The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-11-22
Air Charles Napier.

This kAllAnt British saiioT, Wuose oeatu was
lately announced was scion, OF famiiy
which has filled as large sphere as any other
In tho INDUSTRIOUS roll OF mathema ticiaps, SOL
dior. sailors, lawyers, and divines. which
scotland has furnished to Great Britain DUR
,nr the last two hundred years. The Phila-
eeIphia No-h American, in an interesting
sketch of his career, says that this famous
commander was man of short stature and
commo n place appearance. lie was shabby in
dress, and somewhat dirty. Officers who have
served under him say that he was a trife too
fond of rum and of eq uivocal Jokes; moreover,
that personal cleanliness did not constitute
one Of his attributes; he was, in fact, nick
named "Dirty Charley" but whether from
The fondness for the aforesaid jokes, or from
lack of soap, we cannot say. He was no ora
Tor "as Brutus s." but he had strong, home
~ manner of expressing himself, which told
with any audience but the House of Com
mons. AS a legislator, history will be silent
with regard to him as an officer or rather as
the intelligent leader and commander there
will be great doubts as to his merits; but as q
brave man, a thorough seaman, and a fearless
yindicator of what he conceived TO be his
country's rights, there will be no difference of
opinion. HIS very name was SYNONYMOUS
with heroism and daring. 1t was a terror to
the enemies of England.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER was a cousin of Sir
CHARLES NAPIER, " The lion of the Punjaub,',
the conqueror OF Scinde, so celebrated for his
dashipg EXP PLOTS in India, and his going TO war
with two towels and piece of soap" He
was also cousin OF Sir WILLIAM NAPIER,
whose History of the Peninsular War" is
one of the standard works of our times. Be-
longing to the lineage of Baron NAPIER Cor
NBrER of Merchistoun,) the inventor of To-
garithms, the deceased Admiral in no way
derogated from it's dignity further than by his
eccentricities which were of a remarka BILE
order. He commenced his midshipman's career
in the troublous times of the great war of
England with the first NAPOLEON, and served
in several frigate actions. This was the be-
ginning of a brilliant naval career, which
brought him steadily up to the rank of Com
mauder, in which he figured at the siege OF
Acre, in 1Si0. His dashing charac Ter had pre-
yiously made him great favsrite, and his
favorite costume, frieze jacket and tar
paulin hat, and the knotted stick which he
fiourished instead of n sword, was famous
in the English navy as NAPoLRoN's "surtout
of grey - in the army of FIance Universal
attention was attracted TO "CHARLEY Ma
rIER," as he was familiarity named, and Lord
PALMRRsToN was guided by the popular feel
ing III NAPIER's favor in his selection of an
acting Commodore in the operations on the
coast of Syria TO compel lBRAHIM PASHA, the
son Of MKHEMET ALI, the rebellious Viceroy
OF Egypt, TO eyacuate Beyrout, Acre, and other
places. In this war, England gave the go-by
10 France, and very closely j9opardized the
peace of Europe. The British squadron was
under the chief command Of Admiral Sir
ROBERT SToPFoED, but NArIBR was his COM
modOre and the moving spirit of the exped-
ton. Beyrout and the other seaport towns of
Syria fell before the English fleet. The
crowning exploit was the capture OF Acre,
wherein Sir CHARLEs (theu plain CHARLEY
led the way with hi. favorite stick aud dog,
and was one of the first to enter the breach
Soon after this feat he was made Il COM
mauder of the military Order of The Bath, and
was therefore entitled to the appellatIon of
knight or sir" He obtained his rank of Rear
Admiral by seniority.
The american adds that on the conclusion of
the war in Syria, he returned to England and
embarked in political life reformer. Hav-
ing been elected mem Der OF the House of Com
mons for the borough of Marylebo he be-
came kind of political Ishmaelite, laying
about him right aud left against every one who
did not perceive that Great Britain ought to
spend her whole income upon the Navy, and
constantly representing France rs on the
point of invading England. Yet, his popu-
Iarity was great and his repu tation great
Captain SO pre-emnent that at the commence
Inart of the Russian war in 1854, he was ap-
pointed to the command of the fleet des tined
for the Baltic, the most magnificent squadron
ever sent to sea By the creates naval power O.
the world. 1t will be recollected that be did
not himself encourage the popular antcipa-
ton that this fleet would give the Russians an
"infernal lcklg;'' for, in his address to the
people of Portsmouth, on embarking, he ad-
vised them not TO expect too much for the Rus
sian fortresses were strong aid their waters
shallow, and they might not venture out to
encounter the En- glish and French fleets. At
ter the Baltic cruise, the Admiral returned 10
England aud TO Parliament, where he began
his old song upon the weakness Of the Navy, the
growth of French power on sea as well as
land-a subject which he also advoca ted In the
newspapers. But he was, nevertheless, a
sturdy and single-hearte ted veteran, and in his
death Britain has lost Lion of the Seas.