The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-17 00:00:00

MEXICO.

The American Consul at Matamoras has arrived
at New Orleans. The reason for his expulsion is
said to be the non-recognition of the French and
Austrian authorities in Mexico by the United
States. It is reported that the American flag was
hauled down from the Matamoras Consulate by
Union parties.
General Hurlburt, commanding at New Orleans,
has ordered the temporary suspension of permits to
vessels with merchandise bound for Matamoras.

The New Orleans Bee publishes private letters
from Matamoras to January 30. Mejia and his
staff visited Brownville in full uniform, and were
received by Gen. Slaughter with an artillery salute.
Mejia and his staff saluted the Confederate flag.
Mejia said the Confederacy would soon be recog-
nised, and invited the Confederates to Matamoras,
promising to salute their flag with 21 guns.
New Orleans papers say that Croafal and Cor-
tinas were marching upon Matamoras, where Mejia
with 4,000 troops was waiting attack.
Semi-official advices received at Washington
state that Juarez was undisturbed at Chetmahua.

Official Juarist journals announce that the French
prisoners captured at San Pedro are kindly treated,
notwithstanding the right of the Juarist Govern-
ment to make claims for retaliation on account of
the atrocities committed upon Mexican prisoners.
In future, prisoners will not be exchanged, and
their treatment depends upon the treatment of the
Mexican prisoners by the French.

CANADA.
QUEBEC, MARCH 7.

The countries of Westmoreland, and St. John's,
New Brunswick, have elected the entire anti-confe-
deration scheme ticket by a large majority.

The Attorney-General has announced to the
Canadian Parliament that notwithstanding the
defeat of the Confederation candidates in New
Brunswick, and the consequent check to the gene-
ral scheme of confederation, the Government would
nevertheless pass resolutions in favour of the pro-
posal as soon as possible, ask the vote of the sup-
plies, and adjourn Parliament immediately. The
of the Government would then proceed to England,
to confer with the Home Government regarding
the question of defence and other pressing matters.
The result of the mission will be submitted to Par-
liament in an extra summer session.

ARRIVAL OF THE NOVA SCOTIAN.
(Via Greencastle.)

The following are the heads of the news brought
by the Nova Scotian :
NEW YORK, March 4, 8 p.m.

In President Lincoln's inaugural there is no in-
dication of any change of policy, nor is there any
mention made of foreign relations.
Nothing authentic has been received from Sher-
man, and there are rumours of a battle, and also of
Sherman and Schofield having been checked.

The junction of Sherman- and Schofield is un-
confirmed.

Preparations for a movement by Grant are re-
ported.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Gold, 1991. Exchange on London, 217. 5-20
United States Bonds, 111. "Illinois, 118. Cotton,
82c.
NEW YORK, March 3, Evening.

The correspondent of the New York World is in-
formed that a battle was fought on the 24th ult.,
near Salisbury Plain, between Generals Sherman
and Johnston. Sherman divided his army into two
columns, one marching on Salisbury and the other
on Raleigh. Johnston attacked the first column
between Salisbury and Tadkin river. An indecisive
engagement ensued. At first the advantagewas with
the Confederates, but Sherman succeeded in join-
ing his two columns and repelled Johnston's
attacks. Johnston then crossed the Tadkin, effected
a junction with his main force, and awaited Sher-
man crossing the river.
Johnston's forces are larger than Sherman's. If
the latter marched towards Salisbury, it was sup-
posed that Johnston would recross the Tadkin and
attack him.

If Sherman intends meeting Schofield at Raleigh,
he would also cross the Tadkin, and an engagement
would ensue.

Johnston is believed to have between 60,000 and
80,000 men in addition to the reinforcements he has
probably received from Lee.
The Richmond papers censure Johnston, and
assert that Sherman and Schofield have formed a
junction near G oldsborough. They express a
fear that Hood and Hardee are cut off from joining
Johnson.

