The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-20 00:00:00

GREECE.

La Patrte publishes the following :
"An official telegraphic despatch from Corfu, dated
the 18th inst., has been received at the Greek Le-
gation, with advises from Athens to the 15th inst,
All the redoubts of the insurgents outside Nauplia
were carried by the Royal troops on the 13th.
Coroneo, one of the leaders of the insurrection, and
two other officers, were made prisoners. All the
guns of the entrenchments are in the hands of the
Royalists. The insurgents have shut themselves
up in Nauplia, and have asked for an armistice and
amnesty. The commander of the Royal troops
granted them an armistice of 24 hours.
" The same despatch announces, that the garrison
of Syra, consisting of a company of infantry, had
revolted, and with the help of some sailors, had
seized a steamer belonging to the Hellenic Naviga-
tion Company. One of the ships of the Royal navy
came up with them off the island of Kythnos, and
made them prisoners."

The New York advices of yesterday describe a
sudden stringency in the stock market, owing partly, as it
is observed in a circular of Messrs. Blake, Brothers, and
Co., of Boston, "to the delay of Government in meeting
their payments, thus obliging their creditors to provide for
their own liabilities in other ways," and partly to the
hoarding of the existing paper currency owing to the ad-
vantage it will possess over that which is about to be poured
forth in being receivable for Customs' dues. The Commit-
tee of the House of Representatives had agreed to a bill for
the various new forms of taxation, including the imposition
of a duty on paper; but the question as to the alterations to
be made in the tariff was still under discussion with them.
The changes wero likely to be unimportant.
COLLISION AT SEA.—The Russian brig Ahti,
Capt. Granberg, laden with salt, from Liverpool for Revel,
was run down on Saturday morning last, about 70 miles
S.W. of the Scilly islands, by the English ship Negotiator,
Captain Moon, belonging to Messrs. F. Robson and Co.,
Sunderland, and bound from Sunderland with a cargo of
coals for Genoa. The unfortunate collision caused the loss
of both vessels, and took place about 5 30 a.m. The brig
was on a wind and the Negotiator was running before it,
and ran in and over the brig between her masts, cutting her
down to the water's edge. The Ahti went down within a
few minutes after the vessels had cleared each other, one of
her crew perishing with her, the others, eight in number,
gatting on board the ship. About an hour after the acci-
dent the Negotiator was abandoned with 5 feet of water in
her hold, the two crows being taken on board the barque
Talavera, from St. Kitts for London, with sugar, &c., from
which they were landed at Plymouth yesterday morning by
No. 4 CONVOS pilot boat.
CRYSTAL PALACE.--One Shilling Day,
day, March 19.—Admissions on payment, 631; ditto by
season tickets, 677; total visitors, 1,308. Wednes-

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA

PRESIDENT LINCOLN ON SLAVERY '
AND THE MAR.
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE.
(PER HIBERNIAN, *VIA LONDONDERRY.)
NEW YORK, MARCH 7, MORNING,
President Lincoln, in his Message to Congress
urging the passing of a joint resolution for co ope-
ration with the Slave States, by means of pecuniary
aid, for the gradual emancipation of slaves, sass:
"If the proposition does not meet with the ap-
proval of Congress and the country, it is at an end;
but if it does command approval, it is important
that the States and the people interested should be
at once notified, so that they may consider whether
to accept or reject the proposal.
" The Federal Government would find its highest
interest in such a measure as one of the most
efficient of self-preservation.
"The leaders of the insurrection hope that the
Government will be ultimately forced to acknow-
ledge the independence of some paat of the dis-
affected region, and that then all Slave States north
of such parts will say, "Ile Union for which we
have struggled being already gone, we now choose
to go with the southern section.'
"To deprive them of this hope substantally
ends the rebellion. The initiation of emancipation
completely deprives them of it.
" The point is not that all States tolerating
slavery could very soon, if at all, initiate emanci-
pation, but that while the offer is equally made to
all, the more Northern States shall, by such initia-
tion, make it certain to the more southern that in
no event will the former ever join the latter in
their proposed Confederacy.
"I say initiation, because, in my judgment, a
gradual, and not sudden, emancipation is better
for all.

" The current expenditure of the war would
very soon purchase all the slaves in any named
State.

