The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-01 00:00:00

AMERICA•

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.
The North German Lloyd screw steamship Hansa,
Captain H. J. Von Santen, with mails from New
York of the 20th inst., arrived off Cowes at 10 a.m.,
and went on to Bremen, after transhipping mails,
&c., for this port. She brings 63,000 dols. for Eng-
land, and 1,000 dols for Bremen.
The Scotia steamer, from Liverpool, arrived at
New York on the 19th.
In the Senate, on the 17th, the majority and
minority reports, relative to the acceptance of
League Island as a place on which to establish a
naval depot, were received from the Secretary of
the Navy. The Bill to facilitate the discharge of
disabled soldiers was reported back from the Mili-
tary Committee ; also the Bill to improve the or-
ganisation of the cavalry force; also the Bill to
forfeit the pay of absent army officers. Mr. Sauls-
bury, 'of Delaware, introduced two resolutions of
inquiry, one relative to sending soldiers into that
State to be present at the polls during the Novem-
ber election, and the other relative to the organisa-
tion of a home guard in the State. Both inquiries
were directed to the Secretary of War. They
were laid over. Another resolution, introduced
by Mr, Powell, of Kentucky, inquires of the
Secretary relative to the discharge of State pri-
soners, and whether they are required to take
an oath not to prosecute those who arrested them,
or caused their arrest. The bill to amend the re-
venue Act, so as to allow assessors and their
assistants to administer oaths, was passed. The bill
to provide for the discharge of State prisoners, &c.,
was taken up, but was postponed until the following
Monday. On the 18th, after the presentation of
petitions for a Bankrupt Law and for other objects,
and the introduction of a number of bills which
were referred to the appropriate committees, a reso-
lution was adopted directing the Committee on the
Conduct of the War to inquire into the facts rela-
ting to the late disaster at Fredericksburg, and
make report to the Senate. The Bill to facilitate
the Discharge of Disabled Soldiers from the Army
was taken up, and, after some debate, was passed. A
resolution was adopt{ d calling upon the President
for informati.-n regarding the recall of General
Saxton from Port Royal. The Bill to improve the
organisation of the Cavalry Force was passed. The
Bankrupt Bill was taken up, and Mr. Foster, of
Connecticut, argued in favour of its passage. Sub-
sequently a resolution was adopted calling upon
the Secretary of War for information relative
to the disabled transports of the Banks Expedi-
tion, and the Senate adjourned. On the 19th
the Secretary of the Navy was called upon for in-
formation regarding the appointment of rear-ad-
mirals. Mr. M‘Dougal, of California, introduced a
resolution, which was laid over, calling for infor-
mation regarding the Buell Court of Inquiry. A
resolution granting pecuniary aid to Missouri to
emancipate the slaves in the State was referred to
the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Powell, of Ken-
tucky, called up his resolution inquiring whether
any oath had been proposed to citizens released
from arbitrary arrest, but it was not acted upon.
The Bankrupt Act was considered, and several ver-
bal amendments were made. The Senate then ad-
journed until the 22d.
In the house, on the 17th, a bill was introduced
by Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, and referred to the Judi-
ciary Commitee, which provides that before the
confiscation of any rebel property the claims of any
loyal citizen, or friendly foreigner against it, shall
be allowed. The Senate joint resolution, calling for
a prompt report from the Committee on the Conduct
of the 'War, was passed. The Pension Bill was re-
ported from the Committee of Ways and Means,
and its consideration postponed. A Deficiency
Appropriation Bill, reported from the same corn.
mittee, was made the special order for the follow-
ing Tuesday. The house went into committee of
the whole on the President's Message, and on ris-
ing referred its various divisions to the appropriate
committees. On the 18th, Mr. Train, of Massachu-
setts, offered a resolution calling for a select com-
mittee to inquire whether any officer of the Go-
vernment is interested in any banking-house or
