Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-19

Ba Our papers are apt to make sport over the mis-:
takes of foreign journalists, other writers, when re-
ferring to localities or institutions in the United States
It is natural that these mistakes should be made, and
natural also that sport should be made Them But,
perhaps, cur se!fcompacency would be somewhat les
sened if we were to look at the beam in own eyes
before commenting too severely upon the mote in our
neighbors eyes. We every day as ridiculous mis-
takes in our exchanges with reference to European To-
calities towns countries political divisions and nsttu-
TONS as any which be found In French or English
papers in regard to similar matters and things in the
United States Mr.. Preston, of Virginia, visited Eu-
rope to endeavor to get line of steamers to Norfolk
He returned and the result mission said to be
arrangement for line between the ports of Norfolk
Va. and Orleans France. At first, the thing went
without examination. Few took the trouble to know
whether Orleans port We have New
Orleans which is and it appeared to be taken for grant
ed that the city after which was named must also be
port
But, after while, somebody happened to look at
the map and found that Orleans was an inland town.
some fiftyeight miles southwest from Paris with which
it is connected by railroad That the Loire there is
perhaps navgable for canal boats or something of the
kind, and then not reliable. That Nantes, some two
hundred miles down the river only be approached
bv vessel of 200 tons and under and that the port for
large vessels is to be at ST. Nazaire close to the mouth
of the Loire and about thirty miles west of Nantes
with which it is, or is to be, connected by railroad
Extensive works going on at st. Nazaire, which,
when finished will render it of the safest and most
commodious ports in Europe.
Nantes, of over hundred thousand inhabitants is the
first city to be traded with the Loire and the most
important 1t is connected by railroad with Paris from
which it distant 269 miles, and with Brest the great
naval depot by CANAL of practical advantage save
in time of war; when things can't be sent outside The
Loire having an inland navigation of some four or five
hundred miles, and connected by canal with the basins
of the Rhone the Seine and the Rhine affords avenue
for distributing produce through the heart of France
Points on the Loire are also connected with the leading
centres of trade and manufactures by of railroads
So the only thing that Orleans which, after all, is
compared with Nantes, small place. can have to do
with the enterprise must be- that the railroad one prong
of which reaches Nantes first built from Paris to
Orleans thence extending branch to Tours and thence
to Nantes and it is probable that the name OF the first
section of the line from Paris to Nantes may attach to
the whole, and give its designation to the company who
wish to have these Steamers in connection with their
work Of course, dreams that produce Or pas
sengers intended for Paris would 60 by way of ST.
Nazaire, whclAis not much less than three hundred
miles from the Capital while Havre, at the mouth o.
the Seine is only l08.
Nantes Tours and Orleans are the cities Immediately
on the Loire. Right Nantes used to be avouritt
designation for pure Brandy Orleans is celebrated
connection with the redoubted " Maid thereof, and
Tours is quite manufacturing place. though it has new
recovered the prosperity which it enjoyed prior to the
revocation of the Edct of Nantes by which Edct Henry
the Fourth granted liberation to the Professionals who
comprised the greater portion of the skilled workmen
France When Louis the Fourteenth revoked this
grant of liberation, these carried their arts and
industry to England and the effects of the movement
felt to the present day.