The Daily News has a report that Sherman is
marching towards Florence. It ridicules the re-
ported junction of Schofield and Sherman, and con-
siders the position of the latter as precarious.
Johnston was appointed at Beauregard's request
to the command of the Army of Tennessee and the
troops in South Carolina. Beauregard informed
Davis that he preferred to serve under Johnston,
the public sentiment, particularly in the Army of
the Tennessee, being in favour of the restoration of
the latter to the command.

General Lee accompanied Johnston to the South
and installed him in his new department.
According to the Richmond papers Grant's troops
north of the James River have been moved to the
left and massed with the rest of his army in the
vicinity of Hatcher's Run.

Contradictory reports are current of preparations
by the Confederates to evacuate Petersburg.
Admiral Semmes is said to be preparing another
naval attack in the James River.

The Herald's correspondent says that Longstreet
is temporarily commanding Richmond.
The Examiner announces an active movement by
the Federal cavalry in the northern counties of Vir-
ginia. A Federal cavalry force is said to be moving
down the Shenandoah towards Stanton.
The Richmond Examiner of the 28th reports that
Columbia was free from the Federals. The greater
portion, however, of the town is burnt ; the cause
of the fire is unknown. General Hampton fired
his own house.

The Federals destroyed the Confederate saltworks
at West Bay.

The Feclerahi captured a torpedo yawl in the

Tennessee River, prepared with care to destroy the
Federal transports.
The Virginia Senate has authorised the Governor
to call for volunteers among the slaves and free
negroes of the State for the defence of Richmond
and other points. It is threatened to organise
infantry companies for one year's service, under
white officers, and to place them at the disposal of
the General-in-chief.

The law prohibiting slaves and free negroes carry-
ing arms during their term of service will be sus-
pended.
A speech has been made in the Virginia Senate,
declaring that Davis and his administration had
separated the Government from the people, and that
more vigorous and effective war was made on the
resources of the country than on the enemy. The
speaker called on Davis and Stephens to resign.
The Confederate Congress have expelled Senator
Foote.
The Tribune considers the silence on American
affairs in Napoleon's speech no reason for suspect-
ing the existence of an unfriendly complication. The
Daily News, on the other hand, considers this silence
as equivalent to a threat. The New York Tribune
also says that Lincoln will make no change in his
Cabinet, except the appointment of M'Cullagh to
the Treasury.
A Russian missionary performed Divine service
in Trinity Chapel, New York, by special permission
of the Episcopal Bishop of New York, who ex-
pressed satisfaction that it was in honour of Alex-
ander's accession, who generally encouraged a
friendly feeling in Russia towards America.
The New York Chamber of Commerce have ap-
pointed persons to inquire into the seizure of cotton
by the Government, as the Southern people owed
money to the North, which they could only repay
by retaining their cotton.

The celebration of the recent victories will take
place to-morrow in this city on a grand scale.
There are .numerous rumours concerning Sher-
man, some accounts reporting him to have been
checked, but nothing authentic has been received.
The report of the capture of Sherman and his staff
near Columbia is denied.

The Richmond papers of Thursday state that
Bragg :checked Schofield's movement from Wilming-
ton. Schofield's advance is no further than the
North-East River, 15 miles from Wilmington. It
is supposed that he is attempting to join Sherman,
via Fayetteville.
The Richmond Sentinel of Wednesday says that
the news from the South is more favourable. The
Despatch reports that Sherman is stuck in the mud
in some Southern State.

The Federal force operating in North and South
Carolina is estimated at 60,000 men. The anxiety
prevalent at Charlotte concerning Sherman's advance
has subsided.
Wade Hampton occupies Columbia.

The Richmond papers anticipate an extensive flank
movement of Grant round Lee's right, and believe
that the expedition preparing at New Orleans is
destined for Galveston, not Mobile.
Anarchy prevails along the Mississippi border.
The Daily News states that the Confederates have
re-established pickets along the Rappahannock.
An unsuccessful attempt has been made to burn
the States' Tobacco-house at Richmond.

