon many an occasion. given shrewd opportunities
for bis adversaries to
.impugn his political. acts ; granted
also that S.r C. Napier has shown in bis own person
what strange mixture of merit and demerit, of real
courage and of idle vapouring, a man
may unite in his
character, and yet be a somewhat distinguished man ;
still, why should we be troubled with their disputes ? If
Sir C. Napier is constantly and carefully to prepare cases
against Sir J. Graham, and if Sir J. Graham is to be
ever on the watch for an opportunity of attacking an ad-
versary who gives such ample opportunity for attack as
Sir C. Napier, and if the House of Commons is ti be
made the arena for the decision of their disputes,
Par-
liament had better abdicate all share in public business,
for it is clear that the public interests will be postponed
to the indulgence of private animosity. Sir J. Graham
and Sir C. Napier have hai two field-days, and each has
been permitted to damage the character of the other to
the utmost limits of possibility :—there let the matter
rest.— Times.
Among the rumours of various new enterprises
about to be commenced by the Piedmontese Go-
vernment are particularly mentioned the improve-
ment of the port of Genoa, the Savona and Voltri
Railway, the participation of the Government in
the Suez canal, the colonisation of Sardinia, and
the establishment of a mortgage bank. The pre •
liminary operations to prepare for the return of
the Sardinian troops from the Crimea have already
commenced.