The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-18

Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
BERLIN, November %, 1866.

correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
BERLIN, November 90, 1866.
Last Friday night was given in st. Pc
ter's church the musical representation in
memory of the soldiers who fell in the late
war. The church is unfortunately ill-con-
structed acoustically, being after the (mo-
dern) Gothic fashion, with arches and other
impedimentS 10 hearing, so that the large
body of singers could hardly do themselves
Justice. The performance consisted OF,
first, the Heroes Song of List, which
was given with all appurtenanccS OF bells,
drums, and Sheet-irOn, and the peculiari-
ties of the composer were forcibly brought
out the battle representations, indeed, re-
minded one of the Battle of Prague" at
ter the manner in which Haydn proposed
to himself to describe unsteady storm of
sea, till, happening TO be on the ocean, he
really witnessed a storm, and changed his
mode of description. That Is, he saw that it
was not only impossible TO give any adequate
idea by musical instruments OF the sounds
of q Storm, but that II was low form Of
art TO attempt tit was mere imitation !;
lie saw that the right way was to express
the emotions which the sublime scene
awakened in the beholder. List has also
uone this in parts of his Heldealied, and
has portrayed exquiStely the gloom and
sorrow of the battlefield. In regard to
the noiSier parts, it must be remembered
that he had peculiar ideas as TO the express
sion of violent emotion, noise being an i'm
pOrtant element. The second part of the
performance was the Requiem of Mozart,
a production which it is difficult 10 sing
well, and which is not often sung at all,
even here. One cannot hear this wonder
full music without thinking of the mystic
Tious story connected with its composition,
aud feeling love and veneration for the
genius that produced it. 1t was we'll rem
dered; the audience, owing TO the very
bad weather, being, however, small.
Since the return of the Crown Prince
from St. Petersburg, where he was most
brilliantly received, the belief in the posi-
bility of a treaty of alliance between Prus-
STA and Russia has increased. There is, in
deed, little reason why these Powers
should not form close connection, the
jealousy or apprehension which has been
felt in Prussia in regard TO her neighbours
designs on the border territory having had
nothing lately TO increase or to occasion it.
Nothing further has appeared relating to
French alliance but the French national
fury or disposition to march to the Rhine
has diminished.
The Prussian army will soon be formi-
dable body, the new and stringent law re-
curing every man in the country to serve
so soon as he attainS the age of twenty.
This system, which may seem to us in
many respects oppressive, has shown it
self so effective in the field that it is
said that the French Government pro-
pose to adopt it substantially. The pre-
sent French system Of consumption diff
fers from the Prussian in two particulars.
1t is not universal, and it admits substi-
tutes. Naturally, in most of the armies of
the Continental Powers, substitutes make
up an important part of the force and the
issue which is made between Prussia and
the advocates of the old system relates to
the comparative efficiency of such men who
make fighting their trade and a body of
citizens who temporarily leave their civil
pursuits in obedience to the law of their
country. Many arguments are made ON
both sides. The one party speak OF dis
cipline, the other Of patriotic enthusiasm.
The Prussians point with confident pride
to the oroweSs which their soldiers so
lately exhibited. 1t must, however, for
Justice sake, be remembered that the
Prussian success in the late war was
largely ascribed by competent judges
to two other causes, both of which GER
tainly modified the result. The one
was!the superior skill of their military
leaders, especially the ability OF General
Won Moltke; the other, their superiority
in infantry arms. The Austrian cavalry,
il was said, was never beaten, and
the infantry maintained their ground till
fanked or surrounded, or assailed by
greatly superior numbers. The Austrian
army contains, indeed, some Of the best ma
terial in the world, and they showed them
selves too much for the national enthusiasm
of the Italians. In Prussia the question is
now whether soldiers shall be required to
serve three years or two in the regu-
lar army-the Government favoring the
longer term, and the Opposition the
shorter. The frmness aud yigor OF
the latter party would seem to promise
s.ccess 10 lis efforts if il had not been SO
frequently before ignored by the Govern
ment. However, In the present instance
The manner In which the people OF the
lately annexed provinces receive the Prus-
sian military law may have great effect.
They have not been accustomed, IKE the
Prussians, to this universal service, and,
other means of evasion failing, are disposed
10 emigrate to America. This already too
great emigration must be checked, aud 1t
Is probable that some means will be pro-
posed of tightening the burden for these
new subjects at any rate.
By the treaty between Prussia and Han
over IL was determined that the latter
Power should diminish the number OF It's
ambassadors to foreign courts, assigning