, 1863-02-11

The French Mtnistex,s Visit to Rich
moud.


Monsieur lie Minstrel, to-day, giro 1n
account Of Of the results Of ny excursion to
buard the Gcsscndi directly to Fortress Mon
roc. where stopped only long enough to pay
visit to General Wool aud Commodore
GoldEborough, rho command at this point
the Federal forces on land and sea. From
Fortress Monroe the Gassendi carried me to
Norfolk, where she arrived at nightfall, 80 as
to prevent every kind Of embarrassing de.
monstration. The samc evening SAW Gen.
Huger, wl4p commands that Military Depart
nlt1.t, aud 1t my request lie had the politenes5
to forward to Richmond tho following te1e-
graphic dispatch:
~. Ae.cier, Minister of Francs, Is here.
&c desires to visit Richmond IN = private
capacity, il it isagrceablc to you.'
4 favorable response having been given I
repaired to Richmond. bfy first visit was to
Iii, Benjamin, Secretary Of State, whom had
known when he represented Louisiana in the
United States s:nate. said to him that the
purpose Of my jourucvwas merely to assure
mylelf, for myarlf, Of the true condition of
things; md that cAllod to beg him 10 aid
NIT in attaining it. He answered that he
would do SO with the greatest pleasure. and
that fic would bo delighted that I should be
able to penetrate to the truth, which, Judging
from all that came back to him from the
North, appeared 10 he little known there. I
cundense, m. lie Minfstrc. what heard from
the mouth Of Mr.. Benjau,i1, and in converse
ton with others.
ave bavc,'' they eaid to me, ssrelied too
much on Europe and the power of CONNER
ciai Interests. hut are determined to conquer
our independence At all hazards. On this
point the sentiments Of our people are unani-
nous. They have already suffered much, but
they will endure far more, II necessary, to &C.
conlplith their object. We do not disguise
initely superior resources, and the command
Of the ocean; that they may In the long run
make themselves masters Of our ports. But
| in capturing our cities they will find only
| women, old men and children. The
| whole population capable of bearing
| arms will withdraw into the interior,
beyond the reach Of gunboats, and III
| presence Of such rsesistnncc tho North will
| be obliged to yield. We remember that, in
| the war Of Independence, the English mo-
uentarily held pusscssion Of nearly all the
cities on the coast, bnt succumbed notwith-
| standing. The s;tme result will now occur.
| The present situation is exactly similar to
| what it was then Like the English, tho
| North fights to retain its power aud wealth,
and wc, like the Americans, fight for indie
| reudcncc. Our people arc to-day animated
by unmistakable sentiments. Look at the
husbands. their SONS, tlcir brothers, to take
up arms. By their habits our people arc bet
ter prepared for military life than those ot
the North, and on equal terms our troops
have always had the advantage. Our meas.
ures are taken to hold Richmond as long a=
possible, and il, at last, we should be forced
10 abandon Virginia, II would be, certainly, a
heavy loss to us, but VIC should not despair,
| Moreover, We can, II absolutely necessary,
defend ourselves, but tho North cannot attack
us without money. On the other hand, nc
will not heEilatc an instant to burn our cot
to fall into the hands Of the cne,tiy.
have Epcu here all the most itnnnrtaut
pereunagcs. All have held the same language
and have expressed tie same sentiments.
Nevertheless, among those persons scEera!
are known for the moderation Of their char.
acteran for the Resistance tllnt they opposed
at the outset to the movement Of secession.
But Is the disposition which Is 50 uliAninous
y manifested Of nature to resist all trials
This is what do not know, but sec MANY
reasons for not calling in question their pro.
f"und sincerity ut this noment. How other
| eion with which the people accept all tht
miseries to which circumstances condemn
them, and In the midst Of those miserie
] accept also rigorous measures, like tha
, jnst taken By the administration, which, il
ordcr to rrcgcn. new disorders caused b,
drunkenness, has Just forbidden in the cit,
oi Richmond and in the army, the manufac
.ure and the sale of all kinds OF fermen e
liquor. | shall conclude by saying to YOU
Excelency how much reason hayc bad TO b.
s1l1Encu VIII luis sep on my part On ILL
o!her hand, at the Soulh have met, togeshe
with much cagc1uess 10 offer me (preyenance
hoslisnli y aud opportunity for private dis
cnesion, d truo regard to the delicacy Of m
, | position. did not think /. proper to ask T.
see President Davis. Hc made in this rcspce
:, no suggestion to men, OR tho lcas: cffors t
q give TO my presence any o'hcr signiticane
han that Which 1t really had. 1muedia+el
= ] upon the return Of the GasscndI to Washing
) ron was informed By the Secretary Of Ii
Navy tha: al1 the resources Of the Nay
|, lard were put at the disposition I
- tliat vessel, and she was urged I
: rcplenlsh her cargo of coal from II
s yards Of the Government. The next day Pr
= *ident Lincoln honored the vessel with
\ visit, and A1r. Seward gave soiree in hone
u If its oficcrs. As to the results that y
It might be able to attain in short time fro
It The simple raising Of the blockade, we four
ourselves placed between two contrary adi
= nations. The Cabinet at Washington, rel
i ing npon the considerations which your E
e cel!ency will be able to spufclcnd, declar
d that cotton will be delivcd TO commcre
\ | while In the South this Is denied in the INC
categorical manner. What Is certain fe, tn
cotton bas been burned in New Orleans, q
n 1T different points. which have fallen into
II t power Of the Federals.