The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-17 00:00:00

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

IVARSEILLES, AUG. 17.
The Valetta, with the above mail, arrived here at

,x a.m. this day.
The mail left for London by the 11.30 a.m. train.

Almost all the Dublin press, comprising five
morning and two evening papers, have written strongly
in favour of the Channel fleet visiting the Bay of Dublin
and harbour of Kingstown. They state that the Man-of-
War Roads there have ample ater for the Warrior and
Black Prince, while the smaller ships could lie in the har-
bour of Kingstown.

The shipping of
Scotia is rapidly increasing. On the independence of the
Gyntederate State© tlxv !I 1-,the principalcarriers h
, will ._.(3
New Brunswick and Nova
twecn :North and Sowh, supersedicg those of Bosto;
Now York, aDd Nairiv,

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
QUEENSTOWN, Aug. 16.

The royal mail steam ship Africa, from Boston
on sth arid Halifax on the 7th inst., arrived here at
9.45 p.m. yesterday. She brings 96 passengers
and £7,578 in specie.

The Africa landed all her mails, and eight pas.
sengers, and proceeded for Liverpool immediately
All well.

She was detained at Halifax by fog.
NEW YORK, Aug. 3 (Evening).
General Lee's army is concentrated near Ca

pepper.

Gen. Buford's cavalry crossed the Rappahannock
on Saturday, and proceeded towards Culpepper,
near which place they encountered a large force of
Confederate infantry with artillery. A fierce fight
ensued, Gen. Buford being compelled to withdraw
to Brandy Station.

The expedition from Vicksburg has arrived at
Port Hudson. General Grant is said to command
in person.

The Northern journals state that the Raleigh
North Carolina Standard denounces President
Davis's Government, and urges North Carolina to
send a delegation to Washington to see what terms
can be obtained without waiting for Davis.
The Richmond .Enquirer urges President Davis
to suppress the Standard, and to wipe out the North
Carolina Supreme Court.

It is stated that 100,000 negro troops will be
organised to defend the navigation of the Missis-
sippi.

President Lincoln has officially proclaimed that
if the enemy enslave or sell any one because of his
colour the offance will be punished by retaliation
upon the enemy's prisoners.
For every Federal soldier killed in violation of the
laws of warfare a rebel soldier will be executed, and
for every one enslaved or sold into slavery a rebel
soldier will be placed at hard labour on public
works, and kept at labour until the other be re-
leased, and receive the treatment due to prisoners
of war.

The ground given for the condemnation of the
Pete:hoff was that—" She was laden with contra-
band of war with the knowledge of the owners.
She was not truly destined to Matamoras for the
purposes of commerce within the authority and in-
tendment of public law, but to some other place,
both in aid and for the use of the enemy, and in
violation of the law of nations. The ship's papers
were simulated and false as to her real destination."
The schooner Stephen Hart and the barque Sally
Magree have been condemned. The brig Isabella
Thompson and her cargo have been restored to the
owners without damage or costs, and with permis-
sion to the libellants to furnish further proof.
The schooner Glen and her cargo have been re-
stored to the owners with costs and damages.

NEW YORK, August 4 (Evening).
President Lincoln has issued a proclamation an-
nouncing that the Federals will adopt a system of
retaliation if the South refuse to treat negroes as
prisoners of war.

Both the Federal and Confederate armies are
inactive on the Rappahannock.
The _Richmond Dispatch asserts that Gen. Banks
has been defeated in Louisiana.
The Richmond Dispatch of the Ist inst. asserts
that the Confederate General Taylor has engaged
the Fedtrals under General Batiks, in Louisiana,
and completely routed them, capturing 0,000 pri-
soners.

News from Charleston to the 31st nit. states that
the Federal fleet had bombarded Cumming's Point
without material result.

Fort Wagner kept up its bombardment upon the
Federal position on Morris Island. The Confe-
deeates have erected fresh batteries upon James's
Island.

The Union ticket has been elected in Kentucky
by a large majority.
A collision has taken place between the " copper-
heads" and the " Union men" in lowa. It is re-
ported that the former number 4,00, and are fully
armed. The military have been despatched to the
scene of conflict.

Messrs. William Yancy and John B. Floyd are
very ill and not expected to recover.
News received here from Havana states that over
1,600,000 dols. worth of property was destroyed by
the late fire.

