Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-06
FROM FORTRESS MONROE
The Visit Of the French Minister to
Richmond.
He Intlmates to the Rebels the Hope.
Iessness of their Cause.
Emperor Napoleon Willing to Render
His Good Ofliees Towards Aiding
the Return Of the Reb Is to
the Union.

FORTRESS MONROE, May 4-Editer Star -
There Is interesting Information here from Rich
mond, embracing the account given by members
OF JEFF Davis's government OF the purp0rt Of the
French Minister'S intercourse with them during
his recent brief visit 70 Richmond They now
admit that his communications with them were
wholly unofficial; and indeed, that he had TO in
tercourse whatever except mere interchange of
commonplace civility with any Of them, other
than Benjamin and one or two whom he
had in times past known well personally in So
ciety in Washington. They also now admit
that he went there only 10 obtain assurances Of
toe safety IN any event OF the tobacco of the
French Government long since boue ht and paid
for with French money. 1t is Inferred that he
obtained the assurances on that head he is said
10 have sought
In private and wholly unofficial conversation
with Benjamin and the others referred 10 above
he is now said Ia Richmond to have freely de-
clared his belief that the rebellion Is a failure
ana must soon come to end and that however
willing the Emperor might have been to have
seriousy considered the question OF the t'reco1-
milton when there was an apparent prospsfS that
" the ContederacY'' could sustain itself in arms,
the fact that their case is now hopeless against
the United States, could only make him and ali
cerely anxious, for the sake Of the commerce of
the world, that the contest should be terminated
as speedily as possible by their relinquishme nt
Of 1t. He is further stated to have reminded them
that long since, according to our published dipo-
matte correspondence, Louis Napoleon had said
to the authorities in Washing ton that while he
did not feel at liberty TO volunteer interference
in the affair, they might rest assured that when
ever the latter regarded his good offices as
peacemaker desirable, he would be found ready
to seek to bring about reconciliation upon salts
factory terms to both parties II that were possible
Speaking as an individual, he 10 said to have
expressed the opinion tGat Louis Napoleon would
lie found willing to seek TO obtain from the
basis Of their acknowledgment OF the General
Governments authority intact, upon terms tn at
would amount to as near approach to the statu
quo ante JsZEm might be possible under the
circumstances. While thus freely expressing
his personal opinions to personal friends there 1t
is now conceded in Richmond that be took due
10 avoid everything like official Intercourse
with any one there. He certainly left on the
minds Of the Leaders the belief that he regarded
Their cause as hopelessly lost and was simply Of
opinion that the quicker they laid down their
arms and returned 10 their alee glance. the better
IL would be for their own future In the Union and
for the Interests OF International commerce every-
where.
| wIite you this gossip for what II Ia worth IL
is mere narrative of what appears to be very
straight story from Richmond, that wears
throug bout it an air Of considerable probability.