The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-04 00:00:00

[PRICE SD.

my discretion; which letter I inclosed to your Lord-
ship, together with my reply.
When I saw the Channel squadron, which I com-
manded for two years to the entire satisfaction of the
Government, reorganised under my late second in
command, 1 waited on Sir Francis Baring and stated
my surprise at his letter, and handed him testimonials
I have received from various members of the Govern-
ment, expressing their opinions of my services, ex-
pecting to remove the impression from Sir Francis
Burin?: s mind of my want of discretion, in which
your Lordship will see by the correspondence I
failed.

Feeling it impossible to rest under such a slur, I
wrote an official letter to the Admiralty, which I
also inclose, together with my reply. For the testi-
monials alluded to I beg to refer your Lordship to the
Admiralty.
Failing to receive any redress from them, I now
appeal to your Lordship, as Prime Minister of this
country, whether it is to be borne that a First Lord
of the Admiralty, and, as a civilian, necessarily igno-
rant of the service over which he presides, and of the
character of the officers in it, should inconsiderately
express a doubt of the discretion of an officer (without
alledging any cause) who has as high testimonials as
any officer in the service, and who has performed his
duty to his Queen and country zealously and faith-
fully, both at sea and on *shore, in most parts of the
globe, and been three times wounded in the service ?
I also appeal to your Lordship whether it is to be
borne, when an officer is so treated by the First Lord,
and appeals to the board for redress, he is to be told
by that board—his natural protectors against injustice
—" that they do not consider it any part of their duty
to enter into the question as to the reason of the First
Lord of the Admiralty for having expressed a doubt
of your discretion"; and, moreover, "that they doubt
the discretion and judgment of an officer appealing
to them, and sending testimonials of his character
from various members of this and other Govern-
ments" ? Is this, my Lord, the position that a British
Admiral ought to be placed in ? To be subject to
the hasty j udgment of a First Lord, and when he
appeals to the board for protection to be reproved by
them for so doing; and for sending them testimonials
of his character—testimonials which, if before a court-
martial, he would be fully justified in producing, and
still more justified in producing before the colleagues
of the First Lord who oppresses him.
I do look upon it as an act of great injustice, that
an officer should be reproved for asking for redress
and explanation, which reproof will remain on the
records of the Admiralty, and infallibly ruin his pro-
fessional prospects.
I beg your-Lordships to distinctly understand that,
had Sir Francis Baring's expression been confined to
my publishing letters to your Lordship, I should
not have said one word on the subject, as that admits
of a doubt, notwithstanding the examples I have
quoted in my public and private letters, to the Ad-
miralty and Sir Francis Baring.
I have the honour to remain your Lordship's
obedient humble servant,

CRARLES NAPIER.
Right lion. Lord John Russell.

8, Downing-street, Jan. 25, 1850.
Sir,—l am aware that you have published several
letters addressed to me on the state of the navy.
These letters contain gross imputations on the cha-
racter and motives of the late Lord Auckland and his
colleagues in the Government; but I have not token
any notice of these imputations. When, however,
you inform me that the First Lord of the Admiralty
has disapproved of these letters, and that bc has
finished by telling you "he has a high opinion of
your professional character, but doubts your discre-
tion," I cannot say less than that I concur in his
opinion of your professional character and share'in his
doubts of your discretion.
I have not interfered in the disposal of the corn,-
mand of the Channel squadron. You commanded that
squadron, as you say, for nearly two years to the en-
tire satisfaction of the Government. I concurred in
that satisfaction ; and you may remember that, when
you applied to me in 1846 for a seat at the Board of
Admiralty, then about to be formed under Lord Auc-
land, I expressed my opinion that your services would
be more useful to the public in a naval than in a civil
department. _ _

'Your brilliant services in 1840 on the coast of
Syria evince the energy and boldness of your pro-
fessional character, and will alWays be remembered
by me.-1 remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN RUSSELL.
Rear-Admiral Sir C. Napier.

Feb. 1, 1850.

My Lord,—l read your letter with surprise, both
at the terms and the nature of the charge, that " my
letters contain gross imputations on the character and
motives of the late Lord Auckland and his colleagues
in the Government."

I never in thought, word, or deed, said or meant to
say one word against Lord Auckland or his colleagues
in the Government ; I honoured and loved him too
well ; and what expression of mine your Lordship has
fixed upon to authorise such an accusation I am at a
loss to know.

More than once in my letters I disclaimed all per-
sonal attacks, and in the last letter I did so in the
most explicit terms.'

My remarks extended over many years, and there-
fore could not be aimed at Lord Auckland, whose
name was never once mentioned, and who held the
office of First Lord little more than two years.
I appealed to your Lordship because Sir Francis
Baring refused to explain if his expression was applied
to my publishing letters to your Lordship, though I
showed him testimonials to convince him of the in-
justice of such an imputation—to awaken in his mind
a sense of the pain he had inflicted on mine.
It is satisfactory to me to find by your Lordship's
letter that, although you share in Sir Francis Baring's
doubt's of my discretion, you confine those doubts to
the publication of my letters.
I consulted my own interest, I certainly
would not have published those letters, for I knew
full well they could not be acceptable to men in office,
but I had a public duty to perform which I was de-
termined to do at all risks.

I am glad your Lordship was satisfied with my
command of the Channel squadron.
I am not aware that I ever applied to your Lord-
ship for a seat at the Board of Admiralty. I offered
my services to you generally.
a am obliged to your Lordship for your remem.
brance of my services in Syria, but, after what has
passed, they are not likely to be again wanted in
a hurry.
I remain your Lordship's obedient servant,
CIIARLES NAPIER.
Right Hon. Lord John Russell.