Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-18
FROM THEIUNITED STATES.

| more american of that day
The report concerning the two powerful rams that
are said have left the port Bordeaux in France
in the Confederate interest, is revived in APP
parently authentic shape-the Paris correspondent
of the Herald asserting that two vessels of the class
named had lett France, their destination being New
York. Under the display headings, Every Impor-
tant-Departure OF the Dano Rebel Rams from
the French Coast-Their Object the City OF New
Urk-Their Formidable Cbaracter-Ther Speedy
| Arrival to be Expectcd-The Danger that Menaces
| our Wooden Men-of-War and Deienceless Coast, y
the Herald publishes the following corresp ondeuce
concerning rIese vessels:
PARIs, Jan. u, lS65.-By fortunate accident [
am able 10 anticipate, trust in time to mitigate
great disaster, the most startling intelligence that
has crossed fle Atlantic since the outbreak of the
War. This Will barely have reached you before tao
rebel irOil c!dds pH haze t the coast OF France for
the port ~ Ae0 York, where they expect TO carry
| the irst news OF the expedition. These vessels
which are admirable sea boats, one of the EN- has
proved during the recent heavy gales in the North
SEA, are vi the most formidable description calcl-
| lated TO resist any artillery in our navy, except
perhaps, the monitor guns. They will take album
dant coal Tor the Atlantic voyage, without stopping
| al the islands; and are armed with Armstrong; OF
the heaviest calibre, as well Us an enormous sup
ply ofrockets. No doubt is entertained of their
ability to carry with ease the fortihcatioHs in New
York harbor, and hold the harbor against any force
that could possibly be sent 10 the rescue The city
is then 10 be laid under contribution or, in event
of refusal to be fired. The leaders OF the expedi-
ton however, expect an outbreak in the city ITSELF
aud that the coppcrhe ads will seize the momentof
panic and confusion to declare New York indepen-
dent from the Union and the State, and free port
To show that do not exaggerate the formidable
character ct these vessels il is only necessary to
ham nrir
our naval officers have inspected them. They are
known US tie. Sphynx and the Cheops but on hoist
ing their tag will Speetively called the Stone
| wall and the RapidGn. You are doubtless aware
that before the keel Of either of these vessels was
laid al Bordeaux the personal word of Loeis Napo-
| leon was pledged TO their delivery, With guns and
| everything except powder board. The dill
gence and skill OF Mr.. Dayton who succeeded in
gaining over the confidential clerk Of one OF the
TcOnstructors, and then procuring possession of
the very originals OF tie contract with the rebel
agents, frustrated the plan "a originally con-
ceived. The French Government found it neees-
/ sary 10 make appearance OF preserving its
| neutrality. The Minister OF Marine withdrew
| the authority 10 ship guns, aud some wooden
| vessels also included IN the same contract were
| really aud bona fie sold and delivered 10 neu-
trail Powers This allayed suspicion and uneasiness,
and the imperial conspiratOr and his rebel friends
felt safe in resumiHg the plot especially since Mr..
Dayton's death had removed the chief obstacle
| TO success. The poor Danes were made thecatspaw
ia the affair One of the iron clads sold them,
aud sailing from Bordeaux, duly arrived at COpen-
baren and was forgotten, The Gergan press is toe
lazy, and that of France under too astute sur
yeilance TO see ANYTHING on which the Tneres want
them TO be hind. What nir,gues passed in that oh
scure corner of Eur1 Pc ! do not know Suffice il
that the irOn lad supposed 20 have been delivered
Ia denmark, sailed two days ago nom Copenhagen,
with all her armament on board, the affair having
-. u
consular agents there u 10 get her returned to her
owner Mr.. Arnaud a friend aud p0rtege of the
Emperor, aud government member OF the Corps
| legislatit. Meanwhile the sister ship, which is
nOnlnally sold 10 Prussia, prohtng by the voyage
| of the other will sail without suspicion OsteA-
sbly for Hamburg, but in reality to meet
her consort at a lonely little island OH the coast,
which the ''DaniShp ship may he expected 10 reach
ia about ten days. Then both OF them will be met
| By tenders having On beard the coal, powder and
men-some one hundred and twenty for EACH in-
dependently of such of the present neutral crews
as may be tempted 10 enlist. The transfer can be
made in Jew hours, the tenders will have distant
destinations and discreet captains SO that, with
the exception of this letter, the first news you in
New York win probably have of the unprecedented
lreSchery Of France will be the arrival Of Franco
/ rebel iron clai armada
| You will Iask why /, knowing this plot, do not
i Illustrate i'll can only reply that there sol
emn obligations binding me on this side of the At
lautc which do not extend TO the other, and that i
am doing the lest my conscience allows me. The
facts win only too soon prove the accuracy Of my
inforInato n; and II you neglect my anxious warn,
i ing il will be at your own peril A
have reason 10 believe that the secret treaty
/ which is known TO exist between France and the
/ Coniederacy was not intended TO run SO soon the
risk Of exposure and IL is probable that the French
Legation at Washington is really kept in ignorance
/ of IT, so that the disavowa may be made with all
the appearance of conviction aud truth, Louis Ma.
poleon fears no other element of French public
opinion except the antipathy to slavery, which is
stronger and more universal here than in England,
and which Is, moreover, represented by Prince Ma
L poleen II Is upon this hint that the Richmond pa
pers have lately set up camor about emancipa-
i tion which IS diligently worked by their immune
rable organs over here, Besides, IL had been
agreed npon by the ''high contracting parties that
the 4th Of March and the inauguration OF President
Lincoln under u new election, which IL alleged to
have utterly modified the constituency of the U. s.
government, should be awailedfor any compromising
| step. But il appears that either the recent re-
verses OF the Rebels have 50 alarmed Louis or the
favorable progress of Mexican affairs so embOlden
/ him, rs 10 overcome the scrupes and timidity OF
MT DROWN de Lhuys and hasten the 6enouement
At all events, the result Is that two Rebel iron
clads, fully manned and equipped, and, in many
| respects, superior TO anything that has yet been
built Of the kind ether side of the water, WILL
within fortnight, be route for New York.
STATEMENT OF THE DANISH MINISTER AT WARRINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. -, 1865.
Further information in reference to the Bordeaux
steamer, said to have been obtained by the Rebels,
is looked for With interest. The Danish Minister,
Mr. Raslof, denies the report that the vessel was
sold tafhe Rebels by the Danish Government. This
information has been obtained from an authentic
source.
Commenting upon the news contained in this
letter, the Herald says editorially
THE pkSo-REBEL IRox-cLADs on THEIR WAY TO THE
AMERICAN wATERs-THE DUTY OF THE GovERS-
MENT. ,U afa f
The intelligence that two rcbel iron-chls had
left, or was about to leave, the French coaADfor
American waters is confirmed by our Paris cores
pondent, whose letter we publish this morning.
Our Consul at Liverpool confr ms this statement