The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-03 00:00:00

AUSTRIA,

In to-day's Bitting of the LolrwleErNHNAo,upseeco.f2t.he
Iteiehsrath the debate on the address to the throne
was resumed.

Count Mensdorff-Pouilly said that the principal
policy of Austria was to avoid a great and appa-
rently inevitable war. It was her task to direct
her efforts towards the solution of the German
question in thorough earnestness, and in a manner
which should be both compatible with her rights,
and also if possible with the preservation of her
connection with Russia, so necessary to the interests
of Germany and peace. The programme of the ca-
binet was tranquillity and conciliation, but firmness.
No one could demand that Austria should adopt
the initiative in bringing about a better under-
standing with Italy, by whom the mere existence
of Austria was regarded as an aggression.
Austria was willing to preserve peace, but, at the
same time, was determined to resist her enemies,
and she reckoned on the entire support both of the
house and of the population.

The Minister of VV4r stated that Austria would
willingly disarm, but the step must be initiated by
other powers.
Dr Bruuz asked what course the Government
intended to pursue in the settlement of the sucees•
sion question in the Duchies.

Herr Kuranda declared himself opposed to the
Prussian alliance.

Dr Muhlfeld said that he considered it to be the
mission of Austria to strengthen the German Diet,
whereas, on the contrary, that body had been
weakened by her.

Count
.Mensdorff said that the present position
of the negotiations did not admit of more precise
informatio❑ being given. Austria had not taken
part in the Danish war from mere love of military
glory.

The paragraph of the address relating to foreign
policy was the❑ adopted as originally drawn up.

BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS,

MALTA, DEC. 1.
The Syria leaves for Marseilles at midnight.
The Ceylon left at 3 p.m. for Southampton.
OUTWARD MAILS OF Nov. 20.26.
The Delhi, from Southampton, reached Malta on
the 29th November, at noon, and left at midnight
for Alexandria.

The Euxine from Marseilles, arrived at 8 p.m. on
the 39th November, and left at 1 a.m. on tho Ist
inst. for Alexandria.

The Brazilian and River Plate Mails,

SOUTHAMPTON, Dee. 3.
The Royal Mail Company's steamship Oneida, Captain
Woolcott, with the Brazil and River Plate mails, arrived
ae at r.cl ys3t.
,hli4s2m; oar
lnsion
pSa
chke bagreish g 72
of
s di
raon as passengers,(valusep
notecie
stated)valued
and the following cargo, namely.-.. 213 bales of cotton, 270
rolls of tobacco, 50 bags of coffee, 86 bales of piassava, 4
packages of ostrich feathers, 3 packages of ipecacuanha'
263 boxes of oranges, and 143 packages sundries.
Tho Oneida experienced strong northerly winds through
out her passage. On the 20th she spoke the French ship
Ville d'Agnes Mertes—on the 21st a brig, answering pen-
dant at fore and at main conirusrcial code signal "N. K. R.
Q. ;"—on the 28th the English barque Dorchester, steering
southward—on the 30th the English steamer La Plata,
ssteamer, supposed to be the
t e
Ripon,ringg
north—andeerinller Majesty's ships Bombay, Satellite, Stromboli, Alecto,
s tnor
Triton, and Dotterel were at Montevideo ; at Rio Janeiro,
the Egmont. thNavalrad,
largo

27.
There is nothing new in politics, ByEwes AIRES, Oct.
but everything is im-
proving under the able administration of General Mitre.
Gold has been discovered in the province o f San Juan, at
the foot of the Cordillera, in very large quantities. The
full details of the discovery are kept from the masses.
Within two days over 500 ounces of gold in nuggets were
secured by two miners.
The Provincial Chamber of Deputies has passed the vari-
ous projects for the purpose of redeeming the paper money,
but as the Chamber of Deputies refused to allow the Bank
or the Government to make a loan abroad, it is thought by
many that the scheme will prove abortive.
The works of the Southern Railway are progressing, the
Northern Railway is to be extended to the Tigre, the Boca
Railway is also progressing, and one of the most important
schemes in Buenos Ayres.
All the markets of the interior are improving, business
has become brisk ; the town of Rosario is making giant
strides, owing to the stir caused by the building of the
Argentine Central Railway.
Clipping has commenced in all quarters, and efforts are
being made to have the wool in the market early.
Business is dull on change to-day; some parties selling
heavily for cash made specie weak. The National Bonds
are very weak; buyers for large amounts cannot be found
10,000 were sold at 40.
Exchange on England is 49 to 491.

MONTEVIDEO, Oct. 30.
Hostile measures have been taken by the Brazilian autho-
rities to enforce their claims on the Government of the
Banda Oriental. Montevideo is declared blockaded by the
Brazilian squadron, and a divieion of the Brazilian army
has crossed the frontier and advanced into the Oriental
territory as far as Cerro Largo. Flores appeared before
Montevideo with 3,000 men, and threatened to storm the
town, but retired without any attempt to take the city,
Business is very dull.

