The New York Herald Newspaper, May 29, 1865, Page 2

+a -. DuTeH ¢ - &* We mot no obstructions until wo approached Dutch Gap. This, as is well known, is.@ canal which was in- First Views of the Ex-Rebe)] | 14:1 © :ut of tarze bead in the river by an artifical THE INTERIOR OF -THE HOUSES. How, tho People Talk, How They Live and How They Look. What They Doand What They Think. ‘THE NEGROES’ IDEA OF LABOR. Month After Christmas. CURIOUS STATE OF THINGS ‘THE SOCIAL CONDITION. ‘The F. F. V.’s Living on Bread : and Water. INFLUI OF SUPPLigD ‘Sherman Distributing Mules and - Horses to the Planters. CULTIVATING FARMS WITH STICKS Conversations with Rebel Pa- roled Prisoners, &, &., &. A party of thirteen, of whom the writer was one, ar- ‘ranged to pay a visit to Richmond. We were of various pursuits in life—three being ministers, one a merchant, ‘one a railroad president, one a legislator, several manu- factirers and one a political economist, We considered ourselves, therefore, pretty well constituted to act asa gormnitive of inquiry, and to be competent to come to 4ome. pretty fair conclusions, A brief account of dur visit ia thorefore placed at the disposal of the. editor of tho Huraup, THR VOYAGE. Wo left. New York on the 10th of May, proceeding by ‘rail to BaltimOre, and thence by steamer to Fortress Monroe. Thers, on tho 11th, we took the regular line to Richmond, airoady woll established, and went on board #6" Goorglana, expecting to arrive at our destination in about twenty-four hours, 0 THE PASSENGERS. The boat was, however, crammed to excoes While,,she..could well accommodate two hundred passengers, she was crowded with at least eight hundred, @ large portion of whom were rebel officers on Parolo, rowurning home; and also a number of our own offtcers wore on board, returning to their respective com- mands. It scomed as if we naturally fell into groups, to discuss the stirring events which had recently taken Place, and this disposition prevailed while the prisoners remained with us. well clad in foreign fabrics, They ali seemed glad that tho war was over, and expressed their opinions intelil- gontly, oponly and candidly on ail topics which came up for discussion, They claimed ne more for themselves than wo wore willing to allow. They attributed their overthrow to their own disintegration (which we consid- rad the inovitablo consequence of their own doctrine of Stato rights), to the great inferiority of their own com- missariat, and, finally, to our great superiority in num- bors, Thev also stated that for the coming campaigns, Mf they could have held out, arrangements had been tmade to obtain the principal part of the food for their army from porsons in the city of New York, who were to run the blockade at Wilmington, and to have been paid Yn tobacco, We are inclined to believe that such an ar- Fangemont was actually made, and that we sball hear very shortly of arrests of the parties engaged in this troagonable Dusinoss, FORTRESS MONROE. Xs we loft Fortress Monroe wo wero surprised at tho display we witnossed; Monitors, gunboats, merchant vessols and government transports in hundreds were all gout, some in motion, others at anchor, many crowded wwith troops or loaded down with supplies, while on the + docks there were apparently thousands of people, eitier Spectators or particularly interested in the arrival and doparture of the vessels, Packages of goods, express froight and stores of all kinds wore scattered about in large piles, ready to be shipped to Richmond. In short, the bustle and activity wore indescribable. DEPARTURE FOR THE JAMES. Ak last wo folt the stroke of ourengines, and we moved off "Tho noxt morning, which was a beautiiul one, we ntored the James river. Tho atmozphere was of the palmiest and the temperature delightful, We soon Paasod thie great prison er depot, in which thove taken in tho battles previous to the evacuation are still fined. The beach was crowded with bathers at the early hour of nins o'clock. They were, however, under the Sarveillance of our gnards, our flag floating from many tails. As wo proceoded up tho river we saw many for. tiled polutiy"aud immense forests on either side un- touched bythe axe, The cypress is very conapicuot along the shores, possessing great beanty of appearanc an well a8 peculiarities of height h, roota and fra- granoe, which make it particularly observable. Tho | Wandascape altogether was very attractive 7 THE RIVER ESTATES. Notwithstanding the groat destruction of private pro porty in this region by the effect of war, we were sur prisod to sce such, @ large number of stately mansions eur: slong the rivor apparently uninjured. thoy were th the possession of the negross, who, niter the flight of their owners, remained on those oefates, and are working them on their own account. This cir Cumatance has beon « favorable one for our side, sinve Our scouts.ulways found at these places warin friend: Plontiful accommodations and trusty assistants, Not until after reconstruction and some new arrangements are mado by our government is it expected that the negro the forme A. B. Will give up possession of these places to owners Wowere told of the case of Mr who haa boen absent from his plantation the tnst two yours, IH ferit word to his slaves that he would be glad to receive fa dologation from them with pfopositions to surroad r his property, or at least to give him for the present half tho products of their labor, promising to ma @atisfactory arrangement as to the future. Fangomont, and intended to keep possession antil the grveramout ordered them to yiold It city point. Pussing vations places of minor interest, wo reached Gy Pout ‘Thee wae at Aw wo approached It we swt, Away Irwunporie, crowded vy fags Gynug everywhere, th returning solders with heors on we cavved rapidly wlowg. «Th re is a Ane and commo. Aious whet wt the Point, fanked by extensive houses sly, cargoes of barrele and boxes, eom misary sores snd eupplies, in immense quantitins, were Pilod along ihe stores Tugs, ireneporta aor arnod vos. sols lay thick about ux We were goable wo Iaud for an hour, as our berth sax cecupied by a transport, from which © biack regiment was debarking. They were a fine looking body of ‘and were commanded by to be a necessity. easily controlied by officers of their own col time we also landed, and those rebel prisoners who in tended to dovart for North Carolina aod Georgia, ba it own Golored band We were told It was observablo that they were | They replied | that thoy doclined yielding possession or making any ar- | work of three hundred yards, aud thus savo @ navtga- tion of seven miles. It wasa bold conception, bravely executed, amd whea commenced, was a part of the plan thea in view of approaching Richmond by water. But it was commanded by a heavy batlory of the encmy at its