A bill has passed the Confederate House of Re-
presentatives, in secret session, authorising the arm-
ing of negroes tendered by owners, and also autho-
rising the President to call upon each State, when-
ever expedient, for a quota of 300,000 troops,
irrespective of colour, in addition to those subject to
military service under existing laws. The relations
of slaves and masters remain unchanged, except by
consent of the owners, in States where slaves reside.

The Richmond Sentinel censures the Governor of
Georgia's message in strong terms, and denounces
him as inciting desertion. The Inquirer says the
Governor must blame himself if the message places
him under suspicion of treachery.
The New Orleans correspondent of the New York
Herald confirms the expulsion of the American
Consul from Matamoras and the interruption of
trade.

The United States' Senate has struck out the- tax
on cotton and the sales of merchandise.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S INAUGURAL—

AD D RE SSS.

The fnllnwing is the full text of President Lin-
coln's inaugural address :

" Fellow Countrymen—At this second appearing
to take the oath of the Presidential office there is
less occasion for an extended address than at first.
Then a statement somewhat in detail of the course
to be pursued seemed very fitting and proper; now,
at the expiration of four years, during which public
declarations have constantly been called forth con-
cerning every point and place of the great con
test which still absorbs attention and engrosses the
energies of the nation, little that is new could be
presented.

" The progress of our arms, upon which all else
chiefly depend, is as well known to the public as to
myself. It is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and
encouraging to all. With a high hope for the
future no prediction in that regard is ventured. On
the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all
thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending
civil war. All dreaded it. All sought to avoid it.
While the inaugural address was being delivered
from this place, devoted altogether to saving the
Union without war, the insurgent agents were in the
city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to
dissolve the Union, and divide the effects by nego-
tiating.. Both parties deprecated war, but one of
them would make war rather than let it perish, and
war came. One-eighth of the whole population
were coloured slaves, not distributed generally over
the Union, but located in the Southern part. These
slaves contributed a peculiar and powerful interest.
All knew the interest would somehow cause war.
To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest
was the object for which the insurgents would rend
the Union by war, while the Government claimed
no right to do more than restrict the territorial en-
largement of it. Neither party expected the mag-
nitude or duration -which it has already attained;
neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict
might cease even before the conflict itself should
cease. Each looked for an easier triumph and a
result less fundamental and astonishing. Both read
the same Bible and pray to the same God. Each
invokes his aid against the other. It may seem
strange that any man should dare to ask a just
God's assistance in wringing bread from the sweat
of other men's faces ; but let us -judge not, that we
be not judged. The prayer of both should not be
answered ; that of neither has been answered fully,
for the Almighty has his own purposes. Woe unto
the world because of offences, for it must needs be
that offence come ; but woe unto that man by whom
the offence cometh.' If we shall suppose American
slavery one of those offences which in the provi-
dence of God must needs come, but which, having
continued through his appointed time, he now wills
to remove, and that he gives to both North and
South this terrible war, as was due to those by whom
the offence came, shall we discern that there
is any departure from those Divine attributes
which believers in the living God always ascribe to
him ? Fondly do we hope, fervently do wepray that
this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away;
yet if it be God's will that it continue until the
wealth piled by bondsmen by 250 years' unrequited
toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood
drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn
with the sword, as was said 3,000 years ago, so still
it must be said that the judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether, with malice towards
none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right.
As God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to
finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's
wounds, to care for whom shall have borne the
battle, and for his widows and orphans ; to do all
which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting
peace among ourselves and with all nations."

A few Confederate cavalry are said to have been
left to oppose Sheridan's movement against Lynch
burg. General Canby has left New Orleans for
Mobile.

The House of Representatives has concurred in
the resolution of the Senate never to recognise the
Confederate Debt.

A Federal transport from Smithville on the Ist
reports that a portion of Sherman's army had arrived

there, marching through Wilmington. This leads
to the conjecture that a junction with Terry had
been effected. The report was generally credited
by the officers at Smithville.
The Government has intimated to the Govern=
of New York that information has been received
from Halifax that the Confederates in the provinces
contemplate a raid against Oswego and Rochester.