The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-21
MR.. BENEFITS LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
PARIS, May 20, ls47.
Ocean steam Navigation-Its enec' ON '"e III
ted states-The Position OF the Great He-
public.

public.
Twas informed the other day by gentleman
from Brussels, that the governments OF Belgium
and Prussia have made arrangements to establish
n line of four large steamers between Antwerp
and New York Each government is to furnish
the funds 10 construct two apiece. This Is very
| ;mnortant movement, in connection with the
commercial intercourse between New York and
the north of Germany. In about year the great
line of railroads from Antwerp to Berlin will be
complete This line is now finished from Ant
werp to the Rhine at Cologne, and also from Ber
lin TO the Weser. Last summer travelled all the
distance that had then been finished, which was
the space between Antwerp and Cologne, and
between Hanover and Berlin. When finished, the
whole line from Antwerp to Berlin can be travel
led in twenty hours-and from Berlin to Vienna
in forty hours more The intercourse between
the United States and Germany will then be
rapid as that between the United States and Eng
land.
Only reflect for one moment on the prospects
of the steam intercourse between Europe
and America, in a few short years. During the
present year three lines will run-each of four
large steamers-one to Boston, and two to
New York. These three lines comprise the
British line from Liverpool to Boston-the
French line from Havre to New York-and the
American line from New York to Southampton
and Bremen. There are now preparing three
additional lines, of four large boats each-besides
the Sarah Sands and such boats 60 on their
own hook The three lines now building are
the American line from New York to Liverpool
the additional British line from Liverpool to
New York. of which the first boat has Just been
launched at Greenock-and the Belgium and
Prussian line, which will soon be set on foot
All these will make an aggregate OF twenty-four
steamers engaged in the regular trade betweenth the
United States and Europe, besides the odd ones.
In one year. when these lines OF Atlantic steam
ers. and the principal railroads on the continent
shall have been completed, there will be regu-
lar arrival at New York from Europe, three times
week, or every second and third day in the
summer season, and half as often in the winter.
The effect of such an intercourse on the many
relations of the two continents, will be great and
wonderful. Commerce, literature, politics, re-
gion, and fashion will all be deeply affected. AS
regards France, there is great apathy and igno
rance on the subject of American trade The in
tellect and capacity of the French government
are principally exhausted in preserving the dy-
nasty-in managing the electors-the chambers
nation against the wishes of the great movement
party. Foreign trade, and particularlytrade with
the United States, is very little understood or
cared for. beyond those Immediately Interested
The Germans, and the north of Europe, were the
first to discover that the trade which England
has had with the United States for the last thirty
years. has been the principal element of that king
dom's prosperity, and ability to pay the interest
of a terrible national debt. 1t has just been dis
covered in Germany, and by some few statesmen
in France that the growth of England for the
last thirty years has been caused not by her In
dian empire alone-not by her trade in Europe
not in Asa-but principally by her trade with
the United States which has supplied her with
cotton, and other articles of great Importance.
Every one sees now, that in the friendly settle
ment of the Oregon question, the British nation
had one of the narrowest escapes from quarrel
with the United States, from which that kingdom
never would have recovered. France and Ger
many are beginning to see these things in their
proper light, and accordingly they are putting
forth efforts to share with England in the trade
of great and mi ghty republic, that furnishes both
materials for the manufacturers OF Europe, and
corn to feed them. In France, the knowledge
on these points is very mean-very narrow, and
very meagre.
The French Government has refused, for
many years, to place the tonnage duties on Ame-
rican ships on the same principles of cheapness
and reciprocity which exist between the United
States and England. This refusal is founded on
the motive of little paltry tax, which Is paid
into the French treasury, of larger amount
than that which accrues to the United States
treasury on French ships, in consequence OF
the greater number of American ships that enter
French ports, as compared with French
ships entering American ports. The tonnage
duties which will be payable by the French
steamers on entering New York, will be, proba-
bly,, from $1,000 to $500 each, more than the
same duties on English ships But ! under
stand that the French Government is inclined to
repav this amount to the Havre line, in order to
place them on the same footing the English,
and so that they can retain still in existence the
high tonnage duties, which yield more to
France than the same duties do to the United
States The better way to bring the French
Government to its senses, would be for Congress
to impose higher duty by twenty or thirty per
cent, on French wines and silks, than on those
of Germany and England, until they consented
to place the tonnage duties on more reasonable
footing AS the trade now stands, the United
States imports double the amount from France
that France does from the United States. The
trade between England and the United States
| nearly balances each other. The French govern
ment and French statesmen are exceedingly slow
| in these matters-but the efforts now making to
establish steam line, an indication of some
wish to open their eyes. The only way to
bring them to their senses is to retallate upon
them, through the Legislative power, on the gene
| raj trade between the two countries.
In another point Of view, the rapid and numsr-
| Gus lines of steamers which will soon connect
the two continents, will be most important. The
United States in her recent achievements in
Mexico-in her financial capacity, has proved to
&c tho ed rid tLat