The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-05-22
TIFF DANGERS OF ENGLAND.


the greatest difficulty that she has obtained |
troops for the Crimea, having been even |
forced to resort, for that purpose to such ex. |
traordinary expedients as an act OF Parlia- |
ment authorizing the enlistment of foreign |
legion, and to the recruiting of vagabonds in
New York, for her service. In the army she
has sent to Sebastopol, there has been dis
PLAYED all the ancient British valor, but none
of the skill, tact and fertility of resources,
which are as essential as valor to military
success.
In the contrast which her military opera
tons have exhibited to those Of France, she
has lost all the prestige of superiority which
she achieved at Waterloo. When the pre-
sent war commenced, there were few men.
either in America or England who did not
believe the old and often demonstrated pro-
position, that q British army is invincible by
a French army of equal numbers. It may
be doubted whether the French themselves
have not, since Waterloo, entertained
lurking suspicion of the same kind. But the
sweet delusion has completely evaporated in
the fiery ordeal of the Eastern war. French
and English have been placed side by side
before Sebastopol, and whilst the latter have
proved themselves as brave as in England's
bravest days, the French, in all the elements
of military efficiency, have thrown their al
lies completely into the shade, and inspired
their OWE soldiers With a confidence which
they have not felt since the sun set on Wa
terloo.
But the war has not only disclosed the IN
feriority of England to France in aggressive
warfare; what is far more important, 1t mas
shown the almost defenceless condition OF u.
Britain against foreign foe. The introduction
of steam in naval operations, has enabled
France to convey 100000 men a distance Of
800 miles, with greater ease than 10000 could
be transported the same distance in the time
of the first Napoleon. With what facility,
then, could she at any moment throw 100000
troops upon the British shores Twelve
hours would suffice to cross the channel; and
how could England, except by her navy, OPP
pose their progress? If they once landed,
her downfall would be sure. England may
now begin to appreciate the value of the re-
peated warnings of the Duke of Wellington,
and of the highest military men of the king
dom. Not long before the last French Re-
volution, the subject was taken up in Par
lament and the Earl of Ellesmere, peer of
the realm, came out with long letter, the
following extract from which is not without
interest at this time:
81 do not believe" says the Earl, 'thatit would
be impossible In our present state Of preparation,
for French Minister of War, favored by circum-
stances to land on British ground force sufficient
In numbers, discipline and equipments to march
in any direction along the turnpike roads of Eng.
land That direction might depend ON the place
OF landing-it might be Portsmouth,, 1t might be
Chatham, Ii might be the capital In each, in any
case, with our present means OF defence, believe
resistance would be useless, and an attempt at
armed opposition only productive of useless
bloodshed. To oppose In the field such a handful
of regular troops as we could muster, scarcely
provided with artillery, and OF a reserve, to a
French army, such az. under my supposition,
would be brought against them. would be an act OF
useless desperation If the French were to ap-
pear at one end of London the wsest movement,
the Guards could make would be to march out at
the other. For the rest, three howi.zers would be
sufficient; and the Lord Mayor would soon be
busy with the details Of bills and whatever con-
tributions might be accepted a Communication
for indiscrimlnate plumber"
wrapped up in an idea of their military ON
impotence, that they treated with indiffe-
renee the solemn warnings of their most ex-
perienced soldiers. In case of an actual in.
vasion of England, their only reliance is
their militia and what would such reliance
be worth against the veteran warriors of
France? The success of the American mi
for encouragement, because Americans be.
sides the martial influence of democratic in
sttutions, are accustomed to handling shoot.
Ing irons from their infancy
These advantages, and the absenceiof them
in England, were forcibly set forth by Gen
Jessup, Of the U. s. Army, in speech which
ne made on a dinner occasion during the
Mexican war:
"Having been soldier from nv boyhood. tho
business of my life has been to act and MOI In ,sk
and should, therefore, have limited INV rems ~.
to brief expression OF thanks for the honor done
to the army but for some remarks of INV friend on
the right. He has stated to you, what ali know To
be the fact, that our people, when called nnon
rushed into the field, and were from every rrdrf..
sion hastily changed into soldiers To what IL ,S;s
TO be attributedi 1t isdue TO our institution, a5
It 10 owing TO the habits OF our country. Every
have officers Of education it requires NOT ,nors
than two months to convert the people of onr
country into disciplined soldiers / have done i,
myself, and can answer for what saw. In En-
ropeit requires years to get these elements wbicb
we possess. The fox and the partridge have
modified the character OF the people of Great Rri
tain. They can shoot and ride as we can. but The
game laws have parsysed that people. Strip her
of the prestige which has surrounded her for sges
and she will become the weakest Power In Eurene.
and, II twenty thousand men were landed on her
shores, she would be defeated, as at the battle Of
Hastings, BY . single battle"
The Eastern war has gone far to strip
Great Britain of the prestige which has sur
rounded her for ages" and to exhibit her in
the helpless condition predicted by General
Jessup. At this moment, she has not the
protection even Of her wooden walls and |
If it were not the interest of the French EN-
peror to preserve good faith with her, she |
might tomorrow be more easily made q pro
vince of France than Cubs could be con-
quersd by the United States. We do not de-
lire to see her in that position. Let her mul