Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-12
- r.,y;IT.M nAILlar rassTuN

f,n3 WILLIAM hALL4HH fhEs1UN
Tho fol,ovlny letter has been placed st oIr dispos
nv the gentleman to whom it is addressed, because
II nre.epts iu favorable light, the service Of two dis
tnp uished sons of our State upon subject oil espe
cisl interest at this time. Our readers will not oe
surprised to find tina: the accomplished jurist ano
statesman, who 80 ably snd scceptably represents the
government OF The United States in France mar oee"
prompt to exert bis faculties aud influence 'ie'e
advancing the prosperity OF his native eta'e-'"o
that he has not forgotten the much aouseu ooup"
ny over which he once presided with so ihucn HSo'
fsitbfuluess and success. The honorable testimony
he bears 10 the ability and address OF Mr. ffeS'o" "
the execution Of his very important m's'i'n' 10,
are sure, we'll deserved. On Tuesday las mr. iteo,
ton arrived in this city-and on the ioiiowi"s uo'
proceeded to join his family in the county o. mouO.
ery. We are grataed to learn that he VIII return u
Richmond in few days, and will Them IN some Su.'
ble form, make report of the result OF his hego'a
,on. II affords US inexpressbe satisfaction to dwell
upon what may be the consequences OF the
al arrangement he has made for the esaolshment OF
a line of steamers between the magnificent haroor Oh
st. Nszaire and the Chesapeake Bay:
PARIS, 9TH DECEMBER, 1857.
Nv Dear Colonel wrote you some months since
on a point very interesting to the water line' Wnich
YOU know regard az not only practicable, out as
sinc qua non to the complete success Oh virginia 10
her noble enterprise TO develope her own licn 10,
sources; and in the competition tor the rc VI
trade produced in the valley Of the Mississippi and ta
tributaries. But / received no acknowledgment
which left me uncertain whether you had received
until Mr.. Ballard Preston informed me that you mao
furnished him copy of my letter. tGshK you lot
paying il such compliment. Dear o.e Virgins
every days absence increases my attechon ana 10
the midst of the mighty changes which rairosds anu
canals are effectiDg in the old world constantly
think of the harvest which awaits her grand System
of Improvement. Lying brosdside on the Auantc'
with her lines of artificial transportation streching
from the sea back to the greatest producing valley IN
the world, have always felt thai her system was In
complete unless those lines were virtually extended
to Europe the great purchaser and consumer OF our
PRODUCTS and whose trade in turn supplies almost all
our wants. therefore hailed, with the llvelest plea
sure and enthusiasm the arrival Of Mr. Preston here
in tbs execution of the honorable mission with which
he is charged. have, with will, lent him every
aid in my power But I must say in candor, that
with bis thorough knowledge OF the subject aud the
signal ability and address which ne has brought to
his negotiation, but little aid was required.
He did right, In my judgment. to leave England
where the existing lines and homogeneous OF business
left him but little hope of successful result except
at price which we could not pay. de came 10
France at an suspicious moment, for the government
steamers with large and liberal subscriptions.
By one of those accidents, which sometimes exert
such potent influence on human affairs as TO JUSTIFY
the belief in special Providence, Mr. Preston was
placed in communication with the Orleans Kali Road
Company. Mr.. Preston and l visited Nantes and
San Nazaire, at the mouth of the Loire At the lat
ter point, the French government 10 constructing the
most magnificent artificial harbor in the world
Opening to the ocean, chip sailing oet"een tnas
point and Chesapeake Bay, avoids the chanael ana
pilt And hor a
than between Havre and the same point. IN our
return to Nantes, Mr. Preston was called on oy the
Chief Engineer and a Director OF the orleans Com
paHy, and explanations were 90 satisfactorily mace
that negotiation was commenced, which, 1 think'
is about to end in complete success if his constltu
ents approve the basic Of agreement. l Will leave
him to make known the terms of the proposition. L
content myself with saying that he has done me the
tiation-that he has conducted it with most bonora
BILE candor and with consummate ability.
will add, that the Orleans company has large
capital is the best managed company IN France ana
owns net work of rail roads which cover one.thlrd
Of the Empire, connecting Paris with the ocean, and
connecting with other lines to Switzerland, Italy aud
Germany. l. think our friends will be gralhed, that
his arrangement will, if adopted secure at sucn a
trHng cost, aud for the future, such inestimaoe
advantages for US aud our lines of improvement. l
congratulate myself that no occasion mas arisen lot
an application to the Imperial Government.
Mr.. Preston's success under, the appalling disad'
vantages which have been placed in his way oy the
condition of monied affars, 10 most honorable 10
him-and it may turn out that the commercial dsas
ters which have done 80 much to break up the old
channels of trade with the United Sstes are posi-
lively advantageous to ths new enterprise.
II the arrangement shall BIZ contaminated, the com
pleon OF the water line to the Ohio, cannot be long
postponed. AT such result, no will rejoice more
'D'" '' '''''''' ''' j. Y. MASON.
Col. THoxAs II. ELLIS, &c., Richmond.