The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 7, 1860.

SIR CHARLES NAPIXR.

The group of illustrious men who came into the
world in the same decade with the French Revolu-
tion is fast dying out. The survivors of that epoch
are now more than threescore and ten years of age,
and very few of them are left. To-day we have to
chronicle the departure of one more of the small

group—Admiral Sir Charles Napier. It has:often
been our duty in the later years of his life to speak
plainly of the gallant old Admiral, but in anything
that may have fallen from us we hope that we have
never forgotten his real merits. These were of no
mean order, and fairly entitle him to the admira-
tion and gratitude of his countrymen. In his name
is summed up all that he was. A Napier is a man
possessed of high spirits, immense courage, and in-
genuity, prodigious egotism, and a critical or theo-
retical faculty which incites to deeds of astounding
audacity. And so another Napier, another of the
" Ready, aye ready," school, is gone. We shall
never more see his ruddy, jolly countenance twitch-
ing under his broadbrim, as in his blue coat and
white trousers he trudged down to the House
heavily burdened with a speech on the sorrows of
the navy. He has fired his last gun ; he is gone to

the haven of his rest. We will forget long speeches
and wordy letters, to remember him only as he was
in his prime,—the daring and the brilliant captain.

He was born at Merchistoun-hall, in the county
of Stirling, on the 6th of March, 1786. His family

trace their descent from the celebrated inventor of
logarithms. His father, after whom he was named,
was the second son of Francis, the fifth Lord
Napier. He entered the navy at the age of 13 as a
volunteer, and served on board a great variety of
vessels, from sloops to flagships, on many dif-
ferent stations, from the North Sea to the Medi-
terranean, and from the Mediterranean to the
West Indies. These were the mighty Nelson days,
but it was not Sir Charles Napier's good fortune
to be engaged in any of the great naval battles
for which the early part of the present century is
renowned. Our cruisers, however, were on every
sea, and Napier had not a few opportunities of dis-
tinction in fighting single vessels of the enemy, in
cutting out merchantmen, and in attacking West
Indian islands, such as St. Thomas and Martinique.
In an action with a French corvette of 22 guns he
had his thigh broken by a shot. In the attack upon
Martinique he won great applause for his temerity
in scaling the ramparts with but five men, and in
planting the Union Jack on Fort St. Edward. He
won promotion as well as applause for his conduct
in a subsequent affair, when he assisted Sir Alex-
ander Cochrane (now a well-known name) in chas-
ing three French ships of the line, and in capturing
one of them—a 74. He pressed the enemy so hard,
and did them so much damage, that his Commander
made him Captain at once, and the Admiralty
were not slow to confirm the appointment. The
next that we hear of him is in the Peninsula,
amusing himself in the campaign with his cousins
George, Charles, and William Napier. Here
" Black Charles," as he was called by his cousins,
saw a good deal of land fighting—was, indeed,
talking to the other Charles when a bullet entered
the nose of the latter, lodged in the jaw, and shat-
tered the bone. In November, 1810, Charles James
Napier writes to his mother, " Black Charles is a
queer fellow as ever crossed me, and as honest a
one," and then he gives the copy of a letter which
the queer fellow, on quitting the army, addressed
to the First Lord of the Admiralty :

" Sir,—My leave of absence is just out. I don't think it
worth remaining here, for I expect you will give me a ship,
as I am almost tired of campaigning, which is a rum con-

" C. N."

cern.

The result of this appeal was an appointment to
the Thames, 32. In this vessel, and in the Eurya-
lus, we find him performing many signal services,
sitencing:batteries, landing troops, capturing mer-
chantmen and whole fleets of gunboats, driving on
shore vessels which he could not capture, and finally,
operating with distinguished ability against Balti-
more with a division of boats under his orders.

