The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-13
THE POLICY OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON
TOWARDS ENGLAND

AMBASSADOR LONDON.
The following important letter from Napoleon to
M. de Persigny will attract attention. 1t was
written at moment when Lord Palmerston's fa-
nous speech on the Defences of England had crea.
ted panic in Paris and general distrust had excl
ted throughout Great Britain bv Napoleon's inter-
ference in Syrian affairs:
ST.. CLOUD, 25th July, 1s6O
"My dear Persgny.-Affairs apper to me to be
so complicated thanks to the mistrust excited
everywhere since the war in Italy-that | write to
you in the hope that conversation, in perfect
fraukness, with Lord Palmerston will remedy the
existing evil. Lord Palmerston knows me- and
when affirm thing he will believe me. Well,
you can tell him from me, in the most explicit man
ner, that since the peace of Viafranca l have had
but one thought one subiect-to inaugurate a new
era OF peace, and to live the best terms with all
my neighbors, and especially with England. / had
renounced Savoy and Nice; the extraordinary ad-
dltlons to Piedmont alone caused me to resume the
desire to see reunited to France provinces essential
| ly French. But it will be objected you wish for
peace and you Increase eimmoderately, the military
forces OF France deny the fact in every sense.
My army and my fleet have in them nothing of
threatening character.
1 "My steam navy is far from being adequate
| to our requirements, and the number of steamers
does not nearly equal that Of sailing ships deemed
! necessary in the time of King Louis Philippe |
have 4OO, 900 men under arms but deduct from this
amount 60, 600 in Algeria, G,0OO at Rome, 5000 in
| China, 10000 gendarmes, the sick, and the new
| conscripts, and you will see-what is the truth
that my regiments are of smaller effective strength
| than during the preceding reign. The only addi-
ton to the Army List has been by the creation of
the Imperial Guard. Moreover. while wishing for
| peace desire also TO organize the forces of the
country on the best possible footing, for if foreign
ers have only seen the bright side of the last war,
L myself close at hand, have witnessed the effects,
| and wish to remedy them. Having said thus
much, have since Villafranca, neither done, nor
even thought, anything which could alarm any one.
| When Lavalette started for Constantinople, the
| Instructions which l gave him confined to
ITcaa off 10 o;ptn 10
the interest of France is that Turkey should live
| long as possible
| "Now, then, occur the massacres in Syria, and it
is asserted that am very glad to find new occa-
! sion OF making little war, or of playing new
| part Really, people give me credit for very little
| common sense. If instantly proposed an expedi-
ton, 1T was because my feelings were those of the
people which has put me at its head, and the in
telligence from Syria transported me with indgna-
| ton. My first thought, nevertheless, was to come
| to an understanding with England. What other
interest than that of humanity could induce me to
| send troops into that country? Could it be that
| the possession of it would increase nv strength
| Can conceal from myself that Algeria, notwith-
standing its future advantages, is source of weak
ness to France which for thirty years has devoted
to it the purest of its blood and its god2 said it
| in 1852 at Bordeaux, and my opinion is still the
same have great cOnquests to make, but only in
France. Her interior organzation her moral de-
veopment the increase of her resources have still
immense progress to make. There field exists vast
enough for my ambition and sufficient to satisfy it.
at was difficult for me to come to understand
| ing with England on the subject of Central Italy,
| because | was bound by the peace of Villafranca.
! As to Southern Italy, am free from engagements,
and | ask no better than concert with England on
this point, on others; but, in Heavens name, let
the eminent men who placed at the head of the
English Government lay aside petty ealousies and
unjust mstrusts. Let us understand one another in
good faith, like honest men as are and not like
| thieves who desire to cheat each other.
| ''To sum up, this is my innermost thought. |
desire shOul6
how, but without foreign intervention and that my
troops should be able to quit Rome without comprC-
missing the security of the Pope. l could very
much wish not to be obliged TO undertake the
Syrian expedition, and in any case, not to under
take it alone; firstly because it will be great ex-
pense and secondly, because fear that this inter-
vention may involve the Eastern question, but, on
the other hand, | do not see how to resist public
opinion in my country, which will never under
stand that we can leave unpublished, not only the
massacre of Christians, but the burning Of our
consulates the insult 10 our flag, and the page of
the monasteries which were under protection.
have told you all think, without Disgusting or
omitting anything. Make what use you may think
advisable of my letter.