mouth, and when the bulkbcad was removed, it was so completely uuder the fire of this battery that it could not be uished. Thor» is a shallow ourrent of about 4.x inches in depth pow passing through it. By dredging it to three feet it is believed the river-will thea flow through f& and clear it out, and that eventually it will come tnto commercial use, Beyond the Gap, the river side-all the way to Richmond was crowded with earth- works and guns, Fort @arling being, an additional pro- tection, of a scientific character and doomed impregnable. APPRARANCB BEYOND, ‘The channel through which we steamed along was @ very narrow one, buoyed out for gafety, and on either side were hundreds of Little flags seen above the water, designating the torpedoes which remained there unre- moved, Tho banks of tho river near the Gap were lillod with gopher boles, or excavations in which our men sheltered themselves from the shot and shell of the enemy. We were told they were numerous enough to protect ton thousand .men. An officer connected with the fleet informed us that when our .vessels went up on one occasion beyond the Gap, torpedoes were placed 80 as to destroy thom on their return, and they actually had a narrow escape. BRIDGES. We found, a3 wo neared Richmond, we passed through ho opeainga of two permaneat bridges which had been onstructed by the enemy to connect the two banks of the river for military purposes. These openings had been made by our engineers after the evacuation, We saw also tho remains of several pontoon bridges, intended to facilitate the transit of Lee’s army to oppose the inde- fatigable Grant. ROCKETT’S, . WNnally, we reached Rockett’s landing, the highest ten tes pound, in ‘and I tough spieudia n conte & Polen wey ty petra lo thiags were much cheaper tn Richmond IT fouad them on my arrival at New Yors, all kinds was beep. building togech Hato, or, Houses or their accom montion thabulthongh almost being ruined, yet the ownors of when asked their price for them, im rapa such sums as to make it evident nap thea a8 valuable ag ever. persons, foreseoing sent result, invested largely their real catate, and will even within & the tho impression that Lincoln would not be inaugurated, that eee would happen to our financial ro- sources, bi up our government and worry out our poople. ‘These porsons sold gheir real ogtate and invested their moncy in rebel securities, and have lost every wing. PROPERTY OF THY STATE. ‘The State of Virginia owns largely in canal and railway stocks, and will in time: be able to renew its credit; but revet at present its resources are nearly government owed the pny Railroad almost half @ million for transportation, wi is now lost for ever. BFYACING OF THR WAR, It Is a curtous fact that the track of the march of Shor. man'sarmy is already nearly effaced, and on the very forts taken by Grant vegetation is already Iuxuriant. Tho soil vindicates its fertility even among the Lines of battle. The peopl >—or, rather, gecésh—are very clamor for the United States govarumeas to, rabuild tho bridges and ae ee ‘and would like to soe it reconstruet Richmond. is i@ Very much in the vein of the Frenchman who, according to Dr, Franklin, baviog failed in making “a deadly assault om his enemy with & red hot poker, asked him if he ‘not abteaat pay bin for heating it. SHERMAN’S ARMY. We were fortunate fh itness the march of Sherman's army through Ric! ad, Lt occupied nearly three days, and it wasasight to sce. In columns of companies, well dressed, clean, soldi with splend:d bands and colors flying, they moved with precision and agility, aud without the leastapparent fatigue. Personally they were noble looking men, and in idle health and discipline. We tried:the experiment of march- ing half a mile at their side, and they were too much for us; they came out far in advance, and we gave up the contest. Tho effect on the Richmond people cannot be point of navigation, about a milo from thecity. This landing containa several acres, with a regular wharf, enclosed by @ fence and picketed. It is used also to store the captired arms, ambulances, &c., which are here in immense numbers, and has ® guardhouse, where an officer receives the names of all the passengers who come ashore and registers them. Some of our party were able to get further conveyance in rickety buggies, at two dollars per head, aod the rest walked to the city, We underavood that Balsimore omo!buses wero about to arrive to carry passengers. Vehicles of all kinds were very scarce, and all in tho worst condition, RICHMOND. I had in former years resided in Richmond, and knew it wetl. As I approached it, it seemed quite natural, for distance lent ita ofd enchantment to the view; but I soon perceived a most woeful change. The injury done the place was perceptible enough. The buildings had a worn look, She windows were paneless or much patched. There wasa great rush of people through the streets in “admired disorder Crowds of ambulances and old ‘wagons Were passing along in haste, The business part of the town was in ruins, the fire having destroyed it. In New York the scone might be repre- sented by imagining all below Canal astrect to the Battery to be im ruins, while the upper part of the city would look as well as ever. At the land- ing there were at least two thousand negroes and whites, watching with interest the arrivals and departures, and in the streets the throng was®equally great. We found quarters at the Spoitswood House and little accommods- . ton, Two ina bed and six aud eight in a room was the orderof the night. The guests were a motley crowd of all nations. Jews, Germans, officeseekers, _ speculs- tors, Baltimore agents and Northern-visitors joatied each other at every turo, The table was not well served, and vhe charge was four dollars per day. EXPLORATIONS, Our first visit was to the various lines around tho city, which were very extended and formidable. We had to walk very carefully, under the dircction of a guide, and | in very narrow paths to avold the torpedoes, still lying buried in the earth in every direction. These fortitica- tions and lines have been so often described in tho Heracp and illustrated by its maps that I deem any further explanation of them unnecessary. Sufficlent to say, that, to me, Richmond seemed impregnabie against a | direct assault, and we cannot pay too Ligh a tribute of admiration to General Grant for his wonderful capture of this place. OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 1 found a number of my old friends, and our meeting waa cordial and touching. Those I had been most #mti- mate with had been loyal and true throughout the four years, to whom they bad seemed ag @ horrible dream. It is impossible to give an idea of what they had suffered or how much they rejoiced at the resumption of our