The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-01

II giving the British engineers fresh scope
Cir their inventive capacities, has but dis
csncerted these gentlemen who canldemolish
u Don the most approved principle, regular
Fashioned front, but who seem to be badly
of. as soon as the enemy deviates from the
rule prescribed blythe best authorities on the
subject"
The writer farther maintains that the par.
allSl and batteries should have been directed
estinst, or at, the most two well defined fronts
of the defences; that, in this way, the allies
by bringing all their artillery to bear upon
one point, could have easily established al
oEce great superiority of fire. and shorten.
ed the siege considerably. But, ''instead Of
tlis. the desire to let each army act indie
pyndently Of the other, produced this unpre-
c}dented mode of siege. in which the whole
o; the ramparts, extending over length OF
three niles, is simultaneously cannonaded on
ih whole extent Such thing has never
Teen seen before Whoever heard of an at
tick which allowed the defence to bring into
pay at once, from plain Fashioned works and
l,inettes, the enormous mass Of two hundred
aad fifty guns? A single Fashioned front can
hardly mount twenty guns; and in an ordina-
ry siege, no more than three or four fronts
can contribute to the defence. Unless the al.
lied engineers can show, hereafter, very sub
stantial reasons for their curious proceedings,
we must conclude they were unable to find
out the weakest points of the defences, and
therefore, in order not to miss them, fired
upon every portion of the line
On the I'd or Sd of October, Sebastopol
was invested More than month has elaps-
ed and it has not yet fallen. That achieve
ment may require another month possibly
it will never be performed.
WASHINGTON GossIP-The Washington
Nov. 2s) correspondent of the New York
Herald says that the President and Cabinet
are evidently somewhat excited and inqui-
ringly alarmed at the state of mind in which
the members of Congress arrive-whether
they will confirm or not their fears by char
ging the present disorganized state of the
party to the misconduct and mismanagement
of the Executive.
He adds that there is rumor that the Pre-.
sident will be forced to meet the public ex-
pectations by changing the Cabinet; but not
immediately. 1t is said that Mr.. Guthrie and
Mr.. Campbell are uneasy.
He says that the Cabinet had under con-
sideration on Tuesday, Baron de FHuys' des-
patch to Mr.. Mason ON the Soule affair, which,
it appears, is quite moderate and respectful,
but it is believed, says the correspondent,
that Mr.. Soule has not acted with discretion
or moderation. 1t is thought, he says, that
Mr.. Soule will not succeed in Spain, and will
have to come home. Mr.. Marcy and Mr..
Gushing, he adds, are both anxious for Cuba,
honorably, and will only sustain Mr. Soule so
far as public interests require it.
Captain Gibson's case is said to remain in
stotuquo. Mr.. Marcy says, ~ am tired of
hearing about the Dutch Netherlands
BY the same authority we are told that the
Presidents Message viii be firm and decided,
but not warlike; that it is believed England
will settle the Central American question as
soon as possible and disavow Consul Miller
speech at the Sandwich Islands and that it
is not believed that we need expect any
improper interference on the part of England
and France.
He also adds the following items of in
terest
The Russian ambassador says that Lord Palmer
stons visit to Paris is TO agree upon joint note to
Austria and Prussia Unless they join the allies the
revolutionary element in Italy and Hungary will be
Immediately let loose. He further said-"We NAV
do it first"
The utmost excitement existed 10 diplona.ie cir.
cles in France and England at the time of The sail
| ing of the Baltic If Sebastopol should not fall
and is not believed it will-ihere will be reyol
| ton in France, and change of ministry in Eng
land, which will sympathise with the liberals of Ger
many and other parts. Bread is high in Paris. and
the people are talking quite loud
1t is quite current in diplomatic circles that the
British ministry were excited and alarmed when
MIR. Soule arrived in London from Paris-tbat Lord
Clarendon called upon Mr.. Buchanan immediateIv
and then communicated by telegraph with the
French government.
Mr.. Marcy looks careworn. He talks quite free
ly about Mr.. Soule; is afraid he will commit an in
discreet blunder and involve the government TO
save himself He told gentleman to dav from the
South can't help it | did my best TO prevent
the appointment; but it was the Presidents own
like Sanders and the rest of EN-"