The national Republican., 1861-09-11
For the National Republican
WILLIAM HOWARD RUSSELL, LII. D.
AGAIN.

characteristcs-those numerous Bull Run mis-.
representations which make us laugh almC st In
spite of ourselves; but on the contrary, the whole
epistles are without point, compass, or bearing;
AS fiat, tasteless, and insipid AS the two.penny
ale that is kept over night in Ia slopbowl. They
are without object or apparant conclusion, save
that which Is afforded by the termination Of the
lett rs themselves. Homer is said sometimes
tn nod, and oven 4 special correspondent"
may at times grow dull. Still the entire pro.
duct'ons are ominently curious, rs AtfOrding a
key I" the rather singular pecularites of the
writer. We say "peculiaritics," for Mr.. Rus.
sell Is an author, sui genius. He differs, indeed
from any " correspondent " that has heretofore
appeared in the annals of lteraiure--a blacl;
swan among birds-a srocn gudgeon among
fishes.
This is the great point to which we wish TO
draw the attention of our readers; for Mr.. Rus
sells opinions are controlled In way which
has never us yet been thoroughly explained
While some men use tho pen AS means of
amusement, and others to aCqlire not0riety
W. II. Russell, Esq, evidently cares for neither
tho one or the OTHER. His quill is always sub.
servieni to the state Of his stomach, and pro.
vided only his gastronomic acquisitions are
proI crly supplied, no is ready to enlist IN any
cause, no matter whether coed, bad, or indii
ferent. If Abdul Azz, of Turkey, should at this
moment hand Mr.. Russell glass Of sherbet, the
latter would Instantly be good MuSsulman If
the Emperor of China flung him an eatiblc birds
nest, we verify believe the Times'S correspond
himsc!fa worshippor Of the Grand Llama. Short
ly after he landed In America the Times found
his way to Charleston, South CarOina--was
there regarded by those Pinckncys ara PrestUnS
and Mannngs, in whom he delights-and IL re
turn Mr.. Russell toUE occasion 10 nuuce " that
frank, courteous, and graceful Intercourse -
which, according 10 his dictum, constituted the
great charm of society IN the South. Finding
tho thing took, tho CarOlinianS thought they
wOul&go u step rher; and, accordingly, they
t,ll Mr Rucapl that n q M, n
they wanted in the world, was to have II prince
q the royal blood e England to rule over them
Mr.. Russell, of course, swallowed the rill, clap
ped his haCds in delight, and immediately wG"t"
home lha the people Of tho Palmetto State were
all dying for love of his HighneSs AlberI Edward
of Wales! Since his arrival in Washington, the
British Minister, Lord Lyons, has tason Mr.
Russell under his especial care given i'm
plenty Of roast beef, and, suppose, an "cCT
s.onal lobster curry; and in return, Mr.. Russell
takes ufr his hat, and tells the Enensh pubic
generally that his lurdShip Is very" loyal and
dsclcetnobleman the compliment is awkward
and iulS0me enough; but for our part We are
not inclined TO quarrel about its application.
Under all circumstances, we are in favor Of Il
free exchange OF Clvilitcs, and since Mr.. Rus
sell distributes tue praise, 1t is nothing but iAI
that his lordship should supply the pudding.
The miraculous escape Of Ilr. Rus, ell from Bull
Run, Is one OF the most remarkable events Il.
history, yet we think IL can be fairly explained
on the principles above enunCiated. He evident.
ly was very hungry during the entire day, and
AS necessary consequence, Le had not tpr"pei
command of his intellect. dis Imagination got
excited Il good deal by the smell Of the guu.
powder; he lost his way, and eventually strayed
home, without taking hmc to complete his
observations. This was Il sorry CONCLUSION
to a ride Of thirty miles, but when abdominal
temptations of the kitchen. Once the head OF
his horse was turned towards Washington the
special dashed forward with all the speed
of Tam O'Shanter, followed closely by the
ghosts of his own imagination. AT one place
| struggling soldier threatens to shoot him, AN
| lie almost fants at another time an angry
| sentinel is about 10 blow his brains out, and
| Mr.. Russell nearly goes into commissions such
hair. breadth escapes were never witnessed.