au- thority, And even those who had voluntarily or by con- pulsion been forced to act with the rebela, were un- | reserved in acknowledging and welcoming the change. WHAT THEY SAID. In conversation they admitted that slavery had been @ failure, Still they endeavored to excuse themselves as | well as they could. One gentleman remarked to me | that the North had fought for a sentiment, the South for a principle! We were very frequently asked what we were going to do? whether confiscation was rigid- ly to be enforced? whether the right of suffrage was to be taken from them? were they to be | exiled? In short a feverish anxiety prevails as tothe future. Our replies were to this effect:—Are you willing to come in and do your duty as good citizens? If¢o, you will get on well enough. Everything depends on yourselves, The doctrine of State rights was much | alluded to as an excuse for their conduct, and their ideas | about these require great alietation. It would be weil if our Northeru publi hould betake themselves full exposition of what these rights really @re, and g | it a wide circulation in the South, which is willing to | listen, now that they see to what thedoctriue bas brought them, ‘TUE INTERIORS. | T visited many of the best houses and found: thom greatly out of repair. Ieted upon all whe had room tor them. univerenily out of order. Ji a pane of ¢ t could not well be repaired. Cary | worn out, and dilapidation was universal. The food of the most respectable and Most wealthy families Was poor and meagre. Many of them | tad for breakfast and tea a “and water only. A jolat of meat once a week was a great Juxury, 0 days oiticers, would go round to the houses, of Whatever eatw iid be found on tho and carry them off, Some persons, with very ulty, would smuggle fa from the country an oc- shel of pointocs, which they immediately cons own use, Women, Who never worked »plied themselves to industrious pursuits, ants generally leaving them the'r serv THE NBGROKS. 8 Appenred to be in as InUCh of n fog as their | former owners, they - | peeted to get about doilar$a nionth when they en- | goged ib now Work and chuge | nothing t clothes and food till — Chri.tinar, when | uid’ know better what to do. Engagements of this kud_ wero constantly being made, ahey w craily at work of some kind im the city, | ani eu auy { greenbacks, One of their | they volding religious or pro ore jubilant over ther | S ment just m “in te great ¢ ted me .W Changed position. They aré almost universally clothed n the old uniforms of our soldiers, which they wear with ereat satisfaction, A> lady, in @ once wealthy | numily, eattod ap he nd proposed, if to gis good wa lose 10 go, she woul give her a good ¢ » nurse replied, “1 am | now freer than yo , and I don’t want a chara ter,” ETLES. | The inha ‘onstant fear from their own troops nally about robbing houses, tion for fainilied } th prepared evor, froin the despe table women were istanee, sm of the government. fo arrested and shut 1 mere euspici ata tine, wnd then Ii without explanation ology. AS Fob arrived at the ag cen years he was forced into the | rmy. Every one bas lost some dear friend by the war, m the Ts. s and agricultural imple. ouptry, Ab one place T Wonly a sharpened stick. y iit behind nearly {i be used by tho poor agri- pifor them and @ promise (for. This was & most ero an mals when they A grant Jack of horses menis ig feit throughout | gaw a farmer y Genera The price dure, | Snipa ket 1 ie avout forty Gve dollars casis INFLEX OF SUPPLIES. Tt ig observable that almost efmutra sly with Ube | arrival of our troope at Richmond ihe luxuries of tife te- ay a, coffee, sugat und carted fraite some he diately abundant, but for eubstantials, thee ve waa op the Wberality of our commis: Tbrenkfastod at a gentleman's bourse, where he | bad ail kinds of bot bread and tea and coffee and a stale | mackerol. I saw this last was evidently the gift of the comm scary, When Eiott | was surprised at the change described. They wore pefectly astonished, and admitted it was Impossible to succeed inat such men, Our sol- diers were perfectly quiet on: ma excopt on paas- ings statue of Washington, when the el |, regiment by regiment. The truth the Richmond people were taught to believe that the armies of the North were worthless in characterand material, that they wero really few in numbers, that they could not be recruited eithor voluntanly or Tho presa did its utmost to ‘spread its lies before the people, and they were beaten before they thought they were in real danger. BRAL LER. ‘It is said thore that two years ago Gen2ral Lee wished to abandon Richmond, remove the seat of government to Danvillo, aad m: Benjamin—the latter being considered the President's ‘most influential adviser—would not-listen to it. Tho im- pression also ted ig there that Johnston is really a greater geveral than Lee, and was wept down by Davis ym personal dislike, arisiag out & meeting ona battlo fleld during McClellan's operations before Rich- mond, when high words passed between them. . THE RECONSTRUCTION, Governor Pierpont's plans were not developed while we were in the city. He has had much experience in organizing West Virginia, and on a limited scale as Gov- ernor of a portion of the old State, protected by our forces, No doubt the secesh would like to resume the old government, as t would give them power, their first Bad last object in life, corron. T learned that there was a large amount of cotton at Norfolk and in the interior, which had been accumu- lating for some time, Ofthig the public at the North are not generally aware. CONCLUSION. Should T continue to write about all I saw this account would be too voluminous. I have had to omit many curious scenes and adventures. I left Richmond in con- sidorable of a puzalo asto its future. A creat many por- sons are coming North to reside, as they say they will have fo work for a living, and they prefer to labor where labor is and has been honorable. On the other hand the South will be overrun with Northern perple, who believe they will there have fortune speedily filling their sails. Aftor five days sojourn in Richmond we left by tho same route we took to reach it, The same stear aud rails brought us back. In tho former the rovost Mars | was atill captain, and the in only sailing master, the steamer, and the @ better for it. Our accom. modations as to eating were excellent, bit sleeping was was almost impracticable, The passengers took tarns in the berths, and a8for myself, I found a sitting place in the barber's saloon, at an expense of several dollars. Reaching New York on my way home, I was struck with the contrast it presented to Richmond. Its jnbarey the bright eyes and cheerful its wonderful prosperity stop of its citizens, could not be unnoticed. On the other seemed to n in the city