The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-03
IMPORTANT FROM FRANCE.
The French Ministers Visit 20 Rich.
mond-Sccretary SeWard'5 Message lO
Inc Rebels by ~. Mercter-N poison's

The French Minister'S Visit In Rich.
mond.secretary Seward Message so
Plan Against Mexico.
pars Jan. TO- Correspondence Of London Telegraph
The Yellow Book, which Ia usually distr buted 10 the
Chambers at the same time with the "BIue BOOK has
not yet been issued to the great bodies of the State
am gnorsn. Of The cause Of the delay but the Substance
OF several OF tho documents contained in the volume
question already known, aud amongst them is the lo
lowing concerning America, Of which give you
anaysss-
In the first place, l nnd q letter written by Baron
MERCER the French Ambassador al Washington IN which
Una. Spomas. Informs the Minister Of Foreign Affairs
that ne had endeavored TO word his replies in such
ner as 10 dccusona he government Of e Whe Ho,ls b the
recognition OF the Soath By France, case hot should
NORTH - 'NS
Almost at the same time n Mercier wrote 10 Mr. Sew
ard informing him Of the representations mad TO him
py Thonvenei upon the subject Of considerable losses
sustained by several French commercial houses, by
reason Of the absolute mpossibty of corresponding
with the inhabitants OF the southern States In
leans alone that loss 10 estimated between six and eight
millions Of dollars NJ Mercier demanded that the
consuls should be authorized upon their own respoDsi
bity TO forward 10 the Interested PARTIES the letters
addressed to them. after having assured themselves
tne contents OF the said letters purely commercial
Mr. Seward answered that the demand was the highest
moment and that it necessary for him TO cofer on
the subject with President Lincoln, at the same time
apoogsng Tor not being able 10 grant what France
requested.
On the 9th February, 1862, NJ. Thouvenel asked NJ
Mercer 10 DENY as ne mad done previously the recogn
ZION OF the confederate government by France, since
that Power intended remaining strictly neutral But
the 9th Of March the Minister Of Foreign Affairs
NJ hercier stating that the success reaped by tho
FEDERAL army 10 Tennessee might put end the
campaign without the honor of the government
OF Washington suffering from it, ana that France
would see with great satisfaction that government en-
deavorng to discover II there some other
method 1Sano OF solving the dincu'y than war M
alone in position TO take the initiative aud TO
lay dozen he basis Of compromise, the necessity Of ,ch
This tie beginning Of hc Efforts ,clich terminated in
ne note addressed b. NJ Dronyn de Lhnps the governments
of England and RatsiG. But NJ MERCER replied that
the political situation Of the North did not admit OF his
taking that stepfor the present at east-since would
evidently remain without any success Nevertheless
despite that refusal the part the French anbas
sador, in conversation he had with Mr. Seward the
latter induced M. Mercier To communicate him the
last despatch Of H. lhouvene after which as the baron
had Anticipated, the Amei lean Minister remarked that
any step the part OF the neutral Powers with view
bring about an arrangement could only complicate the
actual difficulties. Mercier, in the which he
informed NJ Ihouvenel OF that added that
the almost general opinion in America about the
as follows 80 Nobody preteids 10 rec0anea ths so,h
TO ne Union against us uu but oniy 10 glye a les on,
ana 10 WtddTdio from he ipt Of its ITa rulers
so that mSM return OF as The ederasts
are determined to carry oct tho trial to the end and il
afer that the majority OF the Southern population persist
in wishing TO separate from the Uniontce, 1t nil be
suffered 10 do 500
despatch, bearing date April l3 throws little light
upon the Journey undertaken to Richmond by Baron Mer
cier, and which such excitement at the time II
appears that he undertook IL the suggestion Mr..
Seward himself, who then believed in the speedy re-
establishment OF the Union and without having previous
y informed the French his intention.
Tore his departure NJ Morceg understanding
with our ambassador and repeated TO Mr.. Seward that
the OBJ ec Of his journey not connected with the
recognition Of the South, bM only atmpt bring
about an arrangement The american Minister charged
him 20 Gte at Rchn0ad that e Worth ac.latea hi no
sentiments Of rerege and that great abstraction couid be
afforded TO The tnhat aaas ty ne sight of suth Senators
tie South migh consent 70 send.
or the many conversations which ". Mcrcier men
tions having had at Richmond with several important
personaees, that with Mr.. Benjamin deserves to be
noted down. That gentleman said that The south
had reckoDed too much upon Europe and the COVER
OF the commercial interests IN suspense but that,
nevertheless, the whole population was unanimous in
desiring separation. The South had suffered much but
was resolved TO Tier st more To reach that goal 1--WE DO
not dissemble grcn ourselves added MI Benjamin .that
the federass Possessed OF more con-
siderable than ours, and that they may end gain
possession Of all our PORTS but they take
they will only find therein men, children and old men.
In the War Undergraduates the English time
in possession ?? all The cites situate on the scaboard hut
for all that they did not succeed ~ carrying tho day
The situation is precisely the Tie North combas,
a. England cid formerly T. prtferve her supremacy and
we TO conquer orr ndepend, nee &c
After having related the ab conversation erieRs0
Baron MERCER adds that everybody held the
guage Nobody hestatcd 10 declare that The reestabsh
ment Of the Union was impossible