The Washington union., 1857-10-06
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT


LONDON, September Is, 1857
DE.R SIN: cannot leave this great metropolis with
out drawing your attention TO important fact, which
under my observation whilst staying here and of
which but in America to have taken any notice,
have appreciated they ought to have done TO
have given the mertcd honor 10 whom ii most justly be-
longs act of statesmanshp, which is producing such
great and beneficial effects to all who engaged in
commerce the Baltic am here alluding to the
abrogaton of the Sound dues This honor belongs TO
America and particularly to able experienced, and
enlightened President While he Secretary Of State,
early lS45 he instructed the Hon Mr. Irwin, and
since then Col Flenen minister Copenhagen TO
insist upon friendly arrangement and settlement with
the Danish government by which the Sound dues might
be abolished Our example encouraged other nations TO
follow and the result il known 10 the world But after
all 1t Mr. Secretary Buchanan who originated the
measure and led the van and to him belongs the honor
No other government than could have taken
such stand The American government was not bound
by any euda treaty pay these Sound Dues all
the European nations
Denmark has undoubtedly lost great annual revenue.
Still Denmark important and peculiar location in
mecial point of view, and under most liberal and
ghtened King and government, will find resources in
her position which will much than compensate her
for her lost In fact, convinced and fully
prepared show that instead Of losing by the abrogaton
Of the Sound Dues she will be the gamer and not lit
tie singular would it be If America, which doubt
the of the abrogaon of the Sound dues, should
also be the first the Danish through
commerce. revenue than equal to the one lost
This successful measure of Mr.. Buchanan shows his
enlightened forecast and the wisdom Of his policy and
craftsmanship. This is illustrated by the beneficial
suits which already begin to show themselves
Mr.. Buchanan in lS47 on account of some other i'm
portant commercial with Denmark alluded to
these Sound dues and must confess that did not
then agree with his policy but it goes to show his
enlarged and correct views this great commercial and
important subject His reputation here wise and
able statesmanjudgng from what have heard from all
classes Of menis truly great and it is very gratifying
American citizen to receive additional respect from
John Bull on that account.
But the direct result of Mr. Buchanan policy in re-
gard to the abrogation of the Sound dues the
nous increase of commerce on the Baltic. The Berlin
papers of the 18th instant that Stettna Prus
port the Baltc-there arrived in the year pre-
cedng only 6642 ships and steamers, containing
mage of 425 tons but in the first six months of 1857
there arrived 5000 vessels whose tonnage amounted
COS lO4 tons; of which 2444 sailing vessels 672
ocean and 245 river steamers and 70s river
that in these six months there arrived 427
than in the whole year of 1856 This is only single
port the Baltic but how enormously will the aggre-
gate be increased when add the number of the ports
of Germany, Sweden, Russia, and Denmark the Bal
tic venture to say, that the increase of the
of all nations the Baltic will be more than doubled in
less than three years that instead of the "a ships
that now enter and clear from these ports it is not
estimate to say that $4,000 will then enter and
clear And instead of American trade being carried
on by from l6 to 60 vessels annually and the value
their cargocs in 1885, only amounting $3.50 AL it
mil ocd
crease Of trade the Baltic nation will be BEN
cited than Denmark, If she adopts such commercial
policy as is within her grasp
have visited the great Eastern steamer and it is really
the eighth wonder of the world and ought to be consd.
cred the first The British capitalists machinists and
builders deserve the greatest honor and credit for invest
ing their capital in such stupendous enterprise there
is no probability that they will receive interest,"
much less their capital back in the case of the great
Thames tunnel But what of it The construction of
such monster vessel is honor to the British nation
and will show to the world what they do in the way
of shp-building. should judge from her present ap-
parance that she will not be ready for sea before next
spring. and then she will visit America And if so it is
to be hoped that enterprsng merchants will have
ready abundant freight and passengers and thus show
our cousins that are in fact the only nation that can
promptly do it. 1t would undoubtedly be great gratif
clton to the enterprsng shareholders here and would
go far to show that appreciate enterprise in foreign
nation as well in own.
John Bull expresses great respect for Brother Jonathan
since the commencement of his India troubles He no
doubt feels some humiliation at the extent and gravity
Of his troubles and to think that Jonathan
should be his best friend in these caamtics and difficult
ties Ho certainly has sincere sympathy, No war,
believe could seriously affect England will this In
dia She thinks with her $4,000 soldiers to regain
her power but fear that that number will have to be
supplied over and again. leaving at home thousands
of young girls and widows, that hor population will
not increase for years to como
Very truly, yours, G. H.
Col Wn A HARMS, Editor of the Union
LATHR PRoH THE Rio GRANpE. E.-Tha BroWnsyilla Flag