The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-11 00:00:00

AMERICA.

SOUTHAMPTON, Feb. 10.—The United States'
mail steam ship Hermann, Capt. Higgins, with
dates to the 26th ult., arrived at this port this
morning en route from New York for Bremen.
There were on board about 50 passengers, 15 of
whom have landed at Southampton, and the usual
cargo if English' merchandise. The Hermann,
after coaling, will proceed to Bremen to-morrow.
The mail steam-ship Baltic, from Liverpool for
New York, arrived out on the morning of t►,e 24th
ult. The Washington, from Southampton, reached
New York on the 21st ult.

Congress was still without a Speaker. The last
ballot was, Banks, 91 ; Richardson, 67 ; Fuller, 29;
Gimpbells ; Pennington, Shorter, and Porter one
each. The number necessary to a choice was 98.
In the House of Representatives Mr. Boyce
offered a resolution to the effect that as the relations
with Great Britain were of the most threatening
character, indicating the eve of most startling
events, it was the imperative duty of the House,
at such a juncture of peril, to organise itself by the
election of a Speaker. Mr. Stephens, in reply;
said, that if the country was on the eve of war he
knew nothing about it. The motiri was tabled.
The President had communicated to the Senate
the following letter from,Mord J. Russell to Mr.
Crampton respecting the Central American ques-
tion. The subject was to be discussed in the.
&nate on the 27th of January :
" London, Jan. 19, 1853.

"Sr,i —ln treating of the affairs of Mosquito, I must
in the first place refer you to the despatch of Lnrd
Malmeslsury of the 6th of July, 1852, upon this subject.
It is evident that since Great Britain first assumed the
protection and defence of the. Mosquito Indians, the
position of all parties has changed.
" 1. Spain, instead of exercising absolute sovereignty
over Central America, and prohibiting all commerce on
the coasts under her sway, has entirely lost her domi•
nion over the continent from Cape Mtn to47llnide.. •
"2. The Mosquito Indians, Instead of gpverning
their own tribe according to their own customs, furnish
a name and title to Europeans and Americans, who
carry on trade at Greytown and along the coast of Mos-
quito, according to the usages of civilised nations.
" 3. Great Britain, instead of having an interest in
the defence of the Mosquito
_lndians, for the rake t f
rescuing part of the territory of Central America from
Spanish control, and obtaining an authority for le r
commerce, has no other interest is Mosquito than that
which is derived from an honourable regard for her old
connection with the Indian nation of Mosquito.
" Her Majesty's Government has for several years en-
deaveured to suit her engagements to the altered circum-
stances of the case; but every proposal that has le eft
made with this view has encountered some insuperable
obstacle. The contentions in Central. America between
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and' Honduras ; the absence of
any authority with which any permanent agreement
could be made ; unfounded jealousies of Great Britain,
and various other circumstances, have prevented the
settlement of this vexations question.
"In conformity with the opinions stated in Lord
Malmesbury's despatch of July 16, to which I have al-
ready referred, I hive to state that the Committee of
.Government at Greytown are, in fact, the real power
that exercises authority in that part of Central America.
To her Majesty's Government it would be a matter of
indifference whether that authority was exercised in the
name of the King of Mosquito or in the name of Grey-
town itself. But it is desirable that what is apparent
should be made to conform as far .as possible with what
is real. ' What is apparent is that the King of Mosquito
exercises sovereignty over Greytown. What is real is,
that he had no authority there whatever, but that the
committee of Europeans and Americans carry on the
Government at that port.
" What her Majesty's Government, therefore, should
consider a good-and float arrangement would be—first,
that Greytown should be a free and independent port,
connected with Mosquito by sitch relations of friendship
and alliance as may be agreed upon. Second, that indem-
nification, or advantages equivalent to those laid down
in the project of convention of the 13th of April, 1852,
shall be assured to Mosquito in return for its witb4r twat
front 'Ai present position ,with regard to Greytos a.
Third, that Great Britain aud .the United States, with-
out guarinteeing Greytown, should be ready to act in con-
cert to defend the independence of the free city or port of
Greytown from whatever quarter it might be attacked.
What is essential and of immediate importance is, that
the authorities of Greytown should be ready to assume
either unqualified independence, with an engagement to
defend Mosquito, or qualified independence, owing alle-
giance and support to Mosquito. For this purpose some
person qualified to treat should proceed at once to Grey-
town. Whether a naval officer of her Majesty's service or
a civil one would be a fitter person to• be intrusted with
this mission, I must leave you to decide. • It would be
desirable if the Government of the United States should
concur in those views, that a new convention, in place of
the unaccepted project of agreement of April, 1852,
should be proposed and concluded, and that a person
similarly qualified should be sent by this Governraeat at
the same time and for the same object.
• " I have only further to say that indemnity to Mos-
quito might possibly not be made in money, but in
greater security, for certain fixed territory within which
tbe free port .of < Greytown, assisted, by her Majesty's
ships of war, might manage to defend the Mosquito
nation. The Governor-General of Canada and autho-
rities in other of her. Majesty's North American posses-
sions have made from time to time agreements somewhat
similar. The President of the Unitedetates has frequently
made conventions with the Indians to. the like effect. The
peculiarity of this base is that certain neighbouring
States deny.altogether the intlepepdence. of Mosquito, and
the Mosquito nation are liable every day to new incur-
sions upon their territory. We can make no complete
provision against this danger. Our policy is to do all that
honour and humanity require in behalf of the Mosquito
nation. But we ietend to adhere strictly to, the treaty
at Washington of the,l9th of April, 1850, and not to
, assume any sovereignty, either direct or indirect, in
Central America. "J. RUSSELL."
(Memorandum in Mr. Everett's handwriting.)
" Mr. Crampton authorised ma to communicate this
to Congress in any way I thought proper." .
The New York papers publish, in extenso, the
special message of the President to Congress en
the Kansas controversy :,-- ~
"The President recapitulates the history . and pro-
gress 'of that territory hitherto, from which it appears
that a large share of the. troubles which have. existede
there are the natural and necessary consequenc of
Governor Reeder's - course --Bret, in giving certifi-
cates of election to persons (perhaps) not entitled to
them, and then, subsequently, in refusing to.acknoW,
ledge the Legislature collectively; which .he had. ace
knowledge(' in 'detail, rand. for no -better: reason than_.
because , they bad transferred their sittings from his
famous-village of Rawnee to the Shawnee Mission. In
both respects he evinced a lack of sound judgment or els e
of fineness, and the consequences began to be seen. The
President distinctly acknowledges the validity of the acts
of the Kansas Legislature, and of course he ignores yo.
lunteer conventions and volunteer elections in opposition
to the gtoyerhmeAt inchoted by Copy!! Aocordingly
_