When the peace came Napier, like many another
gallant spirit, found himself condemned to inactivity.
After 14 year.' waiting he founa employment again
in the Galatea, on the Portuguese coast, and it
was in this period of his life that he first ac-
quired a great position before the public. In per-
forming his service for the British Government he
became interested in the affairs of Portugal, and
ventured both to express his opinion as to the
feasibility of certain operations and to exert himself
in the cause of Don Pedro. Considerable sympathy
was felt in this country for Don Pedro, and an ex-
pedition under Captain Sartorius left the Thames
in support of his claims. Eventually the command
of this expedition devolved on Captain Napier, who
succeeded in vanquishing the fleet of Don Miguel.
He encountered this fleet, consisting of two line-of-
battle
ships and two frigates, besides several cor-
vettes, brigs, and a xebeque on the 3d of July, 1833.
He attacked at once, and brought the action to a
speedy close by boarding the enemy from his flag-
ship. Short as the conflict was, it was decisive, for
both the ships of the line, one of the frigates, and
one of the corvettes remained in his possession. He
was thanked for an exploit which placed the Queen
upon the throne, was honoured with the title of
Viscount Capo San Vincente, and was appointed
Admiral-in-Chief of the Portuguese fleet. Napier,
however, was dissatisfied with subsequent dealings
which he had with the Government, and especially
with the reduction of the fleet, and he soon quitted
the Portuguese service in disgust. He had earned so
much distinction, however, that it was not difficult
for him.to find employment in England. He was
in 1839 appointed second in command of the Medi-
terranean fleet, under Sir R. Stopford, and he came
in for some fighting en the Syrian coast. He is a
very prominent figure in the storming of Sidon,
in the defeat of Ibrahim Pasha among the moun-

tains of Beyrout, and most glorious of all in the
reduction of Acrc. Sir Charles, Napier among the
mountains of Beyrout would no doubt again be
described by his cousin as " the queerest fellow he
ever came across,' and as he led the British tars,
riding an ass, covered with a great straw hat,
wielding a huge stick and followed by his dog Pow,
he raised many a laugh. But if Napier on land cut
a queer figure, he appeared in a different light on
his native element. The attack on Acre was a very
brilliant affair, in which he won golden opinions,
though it must be remembered that he was only
second in command, and that to Sir R. Stopford
belongs at least some of the credit which Sir
Charles seemed inclined to appropriate entirely to
himself. We are not now going to open up a con-
troversy which has long since been exhausted. The
Admiral accused the Commodore of disobeying or-
ders, and the Commodore blamed the Admiral for
want of alacrity. It is enough to say that the
storming of Acre was at once a great military and
a great political event, and that Napier on his part
more than justified his reputation for dash and
daring. He was made a Knight Commander of
the Bath, and shortly afterwards, on his return to
England, he was appointed to the command of the
Channel Fleet.

It was now that he began to work his critical
faculty. He exposed many naval abuses, and he
suggested not a few reforms, some of which he had
the good fortune to see adopted before he died;' but
he carried these attacks too far, and rendered his
suggestions of doubtful value through the person-
ality of style which he exhibited in common with
his cousins. It is not wise in an Admiral who hopes
for employment to accuse one Minister of effron-
tery, to sneer at another as a fool, and to treat of
all with asperity. It is not wise in any man to re-
duce a great public question to a contest of person-
alities, to be perpetually complaining that his merits
are not recognised, and to insist upon it that the
neglect of his suggestions is to be explained by the
spitefulness of opponents. This, however, Sir
Charles Napier was too frequently in the habit of
L doing, and he did it to the very last. When the

Russian war broke out all the indiscretions of his
pen and tongue were forgotten, and, with much
' effervescence of champagne at the Reform Club,
he was appointed to the command of the Baltic
Fleet. With what result ? We need not repeat
the story of what he did not accomplish. We
are content in this moment of sorrow to take
his cousin Sir William Napier's estimate of what
he did accomplish :—" He caused the 30 sail
composing the powerful Russian fleet to shrink
like rats into their holes ; he took Bomarsund,
caused Hango to be blown up, interrupted the
Russian commerce, and for six months kept in
a state of inaction certainly 80,000 or 90,000
good troops. He restored and enlarged the
knowledge of the Gulf of Finland to navigation ;
ascertained what large vessels can do there,
and what they cannot do; when they can act
alone, when with troops, and when gunboats
can be used with effect. He carried out an ill-
manned, undisciplined fleet; he brought back un-
harmed a well-organised, well-disciplined one, with
crews exercised in gunnery and seamanship—in
fine, a fleet now really what it was falsely called
when it started—that is to say, one of the most
irresistible that ever floated on the ocean for all
legitimate purposes of naval warfare." As usual,
Sir Charles got into difficulties with his superiors,
and he was not entrusted a second time with the
command of the fleet. There were fiercerecriniina-
tions, which had better now be forgotten. Sir
Charles consoled himself for the loss of the Baltic
fleet by becoming a second time the representative
of a metropolitan borough in Parliament. He was
an ardent Radical, after his hearty honest fashion,
and as such had in 1841, after his Acre exploit, re-
commended himself to the electors of Marylebone.
After the Baltic cruise he won the sweet voices of
Southwark, in the representation of which borough
his death creates a vacancy. The fatigues of the
recent session proved too much even for his iron
frame. About ten days since he was seized with
dysentery, and though the progress of the disease
seemed checked at first, he suffered a relapse, and
died yesterday morning at his residence in Hamp-
shire. In private life he was revered and respected
as a tender father and a faithful friend.—Tinges.

