The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-12

OLD no Aso" -
Commerce remarks that the absurd poiicy Vi
entrusting strong measures to weak nan'''
continues to occupy the attention OF the Ia
ropean press. An inquiry, says me 'oofna.'
was instituted last year, by orde1 OF JUG
Queen, into the orders of promotion anc re-
tirement from military service, with VIC"
to its greater efficiency. 1t was stated III INC
renort Of the Commission appointed, that IN
the later Napoleonic wars, the English army
had but two general officers-Lord Lyme
docb and Sir Thomas Picton-above forty
years Of age. The Duke of Wellington was
Major General at SO, the Marquis OF Angle
sey at "a, Lord Da1housie at 80, LORD otrai
ford at Sc, Lord Hill at SO, Lord Beresforo
at SO, Sir George Murray at 40, Lord Comoer'
mere at 81, Lord Londonderry at 81, ana SO
on, Exactly the opposite practice. tits ADDED
as>been thus far pursued in the present war
and to il are attributable many of the Crimean
disasters. avery existing incapacity, says
London paper, sis kept in its place, and the
new Minister of War, Lord Panmure, an In
valid himself, has begun his administrator
nv the selection of fresh batch of respecta-
BILE antiquities, in the place of the valuaoie
commanders, whom death and sickness nave
DISPLACED. In place of the heroic Sir DE
Lacy Evans, General Simpson has been ap-
uointed, who is of feeble health, and "a years
of sge; in the East Indies, Gen. Somerset
who entered the service in 1871; ana as Com
mander-in- Chief of the Army IN Ireland
Lord Session, an octogenarian, estimable per
son.lly but totally untitled for command
erned 81 ord ssaifsmss6d H. Seix sax
self, DR.. Andrew Smith, being enfeeoied oy
age, and irritable and peevish in the highest
degree. The hospital at Smyrna, situated in
hot climate and q half civilized country, is
under the care of medical gentleman ee
years of age. The Navy commanders are
nearly az much complained of. The London
Times states that Admiral Boxer, that anarct
DID,, who left everything entrusted to him al
Constantinople in utter confusion, has beer
sent to Balaklava, in order, if possible, tt
add another disturbing element to the hope
less Chaos" already existing there. Tit
same paper makes the following appea
''know young people to be FOOLS" and sacri
fee the nation by their wanton and short,
sighted sel6shness ave solemnly ask the
people of England" it says, "whether they
will suffer their countrymen to be thus sacri-
feed at the shrine of cruel apathy and hope
less incsp, city, and whether they will permit,
in these our days, scasial and abuses TO dis
grace the public service from which the Tory
Ministry, of fifty years ago, turned away in
disgust, and which the iron Duke of Yelling.
ton, for time at least effectually trampled
out and extinguished?'
Old men for counsel; young men for ac-
ton, is the truerule. Most OF our naval re-
roes in the late war with England were m ere
boys when they immortalized themselves and
their country. So too were our soldiers
There are exceptions no doubt, such as Old
Zach and Winfield Scott, men who never
grow old; but they are exceptions to gen
eral rule. However. we are not prepared to
say that the cause of English failures in the
East Is the old age of her officers alone. She
seems to be ruled by old counsels, by ante.
diluvisn principles. both in state aud camp,
and moreover there appears to be sort Of
destiny upon her, first forcing her into the
war against the better judgment of her wisest
men. and then making her blunder at every
step. Whom the gods would destsoy, thew
Arst make mad"
MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JAS.
CONDOS BENEET.-The N. Y. Herald refers