The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-12 00:00:00

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE ATLANTIC.
LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY.
This day the United States Mail steam-ship At-
lantic, Captain West, which was to leave New
York with the usual mails from the United States
on the 31st ult., arrived off Holyhead at 12.30
noon. She is expected in the Mersey this evening.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING.
The Atlantic has arrived, with advices from New
York to the 31st ult., and $630,000 in specie.
The Union had not left New York on the 31st
itt., having put back to repair machinery.
Th Washington correspondent of the New York
Herold writes on the 23d

"Letters of recall have been sent out by the State
Department to Mr. Buchanan, not immediate; but to be
used when in his judgment the interest of the public
service will justify his leaving London."
He writes again on the 29th—

"There are, I see, some doubts expressed about the
advent of a new Ambassador from Russia, but I repeat
that it is a fixed fact. He will bring, besides his regular
credentials, a confidential communication from the Czar,
of the most important character, relative to the terms
on which alone Russia will consent to a peace. What I
now state will be known to the public in a few weeks.
" Russia mediated between Great Britain and the
United States, and now the United States may mediate
between Russia and the Allies.

" She does not ask American mediation, bt.t will ac-
cept it, and will at once:indicate her terms, which as I
stated in a former communication, will embrace such
vast eommercial advantages for all the world that the in-
dustrial classes of France and England will clamour for
their acceptance as soon as they are generally under-
stood."

The George Law had arrived at New York with
the California mails of the sth October, and
$1,670,477.
The J. L. Stephens had reached Panama with
$1,184,399, $213,992 of which were on English
account.
The crops would, it was predicted, prove abun-
dant, and business generally was taking a still more
prosperous turn.
Accounts from New Grenada report the banish-
ment of General Melo.

—Nicaragua was in a wretched state, owing to the
civil dissensions of the people. Business was at a
stand still.

Colonel Kinney expected a reinforcement of 900
settlers from Alabama and Mississippi. The
Colonel had concluded a treaty with the Indians,
by which he would be enabled to penetrate to the
ixterior in safety.
Advices from Mexico report the resignation of
President Albarez, and the appointment of General
Comonfort.

At New York the threatening aspect of mone-
tary affairs in England and France was still the
most profound topic of discussion in financial and
trade circles.

ARRIVAL OF THE ST. LOUIS.
SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY.
The United States mail steam-ship St. Louis,
with the American mail, arrived this morning.
The St. Louis left New York on the 29th of Oct.,
at four p.m., and arrived off Cowes this morning at
five a.m. She brings three days later advises, a
cargo of flour, and $610,606 in specie.
The steam-ship Union, which left New York for
England on the 20th ult., after being two days at
sea, was compelled to put hack owing to the breaking
of her shaft. The mails were transferred to the St.
Louis, and another smaller mail was made up,
which this vessel also brought.
On. the 2d inst., at 9.30 a.m., in lat. 45 50, long.
54, the St. Louis exchanged signals with a British
barque, showing No. 5,830, second distinguishing
pendant; Nov. 5, at 11.30 p.m., in. lat. 48 17,
long. 40 51, passed a steam-ship bound to the west-
ward. _ _

The Ariel and Hermann bad arrived out.
The New York papers are silent on the subject
of enlisting recruits for the Crimea in the United
States, in which it was reported our minister at
Washington hal taken a part ; and the matter ap-
pears to have died away.
A question relative to the purchase of prize ships
is now being discussed. The following article upon
this subject is taken from the New York Times :
"The French consul at the port of Boston has given
official notice to our citizens that the title to ships of a
hostile nation, which they may have acquired by pur-
chase since the beginning of hostilities between the
allies and Russia, will not be recognised by his Govern-
ment. This attempt to erect the peculiar and local law
of France and to announce the general rules of inter-
national law in respect to the purchase of belligerent
ships by neutrals on this side of the water, is one which
might intimidate a weak nation, but will quitehaver a
contrary effect here, though the probability of thn
government ever being put in a position to enforce ,
is
its
principles, so far as the United States are con
very remote indeed. The Russians having destroyed
the best part of their naval forces, are not
ture any French ships, and if they did there likely to cap-
here would be a
very bad market for them.
"Some three months since Mr.eramnptr.
oryont,ernriotwrebsty-
ing under the stigma of having violated u
assisting in enlistments for the Crimea, called for the
opinion of our Government upon this very question.
Upon that occasion the Attorney General of the States

after reviewing the whole subject in a very learned and
masterly manner, concluded as follows:

