The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-13
Hon. wm. ballard Preston. M,..,ar

We transfer to our columns, from the E.o.;r.r
Tue following interesting letter on the subect "a
hr. Preston's mission TO Europe. Our rea,Isrs
says the Enqai,ey.) will not be surprised Ia f,ns
that the accomplished jurist and statesman. Who
SO ably aud acceptably represents the government
OF the United States In France has been promp M
exers bis faculties aud influences there. for ati
'ahelng the prosperity of his native State and
'hat ne mas not forgotten the much abused comma.
ny over which he once presided with so much zeal
iaithtnIness and success. The honorable testimo-
ny no oears to the ability and address of Mr. Pres
'on' 10 tue execution of his very Important mis-
sioh, is, We are sure, well deserved On Tuesday
.as'' hr. Preston arrived in this city, and on the
'''o"ins day proceeded TO join his family, la the
county OF Montgomery. Wear gratined to learn
that ne VIII return TO Richmond in a few days
ano VIII then, In some suitable f,rm. MAKE a ra-
port OF the result of his negotiations II a,rs ma
ne4pressible satisfaction to dwell upon what NAV
oe lhe consequences of the provisional ARRANGE.
hieht ne has made for the establishment of a lima
Oh steamers between the magnificent harbor of g.
Nazarie and the Chesapeake Bay:
PARIS, 7th December, 1857.
My Dear Colouel-I wrote Won sop,a o,.t
since on point very interesting to the water lin
when you know regard as not only uract;raI,la
Vo' ~ as u sa's ga non 10 the compIete success of
virginia In her noble enterprise TO deveona bar
own rich resources. and in the competition f5r ~
rch volume OF trade produced In the valley of tha
Mississippi aud its tributaries But receivod ~
seknowiedgment.which left me uncertain whether
you had received it, until Mr. Ballard pra.rn,, =,
formed me that you had furnished him n 60, ae
my letter. thank you for raging il ,urb a con1.
pliment. Dear old Virginia every day's alserc.
increases my affection and in the midst Of the
nighty changes which railroads and canals are tf
feeling Ia 4 I
harvest which awaits her grand system of i'm
prorement Lying broadside on the Atlantic with
her lines OF artificial transportation s.retcbing
irom ths sea back to the greatest producing valley
IN the world. have always felt that her syste.
was incomplete unless those liues were yirtn,IIy
extended to Europe. the great purchaser and con
suiher of our products, and whose trade in turn
supplies almost all our wants. therefore heilad
Win the ilveliest pleasure and enthusiasm the ar.
rival OF Mr. Preston here, in the execution of the
honorabie mission with which he IS charged. |
have, with a will, lent him every aid In my power
But must say in candor, that with his thorough
knowledge OF the subject, and the signal ability
and address which he has brought to his negotia
tion, but little aid was resuired.
lie did hight in my judgment to leave England
where the existing liues and management Of tusi.
ness left him 5ut little hope of successful result
except at a price which We could not pay. He
came to France at an auspicious moment, for the
government was abont TO establish three transat-
iantic lines of steamers with large and liberal sub
sCriptons.
By one OF those accidents, which sometimes ex-
ert such potent influence on human Affairs az TO
justify the belief in special Proyidence, MIR Pres.
ton was placed in communication with the Orlean.
Railroad Company. Mr. Preston aud / visited
Nantes aud San Sazsire, at the mouth of the
Loire. At the latter point, the French govern
meEt is constructing the most magnificent arti-
hcial harbOr in the world. Opening to the ocean
Il ship sailing between that point and Chesapeake
Bay, avoids the channel aud will find her route
shorter by considerable time, than between Ha
vre and the same point On our return to Nantes
Mr.. Preston was called on by the Chief Engineer
and Director of the Orleans Company, and ex
plantations were SO satisfactorily made that e ne
gotlat1on was commenced, which, think. is about
to end In complete success. II bis constituents
approve the basis of agreement. i will leave him
to make known the terms Of the proposition /
content myself with saying. that he has done ma
the honor to confer with me at every stage of the
negotiation-that he has conducted it with most
honorable candor and with consummate ability.
will add, that the Orleans company has large
capital, Is the best managed company in France
and owns net work Of railroads which cover one.
thlrd OF tue Empire, connecting Paris with the
ocean, and connecting with other lines to Switzer-
land, Italy and Germany. think ou, friends will
be gratifed that his arrangement will if ado6tsd
secure at such triflipg cost now aud for tb.sfu
ture. such inestimabIe advantages for US and our
lines OF Improvement. | congratulate myself that
no occasion has arisen for application to the I'm
perial Government.
Mr.. Preston'> success, under the appalling dsad-
vantages which have been placed in his way by the
condition of monied affairs is most honorable to
him, aud 1t may turn out that the commercial dis
asters which have done SO much to break up the
1ld channels Of trade with the United States are
positively advantageous TO this enterprise
II the arrangements shall be eonsummated the
completion of the line to the Ohio annot be
long postponed. At such result, no one will re-
Iolce more than Your faithful friend,
j. Y. MASON.