Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-11-24

IA
We reprint two of the intercepted letters
both from Mr.. Edwin De Leon, one to Mr..
Benjamin, the other to the President. twill
be seen from tho latter that this intelligent
and indefatigablc Confederate agent laments
the exceptional measure Of retaining the
French consuls, and the Confederate Commits
sioner at Paris, while Mr.. Mason was recalled,
and the English consuls dismissed; and Mr.. De
Leon objects to this prcpcsterous proceeding
on the very same grounds which we have
ourselves urged. Here follow the letters:
EDWIN DE- LEON TO J. =. BENJAMIN.
No. 10.
PARIS, Sept. 30, 1868.
Hon. j. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of State,
Richmond, Confederate States of America:
Sir-Iour despatch (No. b Of 18th August
last was delivered to me by DR.. Chns. Glrard,
on the 10Th inst, and in conformity with the
instructions therein contained l write you,
via Bermuda. by the first post, and shall con-
Time my communication by each successive
steamer in that port.
Since your last despatch was written you
you have doubtless received my Nos. and .,
and it is scarcely necessary for me to observe
that had the views and intentions of the adj
ministraton been previously confded To me
the strength Of my language On one measure
of policy since adopted, woul! have been
greatly modified, however unchanged my pri-
vatc opinion might have remained.
The Withdrawal of Mr.. Mason from London
has had the good effect If revivins an interest
IN she Southern question, and awakening the
public in England from their dream OF con.
iinued non-interventita,. From ali sources Of
information in my power. and from the cx-
pressed views of Intelligent English friends, |
anrled to believe that the public feeling in
| England find true expression in the editorials
from the "Times" of the 2jth and 9th, which
is herewith enclosed. The greatest recoil OF
the measure has been against Lord John Rus
sell personally. His speech, apologize and
vindicatory Of his own course, is the reply to
your challenge, and it proves that he will per-
sist in his policy to tie ''bitter end" and is
even ready to overstep the law in. order to
avoid offence to the Washington government.
The delivery Of this speech is too recent to
permit me to inform You of English sentiment
in relation to it. The commentary of the
Times" will show that even that obscquious
echo of tie ministry does not accept and reite.
rate Lords RusselPs views without. pro-
test: and should he venture to carry into exc
cuion the threat he has made IF violating the
Law and asking bill of indemnity FROM Par
lament, the experiment may cost him his
place. the sympathy OF the British people for
u.s. growing stronger every day. and in
the ssmc ratio as their antpathy for the
! Yankees To foster and increase these
favorable dispositions, l have caused various
publications to be made in England on the
topics of cotton, slavery, the oath of allie
glance, federal fahrications, and kept up q
running fire through the English press. Some
OF these publications shall be sent you by the
first opportunity which presents for sending
packages.
After the disposal Of the Roebuck motion
the rapid increase of Federal recruitment in
| Ireland attracted much attention, and deemed
it advisable to visit that country to see if any
thing could be done to check it. During three
weeks residence, chiefly in Dublin, with q
visit to Belfast, in the North Of Ireland,
succeeded in unmasking and exposing the
enemy's battery, and enlisted the aid of some
powerful auxiliaries in the press and the pull
| pit to stop this cruel and cowarlly crimping
Of recruits, under pretext of employment on
| Northern railways. Many knew the real ma
lure of the services required OF them; but
many more were cntrapped by promise OF
| high wages; their contracts containing a
clause that they would take the preliminary
- oath Of remuneration on their arrival in
| America This at once would make them
! subject to the draft Another drag put upon
them was the exhortation TO the women to nc
company their husbands, as the promised
wages were so high, so that the Yankees now
get a good deal OF dross with their good metal.
The number of ;"trnl recruits thus obtained
from Ireland for the past year, MP to August,
cannot have exceeded twenty thousand able.
bodied men, but has probably reached that
figure. When the harvest time is over the
Yankees hope to make 4 grand haul, but we
hope their nets will not hold. The men Of
Intelligence, who see the drain thus made OF
the very bono and sinew Of the country, resis,
it from policy and patriotism. The priests,
who arc generally cons .ientiors and earnest
men, and who live on voluntary contributions
of their pnrishioners, are also bent on arrest
ing the exodus. The only party favorable TO
the Yankees is the silly and mischcvous
clique Of dNmagosues who style themselves
young IrelanGe:s," IF whom Gen. Meagher
used to be one of the shining lights, and ties"
men make themselves busy in selling their
countrymen for the Yankee SAMPLES. No
step has been, or will be taken by the British
Government to stop this wholesale deporta-
ton, for two reasons:
l. From the difficulty Of proof of actual en-
listment and
2. Because of the unwillipguess of Lord
Russell to wound the susceptibiities of Mr..
Seward, of whose conduct he has "no conf
plant to make"
The press, the priests and public opinion
may supply the shortcomings of the governs
meut in this respect. At least the attempt is
making, and shall continue 10 be made.
Having called (of course as q private indi-
yidual) on the Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of
Carlisle, On old acquaintance, was most
cautiously and kindly received. and had a
long conversation with him on this ard kin
dred topics. Subsequently. dined with him,
when we again discussed the whole matter
He admitted the existence of the evil of emil
grafton and the powerlessnesj of government
in the matter.
Here In France 1 see no change either in
tie attitude of the government or in the popu-
lar sentiment. In fact, until the arrival of the
Florida at Brest illusions even to the Confed
cracy Except those supplied by our friends in
the press were becoming very rare. The Po-
lish question and the Mexican entirely obseurcd
ours, in which Frenchmeu have really felt but
little interest. The sympathy at first felt for
the Federals has been forfeited by their bru-
tality and insolencc, a kind of vague admira-
ton for the heroism of our people has succeed
ed, but not lively enough to prompt any ac-
ton, nor give US reasonable hopes it.
The arrival of the Florida and the questions,
which arose excited an interest; but that, too,
has now died eway, and even the arrival of
The Federal vessel kearsage. and her admis.