The latest
European dates are to the 9th instant.
The
Paris correspondent of the New York
Times, writing on the 28th ultimo, says:
‘
The excitement about the relations between
France and the
United States is on the increase, and causes infinitely more uneasiness here than it appears to do at home.
All sorts of possible and impossible rumors are flying about on the subject, and on all sides a demand is made for a word of explanation from the
Government.
’
Among other statements is one to the effect that a coldness has intervened between the Governments of
France and
Russia because the latter has gained the ascendancy at
Washington, and because it was by the advice of
Russia that
Mr. Lincoln consented to go to meet the
Confederate Commissioners at
Fortress Monroe!
The logic of the thing, you will see, is in the fact that, on former occasions, we refused the entreaties of
France to try to bring the rebels to terms by peace conferences, and then yielded to the solicitations of
Russia.
Once started, it was just as easy to go further, and to the above report has been added a sequel, or more properly a corollary, to the effect that a secret understanding has been come to by the
United States and
Russia, by which
Russia promises, that, when the
United States attacks
France and
England in
Mexico and
Canada, or
France alone in
Mexico, she will recommence the march again, through the
Danubian Principalities, toward
Constantinople.
It suffices to mention these reports, to show you the extent of the excitement on the subject.
The French official and semi-official papers have, within a few days, changed their tone again, and become more hostile to the
Union cause.
In order to counteract the effect of
Mr. Seward's history of the peace conference in
Hampton Roads, the
Confederate agents at
London have sent all over the continent a dispatch which the Havas agency fathered, and which was published by the
French governmental papers.
This dispatch says it speaks by high authority, and then gives the various pretended points offered by
Mr. Lincoln to the
Confederate commissioners, every one of which is false, and intended to place
Mr. Lincoln in an odious light before the
European people.
The last promise of
Mr. Lincoln to the
South is, that he is willing to unite with them in a war against
France and
England.
The fall of Charleston — Comments of the press.
In the absence of later news from
America, which was anxiously expected, the result of the fall of
Charleston continued to be eagerly canvassed.
The London
Times, in an editorial recounting and eulogizing the operations of
Sherman down to the fall of
Charleston, says:
‘
The next operations of this most eventful war will be expected with singular interest.
Sherman has traversed
Georgia as a conqueror, but the Georgians have not returned to the
Union, nor have the Unionists occupied the
State.
For that even
Sherman is not strong enough.
Had he left even small garrisons in the several towns which he entered, he would now be without an army.
Lee and
Beauregard are at the head of unbroken armies, and the spirit of the
South has rather been raised than depressed by its recent reverses.
The Federals have recovered their military reputation, but, if the
South is still resolved to stand out to the end, they have made but little progress toward the end of the war.
’
In another editorial, the
Times writes from a different point of view, and says:
‘
The signs of Confederate exhaustion have brought us to that turning point of the
American war which places us within sight of the final scene, and the part we shall be called on to play in it. If the combatants shake hands, the next victim may be an unconcerned spectator.
As the
Federal Government maintains that it has a quarrel with us in the shape of claims, which we do not acknowledge, and it has a great deal to gain by a successful war with us, the question to which we have to address ourselves is simply whether they can go to war with us with a fair prospect of success.
If they can, they certainly will — but both North and South are exhausted, and are not likely to find success easy by turning against a new foe, with untouched strength and resources.
’
Curious Placard.
Large placards had been stuck about
Liverpool giving the following, from the eighteenth chapter of Revelations, apropos of the fall of
Charleston:
‘
Babylon the
Great is fallen!
is fallen!
for her sins have reached unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities; and the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her, for no one buyeth their merchandise any more.
Merchandise of
gold and
silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men; and every ship-master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, [blockade-runners?] stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying: ‘"What city is like unto this great city?"’
’
The Probability of War.
In a debate upon the naval estimates in the House of Commons, May 7,
Sir J. Pakington remarked:
‘
That in appointing
Mr. Reed, in his present state of experience and efficiency, to be chief constructor, they were trifling with the interests of
England, when they allowed men of great skill and experience to leave the service at a time when war might break out any moment, and they might be compelled to send a fleet across the
Atlantic, possibly at the shortest notice.
’
Miscellaneous.
M. de Montholon has been appointed French Minister at
Washington, and
M. Dano, Minister at
Mexico.
The Pall Mall
Gazette says that, in conformity with public opinion in
France, the Emperor Napoleon will leave
Mexico to her destiny as soon as the
French troops have returned.
There was a rumor, however, that a reinforcement of five thousand troops was to be sent shortly to
Mexico.
The answer of
Austria to the Prussian dispatch relative to the Duchies had reached
Berlin.
Report says that
Austria declares the proposals of
Prussia entirely unfitted to be the basis for further negotiations.
[From the London Times (City Article), March 6.]
In the market for foreign securities, the chief movement has been a further fall of three per cent. in the
Confederate loan, which is down at thirty-seven and a half to thirty-eight and a half; but in nearly every other instance there has also been a fresh decline.