The following is a condensed summary of the de-
ceased Admiral's services, from O'Byrne's Naval
Biography:—" Sir Charles was the eldest son of the
Hon. Charles Napier, of Merchistoun-hall, county
Stirling, and was born on the 6th of March, 1786;
entered the navy the Ist of November, 1799, as a
first-class volunteer on board the Martin sloop, em-
ployed in the North Sea. In the following year
served in the Renown, 74, flag of Sir John Borlase
Warren ; accompanied the expedition to Ferrol,
and next proceeded to the Mediterrarean, where
in November, 1802, he became midshipman ,
on board the Greyhound, 32, Captain Wil-
liam Hoste. Served afterwards successively
in the Egyptienne, Mediator, and Renommee,
frigates. Made lieutenant 30th of November, '
1805, into the Courageux, 74, forming part of the
squadron under Sir J. B. Warren, at the capture
of the French 80-gun ship Marengo, bearing the
flag of Admiral Linois, and the 40-gun frigate Belle
Poule. In March, 1807, was nominated out of the
Prince George, 98, then in the West Indies, to the
acting command of the Pultusk brig, and confirmed
by the Admiral on the 30th of November follow-
ing, After witnessing the reduction of the Danish
islands, St. Thomas and St. Croix, Captain Napier
assisted in the boats of the F awn sloop at the cut-
ting •out of a Spanish merchant vessel from under
the batteries of Puerto Rico. In August, assumed
the command of the Reczuit, of 18 guns, and on the
6th September fought a very smart action with,
and ultimately put to flight, the Diligente, French
corvette, of 22 guns and 140 men. In this action
the Recruit's mainmast was shot away,, many of
her carronades dismounted, sever al of her men
killed and wounded, and Captain Napier himself
had his thigh broken, but refused to leave the deck
until the conclusion of the engagement, In
February, 1809, assisted in the reduction of Mar-
tinique, where.he won distinction and considerably
uhortened the =siege by the manner in which, with
only five menohe landed in open day, scaled the
walls, and planted the Union Jack on the ramparts
of Fort Edward. In the following April, during
Sir Alex. Cochrane's pursuit of three French ships
of the line, which terminated in the capture of the
74. gun ship D'Haupoult, he signalised himself by
the proximity he kept to the enemy, and by his
efforts to injure their spars and rigging, although
fired at by the enemy from all their stern chasers,
and for which he was posted into the prize. Capt.
Napier returned to England in the Jason frigate.
He afterwards served as a volunteer with the
army in Portugal, was present at the battle
of Busaco, and was wounded. In 1811 commis-
sioned to the Thames, 32. On the 21st of July,
in company with the Cephalus brig, was engaged
with and silenced the fire of a flotilla of 11
gunboats and a felucca, carrying 13 guns and 280
men, moored across the harbour of Porto del In-
freschi, on the coast of Italy, and also of a round
tower on the shore and of a body of infantry on the
adjacent hills. On November 1, 1811, in command
of his own ship's boats and those of the Imperieuse,
Capt. Napier landed, with 250 men of the 62d
Regiment under Major Dailey, at the back of the
harbour of Palinuro, where he carried the heights
in gallant style under a heavy fire from the enemy,
who were in large force, and who attempted ;.o re-
take their position after dark, but were compelled
to retire. The next day assisted in the capture and
destruction of 10 gunboats, and 22 richly laden
feluccas on the beach at Palinuro, and a battery of
24-pounders protecting them. On the 14th of
May, 1812, attacked the port of Sapri, and enforced
the surrender of a strong battery and tower mount-
ing two 32. pounders, and with an officer and 38
men, whom, in consideration of their brave defence,
Captain Napier allowed to march out with the
honours of war. On the 26th of February, 1813,
in company with the Furieuse, 36, and having on
board the 2d battalion of the 10th Regiment, under
Lieut.-Col. Coffin, Captain Napier, in a most mas-
terly manner and without loss, took possession of
the island of Ponza, notwithstanding that in the
attempt he was exposed to the fire of four bat-
teries and a tower mounting ten 24 and 18-pounders,
two 12-pounders, and two 9-inch mortars. Next
joined the Euryalus, 36, and captured with her
boats the La Fortune national zebec, carrying ten
long 9-pounders and four swivels, and 95 men,
with upwards of 20 merchant vessels lying in
Cavalarie Roads. During the winter drove on
shore in Calvi Bay the Balleine French storeship,
of 22 guns and 120 men, and compelled a. gaberre
of 30 guns and 150 men, laden with stores, and a
national schooner of the largest class to seek refuge
under the land batteries. Took part in the
liant expedition against Alexandria, and rendered
such efficient service that Capt. J. A. Gordon, the
conducting officer, declared in his despatches
that he owed him more obligations than
he had words to express.' After wards served
in the subsequent operations against Balti-
more. In June, 1815, the Euryalus, the
ship Captain Napier then commanded, was
paid off, and her captain nominated a C.B.
From January, 1829, until the early part of 1832,
Captain Napier was employed in the Galatea, on
particular service. In 1833 Sir Charles succeeded
Admiral Sartorius in the command of Dom Pedro's
fleet, and gained a signal victory over the more
numerous and powerful fleet of Dom Miguel, off
Cape St. Vincent, for which he was rewarded with
the title of Count Cape St. Vincent, and with the
Order of the Tower and Sword. On the Ist of
January, 1839, he was appointed to the command
of the Powerful, 84, on board which vessel in the
following year he hoisted his Commodore's pennant
as second in command, under Admiral Hon. Sir
Robert Stopford, of the English fleet on the coast

