The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-12-04

TUESDAY MORNING. DEC. 4, tses.
The War In China.
While NAPOLEON the Great was captive in
ST. Helena, Lord AxHxEsT touched at the ISL
and on his return from China, and paid him
a visit at LongwooA. When the Ambassador
had retired, the Emperor entered into long
di.course with O'MEARA, upon the failure OF
his I,ordship's mission, and the causes which
led TO IL. In the course of his remarks he said
that II would be very impolitic in the British
q ,,ernment TO enter into war with the CHI
nese. They could easily beat them at first. Le
said, but they would teach them how TO fight,
aud when they had once learned their num-
b rs, that they wonld become The most formi'
d ,ble people upon the face Of the earth. Fart
Of this predic ton seems to be coming true
/, the first war undertaken by Eaeiand
A ainst China about twenty years ago, her
O erations were confined TO Canton ana It's
vicinity. Her men-of-war easily sunk the
w etched hunks that attempted to oppose their
ad ,ance. and her troops quite as easily DIS
ne-,ed The Chinese forces armed with match
lotks OF bows aud arrows, many OF whom
thew ssmerseis and uttered terrible yelis,
h ping In their semi. barbarian ignorance, to
Tighten them frou the field. The English
troops could afford to laugh at their antics,
I'D to boast that they "shot them flying" Just
a, easily, few years ago, in pany with the
French. they again inflicted severe chastise-
ment non the same foe. But since the seat
Al, war has been removed into the Northern
provinces, they have encountered very dill
ferent kind of resistance. No instance In MS
t,rv. that we know Of, except the defeat al
Nav Orleans can compare with the defeat on
the peiho in 1850 In the battle when look
MACE few months ago, the Chinese, aithough
defeated. displayed prodigies OF Valor. we
doubt vhe Their any troops in the Worla couid
bnys stood the destructive fire which was
poursd upon them from dis iance so great
thst they could not return ii, longer IMAM thHS
did Nor when IL came to mana 10 haHo
fsht did the Chinese display any want OF
tesperate yalor. With weapons every way
upeaual, without discipline, ana without
even the slim ulant of hope to keep up their
spirl,s. they fought to the last extremity
When al last compelled TO retreat, they lett
the ground strewed with their own oooies anu
those of the enemy.
Lord FLGlN. however, is advancing in the
rear Of a grea, force upon Pekin. The Uni
nese have been beaten. but at the lastaccounts'
they were ready TO fight again. 1t seems EVIL
dent 10 Us that they do not mean TO give up
their capital withouta desperate resis'ahce'-
II is almost impossible, nevertheless, mat
ll-y should eventually succeed They VIII be
beaten. and the allies, after wading through
lea Of blood, will arrive in Pekin, ana olc'ate
III. law TO the Emperor. What then ms
is scarcely the beginning OF what they Will
vet have 10 encounter. They have taught Inc
Chinese how TO lght. II is lesson Whlch
they will not be apt TO forget, and the cohse-
,ueuces may yet be CT the most serious chd-
racter. The Chinese have learned that they
are superior 10 themselves only because they
have better arms, and that, man to man, ana
arms equal, they have no advantage Whatever
over them They will take care 10 provide
themselves better in future, anu the catas-
trophe of the Peiho, where they had erected
fortifications in the best and most scientlhc
strIe shew what they can do IN initiating
their enemies.
IL would have been far better to allow ina
Chinese to remain in ignorance OF their real
strength. The allies have found, TO their cost,
that war with them is becoming every year
more serious matter. It's costs TOO mucn 10
be ind uleed in as a mere luxury and, in our
view Of the subject, 1t is not likely reproduce
any impression which will last longer than
their armies remain in the countTy
Thackeray.
This great English satirist who undoubt-
eddy writes the strongest, sharpest and smart
est things OF any writer Of his class In the
language, who often expresses sentiments SO
noble In a STYLE so touching that one can
scarce refrain from tears of admiration OF the
writer and of sympathy with his subject, is
nevertheless constantly illustrating In MS
own department the distinction Whlch ne 80
constantly points out and enforces ID MS ice
lures upon the English wits between Inc
AUTHOR and the MAN. What scoFchihs
word, he has for the whole race OF Shoos, anu
vet what snob Mr.. THACKKnAf Is I'M
beautiful description he gives OF me q uo
tlernan in his lectures on GEoE'H
have never seen anything as gooo do A'S
aition Of gentleman in that iec'"ie'
ANYTHING Of the kind as beauu anu e'o4
IA his tribute to NELSON, ooL o'
SouIHkY and REGINALD dEhGh ho'n''s
more grand and impressive 'nsh nus Gu" u 40
be,veeu the Coronation scene ol 'hoh'A 'he
rourtb and the resignation OF MS COMMISSION
,h., arst Of patriots and gentlemen,
Co. WARRINGTON. And yet, how lament
who has such u noble aud just
;.,;,n Of the essential qualities of
Gentleman. aud can describe them so adhlra-
nj, with his pen, fails to e&empilfy lfem In
"a daily life His affectation OF superiority
20 his brother literateurs, his incessint diff
,,,ies with some one or other OF them, his
Nos, supremely ride ulous quarrel about his
,wu aoss, are peculiarities which no carica-
.nring but his own could make more ludi-
..rous aud nonseEsical than they are
Yes. the great TuACKERAY is the living il
lustration of the truth ne has so often ell
forced. that man may be great critic and
great fool; that he may wildly describe hero
lsm and virtue, but yet, like many a historian
and bi, grapher, be unable TO fgh. the battles
and initiate the virtues which he records. Old
HOMER could never have riyalled the mighty
deeds in arms which yet his muse has made
Immortal; even DKMosTHKNEs, whose pat
riotic eloqueDce Ioused all Greece to 4" con-
amer or die" failed himself to do either the
one or the other and MILTON, who wrote SO
much of angels, was anything but an angel
beneath his own roof Many of the most en-
thuslastlc admirers OF yalor and lfsacrifce
are themselves the most pusillanimous and
selfish of human beings. The golden head OF
great intellect is often, like the image record
ed In the Book of David, united with body
composed of baser elements. The Proverbs
of solomon instruct US that a fair woman
without discretion is like jewel In swine's
snout, and the same may be said OF genius.
when IL is combined, as II often is, with igno-
Die passions All that we can do Is 10 respect
and follow the lessons OF goodness and gen.
sleness which we hear from these teachers Of
the people, bat 10 beware Of their example,
We must do, as the Divine Saviour OF man
Kind instr ted the Jews with re ierence 10 the
.scribes. who rat in Moses seat, observe all
that they enjoin. aud take heed to their words
but not initiate their works. That which