" Upon full consideration, therefore, of all the rela-
tions of the subject, there remains no doubt in my mind
as to the right of a citizen of the United States to pur-
chase a foreign ship of a belligerent power, and this any-
where, at hoMe or abroad, in a belligerent port or a
neutral port, or even upon the high seas, provided the
purchase be made bona fide, and the property be passed
absolutely and without reserve ; and the ship so pur.
chased becomes entitled to bear the flag and receive the
protection of the United States.'
" Whatever room for doubt there may be as to some
of the details of this opinion of Mr. Cushing, as upon the
right of purchase of belligerent ships and property while
in transit u on the high seas—and upon this point Ame-
rican jurists have intimated a contrary opinion—upon
the main point, upon which a position is taken directly
repugnant to that of the French consul at Boston, we
believe he is sustained by most authoritative writers, as
well as by reason and good sense.
" It is difficult to justify, to an unsophisticated mind,
the distinction which the usages of war have established
between the private property of an enemy's subjects on
the high seas, and the same property on an enemy's
territory. In the former case the property is seized as
a lawful prize ; in the latter it is respected and remains
inviolate.

"Perhaps the tendency of the present age to soften
and moderate the harsh practices of war will result in
the abrogation of this questionable distinction and lead
to a general respect for private property, whether on
the ocean or on the land, by all civilised belligerent
powers. It is a matter of just complacency and pride
to Americans that the efforts of their Government on all
subjects affecting the common interests of nations have
been uniformly exerted in this liberal direction ; and it
cannot be doubted that, should difficulties arise between
ourselves and France in consequence of their conflicting
views as to the legality of the purchase of belligerent
ships by neutral nations, the rights of neutrals will find,
as heretofore, an uncompromising and dauntless cham.
pion in the United States."

Later news has been received from Havannah to
the 23d October, by which we learn that Morales,
who was sentenced to death by the military com-
mission, has received commutation of his punish-
ment, through the clemency of General Concha, to
eight years in the chain-gang, to be served in
Havannah.

Business was good for the season ; 50,000 boxes
sugar yet to find a market. Freight scarce and
declining.
The French war steamer Acheron had left on the
23d, for a cruise to the westward.

The health of Havannah was perfect.
The Havannah papers contain nothing in the
least degree important..

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, OCt. 29.
The past week has been one of very considerable ex-
citement, resulting on Thursday in a general breakdown
of prices, under a feeling of distrust among the operators
for a rise amounting almost to a panic. The next day
brought with it a reaction of 1 to 2 per cent., but on Sa-
turday the leading speculative stocks closed in the after-
noon nearly as low as they were forced on sale on Thurs-
day, viz.: —Erie, 49g- ; Reading, 87i ; Galena, 1151 ;
Michigan Central, 93i • Southern Michigan, 92 ; Illi-
nois Bonds, 76 ; Cumberland Coal, 25 ; Transit Com-
pany, 16 ; New York Central, 88k.
The money market through the week was fairly sup-
plied with means for discounting business paper. The
banks took a large share of the short bills offered by
their mercantile customers, at 7 per cent., and the bill
brokers were buyers of three and four months' dates at
Bto 10 per cent. We heard of some transactions at six
months at 12 per cent. The sudden fall in prices at the
Stock Exchange brought in a considerable amount of
orders on Friday and Saturday, though not sufficient to
check the depression at the very close of the week. De-
mand locals at banks were not readily had, nor were the
leading outside lenders prepared to do much for the
brokers. The foreign houses, that generally have means
placed in this way, find their calculations partially dis-
turbed by the stringent turn in the London and Paris
markets, and have resorted to larger shipments of gold
than they had expected to use in October.
The market for exchange is not active, but rates are
steady. The supply of bills is considerable, with but a
moderate demand from remitters. Sterling is Bto 9i,
with little or nothing doing above 9 per cent. Frances
5.22- to 5.171.

The foreign trade returns for the week, at the port of
New York, are again favourable in the export move-
ment of breadstuffs, which reaches 969,721 dole. against
only 152,871 dole. same week last year.
The following is the comparative statement of the ex-
ports of the principal articles of domestic produce and
miscellaneous goods for the week, and corresponding
week of last year :