The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-06-30
Milan.

The importance of the capture of Milan ir
not 10 he rstimaed merely by its numbers, but
hy it's historical associations. First captured
10y the Romans I9i Il. c., il gradually grew into
importance up to the time Of DiCcictien. A ID.
Gtn when Maxmian. his partner in the gov
rrment made 1t his capital and transferred to
it as much OF the splcndor and dignity of
Rome aS he was able. In fact, the Emperors
of those days much dreaded the assumed
equality and political interference of the in
habitants OF the old capital. stepped u ii was
in corruption and NcnaiIty. Beautiful by
natural situation, it was selected as more con-
yenient than Rome, for the purpose OF watch
ing The motions OF the barbarous German ma
tlons.
From that time il has been \ place of impor-
tance and magniticrnce. 1t rapidly became
worthy the name and station OF an imperial
city, celebrated alike for the maSniiiccnce Of
It's buildings, public and private, for the re-
nnemont and taste OF It's Inhabitants. Ii W;ts
i'll ali respects, the Court city of the Emperor OF
the West. Here too, III Was that, towards the
close OF the fourth, Ambros became at once
the Bishop of the city and the real governor of
kings and queens. Highly educated and living
i'll the Imperial residence rs governor of the
city, lie made "A speech ~ the members OF the
Christian Church, assembled III what is
now the Cathedral, TO elect Il Bishop. The
members were intensely divided, and dIsputa-
tions between Arian and Athanaslan candi-
dates, when he stepped in To urge them to
peace, not being himself Il member OF the
Church, but only Catechuman. A lad sug
gested that he would make Il good bishop, the
multitude caught the idea, elected him, and he
was baptiSed and Installed forthwith, bccom-
ing one of the most powerful aud perhaps uSe
ful OF bishops, more popular and mere intiu-
entail than the Empress Justina, or the En-
peror TheodoSius, both of whom he fairly mas
tered, chiefly through his hold upon the cti-
zens of Milan. as their bishop
From this city he set out rs the agent or am
bassador of the Empress, and most dutifulIy
and ably served her interests but when she
commanded and humbly begged for but one OF
his churches for the Arians, 10 whom she be-
longed, he scorned her threats and entreaties,
and il soon became apparent mat ttlnult or
revolution would he the result OF the slightest
interference with his wishes. When Theodo-
sius, having been guilty ola cruel attack upon
ThessaIonica, would have returned to Milan,
he accommodated him for cruelty, and for
eight months would not let him enter the
great church of that city, nor then, until he
had done proper penance.
Such was Milan an imperial city, ruling, in
it's magniiicence. even the Emperors that re-
sorted there. 1t has never decayed, rs all tho
other Italian cities. and now it is about the
only fresh, green city OF antiquity in all lta-
w. It's strength has been, in part, in it's weak
ness Its walls and ramparts are not such
as To tempt the inhabitants 10 resist large
forces, while its situation, as the centre of a
rich country intersected by rivers and canals,
and receiving the produce of the beautiful
lakes above, give it wealth and peaceful
greatness that none of the other cities OF Italy
can claim. This, with near 1000 inhabitants Is
now coming forward and declaring, at the
right moment, in favor of Piedmont, has not
only saved it from being sacked, but rendered
il the most influential in producing a new
state OF things for Northern Italy,
All it's prestige under the old Roman En-
perors, al its greatness as city in the time
OF Ambrose, all the effects of the modern po-
Icy of Napoleon l., who adorned and bcauti-
fed it as the great city of the Kingdom OF
Italv. all the struggles Of lsis and the efforts
of that day 10 drive back the Austrians, are
now revived and their influence concentrated
in the adhesion so Immediately and universal
ly given 10 Victor Emmanuel. One would
think il impossible, henceforth, thai an Aus
trian prince should rule in Italy. II now,
Napoleon will he content with the capture OF
Milan and Venice, and the provinces connect
ed with them, there will and can be no serious
impediment to the annexation OF them to
Piedmont, and thus, in prospect, To the Napc-
leon Prince who has married the King of Pied
mont's daughter. We doubt, however, II mat
ters can stop there. Napoleon's motives, in
his share OF II, are too obviously selfish for
things TO end III 80 pleasant manner.