, 1865-02-23
rHE FRENCH IRON CLAD RAMS,
Disavowal Of Responsibility by the
French Government,
l0W THE TESSEL PASSED FROM TIFF
FRENCH INTO REBEL HANDS,

[Paris Correspondence Of the n. T, Times.l
The French Government denies, no doubt
with entire sincerity, oil completely II the
at1air OF the onnda. The Minister OF Marine,
izing the departure Of this vessel for Denmark
the contract between Atma1i. her bnf1ier
and the Danish Government, was shown him
that there was not, and could not have been
| the shadow ofa doubt or his mind as to the
regularity Of the contract, and that, as In the the
s;a, she was delivered to her purchasers m m
der the french flag. Up to tits point every
thing was regular, and, so far as the Frcnch
Government was concerned, perfectly fair !:
but here arises question for discussion. Tie
vessel after being exnmaed BY the Danish ua-
the conditions required Ia the contract. The
French flag had been lowered, and the vessel
bad passed from under French AUTHORITY be.
fore this commission sat upon her. Afe the
french, therefore, 70 blame for lowering
their dag before they knew whethcf
the vessel was to be accepted or
minister declares that they acted In good
faith; That after seeing the contract. they
supposed their mission was finished when
they Lad delivered the vessel in the Danish
port, which had been indicated by the Danish
government as the port OF delivery, and thai
they had no suspicion Of what was going to
occur. The French government promised
the late American Minister at Paris, Mr. Day
ton, In the most emphatic manner, that none
Of the vessels hunt IN French ports, on Con-
federate account, should ever pass from
French into Confederate hands, but the Olln.
do, never having been received By the Danish
government, has passed from French into
Confedcznte hands, without any intermediary
owner; and as Mr. Dayton declared for bis
government, that all da1nage done On tho
high seas by vessels which had passed direct
be charged to the French government, the
latter, II our government stands up 10 this
point, will probably 10 made to pay dear for
what at present seems only to be IN iuadyer-
terGo md want OF surveillance.
WINS the affair ruse on the part of tho
rebels? There can hardly be donbt on that
point; and what makes the matter more Ger
tain, is the fact that the agent employed by
Mr. AIman, hud by the re6sl agents to con-
duct Tie vessel to Copenhagen and back
again to the high sea, to be delivered into
Confederate hands, was n. Arnous de IL
Riyicre, an elder brother Of the Lieutenant
Of Zouayes, WHO visited the United States
five years ago. M.de Ia Riviera was formerly
the agent Of Mr.. Webb, the ship~bu1lder, Or
New York, IN the affair Of the contract be-
tween Mr. Webb and tie italian
Governments, ind has tue reputa-
lion OF being more thln Ordin-
ary shtewd business Ran. Ho is also known
to be rebel sympatliizer, and to be leagucd
more or less with the rebel agents In Francc.
There Is Ground, therefore, for the belief
that 1t was determined before the vessel start
ed to have her refused by Denmark, and then
to pass her under the Confederate dag, f,r II.
dc Ia RisieIe not only conducted the vessel
to Copenhagen, but he conveyed her alter
ward into Confederate hands. Moreover,
there seems to have been ship waiting In d
concerted point to furnish, the oiinda with
her armament.
As regards the vessel itself, 1t Is the fifth in
the list Of those built by II. Arman for the
Confcletates, and Is o heavily cuirassed ram.
But che is known not to possess high speed,
and will probably run short career. It Is
well enough, however, to be on the lookout
for her.
In fine, the French Government seems to
be actnated by the best sentiments in the
matter. The Ministers concerned declare
TINT they haye acted in good faith they pro-
iess to be deeply surprised and hulniliated at
the event, and they utter their regret in the
most cuphatic-way.. As soon as the official
details arrive from Copenhagen the negotia-
ton Of the aiiair will commence, hut Ii view
Of the sentiments manifested By the French
Government, there is no doubt b1t TINT the
affair can be nmicably arranged.