Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-15
Trade with Francr--Letter from Jno. 4.
Mason.

Mason.
PARIS. December 7th, lSJ7.--My Dear
CUllnei:-l wrote you some months since on
a point very interesting 10 the water llne'
which you know | regard as rot only practl-
able, but as q Stnc qua non to the comp exc
success Of Virginia III her noble enterprise
TO develop her own rich resources, and IN The
competition for the rich volume OF trade pro-
duced in the valley of the Mississippi and lis
tributaries. But | received no acknOwledE-
ment, which left me uncertain VIII Their You
had received it, until Mr.. Ballard Preston
informed me that you had furnished him a
copy of my letter. thank you for paying
it such a compliment. Dear Old Virginia.
Every DAYS absence increases my affection;
and 10 the midst Of the mighty changes which
railroads and canals are eft citing In The Oid
world, | constantly think OF the harvest
which awaits her grand 'y>t'm OF improve
meut. LTing broad,Ifc on the AtlH'tic,
with her lines If artificial transportation
stretching from the sea back ~ the greatest
producing valley IN the world, l have a.
ways felt that her system was incomplete
unless those liues were virtually extended 10
Europe, the great purchaser and consumer
of our products, aad whose trade in turn
supplies almost all our wants. | therefore
hailed. with the lvelie-t pc sure and ct
tnusiasm the arrival Of Mr.. Preston here,
in the execution Of the honorable mission
with which he il charged. l have, with a
will, lent bin every aid in my power. But
| aust say in candor. that with his thorough
know ledge Of the subject, and the signal abll
ity and address which he has brought to his
negotiation, but little aid was required.
IL did right, in my judgment, to leave
England. where the existing lines and man
apemeuts Of business left him but little hope
Of a successful result. except at a price which
We could not pay. lie came to France at an
auspicious movement; fer the government
was about to establish three transatlantic
lines of steamers with large aud liberal sub
scriptiOns.
Bv one Of those accidents, which some
times exert such potent influence on human
affairs as to Justify the belief IN a special
Providence. Mr.. Preston WAS placed in com
municatlnn with the Orleans X .iirUad Con-
panv. Mr.. Preston and | visited Nantes and
San Nazaire. at the mouth Of the Loire. Il
the latter point, the French government II
constructing The most magnificent artificial
harbor 10 the world. Opening u the oce IN,
a shin sailing hctgeeR that point and Cncsa-
peake Bay, avoids the channel, and will find
her route shorter by a considerable time,
than between llavre and the same pOlut. On
our return 10 Nantes, Mr.. Preston was called
on hv the Chief Engineer and a Director OF
the Orleans Company, and explanations were
81 satisfactorily made, that Il negotiation
was commenced, which, | think, Is about to
end IN q complete success, If his constituents
approve the basis OF agreement. | Will leave
him to make kuown the terms OF the propr-
si,iun. | content myself with saying, that
he has done NE the honor to COntSr with ne
ut every stage If the negoIiatloL-that he
has conducted it with most honorable candUr
and with c~Onsummat ability.
will add, that the Orleans company has
a large capital, is the best managed C 'mPary
in France, and Owls a net work oi railroads
which cover ont-third Of the Ewplre, COT
Meeting Paris with the ocean, aad connecting
with other lines to Switzerland, Italy aud
Germany. | think our friends will be gratH-
fed. that his arrangement will, if adopted,
secure at such q trifIEg cost, now and tor
the future, such inest!mah!e Advantages ;or
Us and our lines OF Improvement. | con
graduate myself that 10 occasion has arisen
for 40 application to the Imperial Govern
inert.
Mr.. Preston's success under the appalling
disadvantages which have been pIa'ci IN hi
way by the condition of morlcd affairs, Is
most honorable to him-and it may turn out
that the commercial disasters, which have
done so much to break up the old hannels
of trade with the United States, are posi-
lively advantageous to this new enterprise.
If the arrangement shall be consummated,
the completion Of the water line to the Ohlo,
cannot be long postponed. At such a result,
no one will rejoice more than
Your faithful friend, j. !. MASON.
Col. THUs. Ii. ELLIS. &C., Richmond.