New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-05

Poor Sir Charles Napier is struggling hard to ex-
tricate himself from the Office of scape-goat, to
which he bas been doomed BY the general voice of
the English people, for the plentiful lack of glory
which attended their arms in the Baltic during his
command there. He is demonstrating manfully
against having the sins Of the nation laid upon his
head and being sent to bear them away to the wilder
nees of futUrity. But it is of no use Nations will
have scepe-go ats, and Sir Charles may as welhank
his stars that he is only peppered with paper bullets
Of the brain, aimed at him with pen and pencil, by
The Times and by Punch, lnstead of beng riddled
wi n bullets of regulation mol, poor Admi-
raj ByDg was about hundred years sgo, as
pIopitiatOry sacrifce, offered to popular dlsippOint
ment by feeble ministry. Mankind in general
have neither time, patience nor ability to slft evil
deDce very fiji ely and separate the precise proper
ton of the grams Of truth from the chat of error.
They take the unquestioDable facts presented to
them and thence draw their inferences and distrib
u'e their rations Of praise or blame accordingly
of en-, it must be owned very much at random.
IN this case, Sir Charles Napier had commiad Of
the finest feet that ever weighed anchor in British
waters, and it went TO the Baltic accompanied by
the most sapgune hopes of the nation. That
blow would be struck at the naval power of Russls
ike The one Nelson gave TO that of Denmark at
Copenhagen, was confidently expected. Sir Charles
himself iOated to hii flagship on the very crest
Of the wave of popular favor II was reported
snd believed that at the famous dinner given to
him at the Reform Club, on the of his departure
be said that before long he would be either in ST.
4
Petersburg or in place as proveiblal for heat IS
the city of Peter is for cold. AS the expedition
proceeded, swept round the Baltic, did little or
IothiDg-nOtbiDg that q much inferior armament
might not have accomplishment came home
az ,p il is no wonder that general cry was raised
against the Admiral ia command whether the same
were reasonable or no.. He had not been in st.
Pet. r.burg, and be certainly not in the alter
native place whittier it was peculiarly believed he
had promised TO go in case of failure 10 efe,t his
visit TO the Russian metropolis, and everybody was
hing how it happened. Whether he ever made
this famous brag or not, it was put by himself or
somebody else in that epigrammstc form which
best sticks in mems memories, and which all pub
lie men who are wise in their generation are most
careful TO avoid. Nobody recolects diplomatic
platitude-it is too broad and dull OF edge to make
an impression; but when tbs same idea has been
pointed with Wit or sharpened by antithesis, il n-
heres forever and works evil or good continually.
Ever since he came home be has been baited and
badgered degree which seem, TO have exacerbated
to the hight the naturally somewhat aciduOus TEN
per of tie Napiers Speeches at public meetings
and in Parliament, letters in the newspapers, and
pamphlets good store, haze been resorted to 10 let
of his superfuOus head OF steam. Among other
things he has done, he has visited St. Petersburg
since the peace and examined the forti6catiOns Of
CrOD sadt, and bas satisfied himself by ocular de-
uonstratiOn that they would have been too many
for him and his feet and that he did wisely in de-
el'ning to run his head against them. This may be
true but it is By no means catering to the vanity
of the British Iation, and it has certainly had no
effect 10 slsckenipg the FIRE hat has been kept up
upon him for so long. Admiral Berkeley, Lord
OF the Admiralty, We think, publicly declared tina,
it wss Sr Charles Napiers faulI that Cronstadt was
no; taken. Sir Robert Peel, another junior Lord
of the Admiralty has declared tina, he had it from
the highest authority that there but one Opil.
len among all grades Of the Russian feet: from the
Admiral to the MdshpmaD, as TO the want of en-
teIPrise display ed by ST. Charles Napier. And the
speak the s,bse Of the ns'i"a.
ST Ctsress la.t attempt 4. eel. dettn:e is co..