The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-09-19

wAsHreoToN, Sept. IL, 1899.
r,;snatch: You can't imagine what
-. sction of the late Navy Doaiu ~
I;ct ed No among the dry bones OF .nas a'gn.
srm of the national aeieaco. as a,. -; .
nor. ers ssy there is p,o.ounu z1u at,;"ars
From FROM eoi have been struck down as If oy
n ~ s. ~ the plaques of Egypt In tins nap.
one g. man al an grades are included, from
lnes re- po,t-captains to passed MID
.h;nm on who have now passed "a bourne
from which no traveller returns. 0wee'
cberubs! eff 30 soon they're done Ior, won
der what they were begun Tor. however,
= docs mot follow that unless an ofhcer Is
(" Sronned" outright, he has reason for NOR
+;6cai;pn Those retired on leave OF ao
sance NAV occupy an honorable position.
Tien,enant Maury, of the Observatory. Is
;ncluded in this list, the law being imperative
90 - the amount of sea service which an Of
Soe, mnst have seen, and bis competency 70
take command of q sea going vessel. Mau
RVS duties have kept him tor many years at
the Observatory Retired on furiough isn't
quite SO good. but that does not necessarily
imply any thing discreditable; but, being
drained carbohydrates the great, bottom
less abyss to which the Board have sent
many a helpless soul wouldn't be sur
prised to hear of great demand for cones
and pistols and. indeed, it may be possible
that The Board has committed some errors,
but on the whole, suspect they nave Done
right, and delivered the Navy OF good
many inefficient and lazy devils who were
not worth the powder aud shot It woala 'sse
10 kill ,heu-besides acme dissspated ana
wortblefs characters, who, it ID 0 great pity,
could not be dropped from the planet so well
az from the service. Notwithstanding the
nuroing of the navy list, there must be few
more left Of the same sort; at all events,
there ought to be periodical overhauling-
putting out the bad men and promoting the
good ones, and extending the trimming pro
cess. not only to the regular officers. but to
the non. com batants-some Of whom, like
some Of the regular officers, have an uncon
auerable antipathy to water, whether salt or
fresh.
have recently had the great pleasure Of
an interview with Mr. Gales, the Senior Edi-
tor of the National Intelligencer. The Office
of the Intelligencer is an humble and unpre
tending brick building, only two stories IN
height, but with a venerable and substantial
air. On the whole it is not as imposing
structure as the White House, but, whilst
| have passed the White House several times
a day, have never felt the least curiosity or
desire to enter it. Ihave no disrespect for the
present occupant but have a much greater
| respec. for such men as Joseph Gales than
| for all the office holders in the United States
put together The press has become the
| fourth estate of the realm, and at the head of
| this estate DIR. Gales is enthroned, monarch
| worthy of dominion, before which the
power of kings and aristocracies is turning
pale and passing away.
| I had expected to find Mr.. Gales, who has
| now reached his three score years and ten,
| somewhat infirm, but was greatly pleased to
| find him in good health and excellent spirits.
Except the inability to use his right hand,
| from neuralgia affeciion,) which compels
| him to employ an amanuensis, his editorial
vigor and efficiency are in no degree abated.
| found him in his Sanctum, a neat apart
ment in the upper story, adorned and made
| useful by library of choice volumes, and
having, to my eyes, most impressive as
pect, as the field of labor for so many years
of the Editor Of the National Intelligencer
| Mr. Gales is in stature about five feet nine
very stout, with grey hair, (once, am told,
as black as the raven,) and dark eye still
beaming with thought and animation. In
social intercourse, he is one of the most easy
and cordial of gentlemen, his conversation
so replete with the blended charms of good
sense, good manners and geniality of soul,
that found it hard to break away and cease
| to encrOach upon his valuable time.
| Hanging upon the wall, in frame, was a
small and ancient newspaper, to which Mr.
| Gales directed my attention. 1t was the
| first number of the National Intelgencer,
which, Judging from my eye, would measure
about fifteen by twenty -four inches Ineed
not say with what interest looked upon this
seed of the great tree that has since, in its
strength and dignity, overshadowed all the
other trees of the forest.
The National Intelligencer was first estab-
lished in 1900 by Samuel Harrison Smith
M. Gales came to Washington in 1907, at
which time he became connected with the
IntelIigencer as Congressional reporter At
subsequent period he purchased the estab.
lishment of Mr.. Smith, and some years after,
his partner, Mr. Seaton, NOW in Europe,) be
came associated with him. What kind Of a
paper the Intelligencer is, the country daily
sees, and need not describe. In its uniform
dignity, and the calm and dispassionate man.
ner in which it discusses the most exciting
topics, it has no equal in the world. Great
Britain cannot produce its equal The proud
est and most courteous peer of Parliament
could not more carefully observe the pro.
prieties of debate, than this heightened and
manly journal. If you may judge man by
his companions, you may judge paper by
its readers and you have only to go through
the country and observe what manner of
men the readers of the National Intelligencer
are, to know something of the character of
that paper: They are almost always men of
education, intelligence, and of high political
and social influence. 1t was once remark ed
by wit, that if man were found dead in
the road, and no one knew anything about
him, yet if copy of the National Intelli
gencer were found in his pocket, it would be
prama Jacie evidence that he was gentle
man.
But Joseph Gales is more than great edi
tor. He is one of the first statesmen of the
land, and has shared the counsels and the re-
spect of the leaders of the Wing party. If
he has not been seen upon the rostrum, he
has been always at the helm, Palinurus,
whose steady hand ever guided the ship in
safe channel, and whose eye was as bright
as the stars, and, unlike them, never shadow
ed by clouds. Clay, Webster. Crittenden,
ever entertained the greatest respect for the
solid judgment of the veteran Gales In his
next book on "Party Leaders," Joe Baldwin
ought to give us sketch of the editor of the
National Intelligencer, whose serene wis.
aom' whose vigorous pen, and sound political
Judgment, have for so many years guided,
strengthened and sustained a great partv-
For how many years has the National Intel
ligencer been vast armory, from which
Wing chieftains and Congressman have OBJ
tanned ideas, facts and arguments, to sustain
their cause in Congress and before the coun
try! How rarely, during its whole existence,
has that paper ever taken position. which