The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-03
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keenino his nwu Counsel ,

Whatever uisputes there may De ABOUT otheT
qualities OF the present ruler OF France, there
can be doubt that he possesses, in an emf
nent degree, the rare and excellent faculty OF
keeping his own counsel. The quid-nRncs and
gossips in general who make up the Pans
correspondence for the rest OF the worid'
are Obliged 10 confess themselves eterna!ly
puzz,ed as to the character and purposes II
the French Emperor. lie evidently does lot
make a con fdaHte of a mothers son OF them,
aud, In all probability. not one of his own
council knows any feature OF his policy which
lac deems ii prudent not 10 disclose. For ex-
ample his Intentions towards England-a
question OF the deepest nterestnot only to that
country, but TO the whole civilized world-no
human soul possesses Tie smallest clue 10 his
actual purposes. We see G redt Britain making
enormous expenditure for Notifications ana
fleets, and calling out and organizing a large
volunteer force embracing the flower OF Tie
Kingdom which force can only be used III de-
fendIng the island, all for the purpose of pro-
tectiug herself against a neishhor aud au ally,
who has never uttered unfrieudly woru
towards her, aud who Is actually cooperating
with her in the Chinese war. Why is this =
Ga one hand, We cannot suspect The sasacious
and expeTieu ceo statesmen OF England OF in
voiyIug their government unnecessarily Ia
immense expenditure and trouble, upon ner-
vous apprehensions aud untounded suspi-
cions, AID yet, II any urgent reason exists tor
these extraordinary defensive preparations 1t
AZ certainly not patent 10 ordinary observers
LJUIs NAPOLEON has expressed towards
E.glind none but most friendly feelings
which, il it be evidence of friendship, Is
clearly no evidence OF Il contrary sentiment
The nan, however, is SO silent, impert ur ba bic
and unfathomabie; he says little and ac-
compli.hes SO m uch he is So little OF French
man IN enthusiasm and 50 much more than u
Frenchman in perseverance; lie sustalGs
with such inyincibe composnre the iucessant
cannonade OF the whole English press, and
plies with such quiet perrinacity the con-
structiou ofiron. cased frigates aud gun boats
that he Keeps JOHN BULL constantly standing
on uptoe, win his mouth wide open and one
fist clencned, the image OF amazement and in
diguauon, not knowing exactly what to say
or what TO do. WHAT adds to the wonder and
the perplexity OF England, and, indeed, of ali
mankind, is that there should be such Il cod,
unimpassioned administrative head on the
shoulders of fiery aud mercuriai France; and
that in the eyre Of the eagle, NAPOLEON 1,
who was all passion, fierceness and impetuos-
ity, should be found, Instead of an eagle, Ii
huge anaconda with nav large enough to
swallow the tight little island" at mouth
full, but 50 little apparent Speculation III
those eyes which it doth glare witb," that no
can tell where, or whom. he expects 10
make his breakfast We can readily imagine
what an agreeable and comfor able state OF
mind the fat British BULL must be in, with
such neighbor, ever and anon darling its
vast form suddenly across the continent,
cracking the bones OF al empire with miracu-
lous rapidly, and then returning as suddenly
to its place, 10 digest in the most leisurely and
apathetic manner its hearty meal.