The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-13

plate, the guerdOn won at D0ncastsr BY r0uons'0ns
Amongst the members Of the corp. dip!o~satigus
invited 10 meet her Majesty we're his Excellency Mr..
Dallas, Mrs. Dallas and Mr.. p Dallas.
The Danish Sound Daes-Parliamentary
COMMITTEES.
This committee met again on the 27th ultinno,
Mr.. Villiers In the chair. -,
Mr. Frederick Bohemian, merchant residing
in London, and chiefly engaged in the Baltic trade,
was the first witness called. Ia reply 70 MT NJ Go-
son. he said the Sound dues were levied by the hum
dred weight; all English manufactures had to pay
heavy transit duty from Hamburg to Lubbock; that
duty was in fact, more than double the freight to
Hamburg; Denmark rendered no Tsrvice whatever
for that transit duty; the value OF English nercAas
die sent annually by that route was abodt million
and 2 half sterling. Austria, ne believed, ievsoa
hundred weight, while that claimed BY Denmark
was. sd. the hundred weight. He believed that
charge was inconsistent with treaty engagements
he meant treaty engagements between the Hanse
Towns and Denmark.
By Mr.. Liddell--The distance from Hamburg to
Lubbock was about seventy English niies.
BY the Chairman-Thst transit duty was meant
as q protection for the Sound dues; If the Sound
dues were abolished it to be hoped the transit
duty would be likewise done away with
by Mr.. Duncan--There was no duty charged on
fax or hemp going from Russia to Lubbock, in tran
Mr.. s. West, of Hull, was next exsrined. He
SAID he was engaged good deal in the timber trade
The Sound dues on timber came. in some instances,
to per cent, and in Others TO per cent, owing to
the difference in quality of The timber. The rate
paid on Russian deals was somewhat less than that
ON Prussian deals. Deals from Prussia were charged
SO thalers per shock Of go pieces Deals from Russia
paid SO thaiers per 900 pieces. The Souni dues
operated on the Baltic trade in the same way as an
import duty here would operate; there were a con-
siderable number of agency houses at Elsnore, and
there was a good deal OF competition among
them I; they paid the Sound dues on the irgoes,
which were charged in the bills of lading; the
agents were paid 3 per cent for the commission.
There was strong feeling among merchants in
favor of getting rid OF the Sound dues they
considered the English government might make
a compromise with Denmark by compensation; that
could have been done on more advantageous terms
some time ago than it could now, and would be more
difficult still hereafter the Baltic trade yearly
growing more important. He considered Norwegian
and Swedish vessels were built cheaper and sailed
cheaper than English ships, and were consequently
to some extent displacing English ships in the
Baltic. Steamers were cheaper IN England than in
the Baltic. Steamers were on the increase in the
Baltic.
BY Mr.. Bramley Moore-O0 tonnage had no.o-
riously decreased in the Baltic since ls49.
Mr.. Bremen, Of Hull, was the next witness He
said he had been engaged in the Baltic trade for
great mauyyGRs. There were ports OF Prussia
which were privileged, and paid only small amount
Of Sound dues and consequently the ships Of those
The ports be alluded TO were Stettin, Rostock and
Mecklenburg. He believed there was q strong
opinion, both in this country and Prussia, against
the Sound dues; the captains were equally against
the dues as the merchants.
After hearing some evidence as to the increase Of
Prussian ships in the Baltic the committee adjourn
ed until Tuesday.
The foundations I'm France-Lettcr from the
Count de Chamb0rd.
The Paris Union publishes q letter from the Duke
de Lewis with O communication addressed to the
latter by the Count de Chambord on the subject Of
the inundations which have desolated France, and
towards the relief Of which the Count has contrbut
ed the sum Of O00f. The following is the letter
VENICE June l6 1856
Twas q Journey, my dear Duke, when the news Of
the frghtfu inundations which have dcsoated France
particularly in the south and west, reached me- could
the details Of those scenes OF devastation and
mourning without having my heart deeply affected. On
returning this city my first care Is TO send you
mark Of my lively sympathy for the numerous victims OF
those terrible catastiophes, snm OF 20 0oof, with the
expression Of my deep regret that circumstances will
not allow me 10 send YOU II Is particularly
these occasions that suffer severely at finding myself
Kept far from my country not beng able 10 hasten per-
sonay the assistance Of many sufferers and at ony
having my disposal resources too limited for % DC
possible for me 70 contribute so cfectuay a. could have
wished in relieving much distress. My wife s not less
affected than at these disastrous events and II IS In
her name as well rs my own that send you this sum
May this feeble mark OF sincere interest give some
alienation 10 the suerings OF those afflicted people
TO you my dear Duke, the assurance OF my con
slant friendship. HENRI
The Paris Constitutional says -
The first step TO lie taken viii be 70 TO repair the
highroads. The roeds which have been cut will be
reconstructed, the bridges destroyed will be rebuilt,
and the kes Of defence the rupture OF which gives
importance TO the slightest rise of water will be re-
established These are urgent works that admit Of
no delay. But IL IL not question OF combining the
labors 10 placing matters in their primitive condi-
ton the country will no longer remain exposed TO
catsstrophes similar 10 those we now deplore, and in
sip0 hv bo 10 hav we'd
II win be sought to discover the serious means Of
preventing their return. Hitherto the means gener-
ally employed consisted OF system OF dykes, which
has produced in some countries, such as Southern
Italy, most admirable results. To-day, by turn Of
opinion, dykes are out OF favor and are tie objects
OF many accusations they are denounced especially
as aggrsvating the danger that they are to prevent
by closing all issue 70 the water. We believe that
a great amount of injustice exists in the sys-
tematic attacks directed against the use OF
dykes Without doubt, the system admits OF
improvement; they might be constructed In more
substantial manner, and issue for the turbulent
waters might be provided by means Of combna-
ton of dischsrging canals and lower beds. Thus
improved, the dykes will c1n.inue TO play an impor-
tant role in the protection OF the soil Blu. II Is
certain that means must lie sought TO prevent far
possible the Eruption Of waters from the higher
regions, whilst also Increasing the means OF resis
lance offered by the valleys. The question Of re-
newing the mountain forests and meadows here M
tursly presents itself IL Is not to be denied that
the disappearance Of forests aud pasture lands
which existed in the abrupt declines OF our noun
tain chains has increased the rising Of the waters OF
the streams and rivers In fact the waters, no long
er meeting q vegetation which absorbs and de-
tains them, are carried away rapidly and In tor
rents. Nevertheless, IL would be an error - con-
slider the disappearance Of our forests a. the sole
and essential cause Of inundatons IL Il only ne.
cessaTy to read the descriptions Of Gaul by Cesar
and Dion 10 be convinced that the scourge
was equally felt when those forests existed,
and covered nearly twothirds OF our territory Our
plains, according 70 these two historians were CO
vered with stagnant water; Hainsult Handus, and
the BoulonDais, were submerged; Paris itself was
surrounded by s~amps; Bordeaux reposed on q
marsh at the mouth Of the Csronne, and all our
rivers, badly restrained, spread over their banks
creating marshes which sent forth plague and fever
IL pause az the time OF the middle ages we find
that the inundations OF 40 created plague that in
$50 tremendous rains caused frightfal inuncatons
especially at Lyons where the Rhone and the Saonc
united their waters and swept away portion Of the
town. In l427 the Seine Cows the entire island