The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-05 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

Nsw YORK, SEPT. 16.—In:rny letter of the 28th
of June I referred to the approaching Presidential
election as likely to be the absorbing topic among the
American statesmen and politicians. The signs of
the times, as they then were presented, have since
been more fully developed, and what was then anti-
cipation is now reality. Both the great political
parties into which the people of this country are
divided are convulsed and distracted, insomuch that
all, or nearly all, is doubt and uncertainty. Mr.
Clay has been nominated by a section of his
friends, but without a hope of his success at this late
hour.

The candidates for the Presidency between whom
the great battle is to be fought are—
First—General Z. Taylor.
Second—General Cass.
Third—Martin Van Buren.
General Taylor at this time is the strongest, but
losing; General Cass next, but losing ground; and
M. Van Buren, though weakest, is evidently increas-
ing in strength.
The nomination of Mr. Clay, 'if he be not with-
drawn, will injure General Taylor more than either
of the other candidates. I know, from my corres-
pondence with him, that he disapproves of the use
made of his name; but whether he will give publicity
to this fact is matter of uncertainty,
The great mass of the people are strongly im-
pressed with the opinion, that the election of Ge-
neral Cass would involve the United States in a
war with Great Britain. Now, whether this opi-
nion be well or ill founded, it will operate against
the General at the election with the friends of peace.
The schooner Pacific, from Jeremie, has arrived
at this port. She brings dates up to the 23d of Au-
gust. At the date of her departure there was an
apparent tranquillity. The President was at Port-
au-Prince. All communication was stopped be-
tween Jeremie and the capital. This interruption
ot intercourse caused strong apprehension that new
difficulties were about to ensue. Other and more
interesting information is hourly anticipated. The
French Consul has written a letter to the President,
forbidding all political executions, and notifying to
him, that if not complied with, the French would
commence hostilities. A French frigate has been
ordered from Martinique to Port-au-Prince.
A severe drought for several weeks past has pre-
vailed in various districts of the United States. It
has proved highly injurious to the Indian corn, in-
somuch that in many districts the yield will not ex-
ceed half a crop, but the planting during the past
year has been so extensive that we shall have a large
surplus for exportation.
The potato rot is said to be developing itself ex-
!enswely in the western region of this country, but
appear, unlike anything which we have heretofore
seen. Its operation is slow and unequal. In some fields
.rows will be found entirely destroyed, while the ad-
3ya:t beent rows are untouched. No calculation can as
made as to the extent of damage that may be
sustained. Upon the whole, however, notwithstand-
ing the unfavourable accounts from European agri-
cultual districts, breadstuffs in this quarter are on !he
decline, and will so continue unless more alarming
British accounts be received.
A GENEVESE TRAVELLER.

THE COMMITTEE OF EDUCATION AND THE NA
TIONAL SOCIETY.—The long-pending discussion between
the Committee of the Privy Council and the Archbishop
of Canterbury, on the part of the National Society, on
the question of education, has been brought to a close
Dy.a peremptory refusal on the part of the Committee of
Pricy Council to make any further concessions to thV
Church. This refusal on the part of the Committee
will probably lead to a rupture between the two parties,
and perhaps to a complete withdrawal of the National
Society from a participation in the Government grants.
The correspondence between his Grace and the Lords of
the Committee of the Privy Council is of considerable
length, and in it are set out the views and wishes of the
respective parties. It appears by a paper drawn up by
the Committee of the National Society, and put into
the hands of the Archbishop, with a request that he
would submit it to the Lord President of the Council,
that since the adoption of the Committee of Council on
Education of the existing management clauses, the Com-
mittee of the National Society have received strong re-
monstrances from the clergy and laity in various parts
of the country, which convince them that much dissatis-
faction has arisen among the promoters of schools in
connexion with the Church. A general meeting of the
Bishops and the other members of the National Society
will be called in November, to decide what course shall,
under all the circumstances of the case, be adopted.
His Grace the Archbishop of York has presented
the Rev. Thomas Myers, M.A., late Scholar of Trinity
College, Cambridge, to the Vicarage of Sheriff Hutton,
otar York,