The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-02
would no, he srorg sncvsh maintain the position thus
preDaturely gained.
OBITUARY.

OBITUARY.
GENERAL SIR WILLIAM NAPIER. THE HISTORIAN OF
TIE PENINSULAR WAR;
The great historian OF the Pennsular War died Sun
day ia his 74th year The London TAes gives inter-
estng eke,ch OF the career Of this distinguished officer
and literary celebrity He entered the army when lad
OF fourteen, and he but little twenty when
went that great which he afterwards undertook to
describe His extraction remarkab enough deserve
mention, for Of his graudfaihers actually
the grandson Of King Charles H. and the succeeded
10 the family title while Marlborough WAS conducting the
campaign Of Families 10 that year, l706 certain Fran
els Scott became Lord Napier. BY first marriage he
produced line of sons from otwhom des,snded the
present Admra! Sir Charles Napier by second mar
riage he had a son named George This George in the
year $751; took to wife the Lady SARAH daughter Of the
secons Charles, and previously the wife OF Sir Thomas
Bunbury. From that union there issued progeny OF
divisions OF the Peninsuar army-iamous though they
were-the "Lght Division" was the most distir
History young Napier served EXCHANGES we're no, so
common in those days as at present, and lie with the
Light division and with the Forty third regiment of foot
that Sir Williams active services almost exclusively
identified If We say that the active service OF Sir Viii
liam Napier was commensurate with the Of the
Light division In the Peninsula We shall have said quite
enough TO define and establish his claims q working
soldier AT first his promotion rapid; but though he
entered the war captain, he left 1t only lieutenant
COLONEL and with this rank alone and upon the
half pay establishment Qt the Forty third foot that he
made his first appearance before the public in the new
career or with what Inducements he Originally conceived
the design which he executed worthy caunot say
ne himself informs u.s. upon the History OF The PENN
sQ@r War" Tie grea, Duke once entertained the
idea OF becoming the historian OF his own cam
pagns or, at any rate. OF bequeathng the materials
TO his executors Sir George Murray also thought OF
entering the field, but Colonel Napier advanced beyond
these preliminary conceptions lie undertook the TASK,
and accomplished twill what success Europe knows.
as however directly off lsiye opinions of these
time, IL offended Englshmen, for Il sssaed the still
dominant policy Of toryisn and conceded infinitely more
credit to Napoleon his ystem and to bis troops than
the preudicts Of the country hal yet ao we'd offended
Spauiards for 1t brushed away the orag o. the nation,
and reduced the enthusiasm and efforts Of the pairo,
armies 70 Dimensions more consistent with fact French
ii might possibly ooreiae, Ter II recorded lheir mill
tary merits with uncommon candor, but 10 no other sym
pathles did it Addressed and, above all, While de-
pctng the and its e!ores IN unprecedented coiois,
impesched tie policy out o. which the contest had aFsen
ana attacked the spirit in which 1t was conducted.
Opinions Ike these brought the author head perie
storm Of obloquy which with the family genius Tor i'm
proving controversy, be contived rather 70 aggravae
than assuage He accused not only of pro'e ssiona In
capacity under thousand forms, but OF POLITICAL aad
almost moral heres without number Against the cur
rent Of popular and political prejudice the work forced us
way by it's intrinsic destinations to tho summit, OF public
favor The truth Is besides the genuine nationality OF It's
object and is tone, there dignity in the treatment
and living verify In he descriptions which led NE mind
;nrestngy captive Never before had such scenes been
portrayed nor wi h such wonderful cooring. The com
peton OF this extraordinary work not only established
Colonel Napers fame author but contributed pro
badly in conjunction with brilliant services of his
brother Charles, TO improve even his professional posi-
He had indeed earned IN the tair discharge Oh
military duty all the promotion which overlook him,
for had borne active and distinguished part through
out protracted war; and was justly entitled 10 the
gradual advancement reserved for its survivors Stl
can hardly be doubted tba. the brother Of Sir Charles
Napier and the historian OF the Pnrsuar war commanded
greaer respect than would have been paid TO the half pay
officer OF the 43d, when the red ribbon OF the Bath and
the coouecy of aregment added to the promotions
arriving by seniority the public grathed at the re-
cognitions evinced. Yet Sir William Napier remained
Napier still and cashed against the opinions of men as
rudey in his later as in his earlier days AS bis Light
period OF his life, aud his HIS
tory second his advocacy Of Sir Charles Napers
excellence in every capacity may be taken for the bust
ness OF the third. The spirit OF the family has been uni
for mly c,annsh Of the Scottish stan lard
but Sir Williams devotion 70 the reputation Of his brother
almost without parallel. On this point he would
brook no question at any hands Ia the 1onau
islands, in India. in the command Of home district
wherever Sir Charles Napier stationed, and whatever
he did his acts right The historian OF the war in
the Peninsula resumed his pen, for his brother 8
his heart have been in the task that his alleged preference
Of TITS work TO his great achievement not quite incredi
terminated together Sir William stood champan his
grave ind at the most critical period Of Indian debates
his chief anxiety for the reputation Of his brother
which 10 these discussions he thought might possibly be
mpugred. How little measure he observed IN the con-
roversies which this devotion provokedhow repulsivey
he treated the consideration which all ready TO be
querres ended and Sir Charles death proved
the signal for the universal oblivion OF his faults and tn.
Sir William will all those acrmonics cease which his in
rRctahle pen but too apt to occasion The public will
forget the conro vesiast remember him onyto reflect
the least fortunate Of his encounters never
will remain impressed upon lis memory that OF noble
soldier who did his duty in Of Englands wars
and who afterwards redoubed this service by raising for
his country mperishable monument Of the glory she
had acquired
FRANCE.