Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-11-21

Of the enemy In cutting out merchantmen and In at.
lacking West Indian Islands, such as 81. Thomas and
Martinique. In au action with French corvette oil y
guns he had his thigh broken oy shot' In tue attack
IN scaling the ramparts with but five men, and plant
ing the Union Jack on Fort ST. Edward He won pro-
motion AZ we'll AZ appause for bis conduct in SUBJ
seouent affair, when be assisted Sir Alexander Coch-
rane (now q well known name) in chasing three
French ships-ofthe-lne and IN capturing one OF
them--a "A. He pressed the enemy 30 hard, and did
them so much damage that his Commander made him
Canaiu 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 cam
pagn with his cousins George Charles and William Ma
pier. Here Black Charles, as ne was called oy his
cousins, saw good deal of land fghtng-was, indeed
falling 10 the other Charles when bullet entered the
nose of the latter lodged in the jaw and shattered the
hone. In November 1870 Charles James Napier writes
TO his mother "Black Charles is queer fellow as
ever crossed me- and honest one and then he gives
the copy of letter which the queer fellow, on quitting
the army addressed TO the First Lord of the Admiralty
Sin: Nv leave of absence is just out. don't think
II worth remaining here for expect you will give me
shin. as am almost tired Of campaigning, which is a
rum concern.
The result Of this appeal was an appointment to the
Thames 49, In this vessel, and IN the EaTyaLS, we
find him performing many signal services, slencng bat
teries. landing troops capturing merchantmen and
whole fleets Of gunboas driving on shore vessels which
he could not capture and finally operating with dstin
guished ability against Baltimore with division OF boats
under his orders.
When the peace came, Napier Ghe many another gal
liant shirt found himself condemned to inactivity. After
fourteen years waiting he found employment again in
Gdldtea on the Portuguese coast and 1t was In this Pc
Rod of his life that he first acquired great position be-
fore the public In performing his service for the British
Government he became interested In the affairs OF For
uga and ventured both TO express his opinion as 10 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 expedition under
Capt Sartorius left the Thames in support of his claims
Eventually the command OF the expedition devoyed on
Capt Napier who succeeded in vanquishing the eet Of
Don Miguel lie encountered this fleet, consisting OF
two neofbae ships and two fhgates besides several
corvettes briggs and xebcque on the Sd of July 1883
He attacked at once and brought the action to speedy
close by boarding the enemy from his flagship Short
as the conflict was it decisive for both the ships OF
the line one of the igates and of the coryettes
remained in his possession. He was thanked for
plot which placed the Queen upon the throne was hon.
oed with the title Of Vscount Capo San Vincene, and
was appointed Admirain Chief OF the Portuguese fleet
Napier however, dissatisfied with subsequent deal
ngs which he had with the Government and especially
with the reduction Of the feet and he quilted the
Portuguese service in disgust He had earned much
distinction, however that it not difficult for him
TO find employment in England. He was, in 1889,
appointed second in command of the Medterra-
mean fleet under Sir Robert Stopford, and he came
in for fighting on the Syrian coast. He is
very prominent figure in the stormng Of Sidon, in the
defeat of brahm Pasba among the mountains OF Beyrout
and most glorious OF al in the reduction OF Acre. Sir
Charles Napier among the mountains OF Beyrout would
no doubt again be described by his cousin he queer
est fellow he ever came across and he led the British
tars riding ass covered with great straw hat WELD
ing huge stick and followed by his dog Pow he raised
many laugh But if Napier on land cut queer figure,
he appeared in different light on his native element
The attack Acre very brilliant affair, in which
he golden opinions though It must be remembered
that he only second in command and that TO Sir
Robert Sopord belongs least Of the credit which
Sir Charles seemed inclined to appropriate entirely to
himself. We not going to open up controversy
which has long since been exhausted The Admiral &C.
cused the Commodore for disobeyng orders and the
Commodore blamed the Admiral for want Of aacry 1t
Is enough say that the storming Of Acre was at once
great military and great political event. and that Ma
pier on his part more than justified his reputation for
dash and daring He was made knight Commander oil
the Bath and shortly afterwards his return to Eng
land 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
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 personality of style which he exhibited in
common with his cousins. II is not wise in an Admiral
who hopes for employment to accuse one Minister OF e
rontery to at another fool and to treat oil all
with asperity 1t is not wise in any man TO reduce
great public question TO contest Of personalities to be
perpetuay complaining that his merits are not recoguiz
ed and to insist upon It that the neglect Of his sugge
tons to be explained BY the spteuness OF opponents
This however, Sir Charles Napier too frequently in
the habit of doing and he did it TO the very last When
the Russian broke out all the indscretions of his
pen and tongue were forgotten and, with much eerve
scence Of champagne at the Reform Club, he was ap
pointed to the command &c .e Baltic Fleet With whs!
Result! need repeat the story oil what he did
not accomplish We are content in this moment OF sor.
row to take his cousin Sir William Napier's estimate Of
what he did accomplish ale caused the thirty sail com
posing 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 state Of inacon certainly
so 900 or 10000 good troops. He restored and en-
larged the knowledge of the Gulf Of Finland TO nsv
cation ascerained what large vessels do there and
what they cannot do when they can act alone, when
wi h troops, and when gunboas can be used with effect
He carried out ill.manned, undiscipined fleet he
brought back unharmed we-organized, wel-discplin
ed one with exercised in gunney and seamanshr
in fine, fleet now really what il was falsely called
when it s.artedthat is TO say Of the most rress
BILE that oated on the ocean, for all legitimate pur
poses Of naval warfare As usual Sir Charles got into
difficulties with his superiors, and he not ntrused
second time with the command of the fleet There were
fierce recrminatons which had better be forgotten
Sir Charles consoed himself for the loss of the Baltic
feet by becoming second time the representative Of
metropolitan borough in Parliament. He was ardent
Radical after his hearty honest fashion, and such had
10 1871, after his Acre exploit recommended hmself to
the electors Of Marylebone. After the Baltic cruise he
won the sweet voices of Southwark in the representa-
ton Of which borough his death creates vacancy
The atigues OF the recent session proved too much for
even 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 relapse
and died yesterday morning. at his residence in Hamp
shire In private life he revered and respected
tender father and a faithful friend
TIE yANDERBILTS NAILS.