The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-02 00:00:00

"THE SUN, ',LONDON, MONDAY, EV:BA-IM-,

eight miles of Richmond. Among the obstructions
in the river are said to be the steamers Yorktown

and Jamestown. A Richmond paper rc ports a
panic in that city on the news of the approach of
our gunboats.
" Intelligence from General M'Clella states that
his army had reached Bottom's Bridge, 15 miles
from Richmond, driving the enemy across the
Chickahominy, the latter destroying the bridge as
usual. The obstructions now placed in his way, the
lack of further water communication for the sup-
plies of the army, and the swampy nature of the

country, it is thought will prevent other than a
slow and laborious process. A gunboat expedition
25 miles up the Pamunkey River resulted in the
destruction of two steamers and 20 schooners,
mostly laden with corn.

"From the Gulf fleets nothing further has trans-
pired. When last heard from, Commodore Porter
was off Fort Morgan, which commands the entrance
to Mobile, with several gunboats and mortar boats,
and operations for the reduction of that stronghold
were expected to be commenced forthwith.
" Recent advices state that a portion of the fleet
lately at New Orleans has passed on up the Missis-
sippi River, and may be expected as far up as
Memphis before many days. The siege of Fort
Wright promises to be as protracted as that of
Island No. 10. It is stated that the Confederates
have added another powerful ram to their fleet, and
that they are confident of being able to annihilate
the Union fleet at the next onset. On the other
hand the Federals are confident of completing the
work of destruction to the fleet of the enemy which
they began when they were previously attacked.
The contest will, in all probability, be severe, what-
ever way it may result."
The following official reports of the engagement
at Fort Darling have been received at the Navy
Department by Commodore Goldsborough :
"umroitT OF COM, RODGERS Or TIM CI.A.I.IIITA.

" United States Steamer Galena, off City Point,

James River, May 16, 1862.

" Sir,—l have the honour to report that this ves-
sel,jhe Aroostook, the Monitor, and Port Royal,
with the Nangatuck, moved up the river, getting
aground several times, but meeting no artificial
impediments until we arrived at Ward's Bluff, about
eight miles from Richmond, where we encountered
a heavy battery, and two separate barriers formed
of spiles, and steamboats, and sail vessels. The
pilots both say that they saw Yorktown and James-
town among the number.

The banks of the river we found lined with rifle
/Vs, from which sharpshooters annoyed the men at
guns. These would hinder the removal of obstruc-
tions, unless driven away by a land force.
" The Galena ran within about 600 yards of the
battery, as near the spiles as it was deemed proper
to go, let go her anchor, and with a spring sprung
across the stream, not more than twice as wide as
the ship is long, and then at 45 minutes past seven
o'clock a.m. opened fire upon the battery. The
wooden vessels, as directed, anchored about 1,300
yards below. The Monitor anchored near, and at
nine o'clock she passed just above the Galena, but
found her guns could not be elevated enough to
reach the battery. She then dropped a little be-
low us, and made her shots effective.

" At five minutes after 11 o'clock, the Galena had
expended nearly all her ammunition, and I made
signal to discontinue the action, We had but six
Parrott charges, and not a single filled 9-inch shell.
We had 13 killed, and 11 wounded.
" The riled 100-pounder of the Nangatuck burst ;
half the part abaft the trunnions going overboard.
She is, therefore, disabled. Lieut. Newman, the
executive officer, was conspicuous for his gallant
and effective services. Mr. Washburne, acting
master, behaved admirably. These are selected
from among the number.

" The Aroostook, Nangatuck, and Port Royal
took the stations previously assigned them, and did
everything that was possible.
" The Monitor could not have done better.

