The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-29


established history Of this region is worthy Of ad
miration, and has a meaning which will be ex'
pounded in the sequel.
The volumnous report of Mr.. Rey was signal
for the abandonment of similar enterprises in that
direction. With the exception of numerous trea-
ties negotiated by the Prince de Joinyile and 9th
ers at Bassam, Assinoa, Dahomey, &C.. along the
Atlantic coast directed at commercial objects
only and not at gold Gas they had invariably been)
France, absorbed in revolutions up to the time oil
Mr.. Parrsh's arrival scarcely looked beyond the
confines of Algeria in any Of her African specua-
tons.
The project Of Mr.. Parrish for the deyeopement
Of the gold fields of Africa was embodied in me-
mortal, now in the hands OF the French Emperor
II was originally submitted to his own government
in March, 1859, pursuant to a preliminary CONVEX
sation with Cabinet officer, and was accompanied
BY the following letters:-
WASHINGTON, March IA 1853
Sui send YOU in hurried form, ths "memorisl'
mentioned day two ago you disposed 70 think
we Of IT, be pleased u lay before his ExcelIency the
r. A. PARRISH, JR.
WASHINGTON, March II, 1853
sR-I beg leave to submit 10 the government memo.
and the river Gambia will require equ neDts for
hundred men, One small vessel ami small expense will
immense rational accrue from
the expedition detailed in the memorial herewith
closed have the honor 70 be your ooeden1 servant
To The PRECEDENT OF the United States.
From default of means and of constitutional
au ,hority, as well as from their inability to pursue
the scheme with secrecy, the government, after
few weeks consideration, declined the propositions
whereupon the memorial and correspondence
returned at his request not no weyer without the
emphatic commentary that
All the world has known that there Is gold in Africa,
but this the first time that the i'd OF its acquisition
has assumed practical shios.
Another cabinet officer, transported by its gor-
geous pictures OF mineral and commercial opu-
lence remarked:-"That ia the inevitable effect of
its Developments upon general commerce
| and finance there is nothing since the dis
| covery of America by Columbus that can be
! compared TO it." An observation, as win ap-
| pear in the sequel, which has been even more
than realized. Had the government co-operated
with him he would have added, on private ac-
| connt to the proposed expedition, thousand ad.
| ditionsl men.
Failing in governmental aid, private enter
prise was attempted with the CO operation of scve-
| raj gentlemen The Messrs. Aspinwall OF New
| York large steam shipping house, were sounded
as TO their willingness to put line Of steamers
to the new FL Dorado, which (rom motives Of
policy was represented as lying on the Orinoco;
but already overpowered with business and anxious
| for repose they declined. The idea Of private,
enterprise was soon after abandoned. America
not seeming to offer sufficient field, Mr. Parrish
proceeded to Europe. in the hope that some one O:
its governments might have the sagacity TO per-
ceive its value. and undertake the prosecution Of
\ q. shat;c lila bad
save by few persons qualified to comprehend
such subjects, his views were generally denounced
as altogether preposterous. visionary and chimeri-
cal. He even derisiyely asked, III there
were gold in Africa, would the world have waited
for him TO point II out forgetting that the world
had " ated for Mr. Marshall in California, and for
Mr.. Hsrgreaves in Australia, neither Of whom made
! any pretenccs to geological learning.
| He arrived in Paris on the 10th October. 1858,
| and addressed himself to his Excellency NJ Fquld,
Minister Of the Imperial Household, to know IL the
Emperor would entertain proposition ofths nature,
saying tina. he was prepared to demonstrate its
yahe snd its convenien. accessibility to the Rms
Of France, provided he could secure those inte-
rests in the enterprise which he desired TO RETAIN
His Excellency responded that III would be neces-
sary to see the Emperor, who was then at Com.
| piegne, and that he would give response in
few days At the same time his Excellency was
reminded by Mr.. Parrish that he would treat with
the Emperor only, and that his Majesty should not
be put to the pains Of an extraordinary audience
unless prepared to prose the enterprise, and to
make Mr.. Parrish some proposals to which be could
accede. No intimstion was given then, or at any
time afserward, that France ontsmplated any pro-
iect Of the kind, or that any Of her colonies were
even supposed TO be rich In gold. On the contrary
| the scheme was hailed with enthusiasm and ia
novelty was admitted to be eqral to it, intrinsic
| In portance. In few days Mr.. Parrish was In.
| formed that the Emperor would undertake 1t and
would be pleased 70 see him. whereupon an ex
| traordnary audience was appointed for lis con
Alteration az st. Cloud, Goth October. 1852 Mean
time las detailed In his letter - the President,
Published in the Philadelphia Ere,.ing Bulletin Of
Angus, "a, 1867 his Excellency NJ. Fould insisted
on Mr.. Parrish's reception OF fifteen millions OF
france Gom the Emperor oue.,hird OF which was
to be allotted TO his Excelency. This appropria.
| ton OF one-third OF the fruits Of the scheme
| was 10, objected 10, but many reasons,
which canno, here be entered into, rendered
Nr. Parrish very repugnant 10 the mention Of so
large sum. He was told that II il was worth
one franc l, was worth fifteen Millions that with
the cooperation OF his Exceilency and the Empe-
rof, he possessed that Of the whole government
&C., &c. In short, he was obliged to acquiesce
sad under this necessity saw his Majesty at the
time appointed. This was precisely two weeks az
ter his arrival In Psris-a prompti.ude con,ras.
ing hsisbly with the seven years which have nov
elapsed since the surrender Of his scheme, without
the manifestation Of any disposition on the part Of
the French government 10 carry ont its engage
ments with him.
Tie eoayersaion wa, IN English. The Emperor
stated that he had understood from NJ. Fould the
nature Of the subject, &C. and inquired II a remu
ners;ioa Of fifteen millions Of francs woa.d DO salts
factory, or half the product Of the mines for a
term 81 years. To the latter proposition DIR. Far.