The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-26

| wall Is many roos IN thickness.
This icy barrier generally resists the force
Of the stream for four or Eve days, and mean
while the whole level country above is of
course Hooded with water In February,
isas. the writer Of this article was resident
| OF Montreal, and witnessed the effects of one
of these dams of ice. The water arose sud
denly in the night, and by morning seemed to
have gained its maximum height. Nearly
two.thirds of the city was inundated ba'
| the icy barrier could not last forever. va
the night of the 18th day, the 81. Lawrence
arose in his might, and burst through the ICY
| wall, which all the artillery oil lhe eai. ~
might have battered for thousand years AZ
vain, and down went the imprisoned waters
| in moment. And il is across sacl d BIZ eAN
| at the very place where the ice oani -
formed that Mr.. Stephenson proposes 10
br;dre the ST. Lawrence! Suppose bridge
oroe hu;;.. Ia thing scarcely credible)--sup-
nosa that the floating ice should spare Its
,,;ers-a thing incredible-yet the first ice
dam that should form around or below 1t,
| world tear I: to atoms, when Ike river re-
Gained the mastery, though it were one solid
casting embedded in solid rock.
We have spoken thus az length, feeling
.bot rnne Of our readers who have dwelt ex-
clusively q. the South can form an adequate
idea of the power and the effects of ice when
set in motion in immense masses by the cur
rem. of a rapid stream like the St. Lawrence,
and 10 furnish some data by which to judge
of the practicabihty OF Mr.. Stephenson's
project.
BUEYos AYREs-The New York Times
regards Buenes Ayres as the Ashenians did
Sardis. They would never send an Ambas-
sador there, because the atmosphere OF that
Court was unwholesomef for Republicans. Bue-
nos Avres the Times considers alike unpro-
pitisus for American diplomatists All foreign
Ministers. it contends, under the influence of
its atmosphere, soon exhibit symptoms OF
mental arrangement which entitle them TO
places in lunatic asylum. It gives brief
glance at the history of foreign interference
in the Argentine Republic-the blockades
Of its ports by Louis PHILIPPE TO afford pro-
teetion to certain French citizens who al
legged tina. they did not want ito the ups
and downs of Rozas, &c. and to the recent
r;surpation of the odious Urquiza. The
blockade he established, the Times considers
was not at all entitled to the respect of
friendly nations; and it was allowed to con-
tinue, to the great detriment of commerce
and the extreme persecution of the citizens
of Buenos Ayres, until they contrived to bay
of Admiral Coz, and thus break itup. Eve
~ American in Buenos Ayres it says, pro-
tested against the recognition Of the block
ade, and it wonders now our representative,
Mr.. PgyDLEToN, could commit such blum
der as to range himself beside the British
and French Ministers IN recognising the
blockade. The Times speaks in strong Ian
euage, from private accounts, which it says
It has received from Buenos Ayres. As bad
as Urquiza is, the Tisaes doubts whether he
has been guilty Of the enormities attributed
to him, and it thinks that Rozas was pretty
fair ruler Under him, commerce hourished
and immigration was encouraged N Buenos
Ayres.
No REPLY.-The Washington Uato's says
that Lord John RusselFs despatch, not being
addressed either to the State Department or
to the American Minister at London, but to
the British Minister at Washington. and being
moreover, called forth by proposition now
finally disposed OF, will receive no reply from
the State Department.
wLEDoxRST.-Amongt the many val
liable contributions to our library, which we
have been called upon to mention, is beau
tifulvolume entitled Selections from the Cor
respordence of Thomas Chalmers, D. D.,
LII. d. The fame of Chalmers as preach
err and theological writer of great power, is
world wide, and this new work will find rea-
ders among the entire religious public We
are indebted to hr. j. w RANDOLPH for the
copy before us.
TIE PEoTEsr.-The Washington Stor
insists upon it that England and France
had not Joined Austria in her protesting
| allies OF Prussia and Russia On the kosta
affair. We suppose we shall know positively
in few days.
FREDERicKsBrRG.-Wo invite attention to
the two letters of our correspondent Essex.
concerning the improvements and enterprises
of the ancient town Of Fredericksburg. The
letter dated Friday last did not come to hand
until Saturday morning.
Spirit of the Press.
Saturdays Hc3 has an article On public raeet-
lrgs, and the machinery by which they are opera
ted. ltconcludes that the only public meetings
which accomplish anything, are in war those
that assemble at the tap of tie drum, and in
those in which Action takes the place of Talk
The Enquirer has brief letter trcra Mr.. Dix oe
New York, denying the charges of the Enquirer
that he made furious abolition speeches in the Sen
| ate OF the United States, win flourish abou. 81