"The barrier is such that the vessels of the
enemy even, if they have any, cannot possibly pass
out, and ours cannot pass in.
" I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
" JOHN RODGERS, Commander,
United States Navy."
REPORT OF LIEUT. JEFFERS, OF THE MONITOR.
The following is the report of Lieut. William N.
Jeffers, commanding the Monitor in the late en•
gagement near Richmond. It is addressed to Com.
mander Rodgers :
" United States Iron-clad Steamer Monitor,
James River, Va., May 16, 1862,

" Sir,--I submit the following report of the
movements of this vessel during the action of yes-

:erday :
" Shortly after weighing anchor from our posi•

ion near Kingsland Creek a sharp fire of musketry

was commenced from both banks on all the ships.
At half-past seven I discovered an extensive forti-
fication on an elevation of about 200 feet, with
several smaller batteries, all apparently mounting
guns of the heaviest calibre. At the foot of the
bluff, in the river, there is an obstruction
formed of sunken vessels and steamers secured
with chains, and the shallow water piled
across the river. The Galena, having anchored
at about 1,000 yards distant from the fort,
and being warmly engaged, I endeavoured to
pass ahead of her and take off some of the fire; but
I found that my guns could not be elevated suffi-
ciently to point at the fort. I then took a position
on the line with the Galena, and maintained a
deliberate fire until the close of the action, when, in
company with the other vessels, I dropped down to
the anchorage.
"The fire of the enemy was remarkably well
I directed, bat vainly, towards this vessel. She was
struck three times—one solid eight-inch shot square
on the turret, and two solid shot on the side armour
forward of the pilot-house. „,Neither caused any
damage beyond bending the plates. I am happy
to report no casualties.
" In conclusion, permit me to say the action was
most gallantly fought against great odds, and with
the usual effect against earthworks. So long as
bur vessels kept up a rapid fire they rarely returned
our fire, but the moment our fire slackened they re-
manned their guns. It was impossible to reduce
such works except with the aid of a land force."
The proclamation of the President relative to
the military order of General Hunter declaring the
slaves in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida free,
is positive in its abrogation of the order :
" BY THE PRESIDENT.
A Proclamation.

" Whereas there appears in the public prints
what purports to be a proclamation of Major-
General Hunter.
"And whereas the same is producing some ex-
citement and misunderstanding.
"Therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of
the
United. States, proclaim and declare that the
Government
of the United States had no knowledge
or belief of
an
intention on the part of General
Hunter to issue such
Bnnte s.uch a proclamation, nor has it
yet any
genuine,
and
further,
that the document is
,that neither General Hunter,
nor any other
commander,or
person, has been au-
thorised by the Government of the United States to
make proclamation declaring the slaves of any
State free, and the supposed
question, whether genuine
or false, proclamation now in
caitiis altogether
void, so far as respects such a
declaration.
"I I further make known, that 4rearnc"•
com-
petent for me as commander in chief
oft th it be
and navy to declare the slaves of any se
te army
States, free, and whether at any time, orta in
any
or
case, it shall have become a necessity indispensable
to the maintenance of the Government to exercise
such supposed power, are questions which. under
my responsibility, I reserve to myself, and which I
cannot feel justified in leaving to the decision of
commanders in the field. These are totally diffe-
rent questions from those of OIiCC: regulations in
armies and camps.
On the 6th day of March last, by a special
message, I recommended to Congress the adoption
of a resolution to be substantially as follows :
"Resolved,---That the United States ought to co-
operate with any State which may adopt a gradual
abolishment of slavery, giving to such State in its
discretion to compensate for the inconveniences,
public and private, produced by such change of
system.

" The resolution in tho language above quoted,

was adopted by large majorities in both branches
of Congress, and now stands in authentic, definite,
and solemn proposal of the nation to the states and
people most immediately interested in the subject
matter. To the people of these states I now ear-
nestly appeal. Ido not argue. I beseech you to
make the arguments for yourselves. You cannot,
f you would, be Wind to the signs of the times. I
'beg of you a calm and 'enlarged consideration of
if it may be, far above personal and
partisan
an rangingpolitics. This proposal makes common
them,a
cause for a common object, casting no reproaches
upon any. It acts not the Pharisee. The change
it contemplates would come gently as the dews of
Heaven, not rending or wrecking anything. Will
you not embrace it ? So much good has not been
done by one effort in all past time, as in the Provi-
dence of God it is Now your high privilege to do.
May the vast future not have to lament that you
have neglected it.
"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be
affixed.

