The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-16


fieations which are, in popular opinion, the
most necessary to constitute diplomaus'.
He was innocent Of the arts Of ehcanery, ana
absolutely rejected all hnesse' lie oan'
rectly to the roint W it'll the most perfect can
sor .,a al. tad at ence what he would give
Ard take u. never stood haggling over a pro-
,,o.ition like a horse Jockey, seeking to get rs
,n,cb as he could, aud stating the largest de-
m.nd In order to have margin for falling in
the price.
Whether il be that his mind is constituted
like that of the Duke, or that he believes per-
fec candor 10 be, in truth. the best species q
tact, the Emperor of the French appears to
have followed the example of the iliustrious
Euslishman, in his letter to Count PERsIGNY.
He throws aside the mystery and caution
which have heretofore been regarded as the
proper garments OF diplomacy, and comes for
ward like a plain man of this world, to de.
liver his sentiments upon very notorious
matter. without the slightest atfectation or
disguise. Whistler this be the dictate of gem
nine candor. or OF that most refined Of all de-
scriptions OF hypocrisy, the afectation OF
oluntness. remains TO be seen. Until some
overt act. the opinion of the world will be di-
yided, according as prejudice or prepossession
NAV prevail. But there can be little doubt as
10 the effect it is likely to produce upon the
public mind of Europe.
There are persons who have been so long
accustomed 10 deal with mystery that the
world suspects a snare when they speak with
o,enness. Such, unfortunately, seems 10 be
,ha character of NAPOLEON ILL., as II is view
Cd AT least by Il large party in England. That
marty. led by the London 1imss, persist III
believing this singular communication OF the
French Emperor q mere 20 throw dust IN
The ewes Of England. They insist upon II that
1ha ACQUISITION OF the Duchies by Piedmont Is
not a valid argument III favor OF the acquisi-
ton of Savoy and Nice by France; and, 10
snaak the truth IL does not seem 10 us exactly
irrefutable They contend that although the
steam navy Of France may at this moment be
less than was the sailing navy Of the same
couutry during the time OF Louis PHILIPPE
:, may still be greater than the wants Of the
country They maintain that although 100000
man ,uly. NAV 81 the present moment be ac-
tuslly under arms, il is not exactly fair 10
rspresent that figure as expressing the MILL
rsry strength OF France, since, within fort
night upou any emergency, the number may
he doubled, or increased indefinitely. This
view of the matter, which the TIMES calls an
.pnesl TO the "Iogc OF facts" does not seem
IN have struck the writer of the letter so for
eibIv as il does some of those for whose benefit
the letter in question was written.
And Vet we cannot hut think that NAPo-
LEON wrote the letter in all sincerity. We
think So because we have in common with
all the world. the strongest reason TO regard
him as a man Of powerful understanding and
a more than usual share of hard common
sense Itmust be plain 10 him that continued
peace, and successful development of the
resources which France already possesses, is
his safest as we'll as most judIcious policy
Even NAPOLEON l., soldier as he was from his
cradle, felt that, and made every effort both
as First Consul and as Emperor, 10 secure it.
He must be we'll aware that q firm alliance
with England, alone, can enable him to carry
out the policy which he has determined on
with regard 10 the rest OF Europe, and which
is now developing itself in Sicily, and the
south of the Italian peninsula. He must
know, whatever may be his feelings on the
subject that any invasion of England, how
ever successful for the time, must, in the end,
lead 10 most disastrous consequences; and if
unsuccessful 10 his own immediate and ire
mediabe ruin. 1t /. hardly possible that he
would surrender the inestimable advantages
which he derives from the English alliance,
either for any remote and perhaps fanciful ad-
vantage, or for the qualification of an antipa-
thy which il is quite natural that he should
feel. Int most inexpedient that he should in
dulpe at the cost of a war. Here again he is
warned by the voice of the first NAPOLEON,
WIN said that if England and France were
united they might give laws to the world. If
tho coprsa of the French Emperor, with re-
.ard N SYRIA. seem somewhat precipitate it
vvss natural, and, we are prone 10 think, will
ba .nnlauded by the Christian world. Even
hare hs seeks the appreciation and union of
E,gland: but if he had not done so, England
conld hardly have found fault with copduct,
tho promptitude of which is 80 well adapted
TO the crisis.
IN doubt that this letter of the French En-
peror is written in perfectly good faith. II
presents exactly such view of the whole
case as we should suppose a man Of sense
would take in such position as that in which
NAPOLEON III. is placed. That he should
still continue his military arrangements
with the design to make them as perfect as
possible, does not at all detract from the
weight Of the arrangements in fayorof his
sincerity. This he is bound to do by his du ty
as the chief executive officer Of the Fren CHI
people in whose hands are reposed the safety
and peace of the French people. At the same
time, ii appears to that he has given 20
resson powerful enough to arrest the pro-
gress of the Notifications designed to protect
the coast of England. Powerful as England
was Left by the general peace Of 1915, the long
continued quiet caused her to neglect all the
means of self-defense. She became, at last. go
negligent that we have heard il stated as the
opinion of a celebrated naval officer about
twenty years ago, that twenty thousand men
could land upon the coast, march 10 London
without meeting with any resistance worthy
Of the name, sack the city, and return in safety
TO their ships. Into such absolu te security
had the nation been lulled by the long peace
which followed the battle of Waterloo, that
craek-brained enthusiasts believed there
would soon be an end 10 all war all over the
globe and that il would not be long before the
era OF the Millennium would be inaugurated.
The resurrection of the BoNAPARTEs seems
10 have frigh tened away these dreams of mid
day folly. England finds that the introduce
ton OF steam into the service OF the navy has
heutraliZed ner wooden walls. She perceives
that she must do as the continental nations
do; that lie. cover herself with works erected
on the land 1t is good sign TO see her look
lUR utI poeitioh ooiuiy III the lace, and taxing
measures TO ward off all possible danger. In
stead Of shrinking from the contemplation Of
1T. He Is the bravest man who sees the danger
afar, and without designing to avoid it, takes
measures 70 render it as harmless AS 1t can be
"aae. We See no reason why there should be
any quarrel between England and France
because both take every possible precaution to
render themselves respectively inyulnerable
10 attack.
The GREAT EASTERN Will positively sail for