''Believe in my sincere friendship,
From tie London Times, Aug IL
The Emperor's letter will be read with interest
by ALL with satisfaction by those who can forget the
logic of facts. The style is the full Roman hand
familiar to the man who has won an empire, who
has more recently annexed two provinces, and is
master of hundred legions. With the argument
OF success nothing is so easy elfustfcation 1t
must be observed, however, that it no excuse for
the annexation of Savoy and Nice that it was con-
ditonal on Tuscany and the Duchies declaring for
Piedmont steam navy may be far above the real
wants of nation, and yet be far short of the pre-
vious number of sailing vessels. France may have
only 400, 900 men actually "'under arms" but when
for our own security, we measure men against men,
1t is necessary to take into account the immense
addition she can make with single fortnight's no.
tce. But why are all these topics to be brought
up, when we are only invited to a common policy
in the affairs of Southern Italy and the East?
Certainly, there is case for interference of some
sort in Syria; and, neither the British Parlia-
ment nor the British press have given the least
countenance to the suspicious and rumors which
current respecting the origin of the civil war,
the prejudice against which the Emperor seems to
defend himself can only arise from the actual opera
tons OF French diplomacy in the East. They may
or may not have contributed to the present deplor-
able results, and the consequent appeal for Euro
pean Intervention; but English statesmen and
writers have expressed no opinion on that question.
We are, however, glad of any occasion which has
ELECTED the profession of such friendly sentiments,
and trust that they may foreshadow policy under
which we may enjoy peace without being compelled
any longer to support all the burdens of war.
From the Salisbury Sentinel (Ertra,) Aug 1O.1
DREADFUL RATION-SALISBURY
INRUINS-PRoPERTY DESTROYED TO THE
AMOUNT OF NEARLY TWO HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS-SOME SIXTY HOU-
SES CONSUMED.
On Thursday morning last, between three and
four O'Clock, our citizens were aroused from their
sumbers by the startling and alarming cry of fire.
1t was some time subsequently to the first alarm
the Inhabitants generally were awakened it being
that period of time for sleep when persons gener-
ally slumber most soundly In consequence, the
fire had made considerable progress before much
effort could be made for its extingushment; but
after assembling in full force, and putting forth
the utmost exertions of which they were capable
with the restricted facilities for its suppression at
nj and
rapidly extended from the building in which it
originated to those adjacent, and from thence to
others more remote, until nearly sixty tenements
were consumed, covering area of some two and a
half acres, and involving loss in personal and real
estate of some two hundred thousand dollars By
this dreadful calamity large portion of the bust
ness part of our town is destroyed, and number
of our most worthy citizens deprived of shelter and
| support.
The desoaton is complete, naught remaining
but the denuded chimneys of the consumed build
| ings, except in one solitary instance, that of the
Protestant Episcopal church; its walls, which are
brick, still standing.
This dreadful fire originated in the building occu-
pied IN part by F. Newman, as a clothing store
and situated on Main street. about the centre of the
town.
From thence it completely devastated both sides
of Main street, extending from Mr.. Oliver Thigh
mans on the south side to the of Boundary
street, and thence to Mr. Vance's inclusive and on
the north side from Mr. Jno. Whites to the corner
of Boundary street and thence to MIR. Chas. White
locks dwelling. On the east of Boundary street,
the buildings included between Col. Leonard's
dwelling and Mr.. j. Birds hotel were consumed
Also, on the street Immediately north of Main seve-
| raj buildings, including the Protestant Episcopal
church were destroyed.
Three or four principal dry good merchants were
burned out, namely Wm Birkhead whose probable
loss is about S5,0O0-partialy insured Rider &
Toadvne lost the most of their goods, amounting
to between and 5000 dollars, insured about one
half; S. c. SeabreaZe loss very considerable though
insured to the amount of ST, 900. Mr.. C. Whtelock
lost almost the entire contents of his store, saving
as we learn little or nothing whatever. The fur
niture generally was removed from the burnt build
| ings but much of it injured in the removal,
and regret to learn that there is reason to sup
the goods removed from the stores,wa subsequent
were two of the largest property holders who sus-
amount, yet nothing suff cient to their
loss. MIR. Toadvine's it is computed will not be
less than 900. Below give in detail the suf-
ferers by this dreadful visitation.
VIM. S. Parsons, dwelling; Jno. w. Morris dwell
ing; c. F. Dashiells, store and dweing DR.. p.
Rider, office; Purnell TOadvine, Office and dwell
ing; VIM. Birkhead, store and dwelling; Amos
Woodcock, store; F. Newman, store; S. C. Sea-
breaze, store and dwelling; Mrs. NJ. Owings dwell
ing; John Kaler, store and dwelling; Geo. Hub
phreys, store; Wesley Rider, dwelling; Mrs. Jane
Collier, dwelling; Rev. j. Hubbard, store and
dwelling; c. Whtelock store; VIM. Livingston,
store and dwelling; Jesse Dashell, store and dwell
ling; Levin Collier, store and dwelling; 7. Parvin,
store; Mrs. j. Wood, dwelling; l. H. W. Stanford,
dwelling; b. Parker, dwelling; P. W. Bradley,