Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-16

This Rebel PrfVatsers HuiidAna N tramoe.
The New York Times of yesterday publishes
a translation OF an article from the Opinion
NGtiondls, a Paris journal, OF March, disclos-
ing some important facts in regard to the
building Of iron-clads for the confederates in
French shlp-yards.
In consequence OF the opposition OF Lord
John Russell to the construction OF confeder-
ate cruisers in England the Opinion Ndtiondls
says.
The Confoderates have directed their appli-
cations to France, and, by way Of beginning,
have ordered a whole squadron, guns, shell,
ball, &C., and Messrs. Arman, Of Bordeaux,
and Yoruz, OF Nantes, more audacious than
Mr.. Laird, OF Liverpool, have undertaken to
deliver, at the expiration of ten months, sew
eral vessels Of war, completely equipped and
ready for action. These vessels were, osten-
sibly, intended for the establishment Of line
between China, Japan and San Francisco, but
their real destination was soon discovered, and
Mr. Dayton hastened to enter his protest be-
fore NJ. Drouyn dc rHuys, the moment he sue
ceeded In getting possession Of undeniable
proofs.
The principal accusatory documents, to the
number of ten, were transmitted TO NJ. Drouyn
de rTIuys on the 22d OF September, 1868.
1t appears from the indications given by the
| Opinion Ndiotdls, that Mr.. Arman and Mr..
voruz had contracted with Captain Bullock, Of
the rebel navy, to build four wooden vessels,
which had been in progress since April, 1868,
and subsequently they had agreed to build two
on-clads, besides shot and shell.
The paper goes on to state:
The French Government, having only very
inaccurate information relative 10 the destina
ton Of these vessels and the use to be made oi
their armaments, had furnished Mr.. Voru7
with every facility desirable for the fulhllmeni
of his contract.
| to the attention OF NJ. Drouyn de PHuys fresh
proofs, among others a copy Of a contract
signed July 10, ] sos, wherein Mr.. Arman agrees
| to Mr.. Bullock TO construct two iron.clad yes
sells, and a copy Of an agreement, dated on the
| 18th of September, in which NJ. VoruZ prom
ises to furnish Capt. Bullock with SO pieces OF
cannon and Il, 900 shell.
| At length, In last letter not less explicit
than the preceding ones, Mr.. Arman proposes
to Mr.. Maury, "ReAr Admiral of the Confede
| rate States of America" to construct, on shor
notice, six new iron-clad gunboats, according
to the plans communicated to him by Mr.
Jameson, and he agrees, moreover, TO furnlsl
in one month after the signature of the con
tract, proof that he has In hand the authority
necessary for the delivery Of the armament des
tined to be placed on board Of the gunbonts.
The correspondence between all parties re
suited in an assurance from the French Minis
ter to Mr.. Dayton, October 22d, 1868, that tn
, authority to arm the vessels already built ha
been withdrawn by his Governmont,w which wa
. determined to adhere to a strict neutrality.
r 1.-THE .Opi,iion Ndtionale March %, 1861,
e adds the following sig nifeant remarks:
One might believe that this last letter OF NJ
Drouyn de pIIuys terminated the diplomat
difficulty which we have just summed up, and
indeed, for a month or two the construction o
the iron-clad vessels and those not iron-cla
was suspended; but, If we arc correctly in
formed, the work has, long since, been resumed
and two, at least, of these vessels are ready 70
delivery to the Confederate agents.