ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 72, 22 May 1852, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS.

The arrival of the "Stag" brings our news from England down to the 3rd January, only two days later than our previous advices.; The cabinet of Lord John Russell is in a very precarious state, and extensive modifications are confidently spoken of by the infusion of some of .the leading, men of the Peelites. It is understood that Sir James Graham and Mr. Cardwell would certainly enter the ministry prior to the assembling of Parliament, and that Mr. Gladstone and the Duke of Newcastle would follow. There was some talk that the latter would supersede the Marquis of Dalhousie in the Government of India, but we have reason to believe that such would not be the case. When the " Stag" left, the Canterbury Association had advertised for tenders for a ship to leave about the 22nd February for Lyttelton. Mr. G. F. Young, the Protectionist M.P., has had a severe attack of paralysis, arising from the state of excitement he was'thrown into by attending recent meetings in London. ■'• Sir C. Napier has been calling attention to his naval services, and the disregard they are held in by the Whig Government, by publishing a correspondence with Lord John Russell, seeking promotion, which the latter refuses :— "In April last, Sir Charles Napier reminded Lord John Russell that he finished his " not very pleasant letter of the 25th January, 1850," by saying to Sir Charles —' Your briliant services ! on the coast of Syria evince the energy and j boldness of your professional character, and will j always be remembered by me.' As Sir .William Paiker was ' not likely to remain in the Mediterranean all his life,' Sir Charles suggested that ! Lord John would have an opportunity of rewarding his' brilliant services.' Lord John Rus- j sell answered, that he had not at all altered his j opinion of Sir Charles's energy and decision, but the Mediterranean command was not vacant, and he did not know how soon it would be so ; he must preserve his opinion quite unfettered till then, when he should weigh only the merits of the officers eligible. At the end of September, Sir Charles learned, with the rest of the public, that Sir Francis Baring had selected Rear Admiral Dundas for the command of the Mediterranean: so he wrote to Lord John, bringing his services under notice, and asking if his merits had been weighed as promised? Without disparaging Admiral Dundas, whose merits he_ admitted, but who had not had the opportunity of giving such services to the country as himself, he thought that he had reason to complain of the intended arrangement. Lord John Russell answered that the value of Sir Charles's services were not disputed; but the Mediterranean command required 'an officer who shall possess the full confidence of the Government;' he must be an officer on whose ' secresy and discretion' the Queen's Ministers can fully rely. 'I am sorry to say,' Lord John added, Ithat notwithstanding your many brilliant exploits, I could not place in you that implicit confidence which is required.' Sir Charles Napier replied that such candour as this in the first instance would have saved Lord John and himself some trouble: if I do not now enjoy the confidence of the present Board, they have changed their opinions,—biassed, no doubt, by the First Lord, ' who took the earliest opportunity of insulting me, for reasons best known to himself;' he hoped the officer chosen for the Mediterranean command 'maybe successful and discreet enough to uphold a tottering administration.' Sir Charles' followed up his letter by another, accompanied by a vast number of testimonials of confidence in his conduct, which he has received from the Admiralty since 1828, when Lord Melville was at its head. He concluded now with these sentences —' I don't dispute, my lord, your right to appoint to the mediterranean command whom yeu please ; but I dispute your right to damn my professional reputation by sending, me the letter you have done. This is not the time my Lord, to affront an officer who has rendere I a great deal of some service to the Queen and country, when France, with an army of 400,000 men, is in a blaze. Your lordship is renowned for writing indiscreet epistles, and as it would be a pity to withhold your last, I shall send it to the press.' The whole correspondence was sent to the Times newspaper, that the country and navy may see that Ministerial and Admiralty jobbery are of more consequence in the eyes of a Whig Prime Minister than either rank or (to make use of his

own expressions) ' brilliant exploits.' Sir Charles's letter to the editor winds up with a Naperian defiance of the Admiralty. ' Were the Navy ruled by a professional man, he would not have dared to dishonour an officer ; that is left to Lord John Russel and Sir Francis Baring, who appear not to know what military honour is; and, thank God, I am in a position and independent enough to tell them so."