The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-10-18
TgE IlAILY DISPATCH
N0RFOLK CONVENTION.

NORFOLK CONVENTION.
meeting of citizens win be held in the |
basement Of Metropolitan Hall, this AFTER.
noon as half past clock. for the purpose
Of appointing delegates to the Norfolk Con.
vention. In this cal, large number Of
merchants and other citizens, unite: 1t y
hoped there will be > snll attendance
TIVE ALLrrs.-At last, after eight months
of war, the allied troops in the Black Sea
have fought their first battle, and, as we pre-
dicsed, have cut to pie.es the half barbarous
enemy with whom they contended. What
particular advantage ..ksy have reason to an
ticipate from the opet[tlon, we are at loss
to conjecture. Russis can afford to lose fifty
battles, and yet remasi unconquered.
But there is one fat settled by this battle,
which was indeed rendered more than proba-
BILE before the allies ,ame to the field. That
fact is, that the apps nsnsions professed by
the allied GOVERNED of the overwhelming
military power of Rsssia are all bypocriticsi.
They have other proposes Of their own to
gain, which it is c6nvenient to cloak under
this transparent r1tence.
The whole war Sas proved, that however
Russia, from the sxtent Of her country, the
character of her r mate, and the number OF
her population. my present insuperable OBJ
stacles to an invaaer, her military power Is
not formidable be1end her own borders
1t lis hardly to klsupposed that the capture
of Sebsstopol viii bring the Emperor of Rus
STA to terms or hat he will consent to
peace founded on the surrender of the Cri-
mea. Any other peace will leave the "bal-
ance of power" il Europe as insecure from
interruption as beure. The only good which
is likely to flow frcm the contest is that the
crowned heads o the Old World will be
more and more enbittered against each 9TH
er, and that the people will one day be able
to "divide and conquer"
THE MEETING This EvESING.-We hope
the meeting this evsning, in the basement Of
Metropolitan Hall, will be well attended,
We have always favored the idea of co-ope-
ration among the cites of Virginia, and have
endeavored to encourage reciprocal good
feeling amongst them, and to dispel jealousie'
and suspicious What though our fellow
citizens of Norfolk failed to send delegates
to the White Sulphur Convention their de-
linquency, although to be regretted, ought
not to be regarded an excuse for any omis-
sion on our part. Nor let US, under any ap-
prehension touching their motives, decline to
embrace the invitation they have offered us
Let US 60 and see them, hear what they have
to say, and exchange words and ideas with
them in q calm and friendly spirit. If we
differ with them, let US differ dispassionately;
according to them the credit which we claim
for ourselves, of desiring to advance the pros
perity of the Old Dominion.
DR.. CARTER P. JoHNsoN.-The informa-
ton received yesterday, in this city, from Mr.
Gilbert Of New York, one of the passengers
by the Arctic, leaves little room to hope for
Inc safety OF DIR. johnson. Mr. Gilbert states
that DIR. Johnson Was on board and that he
was in conversation with him an hour before
the Arctic sunk. There is still possibility,
that DR.. johnson may have been saved in
one Of the boats which has not yet been
heard from, though we confess the possibility
seems very remote ore.
The loss of DIR. johnson will be a heavy
one to the community at large. and to bis
children, now orpnans, irreparable. The
Medical College of this city, and his pro
fession, have lost in him pillar of strength
Beyond all doubt, if he had lived, DIR.
Carter P. johnson would have stood at
the head of his profession in this State
He has been cut off in the morning of a
bright career, leaving an impressive lesson
of the uncertainty of human hopes and the
instability of all earthly things.
ONE OF THE ARcTIc's PAssENGERs.-Mr.
j. THOMPSON, of Charleston, one of the res
cued passengers of the steamer Arctic, pass
cd through this city yesterday. The North
ern cars not having arrived in time to con-
meet with the Southern morning train, he
was detained here several hours, until the af
ternoon train for the South departed. We
were not SO fortunate as to shake him by the
hand; for We would be glad to greet one of
those who were rescued after the awful trials
of the scenes Of the destruction of the Arc
tic, and SO many of her passengers. A friend
who conversed with Mr.. Thompson, informs
Us that he spoke in the highest terms of
praise and commentator of Capt Luce, and
his conduct. He concurs with most all who
made statements, that had the officers and
crew remained with the boat, certainly near
ly ALL and probably all, the passengers
would have been saved. He was near the
Arctic when she sunk, and describes the
scene as beyond description or imagination,
horrible and awful. Almost the last he saw
or heard. was the young man Holland firing
of the signal guns. He saw numbers dis
burthening themselves Of their money and
other valuables-throwing their belts and
purses on deck, to tighten their bodies for
the inevitable struggle with the waves for
life, that awaited them. Many of the ladies'
tainted, while others remained quiet, passive.
" resigned to their dreadful fate. After be-
ing Is hours exposed to the weather and the
waves. he was, with his companions, picked
mp BY the Huron. He suffered severely from
cold. He was proceeding as rapidly as nos
sible home, where no doubt be win be wal.
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