The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-08 00:00:00

PIEDMONT.

By a royal ordonnance, signed for the King of
Sardinia by Prince de Carignan, the military order
of Savoy, founded in 1815, has been reconstituted
for the purpose of recompensing distinguished ser-
vices rendered by the Sardinian troops in the
course of the present war. It is to comprehend
four classes—grand cross, commander, officer, and
knight. The King of Sardinia has conferred the
Grand Cross of the said order on Marshal Pelis-
Bier, General Simpson, and General de la Mar-
mora.

Letters from the Finnish coast mention that
several persons, most of them mayors, have been
arrested in Finland, by order of the military com-
mandants in the various districts. The causes of
these arrests-80 in number—are stated to be poli-
tical.

A letter from Berlin of the 3d, in the Cologne
Gazette, says :—" It is positively stated that Prus-
sia and Austria have come to an understanding as
to the manner of treating the Eastern question be-
fore the Diet. They have agreed that no proposi-
tions shall be made on the subject at the re-open
ing of that assembly, as Austria previously had an
intention of doing."

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.

By the arrival this afternoon Of the Cunard.
Royal Mail steam-ship Africa, Capt. Wm. Harrison,
we have advices from New York to the 25th, Boston
to the 26th, and Halifax to the 27th ult.
The Africa passed the America, hence, between
Halifax and Boston, on the 27th ult. ; the Pacific,
hence for New York, on the 29th ; the North Star,
from Havre and Southampton for New York, on
the 30th ult. ; and on the 3d inst., the steam-ship
Canada, hence to Boston.
The Africa brought 223 passengers and 556,315
dollars in specie.
The news by the Africa is four days later than
that brought by the Arago, but there is no intelli-
gence of importance in the advices to hand.
The New York Herald of the 25th ult. says :
" The immense consumption of gunpowder which has
been for some time going on between the belligerents in
the Eastern war has begun to tell upon the prices of
lead and sa►tpetre. Since the arrival of the Baltic,
lead has advanced to 62c. to 63c. per lb , with free sales
on speculation, of both foreign and domestic. 3,200 pigs
of Galena changed bands at the above quotations. At
last accounts the stock in England was very materially
reduced, while prices ruled at higher figures. The
stock of saltpetre in the United States has become very
small, and prices have undergone a great advance. Crude,
which before the war sold at about 7c. to 7in, is now
very firm at 15c. There can be no destructive wars
without " villanous saltpetre." It must be had in large
supplies, or the system of war must go back to the use
of hand-to-hand implements. Our government, having
experienced great difficulties for the want of it during
the Revolution, os well as in the war of 1812, bas since
been more provident for future contingencies, and Con-
gress has for some 20 or 30 years past appropriated about
$20,000 per annum for the purchase and storage of salt-
petre, so that we might now probably stand a five or ten ,
years' war even without entirely exhausting our supplies.
" Accounts from the south respecting the epidemic are
still gloomy. At Norfolk there is no abatement of the
fever. At Memphis, Natchez, Vicksburg, and in fact
at all the towns on the Mississippi, the epidemic rages
with fearful virulence, and the citizens are fleeing from
their homes. At New Orleans, however, the fever is no
longer regarded as epidemic.
"The telegraph reports that the yellow fever has made
its appearance at Canton, Mississippi, and that 60 cases
and 10 deaths bad taken place during the week ending
on the 11th inst.

From St. Louis, under date Sept. 24, we have the
following intelligence :
" A great battle took place on the 3d inst., at Sand-
hills, near the south fork of the Platte river, between
the Sioux Indians and the entire force of United States
troops under General Harney, numbering about 450
men. Major Cady commanded the infantry, and Colo-
nel Cook the dragoons, mounted infantry, and artillery.
The battle commenced early in the morning, and lasted
several hours. The Indians fought desperately, but
were routed. A running fight for some ten miles fol-
lowed, during which the Indians fought with much
gallantry. They were, however, defeated, with the loss
of 80 men killed, and 50 women and children taken
prisoners. The Indian women fought furiously. Gene-
ral Harney lost six killed and as many wounded. No
officers were killed. The Indians engaged in this
battle were the Brule and Sioux—the same that mas-
sacred Lieutenant Gratton's command, and murdered
a mail party, the waybill of the mail having been found
with them."