of Syria. On the 10th of September following he
effected a landing at D'Journie with 1,500 Turks
and Marines. In the same month he defeated a
body of the enemy at Kelbson ; and afterwards
bombarded and stormed, with a force of not more
than 900 allies and 500 Turks, the strong town of
Sidon, protected by a fort and citadel and a line of
wall defended by 2,700 men, all of whom he made
prisoners. On that occasion, at the head of the
British Marines, he broke into the barracks of the
enemy, and then obtained possession of the Castle.
On the 9th of October folloWing he utterly routed
an Egyptian force under Ibrahim Pasha in a strong
position in the mountains near Beyrout. The result
of this victory and the forward movement preceding
it was the surrender of Beyrout to the allies, and
the entire disorganisation and • submission of the
army of Soliman Pasha. After co-operating in the
Memorable attack upon St. Jean D'Acre, he pro-
eeeded to take charge of the squadron off Alexan-
dria, where he landed and concluded a convention
with Mehemet Ali, which brought the war to a
conclusion. In acknowledgment of his distinguished
services during the campaign Sir Charles was
created a K.C.B. on the 4th of December, 1840, and
was also included in the vote of thanks by the
Houses of Parliament. He was also presented by
the Emperors of Russia and Austria and the King
of Prussia, with the Orders of St. George of Russia;
Maria Theresa of Austria; and the Red Eagle of
Prussia. In November, 1841, he was appointed
Naval Aide-de-Camp to her Majesty. The Captains'
Good Service Pension had been awarded to him in
1837. In May, 1847, he hoisted his flag in the St.
Vincent, 120."

MR. GLADSTONE ON THE roLUNTBER
MOVEMENT.

The distribution of prizes to the successful com-
petitors at the first annual contest of the Chester
artillery and rifle volunteers, which came off last
week on their shooting ground at Waverton, took
place on Monday at Chester. At two o'clock the
artillery and rifle corps mustered in the Linen-hall,
and thence, headed by the band of the Stirlingshire
militia, marched to the Roodee, where, a few evolu-
tions having been gone through by the volunteers,

nder the command of Col. S. B. Hamilton, the
newly appointed adjutant, the prizes were distri-
buted by the mayoress (Mrs. Meadows Frost), with
an appropriate address.
After the distribution of the prizes the volunteers
marched to the Music-hall, where an excellent cold
collation was provided for them at the expense of
the Mayor, who presided. Amongst the guests at
the principal table were the Bishop of Chester, the
Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Chancellor of
the Exchequer, the Marquis of Westminster, Earl
Grosvenor, M.P., P. S. Humberston, Esq., M.P.,
Col. Wilbraham, C. 8., Capt. White, R.N., &c.
The usual loyal toasts having been disposed of,
the MAYOR proposed " The Army and Navy, and
the Volunteers," which was responded to by

Col. WILBRAHAM, C. 8., who referred to the
importance of rifle matches as a means of securing
the permanence of the movement, and gave some
practical advice respecting the mode of conducting
them ; by Capt. White, R.N., and by Capt. Hum-
berston, M.P.

