Mr. Roebuck on Tuesday said that the Emperor of the
French stated to him that His Majesty had "instructed Baron Oros to ask the British Government whether they would be willing to join in recognizing the Confederate States." Baron Gros affirms that he has received no such instructions. Again, Mr. Roebuck stated that the Emperor said to him, "Some months ago I did make a formal application to England. England sent my despatch to America. That despatch, getting into Mr. Seward's hands, was shown to my Ambassador at Washington. It came back to me, and I feel that I was ill-treated by such conduct." Mr. Layard on Thursday replied that the proposal was made on the 10th of November, by reading a despatch which was not left with Earl Russell, but was published in the Moniteur of the 13th November. The answer, but not the French note, was sent to Lord Lyons, and it was M. Mercier, and not the British Minister, who delivered the proposal to Mr. Seward. Clearly, therefore, either the Emperor said the thing which was not, which is unlikely, or Mr. Roebuck did, which is more unlikely; or the Emperor listened, Mr. Roebuck talked, and both misunderstood one another, which is -very likely indeed.
