§ MR. CRAUFURDsaid, he regretted the necessity under which he felt himself placed in putting a question to the Senior Naval Lord of the Admiralty, whom he then saw present. The question was one of extreme importance, and related to the statements which had recently been made at a public dinner by the late Commander in Chief of the Baltic fleet. He wished, therefore, to inquire whether it was true that the Board of Admiralty had censured or dismissed Sir Charles Napier? what instructions were given to that gallant admiral respecting the performance of his duties in the Baltic? and whether such instructions had fettered him in any way in carrying out his operations there?
ADMIRAL BERKELEYSir, no one can regret more than I myself do the necessity the hon. and learned Gentleman feels in putting this question. No one can regret more than I myself do that my old and gallant Friend, Sir Charles Napier, should have been so highly indiscreet as to have made the speech which he has been report- 1393 ed to have made at the late dinner at the Mansion House. Having expressed these regrets, it is my duty to inform the House, in reply to the question of the hon. and learned Member for Ayr, that Sir Charles Napier has not been censured by the Admiralty; that Sir Charles Napier has not been dismissed from his command; that Sir Charles Napier was not goaded into improperly attacking any one fortification in the Baltic; that Sir Charles Napier was not restricted in any way from attacking those fortresses, if he had so thought proper; and that Sir Charles Napier was informed by the Admiralty that the country expected everything that such a fleet could perform to be carried out and executed against the enemy. I regret extremely that Sir Charles Napier is setting so bad an example to those officers whom he would command. I regret extremely that it is my duty to state, as the Senior Naval Officer of the Admiralty, how highly we must disapprove of such conduct in any officer in Her Majesty's service. While Sir Charles Napier is complaining of the want of confidence in the Board of Admiralty, Sir Charles Napier should reflect whether, by such conduct—whether, by the conduct he is pursuing towards his superiors—he is showing an example which is fitting for those who are under him to follow—whether he is able, by such conduct, to secure the confidence of those officers who are under him, if such confidence they have in him; and whether such conduct is becoming in an officer who assumes to command a fleet in conjunction with our allies the French.