The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-18 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(Per Asia via Boston and Roche's Point.)
NEW YORK, AUG. 5, Evening.
The Federal flotilla has for the present aban-
doned the siege of Vicksburg.
Fifteen hundred men of General M'Clellan's
army have crossed the south side of the James
river. It is supposed that an advhnce on Fort
Darling may be made from the south side.
The Now York enlistment committee urge a
general arming and drilling of the people.
The Mayor of New York has recommended the
appropriation of 1,000,000 dols. for the construc-
tion of rams and gunboats for the defence of New
York harbour.
The drafting order has caused considerable ex-
citement, and large crowds are applying for
exemption papers. An Irish mob attacked a fac-
tory in Brooklyn where negroes are employed, and
threatened to burn the premises with the negroes
inside. The latter were, however, protected ley the
a ns
police, who succeeded in restoring order. The only
causet
ipa at
hsyi
negroes.
The British
charge steamerof
a prize YorkT inp
gtoned for the disturbance is the growing
Memphishassh
earwr arrived
pecdaattNu
reel.
while coming out of Charleston
harbour with 1,500
bales of cotton on board.
The Nassau Guardian, of the 26th 1 u t., says :
" The Federal steamer Adirond
ac chased the
British steamer Herald, Captain Co tt
re er, to within
two miles of Nassau harbour, throw-
nig shot and
shell at the Herald all the way. The Herald en-
tered the harbour safely. The captain of the
British steamer Greyhound has protested, and the
matter will be referred to the home Governments;
The Northern Light, from Aspinwall, has arrived
at New York with 1,000,000 dollars in specie.
The Arabia was intercepted off Cape Race on
the 3d inst.
Speculation is rife concerning the future Federal
and Confederate military movements, but nothing
definite can be ascertained of the future plan of
campaign. Important movements are expected at
any moment.
The report of the evacuation of Richmond has not
been confirmed.
Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, is raising e.
coloured regiment for the war.
The Edinburgh sailed yesterday for Europe with
50,000 dols. in specie.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, AUG. 7, Evening.
Money easy. Gold, 14,1- per cent. premi.um. Ex-
change fiat. Bankers' bills, 126. StorJks slightly
firmer. New York Central, 924 ; Illinois, 591 ;
Erie, 341. Cotton dull. Middli,Jg Upland, 478
to 48k. Flour quiet and unchawaged. Wheat and
corn slightly firmer. Provisions quiet. Coffee very
firm. Sugar steady. Molasses quiet and un-
changed.

QUEENSTOWN, AUG. 16.

The Royal Mail steamship Asia, from Boston, nu
the 6th and Halifax on the Bth, arrived here at
9.15 a.m. She brings 139 passengers and 49,583
dols. in specie. She landed six passenger's and all
the mails, consisting of 111 sacks, and proceeded
at 9.30 7 • all well.

The Scotia passed Cape Race on the 9th inst.

IESTRUCTION OF THE STEAMER GOLDEN
GATE BY FIRE, WITH THE LOSS OF 180
LIVES AND 1,000,000 DOLLARS IN SPECIE.

NEW YORK, AUG. 7.
The steamer Golden Gate, which left San Fran-
cisco on the 21st ult. for Panama, was burnt to the
water's edge on the 27th off Mansanalla. Of the
230 passengers she had on board, 180 are reported
lost, together with all the specie, amounting to up-
wards of 1,000,000 dole.

A private despatch says that the steamer was
beached, and that there was a chance of saving the
specie.

THE ROMAN QUESTION.

