Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-01-28
s. Correspondence of the Journal Of Commerce,
Visit OF the Grand Duke Constantine to the United
States Steam Frigate Wabash.

Constantine who is the brother to the Emperor of Rus
sia was coming into this port in of the vessels of
his squadron expressly to visit the Wabash At the
time the first put in circulation, the Grand
Duke at Paris uxuriating in the society of Napo-
leon ILL., and the Court of st Cloud the Count de
Romano and doubt it was there that he determined
upon the visit The inference is not unfair then, that
the Wabash was the subject of conversation, at the
Tuileres for, her late visit to Constantinope which SO
much annoyed the diplomatic representatives of all Eu
rope at the Court OF the Sublime Porte was undoubted
of the topics of royal consio aration-especiay
that visit considered clearly contrary to the Tea
ty of Paris.
The telegraph from day to day announces the move
ments at Paris of the Count de Romano-the title of
his family name under which the Grand Duke Constan-
tine prefers to travel when absent from his squadron
To-day, he was dining with the Emperor and Empress
tomorrow with Prince Jerome, and the next day he
was hunting in the preserves of Fontanebeu and then
the authorities of Genoa were informed that SO soon as
the Grand Duke should return to Nice from Paris be
would at once start for the island of Sicily with part
his squadron, and would probably look in at Genoa
his way down the coast. A distinguished visitor was
expected.
The day before yesterday the Russian Count at this
place called Flag Officer Lavelette, who is stopping
awhile ashore at the Hotel de la Vile, and officially in
formed him that the Grand Duke Constantine had left
Nice the night BEFORE and would probably reach Genoa
in the of the day-that he coming into this
port in his flag ship on his way down to Sicily for the
sole purpose of seeing the far famed Wabash.
1t sunset before he arrived He came in on board
of new frigate just from Constradt which bears a
Russian name, hard to spell and pronounce, that it
could not exactly be written in English but it's exact
definition is The Ehunderer.' He was sauted by the
Sandman frigate Victor Emanuel and by the Wabash
By the time that the Thunderer had ancored it after
sunset and according to all usage, he had to defer
turn of the salute until the next morning.
AS soon as the sun up yesterday morning, the
salues were returned and at 10 o'clock, Flag Officer
Lavallete and of the officers of the Wabash called
on board to pay their respects to the Grand Duke
They found him in the cabin where they handsome
ly received. The Grand Duchess with her son, of ten
twelve years of age present. and conversed with
the officers in English with great fuency. She was
suffering not little from a cold, and remarked
that she not good sailor. The Grand Duke most
kindly and soothngly added that he thought the Ouch
ess was making good progress in the profession. The
interview is said to have been very pleasant one-and
the Duke said he had heard so much of the Wabash
lately that he had determined to and see her. He
should remain in the port only twentytour hours from
the time that he entered it, and he rad only five or
six hours longer to stay, be would visit the American
frgatu between eleven and twelve o'clock He regretted
that the health of the Grand Duchess would permit
her to accompany him. and she participated in the re-
gret which he expressed.
About half past eleven he was on board the Wabash
accompanied by some half dozen officers OF high rank
attached to bis flagship and they examined every part
of the ship with great mlnuteness asking thousand
WHICH lne Objects were Sldu W answer mOS
satisfactorily, and enjoying their visit to the greatest
tent.
The Crank Duke is young man thlrty-three years
of age very much devoted to the naval profession and
in all respects plain, practical gentleman. He was
charmed with the Wabash and expressed his apprOba
ton wherever he went He spoke in the highest terms
of naval constructors and said that he expect
ing that his trigate, building at New ork
would be the greatest and best man-ofwar upon the
ocean.
1t was beautiful sight from the shore when all the
yards of the Wabash were manned as parting salute
to the brother of the Russian Emperor. And as he
stepped into his barge every upon the yards raised
their hats he stood up and bowed to them. Before
sunset the Ihunderer her way down the coast
This handsome reception of the distinguished Rus
sian not only highly gratifying to him. but equally
credtable to our naval service and to our country.
1t is said and believed that there is not manofwar
of any nation which presents nober specimen of naval
architecture better routine OF duty, perfect
system of wholesome discipline, than the Wabash AL
though there nearly six hundred persons hel
decks, duty is carried with plans so perfect and SC
well understood by ALL that order and quiet constantly
prevail, while her ornaments and equipments are bright
her rigging always in ORDER and her decks white
snow, Although she did not reach the station until
September, she has done full summers work in the
months of autumn and besides being useful in the
Mediterranean she is honor and ornament to Oul
country.
Production and
Manufacture of Cotton
The ample statistical returns with regard to the I'M
port consumption and manufacture OF Cotton during the
last year, which appearing, throw much light
on the influence which the commercial CONFUSION O.
1857 has had that great article The Importance Oh
the subject will be sufficient excuse for pointing il
out.
The most marked effect of the sudden and violent fall
in the price of cotton and cotton goods which followed
that convuson has been to concentrate the production
of both those articles in the hands of the richest and
most kul producers and to drive weaker competitors
cut of the field. AS far as the raw material is concern
3D. the cotton growers of the United States have taken
more decided lead than and as far as the manu-
acturers concerned similar lead has been taken by
the manufacturers of this country.
On comparing the quantities of cotton imported into
he United Kingdom the two years, it appears that
the aggregate quantities did not differ much, but that
the sources OF supply were very different. From the
United States there was last year increase of 38l
300 whilst from British India there was a decrease
not less than 81 800 bales, and from Brazil of 62,70(
In Egyptian there is small increase, which does no
affect the result. Therefore relates to the supply
cotton the effect has been to increase the import from
the United States, from ,462 900 to ,663,258 bales
but relates to the East Indies to diminish the impor
from 68O,5O8 to 360987 and relates to the Brazls
from l69, 9l4 to 106227 We are thus more dependan
than the United States for supply of cottor
the East India cotton grower having been almos
driven out Of the field at the time when he had began
produce really important addition to the American
supply.
Another curious effect of the CONFUSION revulsio
of 1858 has been given to the British manufacturer thu
supply Of cotton which his rivals in the manufacturing
districts of the United States would have had in the
tural course of things. In 1857 the American manu-
acturer consumed 1902 138 bales of cotton whilst il
1858 he consumed only 452 200, thus leaving extra
supply of 100000 for British manufacturers. How
much he will consume this year is quite uncertain bu
there has only been year since 1851 with the ex
cepton of the LAST in which he did not consume up
wards of 100000 bales. That was 1654-'5, when h