we had just left, chaos reig: with a Cw a a rg future, — pntbern people now fully perceive their error, evon if they do not Tegret it, or at least ackpowledge as much. They have acted with the, folly in asking to give up our nationality, our unity, our power, that slavery might be set up to menace us forever, in expecting us to crumble at their touch, and to acknowledge their superiority. Yet while many of the people continue sullen, and others de#ant, these very persons are daily supplied with food by eur generous government, and complain if there is ‘the falling off of asingle ration. Itisclearto me that . they had succeeded they would been unbear- he. The J Wood Marder. CLOSE OF T EX'S INVESTIGATION—THE PRISONER OURRAN COMMITTED TO ANSWER— JONES’ WOOD DECLARED TO BE A PUBLIC -XUI- SANCR. Ata lato hour on Saturday night Coroner Gamble con- eluded the inquisition commenced some days ago in the case of John Stewart, who was fatally shot in Jones’ Wood on the 23d instant, as previously reported in the Heratp. The testimony adduced went to show beyond a doubt that Patrick Curran, arrested on Long Island the day following the murder, was the individual who caueed Stewart's death. The jury rendered a verdict as follows:—That John Stewart came to bis death at Jones’ Wood on Tuesday, May 23, 1865, by @ pistol shot wound at the hands of Patrick Curran The Jury would furthermore recom. mend the Grand Jury to take some action in regard to the place where the sald affair occurred, Wood, As far as this jury have to find out, this place is a public nuisa according to the testimony of one of the witnesses, ag well as of the potice force generally, a place of resort of thieves wnd prostitutes, At times when a festival, such as the one which took place on the day in question, the police farce of the Ninete uth precinct is co much weak+ ened in some places in consequence of an extra force re+ quired thre, that the property and persons of the citi, zens are leit pease without the prot n which they should have. In the opinion of this jury this place should be closed up. Curran is nineteen years of age, born in Ireland and lives in Brooklyn, He says he is a boiler and brush maker. In relation to the charge preferred against him Curran said he had nothing to say till he had the advice of counsel, . Coroner Gamblo cominited him to the Tombs to await Lis trial, Coroners’ Inquests. ‘Tum FATAL Casvaury vo Mr. Wirriock.—Corcmeg Cole lin yesterday held an inquest at the depot of the Har- lem Railroad Company, corner of Twenty-sixth street and Fourth avenue, over the remains of Mr. Edward A. Whitlock, whose death was the result of injurios received the evening previous by being run over by a ear belong- ing to the above named ¢ wy, while in the act of at- tempting to get aboard a train which was leaving the 3 published in yesterlay'’s Hxrann, ‘The jury La verdict as follows:—That Edward A, Whit- » d-woaged, came to bls death in attempting to pon one of the ears of the five-forty train of the Harlem Railroad gs it was being drawn out of tha arch- way of that company’s oiffce, at the corner of Twenty sisth streot and Fourth aven'ie, in doing which he r behind the front trucks and was run over by the ks and killed, No blame can be attached to the railroad company or the driver of the car. Deceased was a grocer and did business at No. 22 Nasewu street, Mr, Whitlock was a brother to Benja- tin M. Whitlock, deceased. Farat Fath—An inquest was held yesterday at 00 James street, by Coroner Collin, on the body of Bridget | Bolton, whose death was.the result of an accidental fall, while washing # window on Saturday afternoon, The in- juries which caused death wore internal, Deceased was thirty-two years of age, and @ native of Ireland. A Case ov City Morver.—The remains of a newly born male infant were yesterday morning found on the rear basement steps of premises 41 Muiborry street, ooce- pied by Bridget MeCoy. Coroner Collin was subsequently called to hold an inquest, when Deputy Coroner Robin- son made @ post-mortem @xamiuation on the body, and found that the child had been bora alive, There were marks of violence about (he peck and throat, and, in De. Rovingon’s opinion, death was th tof suffocation. Owing to the absence of the necessary proof the jury were unable to say who commiited thy 1 violence. John C, Breckinridge’s Library. {Frankfort (Ky.) porrenonds noe Cincinnatt Com- mer: \al.] ‘Tho private library of Joba. Breckinridge is now in tho hands of Me. Harper, formeriy agent of the Adama Express Company at Lousysio, Laving been sent to big from Waghington by the owner, fur yeare ago, for safo keeping. Me. Harpee bas become tired of keeping it, and as oO is np prospect of ibe immed Mr. Breckinr'dg: Lexington, he :ote offer it penses volumes, mang Of them quite valuable. owns 00 property, in Kentucky, Tam told that he soid all he tad when bo went to Washington as ¥ dont, nine years ago, Ail (ho meibers of his farnily are with him, wherever bo is, wich the exception of his sou, who was captured hot lone ago, MONDAY, M AY 29, 1386. TE? Union of the Mediterranean and Red Seas. THE GREAT PROBLEM SOLVED. Full Accownt of the- Excursion from Alexandria. to the Red Sea. REPORT OF THE DELEGATES. Who They Were and Where They Came From. COMPLETE LIST OF THEIR NAMES, , ” Account of the Enterprise, Historical and Descriptive, dew Rey ke. ‘Tho grand opening of the Sues Canal, connecting the Mediterranean, sea with the Red sea, and connecting the commerce of Europe and America by a shorter route with India, Australia and the Pacific Islands, took plaoo, according to previous arrangement, ou the 7th of April and following days, in presence of a large party of repro- sentatives of the chambers of commerce of the world. ‘The party, under the’ direction of M. F. do Lesseps, “President of the Universal Company of the Suez Canal, consisted of oue hundeed abd twenty persons, of whom eighty-dve were delegates, and the balance engineers and otlicors of the company, and some invited guests They left Alexandria, for Cairo, by railroad, on the 7th, and atart- ed from tho latter place on the 9th, én roule for Port Said, the inlet of the waters of the Mediterranean, and proceed. ed thence through the Canal lo Suez The weather was beautiful, the. moon sbining splendidly at night as tho happy party traversed the ancient lang of the Egyptians. For twoive nights tn succession thoy all dined together, winding up the festivities in the true fashion) of all ex- cursionists, with tousts and speeches, finishing off occa- sionally with @ ball, at which the wives and daughters of the officers and engineers (who were all French) purtici- pated, making resonant with the measure of their agile fect the soil of Cheopaand the Ptolemy, ‘Perhaps the best description wo/can give of the