The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-24
,,,a,. ae r,rar,a on,,a have marched success.

fully up the hill of Alma, or resasteo sleauhy
the tremendous charge Of the Russians at
Inkermann 1t was the misfortune Of these
heroes that they were commanded by an old
imbecile, and that the administration at home
was weak and incapable. But put such
man as Pitt at the head of British couhsels'
aud place young and capable officers in com
mand Of her army, and if the British cannot
conquer Russia, "a feat which Napoleon the
First found too much for him. they can at
least whip France, as they have often done
before, and as Anglo -Saxons believe it is
natural, right and proper that they should do.
However, we think it very probable that a
few more British humiliations inthe East will
Justify the opinion of the Assemblee Nation
ale, and bring down the whole system of aris-
tocratic government in Great Britain. But
such result bodies no good to France. If
England, even under the benumbing and pa
ralyzing influence of an aristocratic govern
ment is so brave and powerful, what would
she be with the mighty energies of her peo-
pie, reused, stimulated, and developed by
free institutions? She would show more than
the warlike genius of France, when, for
time she cast off the shackles of despotism;
but, unlike France, she would know how to
regulate and preserve the fire of liberty, nor
would she provoke Heaven to withdraw its
favor by the horrid blasphemies and I'M
heard of crimes which characterized the
French revolution. II is decidedly not the
interest of France that England should be-
come free government.
In expressing these opinions, we do not for
a moment change our views OF the course of
England in the Eastern war, which we regard
as a succession of blunders from irst to last.
TO embark in such war at all was blunder
of the first magnitude, into which she was
betrayed by the arts Of the political juggler
who is now seated on the throne of France.
All the evidence which we have seen upon
the subject, from the beginning Of the Eas-
tern difficulties down to this hour, satisfies
us that Nicholas, in his dispute with Turkey,
was contending in good faith for the rights
of the Greek Church, and that Turkey was
in no such danger of being devoured by the
Bear as it suited her Western champions to
represent That the war is not war for free
principles on the part of the allies, must be
evident now to every body, from the league
of uncompromising despots whom Louis Ma
poleon has enlisted throughout Europe,
against Russia. If either France or England
were so deeply interested in the cause of hui
man liberty against despotism, as to draw
the sword against Russia on that account,
why did they not draw the sword for Chris
tan Poland as well as Mahometan Turkey?
If the safety of Europe from Russian aggres-
sion would be endangered by the fall of Tur-
key was it not much more endangered by
the fall of Hungary, the acknowledged break
water of Europe against the Russian food?
But every statesman of England knows that
the Duke of Wellington was right when he
declared that Europe was in no danger from
Russin, nor Russia from Europe. We
speak from no prejudice in favor of England,
when we say that if Louis Napoleon calcu-
culates from the Crimea that England has
become "a nation of shopkeepers,' he has ia
ken long step towards proving himself the
ass that every body thought he was before he
assembled the throne. The only conceivable
benefit which this war can confer upon Eng,
land will be to show her that her greatest
and most dangerous enemy is France, and
that it will never be safe for her to reduce
her military and naval establishments until
France reduces her own in just and fair pro-
portion.
BISHOP MCGILL' S LEGTURE.-The lecture
delivered in the Hall of the Richmond Athe-
n9um, on Thursday night, by the Ri Rev.
Bishop McGilI, on the subject of 'The Bat
tie Fields of the Crescent and the Cross
was a very learned and remarkably well
written production. The distinguished di-
turer and scholar handled the subject in q
candid and mastery manner. He traced in
graphic style the rise and progress Of the
Mahometan religion its battles with the
Christian powers; the Crusades, and their
results, and the causes which contributed to
the rapid progress and success of Mahomet-
anism. He commended that the crusades were
just wars, and that the sacrifices made i'll
them were compensated by their result upon
European civilization, and its protection
from MaSometan aggressions. The language
OF the discourse was simple, strong and ele
giant, worthy the dignity of the subject and
ct the valuable thoughts and facts of the
lecture. There was an occasional touch of
subdued but genuine eloquence, and the al
lusion to Washington particularly was one of
extreme appropriateness and beauty.
We have never had the pleasure before of
hearing Bishop McGill whose standing as
an exemplary clergyman, rare scholar, and
profound and vigorous reasoner, is very
high in u communion which numbers in its
ranks host of men eminent for intellectual
power and attainments. In common with all
who heard him, we derived qualification and
instruction from his able lecture. The com
mittee on She Athen&um deserve The thanks
of the public for bringing before their au
diences men of such solid ability and real
learning
Bishop McGill is the Bishop of the Roman
Catholic Church in this diocese, native of
kentucky, and successor of the very POM.
lar and estimable Bishop Whelan, now r. G.
Bishop of Wheeling. He is a gentleman of
middle age, oftall stature, and countenanee
strongly indicative of talent, thought and