Rio DE JA1,4131110, Nev. 9.
Politically, there is nothing new. Tiaoljnited States
Minister, General Webb, disavowed the priMedings of the
Wassachusetts in the port of BRhia, in seizing and taking
tho Floride, and promised, on the part of the United States
Government, full and cemplote satisfaction. Tho promise
generally is held as worthy of little trust, The prorogation
of the bankruptcy laws for 60 days °nit .5 to-day, and many
failures are expected, which will be obliged to be subjected
to the tedious and costly process of the Court.

PERNADEBIJ CO, Nov. 14.
In sugar small business doing. Of Paraiba no sales;
crop small. Of Maccio no sales, Cotton entries for the
month 6,675 bags; prices vary from 18 dols. to 19200 dole.
per arroba ; closing rates 18 dole, to 18.200 dole. Sales of
dry salted hides 148 r. to 150 r. per lb. Freights—sue•
ballast, 20s. per ton and 5 per cent. ; cotton, to fill 'tip, „t
68. 4d. per lb. and 6 per cent, ; all for Liverpocl;

General Lee before the War.

A correspondent in the limes writes :

" Perhaps the two following letters, evincing as
they do the deep conviction of one of the most able
of the Southern leaders, may be deemed worthy of
insertion in your widely spread paper. As many
friends have expressed the wish of having copies
of them, it has occurred to me that their publication
may form a striking and not unfavourable contrast
with what emanates from Northern sources. It
must have been a deep-seated feeling of wrongs
endured that drove such men as the writers of these
letters into taking such a step as throwing up their
commissions.

Most of your readers have no doubt forgotten the
hitherto unexplained conduct of Mr Seward at
the eventful period of American history which these
letters refer to. War had not yet broken out. Fort
Sumter was still held by a Northern garrison. Fresh
provisions were daily supplied to it by the authori-
ties of Charleston. Southern Commissioners were
in Washington. Mr Seward, though not receiving
them officially, held communication with them
through Judge Campbell, one of the Judges of the
Supreme Court. Mr Seward had promised that no
attempt should be made to relieve Fort Sumter
while negotiations were going on. What was the
surprise and consternation of Judge Campbell when
he beard that the attempt had been made, that he
had been deceived, and that all hopes of a peaceable
settlement were at an end ? To Mr Seward's con-
duct in this instance must be mainly attributed the
attack on Fort Sumter which immediately followed
and let loose the fierce passions of two excited
peoples. The cause of eight millions of men, of
purely English descent, struggling nobly for their
independence, is based upon foundations too strong
to be shaken by Mr Cobden's unhistorical corn•
parisons, or Mr Bright's fil-timed and injudicious
letter, in which the " man of peace," purporting to
represent England's feeling, excites on to deeds
of blood a people already too thirsty for war and
cor quest.

Arlington, Virginia, April 20, 1861.

General,—Since my interview withjyou on the 18th inst.
I have felt that I ought not longer to retain my commission
in the army. I therefore tender my resignation, which I
request you will recommend for acceptance. It would have
been presented at once but for the struggle it has cost me
to separate myself from a service to which I have devoted
all the best years of my life and all the ability I possessed,
During the whole of that time, more than a quarter of a
century, I have experienced nothing but_kindness from my
superiors and the most cordial friendship from my comrades.
To no one, General, have I been so much indebted as to
yourself for uniform kindness and consideration. and it has
always been my ardent desire to merit your approbation.
I shall carry to the grave the most grateful recollections of
your kind consideration, and your name and fame will
always be dear to me.
Save in defence of my native State I never desire again
to draw my sword. Be pleased to accept my most earnest
wishes for the continuance of your happiness and pros-
perity, and believe me most truly yours,
R. E. LEE,

Lieut.-Gen, Winfield Scott, commanding
United States Army.
A copy of the preceding letter was enclosed in
the following letter to a sister of the General, Mrs
A. M. :

Arlington, Virginia, April 20, 1861.

"My dear Sister,—l am grieved at my inability to see
you. . . , . I have been waiting " for a more convenient
season," which has brought to many before me deep and
lasting regret. Now we are in a state of war which will
yield to nothing. The whole South is in a state of revolu-
tion, into which Virginia, after a long struggle, has been
drawn, and though I recognise no necessity for this state
of things, and would have forborne and pleaded to the end
for redress of grievances, real or supposed, yet in my own
person I had to meet the question whether I should take
part against my native State. With all my devotion to the
Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American
citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise
my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I
have therefore resigned my commission in the army, and,
save in defence of my native State, with the sincere hope
that my poor services may never be needed, I hope I may
never be called on to draw my sword.
I know you will blame me, but you must think as kindly
of me as you can, and believe that I have endeavoured to do
what I thought right. To show you the feeling end struggle
it has cost me, I send a copy of my letter to General Scott,
which accompanied my letter of resignation. I have no
time for more May God guard and protect you and
yours, and shower upon you every blessing, is the prayer
of your devoted brother, R. E. Lzu.