The New York herald., 1861-12-27
IMPORTANT FROM FRANCE.
Nnpole0n's Idea OF Neutrality and Prince
NapOleon's Opinion OF the Blockade.


Paris (Dec. 9) Correspondence OF London Times
The tone Of the Moaiter in the summary il gives Of
foreign political news is unobectonable True does
not express amy positive opinion on the Anglo American
quarre- is neutral but under veil OF neutrality we
may trace the signs Of admiration, not far removed FROM
approval at the energy and unanimty Of the English
people,
proportion as faith is lost in the maintenance Of
peace, 1t said yesterday-The attitude of the English
people and of the London press appears firm and
resoute than They accept without hesitation a
state Of things which they have not been able prevent
and they are resolved TO gain by force Of arms the
satisfaction which they no longer hope to obtain by
negotiation. All discussion is laid aside. 10
the arguments of General Scott they reply with these
simple words"Surrcnder the guests OF Great Britain
whom you have made prisoners and then we will discuss
much you please The government acts up eper.
geticay TO public opinion Nothing is spoken of but
ornaments and ships embarkaton Of troops and OF war.
like stores for Canada where the strength OF the English
army very Insignificant in time Of peace, Is to be
creased to 10 600 men.
With respect TO the Official opinion Of the Minister for
Foreign Affairs on the quarrel between the Washington
government and England nothing can be more precise
and positive. The Minister thinks that the violence
committed by the captain Of the San Jacnto inde-
efsibie; that by regarding the Confederate commits
sioners as contraband OF war; President Lincoln and
his minister's give fiat contradiction to themselves
for they always refused to admit that they war
To seize them on board neutral vessel contraband
war implies that, after ALL the Southern States are en-
titled to bellgerent rights, while. supposng the
Northern States not to be at but merely repressng
a rebellion they had no right to seize men who at
that moment in the character of refugees under the shell
ter Of the English flag. France he argues cannot con
sisenty view the matter in any other light than this
because II is precisely the point she had conended for
during moro than sixty years France never would ad
NIT the right OF searching neutral vessels and she cannot
now belle her own policy by approving the outrage
nlittcd on the Trent
believe the Emperor does not materially dissent from
his Minister Not only does he not dissent but very
long ago he had all but made up his mind take the in
tntve in recognizing the independence Of the Southern
States for must not be forgotten that France also is
suffering severely from the This disposition, If mind
cds disturbed ty Prince Nopole0n icho, Strange it ap
sin. Prince Napoleon returned from America aJoylno u
der tie nocn that The struggle Of abolition against
slavery rih strong tnde'ees IN favor Of the North, and
the speech whicA he as ed6orately preparing for the SEN
ate t1 doubtless be IN this The Emperor has yielded
to the influence and postponed, ba do not think giren up
acting ON has oicn original judgment.
DIFFICULTIES OF THE FRENCH MERCHANTS AND
MANUFACTURERS.
This Anglo American quarrel has added considerably
to the difficulties under which French merchants and
manufacturers were already laboring They feel that
they are placed in this dlemma-should war ensue be-
tween England and the federal States the blockade the
Southern ports will be raised, and the French manuac
turcrs will procure the cotton they require while on
the other hand, the Northern ports will be blockadsd
by the English fleet, and the French must lose the
little trade mhich remains 10 them in that quarter,
and they ,ciH moreover, be unable to execute the large
orders hand for mttdry stores for the North
They apprehend that the blockade Of the Southern
ports be raised, the cotton growing States will send
to France quantity of cotton OF much greater value
than the French produce which they may return
Consequently the balance much be paid for in gold
/
Paris. Considerable dnxiey must, therefore, still preral
among mercantile men.
In the the accounts from the provincesrare
not favorable. The demand for silk which was noticed
at Lyons for days has ceased and nothing can be
worse than the position of st. Etiennc. Even Paris
there very little business doing except among manu.
facturers OF articles de Pds and OF toys, who pre-.
pairing for New Years day. Accounts from Besancon
that the last market in that town bad only
cost the manufacturer but because the quantity sold was
inferior IN amount that disposed of at the correspond
ing period q last year.
Paris Dec 81 correspondence Of the London Chronicle
many ten rsses If of different sizes shall be got
ready for by the 9th Of this month latest and
that the Minister Of Marine has gone Bres Lorent
TO take the necessary measures for having executed
The vessels it is not doubted destined for America
The French government has received intelligence that
both President Lincoln and Mr. Seward have assured the
French Minister at Washington (M Mercier) that the
stopping by the San Iacinto Of the French vessel the
Marie ct Jules was caused by mistake that the damage
done was the result OF accident and that pecunary
raraton should be made to the Of the French
ship.
Paris correspondent OF the independence confirms
what have more than once stated respecting the atti
Of the French government with TO the South
Sateslt Is said in several journals that the French
government, as regards the Anglo American conflict
iciH rnaintn strict neutrality Though not able 10 con
tradic this assertion have believe that the
Empcror's government will acknowledge the Southern
States, II England does This resolution was I am
assured adopted in principle before the affair Of the
Trent
The same journal also confirms another piece Of news
which have been able To transmt to you:-It is said
II is not impossible, in case British squadron shall b.
sen, 10 co,,cey ambassador b The Sesah,rn States that in.
squadron Of Redr admiral Renaud tc Je sn % De sam,
place, otensiby 10 erercise simple observations Int whch
ieoad mai he less gre moral slprt the armed intcr,
Gcn of Gredt Brian.
JEFF. DAVIS MESSAGE AZ REruBLisHEp IN THE
aoNITEtR.
Most Of the daily journals comment the Message OF
rresent jefferson Davis, hut Of their remarks arc