jour- ney is the report drawn up at Cairo, at the request of the party, by Mr. Cyrus W. Field, after their return from Suez. RBPORT. ‘Carno, April 17, 1865. fe, the umde.s.gnod, . delegates of the chambers of cofimerce to the eanal of Suez, after having examined the works already done, and having taken into consid- eration the possibility of the enterprise, repo: We started on the 7th instant from Alexan by rail. road for Cairo, whero we remained until the morning of tho 9th. We then proceeded by railroad to Zagaz'g, where we embarked at 9 o’cloc! M., in boats drawa ‘by mules and camels, on the fresh water ‘canal mae by ichemet Ali, and arrived the same day at Tel-el-Kobir, @ station of the company. “ On the'10th, in the morning, we continued our journey fn the saine manner, and at noon we entered upon the tresh water canal made by tbe company. At 5 o'clock P, M. we arrived at Ismaila, the central station on the Suez Canal. ‘On the 11th we remained at Ismailia to examine the works there, as well as those of Scrapium, the most ele- vated points of the isthinus. On the 12th wo'started from Ismailia by the sca canal in boats of smal! draught drawn by mules and camels. We arrived ut Kautara at four o'clock P. M., having visited the important workshops and works of El Guist 4, El Terdao, From this point in anany places, aud tor B length altogether of sixty kilometres (about thirty-six aniles), the canal is also excavated to ita fall width. ‘The portion previously traversed was only about one-third uf ‘the width proposed, ‘On the 13th we left Kautara in the same way for Port Said, twenty kilometres (twelve miles.) Before reaching this place we found five small steamboats, which brought us to the Mediterranean. There we examined the piors in course of construction. ‘On the 14th we remained at Port Said to visit the im- portant buildings, Dinko and materials which the Company posses % town. On the Sth Meise by boat to Ismailia, and on the 16th in the morning we started tor Suez by the iresh water vanal in boats drawn by mules aud camels, arriv- ing at Suez in the evening, @ two locks intended to connect the sea canal with the fresh water canal, in course of construction at Ismailia, are not yet tinisbed, and a trapsbipment here ia now neceseary, Our passage from the Mediterranean to the Red soa ‘was accomplished in twonty-s:ven hours, as follows;— Eleven hours from Port Said to Ismailia, and sixtcen hours thence to Suez. A telegraphic wire extends the whole length of the canal, communicating With the wires of Cairo, Alexandra and Suez, During our voyage we had opportunity to observe the excavators and other macuines used for digging the canal. All the works belonging to the company appeared to us built and equipped in a solid apd permanent man- per. In our opinion the construction of a ship canal.across tho isthmus is only a question of, time and money. We are informed thai the pany has already made contracis with various contractors for the completion of the ship cual by the of July, 1963, without execed- ing the actual capital, including therein the indemnity due by the Egypt.an government uader the award of the Emperor Napoieon Ii. During the whole of our trip we received the greatest attention and hospitality from Mr. de Lesseps, and he pd the engyneers and. officers of the company answered freely all the questions which we put to them. So much forthe grand,opening expedition, fraught with so moch importance to the commercial interests of the whoie globe, We will now provged to give the history and description of the entgrprise. But first it may be in- teresting to know who the delegates were on this occa- sion, We therefore subjoin the complete list:— LIST OF DELEGATES OF THE OMAMBERS OF COM- MEKCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL RBUNION ON A VISIT TU THE SURZ CANAL. Avsrnis,—Consul General—Mr. de Spinsio, delegate of Consul General; Vien Mr. Alfred de Lindheim, Mr. H. Ch. de Maurer, representatives of the First Mexican Exportat on Society ; Trieste—Mr. Rieter, Mr. B. Verona, Mr, Eichhon, dircetors of the Sicamship Society of the Austrian Lloyds; Veni 'r. Canali, Ch valier a? Olivo, Beiaiem.— Consul General—Mr. Demblon, engineer of the Cockerell Society of Sevain, delegate of Consul G-ne- ral; Auvora—Mr. John Devi Braait.—Mr. Gilly, dete Birminghan— Mr. Bragge RANCH. —Algor—Mr. Felix Biche; Havre—Mr. J. Clande, house of J, Clase | Go, Alexandria; Linage—Mr. 1! Marquet, manufacturer of ‘porcelians Lyens—Mr, Jules Bounet, Mr. Mourice Chabriére, Mr, Armand Arles Dufour, Mr. Duscixnour Ki-ber; Margeilles—Mr. Berleaut, Mr. J. Roux, Mir. Les te—Br. Th. de Cambourg; Mousperti¢r and Cazalés de Fondoxcy; moncpolilr—Mr. Paul Mr. Exnost Mouquier, Mr. Victor Frat; Thiophile Clayeux, Mr. R, Bruel; Mul- Buruat, house of Burnat & Co., Alexan- Frauger; r_ Jules Roux, Society of 8 of ‘St. Murie aux- omin, Presi- t. svignes ; Angoulene— Mr. ocluty of Be ; jaa, Copel General. . Landve, Delegate of Consul General; ‘dam—Mr, J. N. Ansiyn. Irawy,—Mr. Kalll Bacas, First Interpreter to the Con- sul General; Alexandria—Mr. L. Regazzoni; Ancona: Mr. Beret Bologne—Mr. Gerolamo Hoceardo, Provessor at Genoa Lazzaro Patroue, guano ogent inl merebant Mr. Guill Sngineer, Delegate of the of Public Works, trom Cag! ari; Catarre et Ri ggio D. Piazzi, merchant of Alexand: (Calabro)—Mr. — D. wo -Mr. J. do Gavazzi, of Milan; Fiorenco— ir. toli; Genoa—Mr. Giacomo Mille ‘jee Prosident of ¢ Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Aleseandro Barabino, Secre- tary of the Chamber of Commerce; Lecce—Mr. Biagio Caranti, Delegate of the Minister of Agriculture and Com- merce of Lecce; Lecco—Mr. Felix Mondelli, of Como; Livourne et Pise—Baron G. G. Lein; Measino et Syra cuse—Mr. Lelia sifted); Milan—Mr, Angelo Villa Per. nico, Vico President of the Chamber of Commerc Milan; Me, Guiseppe Pa Senator Tito Cas cace; Palermo—Mr. Thom: of Alexandria; Plat Faves; Turto—M manufacturer; Turin and Chiay me merchant and cotton manufacturer; Turin, Aucone an Coni—Mr. Gaetano Capuccio, engineer, of Turin; Turin and Bergame—Baron Luigi Dupre, bouse of spre, father and eon; Turin and Bari—Chevalier Guiseppe Ferrero, lawyer and secretary of the Chamber of Com- merce of Turin; Trapani—Dr, Arturo Jstel, of Oenon Vareso—Mr, Pietro Casiagoa, of Como, Mi Pansts,—Me. Mirza Buesein Kban, Co: Mr Mirza Hassan, First Socretary of the sador at Conetantivople. Reesta,—Me. Alexandre do Smelsky, Vice Coneul, Mr. do Steiger, principal agent of the Levant Corstantinople lines; Sr. ce Gautak. Swkoey avy Norway —Mr. Henri Barker, Vice Consul, Srarx.