NEW YORK, August 5 (Evening).
(By Telegraph to Halifax.)
General Lee's forces, excepting Hill's corps, are
reported to be south of the Rapidan.
A brigade of General Longstreet's corps occupies
Fredericksburg heights.
The Confederates have sent quantities of stores
to Fredericksburg.
The Washington Star says :—lt is generally be-
lieved that the bulk of Meade's army has crossed
the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, forcing General
Lee either to retreat beyond the Rapidan or to risk
a general engagement, the former being most pro-
bable.

Advices from Charleston are to the 2d inst.

At that date the situation was unchanged. The
Confederate infantry had made a sortie from Fort
Wagner, but were repulsed with considerable loss.
Heavy Federal reinforcements were arriving.
The Federal steamer Ironsides has sunk a vessel
endeavouring to run out of Charleston. It is sup-
posed that her crew and a cargo of cotton are lost,
NEW YORK, August 6 (Evening).
The Washington Republican, a semi-official organ,
says :

"If there should be a slight occasion for hostili-
ties, and England and America were likely to be
involved in war, the Federal steam marine will at
once be converted into privateers, and British com-
merce will be driven from the ocean. War is not
desirable with England, but war is not the highest
of evile. A spirited nation cannot submit to injustice,
insolence, and outrage through a series of years, and
make no effort to avenge its wrongs. The course
pursued by England has alienated every American
of the loyal States. These facts indicate what the
future has in store for America."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE,
NEW YORK, August 4 (Evening).

Money abundant. Gold 281 per cent. premium.
Exchange ou London, bankers' bills, 140. Stocks
firm and advancing. New York Centrals, 132;
Illinois, 1191 ; Erie, 1071 ; 6 per Cent. United
States Bonds, 106.

NEW YORK, August 5 (Evening).

Money easy. Gold, 271, per cent. prem. Ex-
change on London, bankers' bills, 1402. Stocks
steady ; New York Centrals, 130; ; Illinois, 1181;
Erie, 1061 ; 6 per Cent. United States Bonds, 1051.
Cotton very firm—middling Upland, 66c. Flour
and corn advancing. Wheat slightly firmer. Pro-
visions inactive. Coffee and sugar quiet. Molasses
steady. Crude petroleum, 32 to 33.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
(Per the Africa.)
NEW YORK, Aug. 4.
The steamship America arrived at New York,
Aug. 2, and the City of Manchester, Aug. 4. The
steamship Arabia arrived at Halifax, Aug. 3.
The following is the "situation" from the _Yew
York, _Herald of Aug. 4. According to the rebel
accounts a heavy bombardment from Fort Wagner
was commenced at daybreak on Friday, and con-
tinued until two o'clock p.m., when it ceased.
The Army of the Potomac is not making any for-
ward movement, nor is it likely to do so for a while.
Reconnoissances and skirmishes, however, continue
daily. On Friday, for instance, the 4th Pennsyl-
vania regiment encountered a company of one
hundred rebel cavalry near Little Washington,
twelve miles from Sperryville, and drove them
through the town. It was ascertained that a full
brigade of rebel cavalry are posted between Sperry-
ville and Little Washington.
Oar War Correspondence from the Potomac will
be found very interesting to-day.
There is nothing very new to report from the
Mississippi Valley or Tennessee.
By the arrival of the Arabia at Halifax yester.
(1337, with dates from Europe to the 26th, we have
information as to the progress of tho Amerieau
question. In the House of commons, on the 23d,

Mr. Cobden referred to the proceedings cf the
Alabama, Florida, and Virginia, all built in British
ports for the rebels, and to the fact that two iron-
clad ships were now fitting out in Liverpool for the
same service, which, if allowed to leave England,
would prove a casus belli with the United States
Government. He declared that American shipping
had become almost worthless in consequence of the
operations of the rebel cruisers. Lord Palmerston
justified the course of the Government, saying that
he did not see the difference between selling arms
to the Federals and selling ships to the Confederates.
Mr. Cobden attempted to read a letter from our
Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, but was
ruled out of order. The letter, however, was pub-
lished in the British papers as far back as April last.
The following are the latest despatches received
from Charleston. A private letter received in this
city, dated July 29, says—l went yesterday to
Block Island, and made a recognoissance from the
tallest tree there. Block Island is between James
Island and Morris Island, and distant from the
former about 1,000 yards. I saw from my elevated
position that the rebels were erecting a line of bat-
teries and building rifle pits almost the entire dis-
tance from Fort Johnson to Secessionville along the
river. I could look over into Charleston and see
what was going on there quite plainly. It is the
nearest view I have yet had of Charleston, but cur
brave boys will take a nearer one and astonish the
rebels.

