The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-23
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LEGATION DE BRLGIQUE WAsHINGroN,2
GEORGETOWN, ID. c. Dec. IL, 1852.
Dear SIR: | Immediately answer your let
ter of the 10Th inst, and | trust the following
statement will contributs 10 the establishment
of the steam line between your country and
my own.
/ have no precise data on which to esti-
mate accurately tFe amount of transit pOstages
which will accrue to this line. All the ma lis
for the Mediterranean and the East Indies now
have to go through Belgium, in consequence
of the great facility of her rail roads these,
with other mails, will make The Belgian pos
| tages considerable, and think, therefor:, it
may be moderately and safely estimated at
$50 900 per annum.
Daring the year 1885, the imports from the
United States into Belgium, amou ted to 81,
| 227 ,080. The value OF goods sent from Bel
| gium to the United States direct, was 50 263,-
| COO. 1t is important, however, TO state that
| large amount of Belgian manufactures are
| exported from France and Eng land, and, also,
that by the way of England, Belgium receives
a large amount of raw material and produce,
which, in the year | refer to, was as follows
Raw material, $632O,SOO
| Produce, 2,l59, 400 making s., ,4S0 200
| TO which add the direct exporta.
|
And you h:ve the large sum of SIS, ,707 200
| Direct trade by steam line, acting both as
| its means and messenger, would greatly in
| crease this amount of expectation, while the
| imports here, from Bel lgium, consisting of eve.
| ry article which Eng land or France can make,
| would reach this full sum, or even greater, If
there were demand for them. In connection
with this, would say, that large amount OF
| bo hnc IN and lo,s
countries is transacted throug the medium o
large fa rs held in the principal cities. To
| these, all the manufacturers contribute, and
thus their goods are distributed. Should this
line be established, there is good reason TO be-
lieve that similar fairs might be held in Norfolk
| or Richmond, and that the merchants, from
lfhe South and West Of this country, would
then be enabled to purchase their goods on
better terms than they now do in the northern
cities. One large fair of this kind would turn
| the whole business into the State Of Virginia,
by directing tho attention Of all the manufactu.
rers to her as a market. The favorable posi-
ton Uf Belgium, in connection by her railroads
| with all parts of the continent, would greatly
| induce the continuance OF this mode of deal
ing; and her own commerce, OF which so little
| is known in this country, would add largely 10
the prosperity of any State with which she
NAV be connected. In 1850, her commerce e
amounted to 9l6437 900 francs, which was di.
vided into 464 697 ,008 francs Of import and
451 100000 francs otexpOrt.
| From her port OF Antwerp, last year, there
sailed to New York alone, $4,000 emigrant
passengers while, from all the German States,
the immigration TO the United States was
about 100000. Many Of these came by the
way of England, and their expenses and deten-
ton amounted to far greater sum than you
estimate as the passage money IN your pro-
posed steamers.
Taking all these fact. into conside ration, the
great desire which my government has Tor this
line, with the full encouragement which she
will give to it, cannot doubt that II will be
the most successful steam line that there ls.
The Belgian Government will prefer every
| way to deal with respectable individual 10
dealing with a joint stock company, tor the
same reasons which induced the British TO-
yerDment 10 deal with Dir. Cnnard. Ihey are
these: Joint stock companies are subJect 10 IN
trigues for power and place; contentious lol-
low, and the interest OF The line Is sacrlhced 10
N that of individuals, and ultimately the line
fails. With competent and respeciaole ind'-
| yiduai, none of these can occur Mr. BeauiIeu,
ia making proposals TO you, sufficiently indI-
catea this preference after satisfying himself IN
the important consideration that you were abl3
10 carry on successfully the enterprise
twill afford me pleasure to aid IN any way
the establishment of line that is to be 30 uss-
ful to your country and to my own.
Relieve me, dear sir, 10 remain,
Yours, most truly and sincerely,
rsgned,l DE BOSCH SPENCER.
| TO AmsRosE ". THoaPsoS, ESQ.
GTbe originals ofths above letters are IN the
hands of Harrison Robertson, Esq Delegate
from Norfolk city.l
| Tuxx AND NoW.-Fitiy years ago, steam