moneyed corporation, or business firm, having con-
tracts with the Government and dealing in stocks
or other property. Its consideration was objected
to, and it went over. The Judiciary Committee
reported back the bill extending relief to loyal men
for slaves wrongfully taken or abstracted, with the
recommendation that it do not pass. After a long
debate it was laid on the table. A resolution was
adopted instructing the Committee on Naval
Affairs to report at an early day whether letters
of marque ought not to be issued for the capture
of the Alabama and other piratical vessels now
being fitted out in English ports. The Army
Appropriation Bill was considered in Committee
of the Whole. It provides-for an aggegrate ap-
propriation of 731,000,000 do's. Mr. Mallory, of
Kentucky, sought to amend it by the addition of
a resolution, specifying certain objects for which
no part :of the money appropriated should
be used, but it was tabled. The Bill was then re-
ported to the House, and passed with only three
dissenting votes—Messrs. May, of Maryland, Nor-
ton, of Ohio, and Wickliffe, of Kentucky. The
rest of the Session was occupied in general debate
4, in Committee of the Whole. On the 19th a reso-
lution was adopted, calling upon the Secretary
of the Interior for information regarding the recap-
tured Africans returned to Liberia in 1860 and
1881._ A resolution was adopted directing the
Military Committee to make inquiries relative to
the discharge of disabled soldiers, the condition of
the convalescent camp, „V.e. The Senate Bill to
facilitate discharges was passed without amend-
ment. The credentials of .lt
ders, as representative from thr. Benjamin F. Flan-
referred to district of
Louisiana, were presented and re erhraed to the Com-
mittee on Elections, Mr. Vallandi
m objectingio
esoluttno
Mr. Flanders being sworn in at once,g A
to adjourn over for the holidays was
postponed
The Committee of Ways and Means wasienesttd
Peeed.
to inquire into the expediency of providing
ervuec
nt foreu
an Assistant-Commissioner of Internal Revenue
for the Pacific States and Territories. Mr. Delae
plaine, of New York, asked leave to introduce a
resolution providing for a committee to investigate
the causes of the disaster at Fredericksburg, but it
was objected to. A resolution was adopted direct-
ing; an inquiry into the expediency of revising the
duties of the office of Quartermaster-General. Re-
solutions of thanks to Lieutenant Morris and Lieu-
tenant \Vorden were passed. A resolution was
adopted calling upon the Secretary of the Navy for
information regarding cases before the Prize Courts.
The Pension Bill was passed without debate. Mr.
Stevens of Pennsylvania, made an explanation of his
financial proposition, lately submitted. The house
subsequently adjourned until Monday.
The Washington Star of the 19th states that Se-
cretary Stanton had resigned.
Richmond papers state the Confederate loss in the
great battle at Fredericksburg to have been 3,000,
and acknowledge the arrival at Richmond of 2,500
wounded. They describe the situation of their
wounded as deplorable, they having received little
or no attention, and being conveyed on common
plat form cars. The Richmond Despatch of the 17th
contains the following report from General Lee
" Headquarters, Northern Virginia, Dec 17.
"To To the Hon. Secretary of War, Richmond,
Virginia.

" Sir,—On the night of the 10th inst. the enemy
co rnrnenced to throw three bridges over the Rappa-
hannock—two above Fredericksburg, and the third
about a mile and a quarter below, near the mouth
or Deep Run. The plain on which Fredericksburg
commanded by the hills of
stands is so completely
Stafford, in possession of the enemy, that no effec-
tual opposition could be offered to the construction
of the bridges or the passage of the river without
exposing our troops to the destructive fire of his
numerous batteries. Positions were therefore se-
lected to oppose his advance after crossing. The
narrowness of the Rappahannock, its winding
course and deep bed, afforded opportunity for the
construction of bridges at points beyond the reach
of our artillery, awl the banks had to be watched
by skirmishers. The latter, sheltering themselves
behind the houses, drove back the working parties
of the enemy at the bridges opposite the city, but
at the lowest point of crossing, where no shelter