" The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese," pro-
posed by the MAYOR, was responded to by the
respected diocesan himself, and' The Lord Lieute-
nant of the County" was responded to by the
Marquis of Westminster, who stated that there
were now 33 rifle corps established in the county
and six brigades of artillery, making together a
force considerably upwards of 2,000 men.
The Right Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE, M.P., on
rising to propose the next toast, wee received with
tremendous cheering. He said—Mr.Mayor, my lords,
ladies, and gentlemen, having the requisite permis-
sion, I rise to propose to you a toast which I am
sure you will drink with cordiality. It is ".Pro-
sperity to the Ancient City of Chester ;" and with
that toast I mean to couple two names which will
be acceptable to you all—the names of those re-
spected persons who represent you in the Com-
mons House of Parliament. (Applause.) With
respect, gentlemen, to the city of Chester, I re-
joice to think that whilst we wish her prosperity,
we wish her that which she is rapidly acquiring.
One of the most ancient of all the cities of this
land, she has seen many vicissitudes during her
long existence. At times she has been threatened
by rivals, and some sources of her prosperity and
influence have been withdrawn, but of late years
we have seen that those great changes which have
done so much for the general development of the
energies of the country have been eminently
favourable to Chester, and that now, venerable as
she is, when she counts so many centui. ies of her
being, she is prepared to run a race against all
competitors, and prosperity appears likely to be
reserved for her in abundance. (Applause.) Three
years ago I had the honour in this hall of witness-
ing the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society
and it was then observed that Chester gave to that
•
great national institution just twice the numbers
and just twice the receipts that had ever before
attended any one of its anniversaries. (Applause.)
And now, gentlemen, with respect to an occasion at
least as interesting. When I survey the ranks that
are before me, when I reckon your numbers,
though this is not the place for figures, I believe:l
should be justified in saying that, if we compare
the numbers which Chester relatively to her popu-
lation has furnished to the volunteer force of the
country, they are fax beyond the average relation
of that force to the entire population. (Applause.)
I believe, Mr. Mayor, that is true of Chester which
is true of England—namely, that whilst she is old
she is still young—(hear, hear)—and that the
blood thakbeats in her heart and courses through
her veins beats and courses there with as much

vigour as at any previous period of iher
long and famous career. (Applause.) Now,
Mr. Mayor, in naming to you your representatives
in Parliament, I name to you not only those who
enjoy the confidence of their fellow-citizens and
fellow-burgesses, and who, I believe, merit that
confidence, but I likewise name to you gentlemen
who have taken a distinguished part in the orga-
nisation of the force to which you, gentlemen,
belong. (Applause.) You know that one of them
whom you have heard to-day has.devoted the great
influence and popularity which he enjoys, and like-
wise has given the tribute of his personal services,
to the promotion of this important cause. (Hear,
hear.) You know that the other—l mean Lord
Grosvenor—(applause)—has been from the very
first one of the mot energetic, efficient, and dis-
tinguished among all those who by giving their
countenance to these volunteer efforts have done so
much to raise the charnotor Lifla L. strengthen the
security of this country. It is in tiriat character
perhaps to-day that we ought chiefly to recognise
them. And now, gentlemen, allow me to say but
a very few words on the purposes for which you
are united. I confess that I think that' those would
take a very narrow view of your institution who
founded it upon any apprehension of immediate
danger to the country. No ionbt there have been
those who have felt alarmed, and it is not for me
to pronounce opinions which could be of no autho-
rity upon the subject, but I must confess that for
my own, part I don't believe that the shores of
England are at this particular period danger.
(Hear, hear.) It would be, I think, lacing your
I mu placing
also say I
claims on too low a ground.
think it would be placing them upon a ground
which probably would only assign to you a tem-
porary rather than a permanent existence, if we
were to suppose that it was actual apprehension
only that had induced you to make the great
efforts and the great sacrifices which you have
made in a noble cause. But, undoubtedly, I must
admit that there has been in some countries at
least of Europe an idea propagated, and there
have been those who have thought it for their