—Barceiona and Cad!2—Mr, Edouard Lafuente, Uniteo Staiee ov America, —New York —Mr, Cyrus W. Field; San Francisco—Mr, Washington M. Ryer. ‘This \nternational oon ate to the cvening, 4'Orient, at Cairo, on Monday evening, April 17. Of the cighty-Qve delegates there were the duly ap- Pointed reprosontalves.of tea governments, cight iucor- Porated companies or societies, and sixty-two chambers of commerce, in different olties of fourteen nations ou four contineota. Aftor having carefully oxamined for several days tho work done aod now being executed, and paased in boats feom the Mediterrancan'to the Redl Sea in two hours, the dotegates were of the unanimous opinion ‘that the construction of the ship.canal acrogs the Isthmus of Suez was proceeding with vigor, aad ite osm@plovioa omy ‘& question of time and moaoy.+ The company bas mado ‘ooutracts with three partics for the completion of the ship cabal, piers’ and harbors by tho Lat of July, 1868: It i# now gettied beyond all question that the Mediterranean and Red goas are at last actualiy connected by a canal, through which barges of thirty toas burdea are now regularly passing, loaded with freightand pas- wongors, and towed bya.smail steamer, the gift of Prince Napoleon. At the same timo the work of and widening the channel to admit the passage of, voR- sels and steamers of large size is* going in. Many thou- wand native laborers aro constantly engaged inthe busi- ness of excavation and embanking, assisted by dredges nd all the. other known machines com- monly used. by modern engineers in hydraulic works. The New York Chamber of Commerce, in accordance with M. Lessop’s. Invitation, selocted Mr. Cyrus, W. Field, woll known. for bis connection with, the, At- lantic. Telegraph,, a8, its delogate.. Quité « number of thesc commercial associations thus invited have also sent dolegations, and among, these.are- Havre, Nantes, Mar: aeilles, Lyons, Montpellier, Mulchausen, Algiers, Bristol, London, Barcelona, Cadiz, Genpa, Turin, Pisa, Vienne, Aumstordam and Hamburg, It might not at first sight be supposed that the United States bad much interest in the solution of this historical and commercial, problem; but the readers of this.article, will perceive before they tnish its perusal that they have THE PROJECT. The project. of M. Leaseps, now nearly completed, in its. largest form ig thet of constructing a ship canal between the Red Sea and the Mediterrancau in a northern ‘apd southern directinn, and in pearly a straight line. Tho northern terminus is at a new port, called Port Said, socalled, probably in honor of the friend and patron of the scheme, the late Mohammed Said, Pacha of Egypt This port is situated on a narrow strip of land, between tho Mediterranean and Lake Menzaleh, and was formerly subject to the wash of the sea, This +trip has beea widened and raised above tho reach of the waves. It contains numerous buildings, machino shops, a light house, dwelling houses, a basin elght hundred metres square, for vessels, and double jettles are i process of construction, the western being about two miles in length, the termination seaward being in thirty-two feet water. A temporary pier of wood, two hundred’ yards in length, has been In use for some time, and a small islet, constructed of stone, which is not only used as a temporary place of deposit for materials, but {3 to be the nucleus of future exten- sive works of magonry, The engincors have thus far found little or no difficulty in the new harbor from the washing or drifting of the sands, as was by many persona predicted. The canal is parcelled out in divisions as fol- lows:—The line crosses from Lake Menzalch, or from Port Said, to Kantara—about thirty-eight kilometres, each of these being ong thousand and ninoty-three and two-third yards, or uearly five _ furlongs, From Kantara or Lake Ballah to Ferdane about four- teen kilometres, From Fordane, or Dunes, fo El Guisr, fourteen kilometres. Thence to Lake Timsah eight kilo- metres; thence to Serapeum. twelve -kilomeircs; thonce to the Bitter Lakes, forty kilometres; thence along the plain or level of these lakes to Suez twenty-four kilo- metres—in ali one hundred and fifty kilometres, or about ope hundred miles English. ‘The lakes Menzaleh—according to an official statement made to the General Company in Paris—bave @ mean depth of one metre, or thirty-nine and three-eighth inches English; above the leveliof thesea, Lake Timsah—which is to be the great-central'port or haven—is of the length of eight kilometres, and has # depth .of three metres above the game levels. aud the Bitter lakes, forty kilome- tres in length, have a mean depth of about five metress so that of the whole line we find one hundred kilometres placed above the level of the sea, The engineers re: ported that this portion of the line was executed with the most economy and facility, The principal obstructions were found at Serapeum, south of Lake Timsah, and at El Guisr, the elevation of the former boing sixteen metres, and @ fraction above low water in the Mediterranean, and of the latter fifteen: motres, which by good engineering could be crossed at ten metres for a considerable portion’ if) the way. The difficyities in passing the lakes are considered to bé trifling. The whole canal isto be about ene hundred miles in length, three hundred and thirty feet wide at the water line, and its bottom will) be. twenty feet below low water mark of the Mediterranean. Our readers will arrive at the conviction of the easy accomplishment of the work when they understand the physical geography of the route. In the time of Herodotus the isthmus was much narrower than it is now. Nature herself seems to have pointed it out, since there exists @ longitudinal depres- sion of the land between the two seas, formed by the moeting of two plains descending with a gradual slope, the one from Egypt and the other from the frontier hills of Asia. To use the words of the late Pacha himself, whose intelligence and enterprise were of a high order, “Nature herself bas traced out the communication be- tween the two seas in the line of this depression.” Towards Lake Timsah, about half way betweeh Suez and Pelusium, another remarkable depression in the land or furrow exists, meeting the otber at right angles, being, in fact, the Goshen of the Scriptures, and now know as the Waddy Tomilah. This still receives for a consider: able !ength the overflowings of the Nile, thus becotiing ‘a vatural canal, and it has accordingly been turned toa good account by the French engineers, as we shall pre- sently have occasion to notice. ITS HISTORY. ‘The conformation of the isthmus has, from the earliest Kistorie times, attracted the attention of the greatest minds of As‘'a and Africa, as well as many in later periods and in our own day. A canal communicating between the Red Sea, or’ what is called the indirect route, is known to have existed in very ancient times. | First, for a period of one hundred years, down to the middle of the four hundred and forty-five years, from the reign