Perplexity of the Nations Increasing.
A LONDON correspondent of the N. Y. Herald, of Oct. 19, says: "A piece of intelligence of a most momentous character, as concerns its bearing upon the future of the United States, has just come into my possession. "Plans have been for several months maturing for an European alliance, which is to have for its aim the control of the destinies of the American continent. "A 'strictly confidential' correspondence was commenced as early as last May, at the instance of an influential (though not powerful) Western sovereign, between most of the Cabinets, with respect to the feasibility of the measure; but the Polish question assumed so grave a form—occasioning new and unforeseen complications—that no considerable progress was made toward the consummation of the scheme. Then came the terrible reverses of the rebels, which, until the last fortnight, endangered the probability of the success of such an undertaking without an immediate declaration of war, inasmuch as it was feared that after all, Secessia might be hemmed in, and resistance to the Union stifled. "But the holding out of Charleston, and the more recent disastrous defeat of Rosecrans, together with other rebel triumphs in Louisiana, Texas, and elsewhere, have caused negotiations to be renewed, and they are now going on with the utmost activity, and with every prospect of an early completion. "You will see in the short speech of Maximilian in the 'Mexican deputation,' a delicate allusion to the projected alliance. He took occasion to remark: 'I must make my acceptance of the throne dependent upon a plebicit of the whole country. On the other hand, it would be my duty to ask for guarantees which are indispensable to secure Mexico against the dangers which threaten her integrity and independence.' Maximilian has been well advised. His sagacious father-in-law, King Leopold, the Nestor of sovereigns, has been his faithful mentor. "The parties to the contract at first, if it shall be perfected, will be Rome (as the head of the Latin church), Austria, Spain, France, and Great Britain. Italy hesitates, but there are influences at work which, it is believed, will cause Victor Emanuel to yield his assent; and it is believed that Prussia, unwilling to isolate herself still further from all the three Powers mentioned, may even so far break with Russia as to give in her adhesion. It is understood that the Richmond government has indicated its readiness to enter into a treaty, offensive and defensive, with this embryo alliance to the United States, upon the condition that the durable independence of the thirteen States, which are represented in Congress of the Confederacy shall be guaranteed, and that Maryland—in which the District of Columbia, as it is a part of her soil is to be included—shall, as one of the conditions of peace between the present belligerents, be allowed to dispose of herself—to go North or go South at her own option—after all the Federal troops have been withdrawn from her limits, in order that no undue influence may be brought to bear upon her final choice. The Confederate States, on their part, are to expressly stipulate that they will never attempt to annex any portion of Mexico, Cuba, or Porto Rico, and that they will contribute all in their power to resist the annexation of the British possessions, to the United States, as well as to aid in repelling any armed intervention of the said United States in Mexico, adverse to the doctrine of the 'Latin race,' or in the Spanish West-India colonies. This is a brief statement, in outline of the project. . . . It is feared by all calm observing men, that seeds have been sown at Washington, which if not speedily uprooted, will produce a state of anarchy—in fact, a defiant outlawry—which will react injuriously if not ruinously to the preservation of order, not only in continental Europe, but also in this realm. The immense foreign population in the army—ferociously antagonistic to the governments of the old world—will be the medium, it is apprehended, by which such a result is not unlikely to be effected. Of one thing you may be assured: that it is not from love of the South that this strong alliance will be formed with her, but from excessive hatred of the North, and from a settled determination to check her general disorganizing tendencies. Some way or some how it has got into the heads of all political circles, that if the administration of Mr. Lincoln should conquer the South, the part which that represents, would not only undertake to rule all America by the sword, but that it would eventually consider the whole civilized world too contracted a sphere for the field of its ambitious operations."