The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-19

strongly inclined to ascrbe still greater share
of influence to the pusilauimous apprehensons
Of many of our leading men. So long as the
leaders of Wall street continue to anticipate
| disasters while the horizon is cloud]ess-so
long as "a second 1917 is talked Of as proba-
bility, under a system which should preclude
the possibility OF such an occurrence-money
! will continue to be dear. Merchants must
| learn to see things as they are before ex-
changes will resume their natural level.
The Mission to Frsnce-Probable Conclusion
or the Long Agony.
The mission to France, as we stated yester-
day, we have reason to believe has been ten
dered to- and will be accepted with pleasure by
the Hon. John Y. Mason, President Tyler's and
President Folks Secretary OF the Navy for a
time. All parties concerned, therefore, in this
most fashionable, fascinating and elegant of the
foreign appointments, may, we think, consider
the question settled as to entertain any longer
doubt upon the subject, or hope concerning
any other man than Judge Mason.
Assuming that this nomination has been made,
we are inevitably led to inquire what has been
the difficulty. that this important mission, like
the coffin OF Mahomet, has been suspended be-
tween heaven and earth so long? From March
TO September the North and the South have
been kept in state Of suspense on this sub
ject-anxious suspense and uncertainty
Thousands of dollars would be required
to cover the cost of the telegraphic de-
spatches Of the supposed fluctuations of
General Pierce and the Cabinet upon this
particular appointment during the last
six months. The Washington newsmongers
however, after beating about the bushes from
time to time, have SO repeatedly fallen back
upon Mr.. Dix that hunkers and freesolers
and Southern secessionists will be somewhat
curious to know why it is that after all, NJ
Dix is superseded. In July last the nomina-
ton was held back on account of the August
elections in the Southern States. After they
we're safely over, Mr.. Dix was to have had his
commission sure. But upon the heel of those
August elections comes the September Demo-
cratic State Conventions at Syracuse; and so,
for the sake of harmonizing the hard shells, Mr..
Dix is held subject to reconsideration till
the upshot Of the gathering at Syracuse is dis
closed. And now, it is indeed strange, after
all the mischief has been done with the name of
Mr.. Dix that could be done, that he should be
coolly and deliberately set aside for quiet re-
tired gentleman like Judge Mason of Virginia.
1t is indeed strange, considering that familiar
and interesting correspondence which is said
to have taken place lately between the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Dix, comprehending all the difficult
ties of the case, and all the grounds of partially
which controlled the President in his original
selection Of Mr. Dix 1t is very strange,
very interesting, and very remarkable case.
considering all these tbings-very curious and
peculiar, we must confess.
How will Mr.. Dix-how will John Van
Buren, and the soft shells of this State
of it. Mr.. Wise, of Virginia, and Mr.
Wise's friends, will be disappointed, for
they had strong hopes, considering the SER
vices Of Mr.. Wise at the Baltimore Convention.
that he would finally come in. Gov. Cobb, of
Georgia. we apprehepd, will think it rather
funny, that after having had the refusal of
this mission it should be otherwise disposed Of
before having made up his mind one way or
the other-tbe pro or con depending upon the
aspects and prospects of the forthcoming Geor
ga election. And, what are we to think Of
the yumors that Mr.. Dallas was under discus
sion few days ago; and that Gen. Caleb
Cushing would certainly 90 to France if
certain Catholic lady of Mary land. of the Car
roll family, would only consent to share the
honors of bis official presentation to the Court
Of Napoleon LII. and the Empress!
Upon all these mysterious and complicated
reports there is yet much to be revealed Thus
much we fully believe:-that the mission to
France was offered to Gen. Dix several months
since that he signiGed his acceptance, but
that questions Of party expediency, North
and South, after a hard struggle have COM
PEELED the President to drop him Gen.
Dix, having accepted the sub-treasury as
an accommodation. pro tempore to the
President Qor such appears to have been
the terms Of his acceptance) and having con-
tinued all through the summer, in the hot
and close atmosphere of Wall street, in the dis
charge Of his official duties in confident expec-
tation Of the reward Of the mission to France
will be very likely to think that he has been
unfairly treated A man Of MEANS to whom the
salary Of the sub-treasurer is nothing, aud
with delightful country seat which be had
Just completed fJr his residence during the past
season, would hardly undertake the care Of
eight or ten millions fpublic money in Wall
street through all the deadly heats Of June
July and August, without some extraordinary
consideration. Such we doub, not was offered
Mr.. Dix in the contingent offer Of the mission to
rance Mr. Dix is a schoar--versed in the
languages and literature of Europe (gide his
Winter in Madeira and Summer in Spain, y
and to such man there would be attractions in
the embassy to st Cloud far beyond the public