FORTRESS MONROE, Aug. 3.
The _Richmond Whig of Aug. 1 has been received
here, and contains the following:—

CHARLESTON, July 31.
Cumming's Point was severely bombarded yes-
terday morning, commencing at about 10 o'clock.
The Ironsides and two Monitors were engaged. The
bombardment lasted until 3 p.m., when the vessels
withdrew. The batteries Gregg, Simpkins. Wag-
ner, and Sumter responded to the enemy's fire.
Two men were killed and one wounded at battery
Gregg. The battery was not materially injured.
There was no firing on James Island to-day, and
very little from Fort Wagner. Beauregard visited
the James Island works to-day.

SECOND DESPATCH.

CHARLESTON, July 31.
A heavy bombardment commenced at daybreak
on the enemy's works on Morris Island, Wagner
continuing until two o'clock, when it ceased.
President Lincoln has issued the following
order :

" General Order—No. 252.
"War Department Adjutant-General's Office,
Washington, July 31, 1863.
"The following order of the President is published
for the information and government of all con-
cerned

"Executive Mansion, Washington,
July 30, 1863.
"It is the duty of every government to give
protection to its citizens, of whatever class, colour,
or condition, and especially to those who are duly
organised as soldiers in the public service. The law
of nations and the usages and customs of war, as
carried on by civilised Powers, permit no distinc-
tion as to colour in the treatment of prisoners of
war as public enemies. To sell or enslave any cap-
tured person on account of his colour, and for no
offence against the laws of war, is a relapse into bar-
barism and a crime against the civilisation of the
age. The Government of the United States will
give the same protection to all its soldiers, and if the
enemy shall sell or enslave any one because of his
colour, the offence shalt be punished by retaliation
upon the enemy's prisoners in our possessions.
"It is therefore ordered that for every soldier of
the United States killed in violation of the laws of
war, a rebel soldier shall be executed ; and for every
one enslaved by the enemy or sold into slavery, a
rebel soldier shall be placed at hard labour in the
public works, and continued at such labour until the
others shall be released and receive the treatment
due to a prisoner of war.

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

" By order of the Secretary of War.

" E. D. TOWNSEND, Assist.-Adjutant General."
Northern journals publish the following concern-
ing the development of a Union feeling in North
Carolina :

FORTRESS MONROE, Aug. 2, 1863.
The steamer Escort arrived this morning, with
Newbern dates to August Ist.
The _Raleigh (N. 0.) Standard denounces Yell
Davis as a repudiator, in whom no confidence can
be placed, and whose efforts to establish a Southern
Confederacy will be a failure.

The _Richmond Enquirer calls upon Jeff Davis
'to suppress the Balogh Standard, and wipe out
;he Supreme Court of North Carolina."

The Standard says :—Governor Vance will stand
by the Supreme Court, and the Standard also, it
necessary ; and if Jeff Davis attempts to use phy-
sical force to suppress the Standard, Davis will
meet with physical force, and a revolution in this
State will be the result. John Mitchell, editor of
the _Richmond Enquirer, is an agent of Great Bri-
tain, which has long sought to divide the Northern
and the Southern people.
The Standard says North Carolina has furnished
95,000 soldiers for the causeless war, 40,000 of
whom are killed and wounded ; that North Carolina
should send a delegation to Washington at once
and see what terms can be obtained, and not wait
for Jeff. Davis.

The recent cavalry raid from Norfollc to Jackson,
North Carolina, found the enemy intrenched
strongly at Jackson, which commands the ap-
proaches to Nelson. Major Anderson, on the 26th
ult., captured the enemy's pickets and took posses-
sion of an important bridge, thereby defeating the
enemy in their intentions.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.
The draft in four out of seven wards in this city
has been completed. It embraces 2,600 whites and
818 coloured men. Amongst the drafted are three
clergymen and many members of the City Council,
and several telegraph operators, also reporters,
printers, lawyers, and representatives from all
classes of business. A party of drafted men at-
tempted yesterday to escape from the city, but were
apprehended as deserters.

Judge-Advocate Holt has given the opinion that
paymaster's clerks are not found in the list of
exempted classes. They sustain, it is true, a cer-
tain relation to the military service, as do pay-
masters and others who receive a ration daily as
part of their allowance, but they are not so far in
the service as to be liable for the field duty for which
the national forces are drafted, and they should not,
therefore, by reason of their positions be permitted
to escape that liability should the chances of the
draft impose it upon them.