Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-09-21
RUSSIA AND PEKIN.

!
the opening of China to civilized Europe ard
America, was not more unexpectedly received
in England than was the source, from which the
intelligence came, unlocked for. The opening of
China was indeed news, but that Ruesia should
be the fret European Power that ascertsined
! that fact, WAS to England astounding. The "over-
land mail" the Red Sea route, the news by the Cape
of Good Hope and every other source, has been out
done by the Imperial Cars couriers. How St. Pc.
tersburg 30 far overreacbed London, how Count Pu-
! tisn has managed to circumvent Lord EIgin in a
matter of diplomatic intelligence has greatly perpeI-
ed the English press The knowledge Of the fact
that ST Petersburg is month in advance Of London
as regards the news from China is no very pleasant
information for English manufacturers
The London Times" is greatly exercised to learn
that "St. Petersburg on the 2Oth Of August had news
from the Peho up to the27ih ofJune. London has on
this 25ih day Of August no news of its own from the
Pieho, later than the 4th of June. St. Petersburg,
therefore, nearly month in advance Of Is-a msnth
nearer to Pckn than we are"
This ugly fact startes the Times aud it continues:
Fancy the effect of rupture with Russia known BY
Count Putistin month before il can be known by
Lord Egin. Fancy the effect even of some crisis in tht
and silk markets being known to tho merchants OF
81. Petersburg month before it is suspected on our
royal exchange. politician or merchant who ope-
rates with the odds of q mouths earlier news against
him, is like savage with bow and arrows contend
ing against prize sergeant fresh FROM the Hythe
.choo of musketry." This astounding fact has fully
aroused the English press. Something must be done,
! for the Times says 1--WE have been beaten by q
MONTH" While "it is not very easy TO see how it has
happened yet we fnd in the Times" of 9th Aug,
| .xpihns ION OF the whole affair. Russia never
ceases to tend her borders, and in that heretofore
| uukuuwl Iderness between Siberia and Imperial
China, she as been gradually extending her commu
| nicaon,s strengthening her power. Russian cou'
riers now svel from Pekn to st. Petersburg in 20
or u ds Regular and constant communications
have ex. i for several years back between Pekin
and k.,l land Mai Machin, the Russo Chinese FROM
ur towns to the south of Lake Bochsi, not far from
rkutsh, the capital of Eastern Siberia. Russian
coursrs now traverse 1000 English miles within %
daya, or between l7O aud lSO miles day. The ssame
correspondent from which gather these facts says,
There is nothing TO prevent the Russian government
ment from extending their ieegraphc lines from
Moscow to Kiahta, which would enable her 10
obtain in St. Petersburg intelligence from Pekin arc
the Peho within eight days."
SO then Russia has far oustript England in China
intelligence and bids fair TO be- successful compeli
tor for that great trade. The "1imes" says I'VE
muat 90 on, on, on; We have proved that We can an
nihila,e space and me and having divuged the secret
Of our capacity the inexorabe necessities of compe
,on seize upon us and insist upon our working up
10 the full pressure of our power
"Russia it ia plain, has found out Northern vul
nersbe point, and has secured covered way into
this great HounderEg, deieneeless empire.
"1he moral OF AL this continues the Times sis that
we Westrrners NUT bestir ourselves shall be
-hu' out of the new game. We must become wire
extending people. We have let every nation get
ahead of in this matter. In England We don't dc
things because they useful still less because they
Ire beautiful; but there is nothing on the earth or
ander the that We cannot accomplish it it offer 8
sood dividend OH large capital. There seems to be
hesitation about the chance of making profits BY
carrying me. .sages and mean time every one has out
stripped us. The French have covered all Northern
Africa with their wires How far Russia has yet
carried hers We do not know. But this China fele-
graphic dispatch gives ground to suspect that they
are pushed long way beyond MOSCOW. Inc American
States talk hourly with each other with these tongues
Of lightning. yet we, to whom rapid communication lie
~ the breath of our Empire, have not yet begun
even to lay down wires to Calcutta. Nudged and
.lbowed by brother Jonathan We have laid down
wires across to America but let any one compare
The Atlantic ocean, which 90 far as it may bs an
impediment to conversation, we have practically
uhoshrd with the Red Sea and the Straits Of Babe
Mand-l and the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal
aud the Straits of Mascca and the China Sea. There
can be no difficulty in any of these SEAS We have
Alden and Gale and Singapore aud Hongkong as
stations. What is to prevent US from playing out
our lines Of wire and working our telegraphs7 There
really is nothing to prevent this, except that the
official mind ia not yet quite sure that the Atlantic
telegraph is fact and not dream, and cannot yet
believe that the work easy it has been proved
10 be-