The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-04
For the Dispatch.l J."
The CGssn OK VS.. Consta ntin0ple.

The desire to possess the city OF Con-
stantinople, or, as 1t is frequently termed.
"The Golden Horn,' is no neW-hatcbed"
idea with the Russians, but dream fondly
cherished and an object most perSistently
pursued until it has become national
poicy. The first attempt by them to seize
and occupv the coveted "Mistress OF the
East,v the beautiful capital OF the Imperial
Constantine OF Roman greatness, was made
over one thousand years ago--A. D. 500
and was temporarily successful, at least 50
| far that they occupied the port and harbor
short time during the absence OF the EN-
peror Michael III. (he OF infamous memory,
who profaned by drunken mockery the
religion of bis country, abusing the
sacred vessels of the affairs and ad-
ministeriug the holy communion at his
| bacchanalian feasts in an emeticaI compound
Of vinegar and mustard, the court 6utfoon
being the while invested in the robes OF the
venerable patriarch. A fit end to SUCH a
ruler was his having been assasslnated
while in drunken stupor.) But they were
soon driven off, dispersed, and slain,
through the desperate eXertions OF the
frightened Greeks, aided As they devoutly
believed by the Virgin Mary, but more pro-
badly assisted by most seasonabie tempest
that rendered the frail open boats OF the
Russians unmanageable. 1t must he noted
that this attack. or invasion, was made by
barbarians, as the Russians then were, with
about two hundred boats, against the me-
tropolis of the Eastern Roman Empire, and
seat Of heretofore unheard OF wealth, cle-
gance, and refinement; and against Chris
tians, those people who flrst estaplshed
as national religion the principles and
r,;@ -, fhrnI1ph
who professed that which is the prevailing
or dominant religious creed of the Russian
OF to-day-id est, the doctines Of the Greek
Church.
The Scandinavian trader who had de-
sccnded the Borysthenes (modern Dnieper)
and coasted the Black Sea until he landed
his skins, furs, &C., from the magazines OF
Kew upon the marble piers OF the most
luxurious city of the world, had carried
back to the frozen and inhospitab!c north
such accounts Of its riches, and such evil
dences in the shape OF gold and spices, that
the avarice OF the bold sayages was much
excited, and they swiftly determined to
take it with force OF arms. In the succeed
ing two hundred years they made four more
unsuccessful attempts to plumber the trea-
sures Of the "ImpeTial City," and were re-
pelled each time through the agency and
the terror inspired by the mysterious artlfi-
cial flames called Greek-tire," which was
beched out upon the Russians through
long tubes protruding from the bows
and sides Of the Greek galleys. They con-
tinued to make these attacks at intervals
longer or shorter, according to their means
and abilities, until the period OF the CONVEX
sion to Christianity OF the Duchess Olga,
the widow o? Igor, one of their Grand
the Christian sacrament OF baptism in the
great Cathedral OF st. Sophia at CONSTANT
nople, and the subsequent conversion OF her
subjects. But at last the devoted city, which
had detied the strongest efforts OF the north
ern hordes, fell at length, conquered after
long and desperate siege, by southern and
eastern infidels, and victorious Mahomet Ii.
passed her lofty gates in triumph. followed
by the "Unspeakable Turks" who have
continued her masters to this day-folr CEN
turtles and quarter, almost-D1ay goth, A.
d. 1853. Will it be the seat Of the Sublime
Porte on the Doth day OF May next, the full
four and a quarter centuries Or shall
we see the fultilment OF the over-eigbt-hun-
dred-years' old prophecy spoken Of by
Gibbon in his 'sDecine and Fall Of the
Roman Empire'; which prophecy was
then firmly believed in by the common peo-
pie and by some Of every rank in the city
that an equestrian statue was secretly in.
scribed with an account or prediction that
ain the last days the Russians acoutd BE-
come masters of C0nstantinapohs." Says
the historian "1n our own time Russian
armament, instead of sailing from the Bo-
rysthenes, has circumnavigated the CONT
nent OF Europe. and the Turkish capital
has been threatened by squadron OF strong
and lofty ships-of-war; each Of which, with
its naval science and ponderous artillery,
could have sunk or scattered an hundred
canoes sech as those Of their ancestors.
Perhaps The present century may yet behold
the accomplishment Of the prediction-of
rare prediction-of achich the style IS am
biguouS and The date unqueStionable."
The northern Bear is about to embrace
the long. long coveted prize, and what says
the "Lion Rampant. to it? II. VS..