" Such a proposal does not claim for the Federal
Government a right to interfere with slavery
within the State limits, it being left a matter of
free choice with the States to accept or reject the

proposal.
" The war continues to be an indispensable
means for the restoration of the Union.
" The practical acknowledgment of the national
authority would render war unnecessary, and it
would at once cease. If resistance continues, war
must continue; and it is impossible to foresee all
the incidents which may follow it. Such means
as may seem indispensable, or may obviously pro-
mise great efficiency towards ending the struggle,
must and will come. In the proposition now
made, though only an offer, I ask whether the
pecuniary aid tendered would not be of more
value to the States and private persons concerned
than are the institution and property in it in the
present aspect of affairs. While, it is true, the
adoption of the proposed resolution would be
merely initiatory, and not within itself a practical
measure, it is recommended in hope that it would
soon lead to important results. In full view of my
great responsibility to God and -to the country, I
earnestly beg the attention of Congress and the
people to the subject.
The New York Times thinks that President Lin-
coln's plan will not achieve the end proposed. It
will not induce any slave State to discard slavery.
It will be attended with expense too overwhelming
to be regarded favourably by people having upon
their shoulders a present and prospective debt of
several thousand millions. The New ork It orld
approves the Message. The New York _Herald
thinks the Message will be well received by the
Conservative element both in the North and in tte
South. The New York Tribune strongly approves
the Message, and thinks it seals the fate of the re-
bellion in every Christian land. No civilised nation
will ally itself with the South, knowing that the
Union and Liberty are one and inseparable.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
7inzes says that Mr. Seward is preparing a despatch
on Mexican affairs, in which the determination of
America to resist all European designs of establish-
ing a monarchy upon the American Continent will
be energetically set forth.
(LATEST BY TELEGRAPH TO PORTLAND.)
NEW YORK, MARCH 8.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Herald says—" The excitement in regard to Presi-
dent Lincoln's Message increases. The Message has
taken all parties by surprise. The majority of the
senators and representatives are unprepared to ex-
press themselves upon it. Ail are afraid of it, and
all are afraid to oppose it. The Radicals look blank,
and, while they claim there is in it a concession to
them, they are prepared cautiously to oppose it.
" The Conservatives are anxious to sustain the
policy communicated by the President, but fear
they may be entrapped into some departure from
their chosen position.
In this predicament the President's Message
must sleep in the committee-room until the gentle-
men have made up their minds in regard to the
matter,''
It is repotted that a flag of truce hes arrived at
Fortress Monroe, from Norfolk, with the comman-
der of a French steamer, who represents ti;at great
excitement prevailed in Norfolk. The hotels wire
swarming with officers, mostly from the Gulf
States, the Virginia troops having been all sent
away. People dreaded the destruction of the city
in case of an attack.
A strong force was concentrating at Suffolk to
check the advance of General Burnside, who was
reported to have occupied Winton in force, ancjto
be moving on Suffolk.
The reason given by the Confederate., for not re-
turning Col. Corcoran is that maps and drawings
were found on his person.
The Richmond papers mention the arrest of a
number of Union men, principally Germans. De-
tectives had broken into the room of some German
turners, and found two American flags, and the
Goddess of Liberty painted on the wall. The Union
colours and paintings were seized and confiscated.
The Confederate House of Representatives has
passed a resolution by 71 to 77 recommending the
military commanders to destroy all tobacco and
cotton to prevent its falling into the enemy's hands.
A resolution was also passed asking the President
to inform the house what foreign vessels are doing
in Hampton Roads.
The _Richmond Dispatch says a vessel, drawing
16 feet of water, recently passed out of Charleston
harbour. Specie is quoted in Richmond at 40 to
50 per cent. premium.
A despatch from Atalata, Georgia, says that the
Federals have taken possession of Murfreesboro',
and that General S 3 dney Johnson Las retreated to
Decatur, Ala.
The Confederate steamer Merrimac was lying
near the Norfolk Navy-yard with flag flying and
crew on board. She draws 23 feet of water, and is
described as looking like the roof of a sunken house,
with the smoke chimney protruding from the water.
The St. Louis Democrat says that the Confede-
rates have from 5,000 to 10,000 men at New Mad-
rid, and four gunboats.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFEDERATE
CONGRESS.
In the Confederate Senate, on the 26th ult., Mr.
Henry, of Tennessee, submitted the following pre-
amble and joint resolution, which, on his motion,
was referred to the Committee of Finance :
"Whereas, it is desirable to encourage the planters
of tobacco and cotton in the Confederate States, and
others who are bona fide owners thereof, to destroy,
by burning or otherwise, those articles, rather than
that they should fail into the hands of the enemy,
—Be it therefore resolved by the Congress of the
Confederate States, that all such persons who shall
burn their cotton or tobacco, or otherwise destroy
the same, to prevent these articles from falling into
the hands of the army or navy of the United States,
shall be fully indemnified by the Government of
the Confederate States, upon proof of the number of
pounds of tobacco or cotton so destroyed, and proof
of the necessity of such destruction to prevent the
enemy from getting possession thereof."
In the House of Representative, of the above date,
Mr. Holt, of Ga., offered the following resolution,
which, on motion, was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means :
"Resoleed,—Thet the Committee of Ways and

Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency
of restricting and limiting by law the production of
cotton in Confederate States during the conlinu-
ance of the war and blockade. And also the expe-
diency of the Confederate Government taking into
its own control, by purchase, advancEs thereon, or
otherwise, of all the cotton now on hand, or which
may be grown in said Confederate States during the
existence of the present war and blockade, and that
said committee report by bill or otherwise."
Mr. Perkins, of Sa., introduced a bill to prohibit
the importation of productions and manufactures of
the United States into the Confederate States.
Referred.

In the Senate, on the 27th ult., Mr. Clark, of
Missouri, submitted the following joint resolution,
which was unanimously adopted :
Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate
States of America, that the honour of the Govern•
went imperatively demands that the existing war
be prosecuted until the enemy shall have been ex-
pelled from every foot of soil within each and every
one of the Confederate States, and no proposition
of peace shall be considered which contemplates,
however remotely, the relinquishment by this Go-
vernment of any portion of any of the States of
this Confederacy."
In the House of Representatives on the 27th, Mr
Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, re-
ported a bill for the appointment of a Commanding•
General of the armies of the Confederate States.

BANK OF ENGLAND.

HALF-YEARLY AIEETING-THIS DAY.

A general Court of the Directors of the Bank of England
was held this morning in the Bank Par:our, Threadneedle-
street; it was also one of the half-yearly courts, held in pur-
suance of the 12th bye law, f'r the making up of dividends.
Alfred Latham, Esq., the Governor, presided.
The GOVERNOR stated that he had to acquaint the Court
that the net profits of the half-year ending the 28th of
February were £609,818 14s 2d, making the amount of
" rest " that day £3,633,827 18s. The Court of Directors
would propose a dividend at the rate of 44 per cent. This
was, he was aware, an unusual dividend, because •generally
they had not dividends less than per cent., except 70 or 80
years ago,when the Bank made dividends of 21, and for some
time 2±. That was in the years from 1767 to 1781. There was
at present a reason for making a dividend at 4i per cent.,
which was, that the law was now altered, and the trustees
were authorised to purchase Bank Stock, so that if they
made so small a dividend as 4 per cent., and carrying over
a large amount, there might be some disturbance between
the owners of interest for life and the owners of remainder.
Therefore the directors had thought it right to divide a
little nearer or less than usual. This would
leave a Rest of £3,115,325 Bs. The directors,
therefore, declared a dividend on interest and
profits for the half-year ending the sth of April next at
the rate of 4i per cent,, without deduction on account of
income tax. The dividend warrants would be delivered
and made payable on Monday, the 7th of April.
Alderman SALOMONS presumed that some reduction
of profit had arisen in consequence of the reduction the
Bank had received for the management of the National
Debt account, to the extent of some £30,000 or £lO,OOO a
year.

The GOVERNOR said undoubtedly it was. The bank
received £25,000 less this half-year than they had been ac-
customed to receive.

The motion of the Governor was put and carried unani-
mously.
Mr. CLARKE moved a vote of thanks to the Governor,
Deputy-Governor, and Directors for their attention to the
matttwrs connected with the bank.

Alderman SALOMONS, in seconding the motion, said that
'm former years complaints had been mado that the books of

the Bank had been closed five or six weeks prior to
the declaring of a dividend, and people were thus

not able to get at their property except with much diffi-
culty. At the suggestion of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, that that time might be materially shortened, a dif-
ferent course had been adopted, and now the books were
not closed for a snngle day. This was most satistactory to
the public, and most useful to commercial men. He was
glad to take the opportunity of complimenting the directors
on such a result,

The resolution was unanimously adopted.
The GOVERNOR, in returning thanks, said the altered
arrangements had proved of the greatest public advantage.
It had been brought about at a certain cost to the Bank,
but not by a large sum—nothing, in fact, compared to the
great pecuniary advantage it must have been to the public,
who were now able to transfer their stock at any time they
pleased, the books, indeed, never being closed at all.
The proceedings then terminated.

THIS DAY'S MARE.ETS.