As he pursues his solitary way through the
grim forests, back us ebony" he Is some
times frightened by canronadinS IN his rear,
and sometimes cOnuunded by the " roar OF IN"
flight" of the multitude buhnd him. Bolold
Ii IN finally like IA second john Gilpn, safely
slowed away in the streets ol Washington, hIs
horse faded and worn; himself covered w,th
mud md dirt, from top 10 toe; his " cauueen !"
jammrd into al sorts of snaps and forms; his
paunch reduced to half its ordinary dimcn-
sions while his legs are hardly able to carry
him to a recess in Lord I.y yOns's pantry, and we
have horrd representation OF the haldships,
privalOnS, and miserles OF civil war. We
would seriously advise Mr.: Russell, never t"
to come near battle field again unless he
lays IN II proper supply of eata6les and drink
a6les before haLd; and when he does get there,
let him see and keep his temper, and if possible
not get excited at tribes.
AS to the rcst his recent letter Is full of cen
tradicinnS, and The most glarng absurd. ties.
Among other things, MIR. Russell amuSeS him.
self by laying down the plan Of campaign.
| lie tells tho SUutherners to assemble IN army
| OF x, 900 men; divide it into two corps, keep
one Of lheso IN observation on the right Oank
of the Potomac, and send the other into Mary.
| land :" so as to advance on Washington by the
north and west" And then the results which
arc TO follow, 80 great moral blow Is to be
| struck al The integrity of the UniOn,n the
navy yard Will iall INTO the hands Of tho seces.
| sionlsis;" Fort Washington win follow
Fortress Monroe will be condemned to greater
isoiaticn;n "while Philadelphia itself VIII be
| in imminent danger, should the Cuntederates
| choose to follow up their success This is pur-
suing things with vengeance, but untUrlun.
| a,ely iur the scheme II has It's objections. The
pI opUsal to divide an army into two b, dies,
| with river between them, is not deemc! quite
| safe; aud General Beaurcgard, to Mr.. Russel's
| own Knowledge, will never consent 10 Il plan OF
| operations in which "success is not secured uS
| well rs may be by all possible meauS." This
| is very important reservation, for it entirely
mars the project. So the upshOt Of Mr. Rus
| sells plan Is, that lie finally comes to Il CuMclu
| sion Ia which nothing at all is concluded. How.
| ever, Dy lhduls!ng in these SpecuiatUns, he
gains II paragraph Or two, and that, after all, is
| The great object that tie " Especial" Is n quest
| al. IL Is 81 AMY ihS hpNcNeT, 10 knDW tdl MI
Russell III bid recent letter, makes tho amend
| honorable on tho score Of our personal cOura.C
aud alter te!lns the most wicked and cXagser.
| atcd stories III relation 10 Bull Run, Sunor San.
che comes forward, and says that 10 one
questions the bravery of American citizens
either native or adopted" Arrah, Mislher
Russell, dear. we are afraid you have lick ed
tne UlArney stone; but with this acknowledg
ment, we are inclined 10 let you so, ard peace
be TO your ashes.
To speak seriously, we will hero state thai
the " Times correspondent" belongs to d class
of writers for whom We have very little vener
alton. We will readily grant that he is the
best If that class !; but still we think that the
sn,iro school is not, by any means, an elevatel
one. 1t is one that has been called into ex ST.
ence, during the last nifty years, by the exigon
cles o. society and the growing desire OF tho
masses 10 understand what is going on in the
world around them. 1t deals principally will
current events and with exterior objects, anC
serves to re'echo those sentiments and opin
ions which happen 10 be popular at that eXac
time and place of observation. There is "nt
spurnlng delights and living laborious day ; ;
aDoutit; with general princlplc or philosopAl,