"Done at the City of Washington this 19th day
of May, 1862.

" ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
" WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State."
The following is a summary of the proceedings of
Congress :
"In the United States Senate on the 19th, Mr.
Wilson, of Massachusetts, offered a resolution asking
the Secretary of the Interior for information relative
to New York vessels engaged in the slave trade. A
bill was introduced for the re lief of Robert Small
others (coloured men) who recently delivered the
Confederate vessel Planter to Commodore Dupont's
squadron. The bill provides that the steam-ship
Planter, with all the cargo and appurtenances,
shall be appraised by a competent board of officers,
and that one-half the value thereof shall go to
Robert S
In all and hia chomoviviacc, TLV inu tam rlau-
ter out of Charleston harbour, with the provision
that the Secretary of the Navy may invest the same
in the United States stocks, the interest to be paid
to Small and his associates or heirs, The bill was
passed. A resolution providing for the presenta•
tion of medals of honour to soldiers who distinguish
themselves in battle was adopted.

" The debate on the Confiscation Bill was then
resumed. Mr. Sumner made a speech in support of
it. Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, moved to strike out
the 11th section of the bill, which authorises the
President to arm negroes if necessary to suppress
the rebellion. This was rejected by 11 yeas to 29
nays. Mr. Saulsbury, of Deleware, moved to strike
out the 9th section, which authorises the President
when he deems it necessary, to issue a proclama-
tion freeing the slaves of all rebels. Mr. Wilson,
of Massachusetts, moved to make it imperative on
the President to issue a proclamation to that effect.
The debate continued to the adjournment without
putting the question to the vote.
"In the House of Representatives on the 19th,
Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, reported from the special
committee the articles of impeachment against W.
H. Humphreys, judge of the District Court of the
United States for the second district of Tennessee.
A resolution was adopted providing for the appoint-
ment of five managers to conduct the impeachment,
and that the Senate be acquainted with the action
of the house. Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, then
made a speech in deprecation of the continued agi-
tation of the negro question. The naval appropria-
tion was considered and finally passed. It embraces
appropriations for the naval service to the amount
of 3,000,000 dole.

f, On the 20th both houses of Congress were chiefly
engaged on the Confiscation Bill."

The steamer Planter, the capture of which has
been already reported, alluded to in the Congres-
sional proceedings, was armed with seven heavy
cannon, one an 8-inch rifle gun, all of which were
intended for Fort Ripley, a new fortification which
the Confederates are erecting on the middle ground
in Charleston harbour.

COMMERCIAL.
NEW YORK, MAY 20, 6 Past.

Money remains very abundant indeed. To the esta-
blished houses in the street more is offered at 3 per cent.
4.1..„ they ran nse. and no one expects to get more than 4.
We heat of paper selling at 4 to 5, and of some exceptional
cases at 3 to 31. Money continues to pour into the city
from all parts of the country.
Foreign exchange is very dull indeed. Bankers ask 113:-1
to 114 for sterling, and 5 97k to 595 for francs. At these
rates the demand is light.
Stocks continue firm ; the feature of the market is still
the active inquiry for bonds. Every kind of reliable bond
which pays 6 or 7 per cent interest is being bought up. The
fourth Eries sold this morning at 90i, the second Michigan
Southern at 83, the second Terre Ilaute and Alton at 85,
the first Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien at 96, the Chicago
and North-Western assented at 49. Many of these bonds
have risen 100 per cent. within a comparatively short space
of time. At the morning board the Western shares were
generally better. Guaranteed advanced to 581, Michigan
Central to 62, Pittsburg to 231. The most active buying
for cash was in Toledo, Galena and Rock Island, which
were / to a higher. In Erie and Central there was no change.
Hudson River advanced t, without much activity.
The cotton market exhibited increased firmness yester-
day, with more doing. The sales embraced about 1,000
bales, closing stiff on the basis of 271 c to 28c for middling
uplands.