of the first successors of Alexander the Great down to the fourth ; Malte—-Mr. Christian, tnd (, Plymouth—Mr. Fox; 8h Fare Hax-g.tic Towns. —Dir. pushaus'n, Consul General. } century before the hegira, and lastly, for a period of one huudred and thirty years after the Arabian conquest, he Arab Caliph Amrou, Mus- mperor Trajan, were in torn | jaentified wil the policy. In the present century the | First Napoleon, When in Egypt was struck with the im- } portance of the project and the advantage of its renapy- some, WW sppepnies 4 commission of engineers to ex- mine and report upon thé subject, aud wheh the report | aiterwards came in the deeply regretted he bad | not the power to exccute it' In 1840 Mehemet then Viceroy, took a deep interest in the subject, and his engineer-in-chief, as well as the principal director of the Nile works, submitted pro, porals avd statements in relation to the work, Russia, ‘Avetria and France have, within the last forty years, di- rectly encouraged the Rvyptan government to undertake it, indeed, in the time of the Phareahs, @ canal, it is baleved, was constructed from the Nile, bear Balbies, to the Gulf of Suez, and traces of a work of this character are said even now to be seen, THB ALIMENTARY OR FRESH WATER CANAL. Taking advantage of the old works and the favorable character of the country between the Nile, M. Lesseps projected an mimentary or fresh water canal, which should afford an ample supply to the line of the maritime or ship canal and its termini at Suee and Port Said. This itself Was a great advantage, not only to his own workmen and to those towns, but to the country through which it passed. M. Lesseps styled it @ canal of “communica- tion, alimentation and irrigation,” taking its departure near Brulak, at ‘Kase "Nil, to reach the Waddy and terminate at Lake Timeab ; thence it wi } Scrostris, Alexander and | tapha Third, and the carried along. the banks of the maritime caval In trenches and pipes to Suez and to Port Said. In the latter shape it inrigates merely, The route of thie fresh water canal 16 stated to be a8 follows:—Leaving the place designated, where the mouth of the Kalid) Zafranieh ie, it enters to the north of Cairo in the Kated) Marjeh, the ancient canal of Trajan and Amrou, This canal was partly excavated by the late Mebemet Ali, to nearly the same dimensions as required by the new one and ae far as Tell-el Zoudich, and ‘by following it great economy was wfected. The route continues to Balbies; from thence eastward of ihe cultivated Jands there, 80 a8 to irrigate and fertilize the bordering tracts hitherto uncultivated , thenoe it proceeds northward ae far as Ras ol Waddy (meaning the boad of the valley), the Pitoum of the Bible, and thence through the valley to Lake Timsah, Thus a navigable passage from Cairo to the jake is scoured of the width of fort; foot and a depth of water of aboug five feet. An Englis! ecient jo journal says of it, that (Ws carried transversely between Zagazig and Tell-el-Kabirto Lake Timsah. Up- wards of sevonty boate passed through these canals during the first tree months after thoy were opened, RESULTS. Tho work, (hon, which, by agreement with (he Pacha, ninth century before the begita. Again, fora period of | (article B 0 Of conceasion), an alimentary canal for the Nile (article 8), and branches to Sues and Port Said for irrigation and a supply of fresh water at those two ports. The concession did not inglude these last, which were executed for tho advantage of the geas- rat desiga. wovoral yours ‘and financial, occurred to retard its progress, ‘18th of November, 1302, however, a guiicient portion of it. ‘8 far advanced as to admit of its being ‘opened formally. On that occasion M. Lesseps, in the company of Mobametan monsagurabey ok of jn i Ses mateo reaking away a dyke whieh had the water ruahed in the Mabometan Diessed them afte a formula of their own, sens pronounced the following words: bs H ghooss, said Pacha, Medit ‘be. in eer ate the Lako the grace Pho Catholio clergy at church of Et Gisr gang Te ‘glveemeadred und Bfty nquet was of the princ at = ‘The latest information on the subject 1s contained im the above circuiar of M. Lessepa. In this it is stated thee tho entizo communication is open between the two seam, | aod that wince the rst of that month a daily boat ser- vsCO established between Port Said aad Sues Misoie ‘mabilat aed aghig A Jarge ‘bark, act ing from twenty-five to thirty persons, by a@ stoamer, makes tho passage in twenty-four hours. The water in‘the canal is about five feet im depth and about tifty feet in width. Already the has been. made bers Of de vi During this te tx salbtogs will warty iets and Shenciat sia may be required in uddition to the sume ady subscribed, as well as those sre. 9 the ‘been cali 0} BaP comin ctckts hare ess. what bas already been. done and what remains toda ‘FINANULAL, CONDITION. 4 ‘Tho grant from the Eyyptian government bore date im November, 1854, and was subsequently ratified by the Sublime Porte. It containad tweive articles, and the privilege granted wag for ninety-nine years from ye of the opening of the canal between the two seas. work was to be oxecuted at the sole com ef the company, which, consisting of M. Lessepe and his sssociates, was styled the Universal Sues Maritime,» Company. . The « Egyptian » for Us various grants and” concessions, annually “iifteem per cent of the .net profits shown by the . and i bal without prejudice to the. ividends Sreeting from the stureay which mont reserved the right of taking upon its own upon their issue, without any guarantee on its part either for the execution of the works or for the operations of the son bea the coreslodes of the poodle were to divi 4 ve r of the rete Dee cau the boats merabors instrumental in its foundation.” M. Lessepa succeeded in forming a omens wal e capital of two hundred millions of francs, oe tive bundred francs; or, in ovr money, forty millions of dollara, in shares of one hundred dollars each. The late Pacha in the most liberal manger #1 eighteen tnillions of dollars. In looking over the balance ne Freeads of ie Speen which its presont d finitive shape in Jaguary, 1859, we Pargaire thet the Pacha dd not hesitate to,advance large sul the company long before they were strictly due by the terms 0. the subseription. Subsequently, however, by a fresh arrangement with the company, he liquidated and paid off bis criaian alee scriptions, by issuing in place what were called trentem- ary bonds for tie balance then dav, bearing Interest a@ ine percent, which were accepted, and negotiated witts but litule difficulty. This arrangement was, permission on his part to increase the uimber of laborers on the works; and, though it was said they were not well used, a contradiction of the statement was published by the