The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-21
4ithmuHn 9ispatrb.
MORNING. MARCH 81, 1881


IA0 EfeWCo EMCo1W ~ 0ehfUts
Beirut claims especial attention from III
connec ton with the massacres OF Syria En-
terinx the bay we anchored among a feet OF
war vessels, mostly Turks, with two or three
French. single British corvette lay aneh.
ored . long way of in a safer bay. The other
vessels of the English fleet had been ordered
TO the Adriatic, in view of the uncertainties OF
European politics. Taus, the French are left
nearly alone in the defence or protection OF
Syria presume Napoleon does not regret
his advan tage, and doubtless Will make the
most Of 1t. He occupies Syria, and you may
depend npon IL he will never leave. You have
heen often informed that he has an army of a
Few thousand quartered In the vicinity of Bel
rut and among the mountains of Lebanon
/ had the pleasure OF visiting the French en-
campnent about five or six miles from the
city, containing, perhaps, four or Ave thou
sand French and AlEerians.
made the trip over q French road, in a
French omnibus. This road is the beginning
of the road to Damascus, and means some
thing more than an effort TO increase the To-
connective privileges Of the residents OF Beirut
and Damascus. Very recently, am told by
agentieman long resident in Palestine, Napo;
leon received valuable present OF a forussss
in the Lebanon noun tains, from the WI. OF a
deceased Pasha. Whatever may be sue III
ture of French occupancy the pasr an ,ns ~ re-
ent is to be accredited TO the ~ rrn, s,u ,nh
iss Of the Drnses Ills Nm prompt action
alone saved the unbut.ered OF , syria, ana ms
forces IN nst reins. 1nne visit to the encampmsnt.
s Dus 10 .esuin amid mulberry groves and
hs ns ~ nus. Cafes for Turk and French
rnsn n.r.1pring up along the way, and seem
we'll IIAtronized, Notwithstanding they pre-
s"ss..iittle of the atuactiyeness OF the cafes Of
.de Boulevnrds Of Paris.
The road was filled with French soldiers
Turkish soldiers, Algerines. Bodonins, horse
men and footmen, donkeys and donkeymen,
cAmels and camelmen, and women with vari-
GUS costumes. Our French omnibus, witp its
team OF mules and horses, and its black Nu-
l><ft tfans fr1 ina linz f,f
the European and the Oriental, the ancient
and the modern, the stereotyped and the pro-
eressiye. We stopped in front OF large
French cafe close by the eneampment. Here
large band were enliyening the gay scene with
martial music, and people OF all nations
were slipping their coffee and smoking their
0Sultana" or "Latakea." The main portion
of the French are encamped in ''tne Pines
a fine grow tn Of pine trees springing ont of
naked sands. Little il any arrangement is
Observable in placing Of the tents.
The Frenchman, true TO his tastes, seeks to
ornament even his camp, though, like this, it
be In sand desert. Grass and flowers and
running vines were growing around the tents,
and spaces were laid out III curves and an
giles, and plan ted in various flowers and yer
dure. Under French taste, even the desert
blossoms as the rose. The camp. fires were
smouldering and the soldiers We're sitting at
their evening meal. Their table was the
ground and their seats the ground, and yet
they contrived by digging u trench around
their table not to sit legged like the Turk
Most Of the tents are small, and afford only
an indifferent shelter from the winter rains
Various trades necessary to the camp Were
carried on, such as tailoring, harness making,
shoe making, blacksmithing, &c.
The Algerine forces encamped in the
open field, beneath the piercing rays Of Sy-
rian sun. Their horses are in like manner
tied out, exposed to all changes of the wea-
ther. They were preparing their suppers at
their scanty camp fires, and it was amusing
TO see two or three of these wild Algerines
squatting over their pot or pan smoking and
chatting their Arabic, while every eye was
were extemporizing into food Their dress is
similar to that of the Bedouin but their eyes
are keener and their appearance 1 thought
more sprigttly-
Hungarian General remarked to me, that
had seen the "highest perfection of military
sncampment; - this is IA real army encamp-
ment, not the snowy demonstrat ton of annual
parades, and am satisfied that many young
military aspirant would be thoroughly cured
by a couple of months confinement here
Letters from Req. DR.. Bdylies.