Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-09

shorter and cheaper route into the South the West and
the centre Of the United States.
fth. relative augmentation in the movement Of our
| commercial marine
/ 9th. Rapid and advantageous provisions of copper
machine oil tar, bacon, and salt pork Of the West, aud
building timber for naval arsenals.
9th. Cheapness of coal for different maritime sta
tions.
l. I'll. An immense opening 10 the great West OF the
United States for French merchandise.
Sth. The probability of seeing Norfolk become an en-
trepot for the productions of French industry and con-
mcrce to be distributed in part in Central and South
America by vessels taking them TO complete their
gos.
The following ariices-wnes liquors olive aud lin eed
OIL soaps. preserved fruits Father, shoes fac cutlery
mathematical Instruments p0rcelaus, locking glasses
aud crys;eli Cloths silks, aces, ready ymade cothing
velvet, plush, ribbons and trimming articles, carpets fur
uure, paperhlnsings and pAnted papers, common p;.
pers msdder drugs cocrs bronze jeselry, articles OF
fashion e fart of taste and OF luxury that France
alone can manufacture and furnish; all these articles
are Of such description that hcir sale would be in I'll
cases facilitated 10y the use Of the canal.
attach great Importance 10 the question Of wines. A
an entrepo Norfolk presents advantage not possessed
By New Orleans where the prc3ervlton Of wGes ia very
III .alt OF the climate and the nature Of the
so Which, it is said does not allow OF he construction
Of cellars.
Finally, Monsieur le Mnistre there IL a consideration
o. another character which viii pass over in silence
Sine The government Of tie United States first c'
atlshed Virginia has always exered very great iu-
hdencc over The desnies Of The Union. Politically
speaking she is ~ The head OF the South. We know
cot what the future holds in reserve this country
If the enterprise discussed in this repor: should day
become relzsj would be des rablc that France should
secure the most favorable position from The first, and
wthou; allowing herself to be anticipated.
TIE YRESCH COMPANY.
have conferred with NJ. Ernest Hello dea Ainleres
who is ut present in Richmond.
have known Mr. Btllot des Minieres since he first
rived in the United States al out three years sgo lie
passes the greater portion OF his time in the west ol Nr
rnis VIII re he owns trsct Of land which he is seek
ing TO render available. He has studied the country
90 I'd deal especially Virginia lie is : very active sad
co upet.nt III n aud well Ves.d in the commercial and
industrial questions of the United States. He under
stands thoroughly the resources OF every kind which
might contribute the ot TIE enterprise IN ques
ton TO ~leh he wiling 10 devote and apply Ii.
qualifications and these nccn,cs;ably OF the highest
order.
According to the explanations given me by Mr. Beot
des Muiere, the company will be French cOTpa-
nv at the head of which Me-srs rrouye. Chauyel,
Sari the Marquis de la surc:ce De Caarras de Grc:Iy
Jubnal and others.
T. ese gentlemen are in France. They ready, Mr.
Brlo des Nlieres tells ne - place themselves Il, the
disposition OF the administration for the purpose OF far
ishing all the information it. the government may de
sire or ask OF them concerning this as>0catioa.
The ta.c ct the shiir is the OF the works uGde
aud those 10 b. made.
II is true Monsieur !e Mins,ie that according TO the
new project, the virginia company would be merged
into the French company Lu. the virginia interest
would be about oneOrii-th oL'y. Eyilently this
PAW will have to 20 wit. the gen;l men who up
the present have been the head OF this air. aud mho
directly indirectly, represent he prestige OF Virginia
by their names their birth, their connections their ioi
tunes their political Ience in aud ou. Of the State
What ia called here "the canal that 10 say, the
Of interests attached to this enterprise, constitutes in
VIRGINIA A mower which inlleuCCS every thing.
|; is then great advantage Tor the French company
not to isolate itself peely 10 have to the
Virginia clement though feeble proportion in mate.
rial and financial point OF view and to lean upon this
power, considerable in a country where public opinion
is the principal lever OF afiirs.
1t will be necessary 10 combine every thing
in such way to obtain from the Legislature of Vir
gnia the bill ccding the works OF tie canal upon the
diions in process Of elaboration, and which will be sub
mitted by the French company 10 be formed These
ditions are not yet stipulated regulated article by article
can therefore Only indicate the base Of the project L.
is Mt Paris that all the Information in detail may be had
The passage of the bill seems slmost certain. Il will
be presented at the approaching session.
have r. Gently seen the Governor oi Virginia. He Is
favorable TO the enterprise Mr. Bills president OF the
James river aud kHnaTha company. accepts the com
biuaon IL has lis appreciation and sympathy. He l.
authorized by the company 10 negotiate with Mr. Beoi
des Mnieres His language is caegorc and precise upon
this question when he talks with His support may
be counted upon. Mr. Lorraine, chief engineer of the
canal has given me some special aud very valuable in
formation. tave likewise had occasion to several
very Influential persons who to desire, for the
Interests Of Virginia, the OF the French com-
pany The president Of the company assured me recent
y sill farther that the popular consent Ia at
vance and that obstacle would be encountered on
this score In the interior Of the State especially the
farming people, properly speaking have retained de-
cided feeling Of sympathy for FRANCE.
The enterprise in question has nothing in common
with that of Mr Llcouiure which have always cou-
sider aud characterized your Department beirg
impracticable.
have been compelled, Monsieur lie Minstre, in ccec
ting my information. necessarily to occupy myself with
the resources Of large number OF the other States Of
the Uuou transcrbe their statistical figures establish
complrisons give due weight the advantages that the
geographical positions, the differences Of climate the
distances the produc ions that other parts of the United
Stats present Ny infotml ion would have been insult
fcien' believe, If had limited myself to placing them
in connection with Virginia alone. The nature OF the
subject lcted that shoud extend my tarches be-
youd the limits Of my consular jurisdiction, in order 10
render an exact idea Of the situation and of the advan
tages which may TO France in oil the success
of the enterprise in question
Your EXcelleucy instructed me to make report. ]
have enieavoTed to make il complete possible.
In conclusion Monsieur le Miuisre. after a tho ough
examination of this question believe il to be Of tie
highest importance and OF nature 10 attract the ateE
ton of the Government of the Emperor
Accept, Monsieur lie Minstre,
the assurances OF respect with which
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