Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-06
MR. RUssELL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE LONDON
TINES.
From the London Times, April II.


From the London Times, April II.
WASHINGTON, March 30.
If the intelligent foreigner who is supposed to make
90 many interesting and novel observations on the as
meets of the countries be visits and the of
the people amcng whom he travels were 10 visit tie
United States at this uncture he would fail to detect
any marked indication OF the extraordinary Crisis which
agtates the members of the great Republic either at the
principal emporium OF its commerce, or at the city which
claims TO be the sole OF its government Accustom-
ed to the manifestation of violent aDimosy and great
excitement among the nations OF Europe during political
commissions he would be struck with astonshment,
not moved to doubt when casting his eyes on the co..
umus of the multtudnous journals which swarm iIon ev-
ery printing press in the land he read that the u States
were in such throes of mortal agony that those Sho knew
IN, constiu on OF the patient best scarce able
10 prophesy any result except final dissolution twoud
rcguire such special acquaintance as only those well
veised in the various signs and forms Of the dangerous
influences which at work can possess TO appreciate
from ANYTHING TO be seen at New York Washington
tbe fact that the vast body petite which sprang forth
with the thews and snews OF giant from the womb OF
rebellion and revolution; which claimed half the New
World a heritage, and reserved the other as ce.an
future vctor which extended its over everysea
and aronted the antiquity OF international law by bold liz
novatops arc defiant enumea ions Of principles;
which seemed reve in tie OF the doctrines that
he experience of the Old World had proved TO be untera-
bile or had r cted usuCd to the government OF mai
kind which had developed all the resources Of physi-
cal agencies in manufactures, machinery electricity, and
steam that could give strength aud wealth and vgor to
its frame-;hat this mighty confederation should sud
denly be smitten with desire to tear lis limbs asunder,
and was only restrained by the palsy that had smten
sop,e of It's members. Certainly 10 notion OF the kind
could be formed from actual observation of the words
and deeds of men in the cities have visited or from
any source of information, except the casual eonver'
cations of feow-.ravellers, or the startling headings
in the newspapers, which have, however, reduced
'sensaton paragraphs ard lines to such everyday
routine that the American is no more affected by
them than the workman in the proofhouse moved by
the constant explosion of We are accustomed to
think the Americans very exci.able people; their
personal conf cts their rapid transitions OF feeling the
accounts of their public demonstration their energetic
expressions their love Of popular assemblies, and the
cultivation of the arts which excite their passions are
favorable to that notion. But New York seems full
of divine calm and human phlegm. panic in Wall
street would, doubtless, create greater external
disturbance than seemed to TO exist in Its streets and
pleasant mansions No doubt there is ard must be, We
~ great agitation Of feeling an mu h appre eDson but
10 the stranger they not very patent or visible An
eec ant rein, IN Mt which almost assumes the airs OF po
regns 10 society," only broken BY the ve'
benent voices of female patriotism or the denunciaons
Addressed against tho provisions Of tariff which New