The market for breadatuffs was again heavy and lower.
The large receipts and enhanced freights sent down prices,
which led to increased activity. Flour fell off from sc. to
10c. per brl., and Wheat from 3c. to 6c, per bushel, with
large transactions. Corn was heavy, with sales of sound
western mixed at 48c. to 50c., in store and delivered. Pork
was heavy and lower, with sales of mess at 12 dols. 3110. to
12 dole. 50c., and of prime at 9 dols. 75c. to 9 dole. 9 871 c.
Sugars were steady, but less active. The sales embraced
500 hhds. and 50 boxes at full prices. Coffee was steady,
while sales were moderate. The stock of Rio embraced
114,331 bags, and the total of mats and bags, of all kinds,
reached 162,373. Freights were firm and active, including
heavy shipments of wheat to Liverpool, in part by the
Great Eastern.

THE WEST INDIA, MEXICAN, AND

PACIFIC MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, JUNE 1.

The Royal Mail Company's steamship La Plata,
Capt. Weller, with the above mails, arrived this
afternoon at 4 o'clock. She brings in all 367 pas-
sengers ; specie, 4,091,930 dollars, of which 509,602
dots. is in gold, 3,558,12t$ dole. in silver ; 6,000 dols.
pearls, 5,000 dole, emeralds, and 12,000 dole. in
paintings.

The La Plata brings dates from Vera Cruz, May
2; Tampico, April 28; Havannah 7; Carthagena,
May 3 ; Colon, 8 ; Jamaica, 10 ; Porto Rico, 13 ;
Demerara 8 ; Trinidad, 9 ; St. Vincent, 10; St.
Lucia, 11 ; Antigua, 12 ; Tortola, 13 ; and St.
Thomas, 14.

The Combined Court of Policy at Demerara was
to meet on the 9th May. The weather, hitherto dry,
had broken up, beneficial rains for the planters
had set in, and the canes had considerably improved.
The market for American provisions was quiet,
imports in Excess of demand. Pork in full stock;
likewise rice. Tonnage in fair supply. The exports
of produce had fallen el ort of last year.
The Barbadoes Legislature met on the 29th April,
The business transacted is unimportant. Business
of all kinds was very dull. The bank had been very
stringent in its dealings, and discounts were with
difficulty effected. The weather continued fine for
the planters. The reaping of the old cane crop was
well advanced. Several estates had finished, and the
rest pushing forward at utmost speed as the canes
were rapidly deteriorating.
The operations of the Jamaica Cotton Company in
the east of the island were progressing satisfactorily.
The agent of the company has forwarded by this
mail 12 bales of ginned cotton of excfent quality,
averaging 1301bs. per bale. ricking was going
forward briskly, and :another shipment will follow
shortly. No gr,:ieral improvement bad occurred in
the
drought,
and great mortality had been occa-
sioned among estates' workir.g stock, owing to the
In Westmoreland and other parishes
hundreds of cattle had died. Business was dull,
and the low
prices of produce in the home markets
were said
to be disheartening the sugar planters.
The next coffee crop w
president,a s expected G
e ton . be
Mosquera,a large one.had
The Provisional
issued a decree convoking the National Assembly to
meet on the 6th of August next, at Carthagena, that
being considered a more conveni •
ent point than
Bogota. He declares that if at that time the State
of Antioquia is not incorporated in the Columbian
Union, it will be brought in by force, as the Go-

vernment can no longer consent to be thus dismem-

bered.

An official bulletin of 24th April, issued in Car-
thagena, coLfirms the report of the victory of Gen.
Payan over Enao in the Cauca, and the arrest of
the latter with some 350 men.

The news by the Pacific Company's steamer from
the Cauca is important.

