The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-10 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.
The . Royal Mail steamship Niagara, Caetain
Miler. arrived to-day with advises from Boston to
the 24th ult., and from Now York, by telegraph
via Halifax, to the 25th. She brought 68 passen-
gers, among whom was Sir J. G. L- Marchant, late
Governor of Nova Scotia, and 253,714 doll. specie
on fi eight. The Niagara experienced strong north-
east winds during the whole of the passage. On the
27th ult.., at 2.30 a.m., she spoke the Royal Mail
steamship America, hence for Halifax aud Bost .n.
The United States' mail steamship Belie arrived
at New York on the 18th tilt-.' and the Royal Mail
steamship Africa on the 21st, from Liverpool, and
the steamship Arago, from Southampton on the
23d. The Canalius mail screw steamer Anglo-
Saxon, from Liverpool, arrived at Portland on the •
23d ult.

lo Congress the question of Kansas was still
uppera oil. During a discussion on the 231 Mr.
Johnson and Mr. Bell had an altercation, which
resul-ed in the latter creating a sensation by saying
that he was " ready to meet the Senator at aby
time, or any others who should back him." What
the papers denominate a "duel mania" was preva-
lent. A Boston paper thus comments on tae
matter :
" We aro sorry to bear cf so many gentlemen at
Wasliingt,n struggling under ''personal difficul-
ties.' When the great Co:,greesiona,l fracas was
over, and Keitt came out of is less injured, or less
ingenuous, ih in thererowned Yellow plush came
out of the house upon the sidewalk on a certain oc-
casion—for Chawles' c indidly confessed, felt
something behind ; I think it was master's too'—
and Birksdale's wig went down in the brunt of
the fray ;' we say when this was all over, and good
humour appeared to be completely reAored, we
supposed there was to be no morn breaking of the
peace. But things have been ge ting worse, until
the 'claA of resounding arms' is awaited in every
te'egraphia desp itch from the southward. A chal-
lenge has pass. d between Col. Sumner and Gen.
Harney ; Gen. Cullom and Hon. J. 13. Clay are said
to be out on the field of honour ; Litut. Bell, of
the Cavalry, has summoned Lieut. William, tithe
Dinoons, to meet him wi h sanguinary weapons ;
and ex-Liewenant Rhind has been held to bail for
extending a similar invitation to Commander Bout-
well. Thus they go—Congress, army, and nay.;,
all furnislrnz irate represen. ati ves, pugnacious with-
in an inch of their iivo,ty and na inch
beyond."
Tne intelligence respecting these " difficulties"
had reached New York by tAegraph as follows .
"BosToN, Feb. 21.—A recontre oc3urred at
Parker's Hotel here th s mu on, the facts stated
being as follows :—A Mr. L. D. Merrill, of this
city, made a violent ass cult upon Mr. F. Birge, of
New York, the former spitting in the latter's face,
itc. Mr. Birge, after repairing to his room, again
made his-appearanet-, and called on Mr. Merrill to
account for the insult. A collision immediately
took placo, during which Mr. Birge diseimrgel a
pistol at Mr. Merrill, but without effect. They
were separated, and both parties are now under
arrest.

VASIIINGTON, Feb. 21.—A fisticuff altercation
occurred yesterday morning in a barber's shop
underneath Willard's Hotel between Lieut. Bell,
of the Cavalry, and Lieut. Williams, of the Dra-
goons, which may result in a duel, a challenge
having passed between them."
A la er despatch says—
" Lieuts. Bell and Williams, who had a collision
in a barb r's shop ors Sunday, went beyond Bla-
densburg this morning, at 5 o'clock, accompanied
by their respective friends. It is said that Bell
fired at the word ' one,' the ball from his pistol
penetrating Williams' hat: Williams,° who was the
assailing party, having given the satisfaction de-
manded, d scharged his pistol in the snow. The
belligerents returned to Washington apparently re-
cohciled."
But the greatest interest attaches to the dispute
between the Hon. J. B. Clay and Mr. Cullom, the
origin of which is explained by the Washing on ,
corresp ,ndent of the .A'etv York Tribune :
Cullom entered the bar-room of Brown's Hotel,
where Clay, Hawkins, and -Mason were standing.
He proposed an old-fashioned Kentucky drink, in
which tall the parties psrticipatei. SubsElttently he
commenced conversation with Clay, sating how
he had removed from Kentucky to near the Her-
mitage, in Tennessee, where he boarded the lion in
his den. He spoke of his long devotion o the ad-
miration for his father. Mr. Clay answered by
saying that General Leslie Coombs had once, as
Chickasaw Ambassador, bearded the lion in his
den. This expression, which some bystanders sup-
posed jocular, was regarded as an offens.ve report
by Cullom, who asked if he meant to insult him.
Clay disclaimed any such intention. The iiverro-
gatory was repeated, with the same reply, but wag
accompanied with the menacing use of Cullom's
finger, when Clay said he was not accustomed to
be addressed in such a threatening mariner, or
words to that effect. Cullom became more excited
under the conviction of an intended insult to him,
and d-nonuce I Clay as the a
apostate son of
noble sire.' Clay said his physical condition was
such as would prevent him from answering with a
blow, but he could nut resist proclaiming Cullom
a scoundrel. Whereupon Cullom drew
back to strike. The force of the blow was partially
arrested by the spectators, but still reached Clay's
nose and caused it to bleed. The two men then
vparated and withdrew. Clay called on Senator
Johnson, of Ark, to act as his friend, and a peremp-
tory message was communicated to Cullom, to
which acceptance was signified so soon as a compe •
tent
.second could be chosen. At 1 o'clock no
choice had been made."
A telegram of the 22d says :
" The efforts to reconcile the difficulty between
the Hon. J. B. Clay' and Mr. Cullom have proved
abortive. They left Washington this afternoon at
5 o'clock, accompanied by their respective friends,
for, it is said, a place about 40 miles distant. The
probability is that they will fight to-haorrow