Another pamphlet has appeared on the "Roman ques-
tion," it is called "La Capitel de Phalle ;" the author is
M. Francois Potier. M. Potier is of opinion that " all
the efforts of diplomatists for a compromise are chime-
rical so long as Italy maintains in its programme
Rome for its capital. The Papacy could make no con-
cession on this point without abdicating its Sovereignty."
He is also convinced that "if the promoters of the
Italian idea frankly give up placing at Rome the seat
of Government, and if they admit the principle of the
Pontifical Sovereignty, they would no longer find the
Papacy resisting the patriotic part of their aspirations. The
Papacy would even co-operate with them by resuming its
historic part of moderator among Christian Princes and
protector of the independence of Italy." He denies the
necessity of Italy fixing the seat of its Government at Rome,
and:contends that, far from securing the freedom and unity of
Italy, it would endanger both. He suggests Ravenna as the
proper capital. " Italy ought to be a modern idea, a Chris-
tian nation, like Prance and Spain, and not a poor imitation
of the classical period, Christian Italy has ever had a capi-
tal ; it was Ravenna on which the duchy of Rome depended
—Ravenna, which for two centuries was the seat of the Go-
vernment of the Exarchs, or Viceroys of Italy. The Ita-
lians who wish to be archaeologists, but Christian archaeolo-
gists, should take Ravenna for their capital." If they do not
desire this, he suggests that the Italian Parliament should
choose by lot the name of the new capital. He admits there
is no precedent for such a mode of proceeding, but this is
noargumentagainst it. "It would:be a noble and touching
spectacle to see the representatives of all the glorious cities
of Italy laying their respective claims and their ancient
rivalries on the altar of their country, closing all disputes,
and calling upon a Royal child, the presumptive heir to all
the Crowns, to draw from the ballot-box the name of the
future capital." M. Potier would prefer Naples, but for
one reason :—" Naples, were it not on military grounds,
would have greater claims than any other to the suffrages
of all. Naples has double the population of Rome, three
times that of Turin, four times that of Florence, and, so far
as population is worth anything. has that advantage. It is
equally distant from the two extremities of Italy, from the
northern frontier and the point of Sicily. Naples
would be a splendid capital. But its magnificent posi-
tion on the sea makes it weak. A few English or
French vessels could at any moment reduce it to ashes.
Now, unless the Italians aim at being soon masters of the
sea, they ought not to desire for their capital a city without
defence, constantly exposed to the insults of a squadron.
Their national independence requires a sanctuary better
protected against the foreigner. They are expected to
choose the site ; it is their business to make it impregnable."
The only solution of the problem is to build a new city
and make it the capital of Italy; and be quotes precedents
in support of this view :—" When Constantine became a
Christian, he at once understood that the destinies of
the empire were changed, and that at Rome there
was a majesty greater than his. But, not
• hing to be
second in Rome, he founded at Byzantium
the seat of
his empire. It is the fashion to speak with disdain of the
empire of Constantine ; yet a work which has
lasted 11
centuries, and which may again acquire new life, has a
right to respect from history. When Peter the Great, on
his return from his travels inthe countries of the West, re-
solved to make of Russia a modern European nation, he
despaired of accomplishinghis work by reason of the traditions
associated 'with the old Asiatic city of Monsceowof.
the
e founded
St. Petersburg, and his doing so
Whw-aseno, after the mostwhich secured
re-
markable traits of his ge
einence and which victory
bad been
dePeesns not choose
the United States of America
aided by French armB'
became a nation, the Congress
for a capital
York or Charleston. It
Boston or PhiladelPhm,
city to be the seat of Government, and gave it
founded a ei
awe of Washington. Alas where is the
the glorious n
viw,hington worthy of giving his name to the capi-
talltalian their in
of Italy ?" But, whatever be said of a new capital, M.
Potier is decidedly of opinion that it must not be Rome.
The same majesty which at Rome drove away the first

Christian Caesar drives away the first Ring
of Italy. Rome
is silll the centre of the world, not that of a nation. Who-
ever wishes to found an Italy should loave Rome to the
Pontiff, and seek a capital elsewhere."

THE LATE ACCIDENT AT THE CANTERBURY
HALL —The public will be glad to learn that the accident
which befel Argonaud is not of so serious a nature as was
at first expected. He is now rapidly recovering, and in a
few days will be enabled to resume his astonishing per-
formances.

CAUTION TO HOTEL AND TAVERN KEEPERS.
--
A foreigner, supposed to be a German, is now victimising
hotel keepers to a considerable extent. It is therefore
he h
with
well to caution proprietors of those establishments againstas
the depredations of the swindler. The man is about five
feet in height, of fair complexion, without either beard or
carries with him a small white parcel, anoudsoeabneidngtheehno
shown
moustache.
gml i
sHhh
ei
to
otpaal
takes
kne 8
to ita
hbteeo
accommodatedeanrtsetr t
a bed. He
to appropriate the
ibnrotokean English
He lately entered decamp
opportunity that occurs
of value that may be lying
wearing apparel or anything
about in the rooms eili.oin.
ing, and then to
carried off no less one of the City housesair
f t and
sees, and a than two coats,
Chi) were nearlyl
,
new. It is to be
valuable cape all of will
' • dont rascal will 80013
hoped that this Impu
ibe in the bands of the police. as quickly ssi