Tumaco, Barbacoas, and Buenaventura remained
in the hands of the liberals, but it was expected the
latter port would be taken by Arboleda in a very
short time, as his troops were only two days distant
and merely waiting for canoes to come down the
river and take possession of the place. Arboleda
had intercepted correspondence between Payan and
Sanchez who were about uniting their forces, and
he immediately marched against the former at Cali,
and succeeded in making him and Gen. Alzate pri-
soners. This has caused great sensation among the
Liberal party, Payan being one of their leading
generals. It is supposed that Generals Lopez and
Sanchez would be able to unite their forces to attack
Arboleda, in which event there is little doubt of
their success, Lopez having a well organised body
of 3,500 men. It is also probable that Gen. Mos-
quera may himself enter the Cauca, after receiving
intelligence of the capture of Payan.
The Panama Star and Herald of the 9th says :
" From Chile no incident has occurred during the
past fortnight of sufficient importance to demand
serious attention. Everything goes on smoothly,
and although it is expected that the Government
may sustain some little opposition on the opening
of the Chambers in carrying a few of their mea-
sures, still no apprehension exists as to their stabi-
lity and power to carry out the ends proposed.

The British vessel Albemarle arrived on the Bth.
"Exchange on London, 451 to 46; exchange on
Paris, 44,75 ; freights to England, £4 2s. 6d.
" From Bolivia we learn that the risings in fa-
',our of Goia. sulnw Ise.vro VA.Ark Si tilled through the
prudence and energy of Gen. Acha. The revolu-
tionary party throughout the republic are almost, if
not totally crushed. General Acha is the popular
recipient of political honours, and, in conjunction
with Goneral Perez, is received and acknowledged
everywhere with pleasure by those who look for-
ward to deliverance from their present troubles.

"Peru remains tranquil, there being no political
news of importance to communicate. An extensive
robbery of jewellery has taken place in Lima from
the premises of Laurie and Briilman ; it appears
during the Semana Santa, and while the principals
of the establishment were at Chorrillas, a clerk
named Luis Johnson, employed by them, taking
advantage IA the time and of their absence ab-
sconded with valuables and jewellery in his posses-
sion to the amount of from 30,000 dols. to 40,000
dols. It is presumed he left in the steamer Callao
for Valparaiso on the 20th ult."
From Oregon and Vancouver's :
The San Francisco papers state that snows and
frosts continue to keep back adventurers to the Sal-
mon River mines, while the supply of provisions
was so scanty that untold misery and death were
threatening. Indeed, many already on the spot and
unable to work for the snows, and dreading starva-

tion, were leaving the mines for a time. Consider-
able sickness existed among them. A similar story
may be told of the Cariboo mines in British Columbia.
The rivers and interior country continued to be
bound up by frost, and provisions had, at many
places, risen to a famine price. Flour, at Yale, was
said to be 75 dols. a barrel, while it was seriously
reported that Chinamen there were paying as high
as 5 do's& for dogs and cats to keep themselves from
starvation. As to the gold prospects, nothing par-
ticularly new is mentioned. The lucky fellows
write letters to the newspapers, dilating on their
100 dols. or their 500 dols. a day, "to the hand ;"

while the unlucky ones, having nothing to say,
"grin and bear it," hoping for better times soon.
Some correspondents, however, do express a fear
that the diggings are by no means so extensive as at
first believed, nor so rich as interested parties—such
as steamboat men, teamsters, farmers, and specula-
tors generally—report.

THE EAST INDIA AND CHINA MAILS.

The heavy pusAluu of mese maus, lu altargo of
Mr. Roberts, of the General Post-office, arrived
at Southampton on Saturday, in the Peninsular
and Oriental Company's screw steamer Mooltan,
Captain J. S. Field, at 1 p.m. This vessel brought
11.43 passengers (viz., 68 first-class, 30 second, and
18 deck), a list of which was published in The Sun
of Wednesday, excepting those from Malta and
Gibraltar. The Earl of Harr3wby and the Hon.
Mr. and Mrs. Ryder were among the passengers
from Gibraltar. On freight the Mooltan brought
£1,135 in specie, 32 cases of valuables, 1,640 bales
of silk, 1,412 sacks of corm, 12 sacks of potatoes,
19 packages of elephants' tusks, a case of pigeons,
one dog, 8 live turtle, and 147 packages of general
merchandise.

