The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-16 00:00:00

to have our help should receive it. We give it,

therefore, in this case on public grounds. The
officers of the mercantile marine, old and young,
have never been, so far as we ere aware, over-
valued. On the contrary, there is no want of
evidence of their being too often highly thought
of. In the Navy, especially, they have been long
regarded as a law-bred and inferior class. We are
not sure that this feeling has ever yet wholly passed
away. Many of our old admirals are still the con-
ceited fools that they always were. Nor can it be
said that the Admiralty exhibit more than half the
liberality that they ought to do. Why should the
commander of a first-class merchant ship be incom-
petent to command a first•class Queen's ship ?
Press the Admiralty on the point, and the sole
abjection will be that the commanders of first-
class merchant ships are not lords, not gentry,
nor men put forward by others who happen
to have the disposal of a rotten Parliamentary
borough. This surely is a narrow view of the
fitness of any class of men. Good seamanship
with all that that implies, is something apart from
and superior to birth or influence. M a rule the
best sailors are the self-made men, whose lives have
been marked by ups and downs, and who, by stea-
diness and industry, have gained the ladder's top.
On the other hand, the rule is that the worst sailors
are the feather bed, silver spoon gentlemen with
which the Navy now abounds. Such sailors could
not hold a candle to the effacers of the merchant
service. The latter are seasoned for endurance—
the former have still to endure their seasoning.
The Admiralty commit a serious blunder in practi•
cally excluding from the service of their country
he very men on whom the country must rely in a
,ime of danger.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

AMERICA.
(Per the Africa.)
The Royal Mail steamship Africa, from Boston
on the 6th and Halifax on the Bth July, arrived at
Queenstown at 4 a.m. today (July 16). She brings
77 passengers and 61,431 dollars in specie. She
landed 113 sacks of math; and 12 passengers, and
proceeded at 415 a.m. for Liverpool. All well.
NEW YORK, JULY 5, Evening,
Senator Fe senders has accepted the office of Sec-
retary of the Treasury.
The Government has withdrawn its rroposal for
bids for the balance of the loan of seventy-five

millions.
Wilson's cavalry has entirely destroyed 60 miles
of the Southern railroad.
Gem Hunter has reached Charlestown, Virginia.
Congress has adjourned sine die.
The New York and the City of Baltimore have
arrived out;

(By Telegraph to Halifax.)
NEW YORK, July 7, Evening.
A large Confederate force has occupied Harper's
Ferry and Hagarstovvn, Maryland, and is advancing
northward.
President Lincoln has called out the militia to
repel the invasion.
Wilson's cavalry has returned, having lost 13
guns and 1,000 prisoners.
It is expected that Grant is nearly ready for
another demonstration against Petersburg.
Sherman has occupied Marietta and Kenesaw. •
Johnston has retreated to Chattahoochie.
Ewell's forces, estimated to number 30,000 men,
have advanced safely up the Shenandoah Valley.
After a severe fight they evacuated Martinsburg
and retreated towards Maryland Heights. The
Federals have abandoned Harper's Ferry and des
stroyed the bridge. The Confederates are at
Harper's Ferry preparing to attack the Maryland
Heights.
Marauding parties appeared at Frederick, Point
of Rocks, Greencastle, and Chambersburg, Penn-
sylvania. Great alarm is felt along the Pennsyl-
vanian border.
It is supposed that the main Confederate body
will march to Frederick, Maryland.
Hunter's forces are moving to attack the Con.
federates.
President Lincoln called out 12,000 New York
Militia, 12,000 Pennsylvania, and 8,000 Massa.
chusetts Militia.
Martial law has been proclaimed and the Habeas
Corpus Act suspended in Kentucky.
The steamer Rose has been destroyed.
The Asia has arrived out.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, JULY 5, Evening.
Money tight. Gold 246. Exchange on London,
banktre' bills 263. Stocks advancing. New York
Centrals, 1341 ; Illinois Shares, 132; Erie, 1151 ;
United States Six per Cents., 5.20's Bonds, 105.
NEw Yonx, July 7, Evening.

Money tight.
Gold 271. Market excited and tendiag upwards.
Exchange on London, bankers' bills, 290.

Stocks steady.

New York Centrals, 1332 ; Illinois Shares, 130 ;
Erie, 1142 ; Six per Cent, United States 5:•20
Bonds, 104.

Cotton—Mildling Uplands, 160 c. to 163 c.
Flour, wheat, corn, and provisions advancing.
Coffee quiet. Sugar advancing. Molasses very
firm. Petroleum, crude, 531 ; refined, 90 to 92.

FROM THE TIMES' CORRESPONDENT.

NEW YORK, July 5.

General Wilson, after three days' conflict, during
which he lost all his trains, artillery, wounded, and
1,000 men, has by a detour of 30 miles escaped
through the Confederate lines and rejoined Grant.
General Baldy Smith on the morning of the 30th
attempted the capture of the Confederate intrench-
ments in his front, but was repulsed.
On the 3d a Confederate force, variously esti-
mated at from 6,000 to a full corps, and reported to
be under General Ewell, occupied Martinsburg,
and drove Sigel to Harper's Ferry.
An invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania is
apprehended, and portions of the Confederate force
are asserted to have already crossed the Potomac at
Falling Waters, Dam No. 4, and Williamsport.
Sherman reports that he occupied Kenesew
Mountain and Marietta on the morning of the 3d,
the Confederates having retired towards the Chat-
tahoochie.

Memphis papers state that General Carr defeated
the Confederate General Shelby near St. Charles,
Arkansas, on the 27th ult., capturing 200 prisoners
and several cannon. The Federal loss was 200, that
of the Confederates in killed and wounded is esti-
mated at 500.

Daring the night Shelby was reinforced by Mar-
maduke, when Carr retreated. It is reported that
Marmaduke and Shelby are moving for a combined
attack upon Steele at Little Rock.

Congre6s adjourned sine die yesterday.
Mr. Fessenden has accepted the Secretaryship of
the Treasury, and entered upon the duties of the
office this morning.