Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-02-20
From the New York Herald, Feb. lG.
IMPORTANT FROM EUROPE.

The steamship Asia, Captain Shannon from Liverpool
at eight o'clock, the morning Of the 3lst ult and
from Queenstown on the evening of the LIST inst, ar.
rived at this port yesterday Sunday morning.
The Marquis Lousdown is dead.
Madrid telegram says the Spanish Cabinet does not
intend to recognize the Kingdom of Italy at present
| paris correspondence OF the N. Y. Herald
PARIS JAN 80, 1868.
Tile. Mediation Despatch TO NJ MERCER in WASHINGTON
| pubiished IN the Moaiteur-the Emperor supposed 10
be pledged to Recognition fit fdls-He may perhaps
| Aid the Re5eis-CommeIts Of lie Imperial Press
sTroopS for Merieo-W Why the Emperor praised tie
| Freedom of ERgiGnd-An american bvsntor-Gr Grand
Secession Ball. dc.
Al length the oracle has spoken In its issue of We'd
nesday morning the Moniter published the despat CHI
| from NJ .Drouyn de rHuys to NJ. Mercier, which left
here on the 10th of January In spite of its apparent
fairness and its admission Of the contingency OF
toration of the Union it is more than believed
here now that the Emperor is committed to the South
and that the failure of this attempt If it fails will
be folloOed by the recognition Of the ConfedsracE ="
always in the interest OF humanity" and cotton If it
partially succeeds, and our Government accepts the
proposition far the appointment of commiss oners
is concerned and il these commissioners fail arrive at
any settlement then his Majesty il is supposed will con-
sder that he has exhausted his efforts and his patience
and will still recognize the Gonederacy aud perhaps aid
her if need be- The general impression here is that the
despatch means mischief.
It is positively stated that despatch was received
few DAYS since from Mercer in which the French Am
bassadOr states his belief that Government is now
ready 10 receive such proposition has been made
and the official Journal the loRi ear; il hopeful on the
subject In its issue OF the morning following the pub
lsicatiou.o of the despatch, it says -
Tn, despatch from the French Minister of Foreign AZ.
fars calling the attention of the Washington Govern
ment the necessity of devlsing the Of putting
I an end to Il war which is than a civil one and
again Offering the friendly offices of France. will,
cordng TO all appearances, lind the ground well pre-
pared in the United States Dispatches from New
York which give 10 The 10TH prove that the ques-
ton IL on the order of the day. both in the North and
in the South The Congress Of Washington is occupied
with IT, At recent sitting one of its members Mr.
Valandgham) spoke in favor of mediation and ar
misce while at the same time declaring against anvar-
bitPation In the Legislature of the State of New
Jersey proposition was presented calling for arms-
tice and the meeting of convention to discuss the
terms of an amcable arrangement between the North
and the South The press is also examining the queS-
ton, the urgency OF which every day increases
give you herewith extracts from the pr ncipal Paris
journals of articles written since the publication Of the
despatch. 1t will be seen they all written in mild
tone, but of them hat from la France containing
anything like menace.
La Nation, individual organ of the Emperorl say.
The desperate var which continues in America, with
out any prospect Of ending is sufficiently wounding to
public sentiment and general interest to ente every
to part in the responsibilities which are its result
England and Russa--the authority of which, added to
that of France, would have had great weight and
cording to all Appearance would have had irresist
bic effect upon the government at Washingon-declin-
ed the task TO which they invited Public opinion
will properly appreciate their refusal The government
Of the Emperor believes that the of humanity in
general and that of labor in Europe in particular su
GENTLY merit all his socitude make it appear un
worthy TO him to make new efforts The despatch of
N Drouyn efHuys renewing his attempts in favor of