The Mooltan left Alexandria on the 18th ult.,
Malta on the 22d, and Gibraltar on the 26th. She
experienced fine weather in the Mediterranean ;
moderate weather along the coasts of Spain and
Portugal ; a fresh N.N.W. gale in the Bay of
Biscay ; and light winds, with fine weather, in the
Channel.

On the 27th ult., at noon, off Cape St. Vincent,
the Mooltar. spoke the screw steamer Maaander,and
the barque Drurus ; and at,4 30 p.m., on the 29th,
in the Bay of Biscay, the Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steamer Ellora, with the outward Bom-
bay mails.
At Alexandria, on the 18th ult., were the French
transport Mayenne, the screw steamer Clanado,
and the usual Egyptian fleet.
Her Majesty's ships London, Trident, Malacca,
and Gannet were at Malta on the 22d, and the In-
trepid, Scylla, and Cuckoo at Gibraltar on the 26th.
The James Watt, Captain Codd, 13 days from
Malta, arrived at Gibraltar on the 21st, and sailed
on the night of the 22d for the westward.
General Turon, the -Commander-in-Chief of the
late Spanish army of occupation in Africa, arrived
at Algesiras, from Tetuan, on the afternoon of the
18th ult., with his staff. On the following day
the General, accompanied by Lieutenant-General
Don Carlos Yauch, his staff, and Several Spanish
naval officers, paid a visit to his Excellency the
Governor of Gibraltar. The Spanish General landed
at Ragged Staff under a salute from the Saluting
Battery, and was received by a guard of honour of
the Royal Artillery. Gen. Turon, accompanied by
the Governor and bis staff, proceeded to the North
Front, where four batteries of the Royal Artillery,
a company of the Royal Engineers, the 7th Fusi-
leers, 25th and 100th Regiments, were assembled in
review order. After witnessing the review, in
which the troops performed a variety of field evolu-
tions, General Turon and staff went to the Covent,
and after luncheon they visited the military store
department and some of the batteries, and rode to
Europa and Windmill-hill. His Excellency em•
barked at sunset, and returned to Algesiras in the
Spanish steamer Vulcano.
The Thght Rev. Dr. Scandella, Vicar-Apostolic
of Gibraltar and Bishop of Antinoe, had loft Gibral-
tar for Italy in the British steamer Hecla, on his
way to attend the assemblage of Roman Catholic
Bishops at Rome. _ . .

The Italian Royal corvette Iride, Capt. Roberto,
arrived at Gibraltar on the 19th ult. from Leghorn,
and saluted the garrison, which compliment was
returned from the forts. On the 23d the Iride ex
changed salutes of 11 guns with her Majesty's cor-
vette Scylla at 8 a.m., and also saluted the Governor
with 17 guns at noon, before her departure f..: the
River Plate station. _ ‘.

All the Spanish men-of-war which were in Alge-
siras roadstead had proceeded to the waters of Ali-
cante, where a large number of vessels were assem-
bling to perform a series of evolutions.
The Spanish war steamer Vasco Nunez do Balboa,
6 guns, Captain J. Soler, from Ceuta and Vigo,
arrived at Cadiz oo the 21st ult.; and on the same
day the screw sloop Consuelo, 2 guns, Captain C.
de las Heras, left Cadiz for the eastward.
The British merchant steamer Orontes, Capt. A.
Pinnie, 51 days from Liverpool, with a general
cargo for Malta, Smyrna, &c., arrived at Gibraltar
on the 20th; and the brig Borland, Captain R.
Pomeroy, 18 days from Newport, with railway iron
for Alicante., on the 21st.

The brig Royal Charlie put into the bay on the