principal chiefs, who deciared their followers were entirely satisfied with their wages and treatment. Indeed, the whole career of the lato Pacha was as wise ast was liberal, ‘Tho Srst thing he: did on his advent tq the viceroyalty waa to abolish the monopolies of his place, which made Egypt a large farm, worked Re Ms special beneiit.. The farmers were attached to and could not abandon :t. He was the sole andthe sole vender of theirproducte, The tax in was el to an impost in money of a moderate char- acters iseolyed the relations of glebe! amd:sests disposedof the lands to thoxe who wished to purchases olished the particular hardships attending ization of his arm:es, and short»ped the term of mili gervice; introduced railroads: and: telegraphs; paid~ governmental obligations a panetuality previ uuknown in Eaypt, and gaine so much credit by all @splays of integrity and cood sense that hehad 00 i culty in borrowing forty millions of francs to bearemenee floating debt, and obtained it without delay or coy in the Bourse of Paris and the London Exchange: was the man, who took up this project, and was its firms friend and supporter to the day of his death. The profits expected to be derived from those works Were assumed to be large, for the following ‘The tons.of sbipping passin reasons:— the Straits of annually are about tive millions... The same Dardanolles, the <ame enter the port of Liver Marseilles roc:ives four millions. Tt is calculated 1 latter amount wil pass through the Isthmus of Sues Op the maritime canal. Nor is tis a large cxtiipate, come sidering that it will connect three hundred millions of Europeans and: Americans with seven hundred millions of Asiatt tally since the trade with in an@ with Siam bas bees oper and Cochin China and Madagascar are Bow ap- prea for commerce, The amouut of tons calcue in this view of the subject, to pass the canal ts ex pected to produce a net revenue to the company of &f- teen per cent. ITS EXPECTED INFLUENCE ON COMMERCE AND CIVILIZATION. f The effects expected from the opening of this canal and {ts fresh water auxiliary have been made the basis of very large expectations, All those persons who have entered into the calculation have generally become com verts to the belief that when the Isthmus of Suez can be passed by ocean vessels the whole course of trade of the Fast with Europe will be changed. None have bees more positive im this behef than those intelligent jam enginvers who made the first minute survey and estimat’s of the route—Linant Bey, a Frenchman by Dirth, and Mougel Bey, a native—both long in the service: of the late Pacha. Thelr report, in 1866, is one of the moss. elogant and interesting papers on the gulyect we have had ocension to examine, and gives an idea of progress im the art of engineering in the East of which we had gre viously buta glimmer, In this document.we find the re- sult of thirty years’ study of the subject by its authors, They present a table of distances from the principal porte of Europe and America, ascalculated by a celebrated French savant, to Bumbay, bow the most flourishing ony in India, and the saving to be effected by the use-of the canal of Suez, The distances are in leagues ag follows:— By the Isthmus. By the Allantic. pear * 5,800 jeste . 6008 Marseilles 5.050 Cadiz. .. 5; Bordeaux... Havre... 124 Thus New York ‘s now, by the usual ocean eighteen thousand six hundred miles from Bombay, by the isthmus route, it will be eleven thousand two hundred and eighty-three miles. The distances to other and more distant ports ip the Kast will be proportionately affected by the change of route, This calculauvon is the: basis, thev, of the theory Unat the Suez canal will change the direction of the commerce of Eusope and America, for the reason tbat it will save in time, invorest on ont tl and expenses—considerations which will bave influence in the commercial world. ‘The effect on the interna! trade of Egypt and Arabia, on tbeir trafic and productions, and on the fertilization and value of land now a Waste, is also calculated to be large and tmmediate, ‘The political effects have also been cousidered. It haw been supposed that it would create not only a rivalehip: ‘ou the part of many European and American States the commerce of the Kast as against Great Britain, but ender her possessions tbere comparatively insecure. This idea bas prevailed covertly, at least with the Ube pres#, and has unquestionably given color and gt to tbeir criticisms, which bave been genctally adverse to the project, and’ produced # large apathy towards M. Lesseps’ nancial propositions in England. Mr, Robert Stevenson, on being consulted with regard to the prac- of the project, declared himself against it; while Mr. Hawkburst, another emivent engineer, whe visited the caval works at the pa of the Pacha, cara since he visited England, for report+ treabilit when a few actual), stigmatized, and am Ing remy "wan, cual ignated and ineer, adversely set afloat the idea that a French fleet LS might suddenly leave Toulon, pass through the canal, if in Freneb hands, seize Egypt, and proceed to India. deed, during the whole progress of construction, the Brit- ish journals have generally treated the w with undia- guided incredulity and contempt. With exception of an article in the Foreign blished Quarterly pul } some years since, and a recent one in @ late Dublim per, the tone of these periodicals has been adverse. Bits Jast, on the 13th of February ult., attacks the Londow press vebomently for its apathy on the oul 1, and calle on the Chambers of Commerce in the United Kingdom not to be '.d' oe the La eg event te ‘© may attribute, perhay hy to the innate dulike ot rie joss the channel, It am» has discovered the way not only te, ‘bring it fairly ‘ato market, and put (0 forestalling and regrating.* Thus, then, it is believed ery mbere else, at least, with: the exception of England, that commerce as hitherto car ried on with the Eaat Indies by the way of the Cape of Good Hope is to be directed to this new route, and if #0 the countries on the pe wee endoy Ty ome erity, and contest the commercial hithes Samed by Groat Britain. More than this, it ie anticipated je ts studiously that the United States, whose tonnag: brought into the caloulation as that of @ successful com- petitor, will also make large use of the maritime canal. ‘The execution of the present work bas been looked om with intense interest in France. The idea was Froach e & slop same, All the diffeul sh skill and @ , and the mpire are believed tO be not nse, and without compett- tion, route which, in consequence of Suez Railway, was for Europoan travel already established through Franoe by way of Marsoilies ts to give to this port extraordinary advantages of. & commer. Gial chgrnater, by Fenson Of ie abioriness co wide, but La