The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-17 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

NEW YORK, AUG. 4.

The excitement prevailing in California and in
British Oregon on the subject of the Fraser's River
gold deposits has not yet affected, in a perceptible
degree, our markets in the Eastern States. The in-
decision with respect to the productiveness of the
placers, coupled with the fact that the wants of the
emigrated population can be amply supplied for the
present from the stores accumulated at San Francisco,
has prevented any speculative shipments to the gold
region ; and no such mania has seized our population
here as appears to possess the Californian diggers,
or as actuated them on the discovery of the Cali-
fornian gold. The accounts received, indeed, are
still contradictory; but there can be no doubt that
large quantities of gold exist, although the diffi-
culties in the way of obtaining it are enormous. Two
vessels are advertised to sail from New York for
Bellingham Bay, and the steamer llermann, formerly
of the Bremen and Southampton line, is to be sent
round Cape Horn, in order to perform the service
between Nicaragua, California, and the gold-pro-
ducing district. Should the news hold good, and
gold continue to be found or be discovered in more
accessible localities than on the bar of a river subject
to perpetual overflow, we may look for a great
exodus hence in the spring of 1859.

The foreign trade at this port has been more active
in its importations than at any other period in the
last nine months. The total entries of foreign mer-
chandise were $4,916,434, against $6,245,843 in the
corresponding week of 1857. We exported $1,061,016,
or within $600,000 of the sum last year. Neverthe-

less, a heaviness and sleepiness continue to weigh upon

trade. Such an exhibit as that of last week is but
sporadic, and many of our merchants assume a
gloomy aspect as they discuss the prospects of the
fall trade. This will have fully begun by next
week, and already many southern and western
buyers are in town. I learn by inquiry in the silk
and fancy goods trade that some considerable business
is done in that department, and that a satisfactory,, if
not average, demand has commenced. Clothiers in-
form me that their importations are comparatively
slight. The banks continue their complaints of
plethora, and specie still Fours in upon them, while
loans and discounts are but moderate, at rates of
only 3 per cent. The following is this week's
statement :

Week ending. Loans. Specie. Circulation. Deposits.
July 26, 5118,940,482..35,515,243..7,316,946..107,101,061
Aug. 2, $119,850,456-35,712,107-7,408,363-106,456,030

Inc. this 1 $909,974 196,864 51,419 • •
week.
Decrease . $645,031

A new bank has been started in Boston, with a
capital of $500,000, most of which was paid in on
the 2d inst. It will go into operation on the 15th.
We have later, but not quite trustworthy, news
from Mexico. The agents of private and national
filibusterism are constantly imposing false intelli-

Bence upon the country, and we therefore look with
more or less doubt upon every published statement.
It appears indubitable, however, that the unfortunate
puppet-president, Zuloaga, is rapidly passing off the

stage of government, to add his name to the ever-
lengthening list of Mexican administrative failures.
A very explicit statement, indeed, proceeding from

Toxa-6 asserts positively that—
" Zuloaga, the reactionary President, has abdicated, and

has llft the city of Mexico with an escort of 300 men, leav-
ing the Government in charge of D. Bernardo Canto and
two bishops. All through the interior, wherever the Con-

stitutionahsts show their faces, the despotic party are seized

with a sudden leaving."

Juarez, meanwhile, with his two backers, Vidaurr
and Garza, is at the gates of the capital. It will not
be matter of surprise if the next steamer brings in•

telligence of his pacific entrance. I can scarcely
think, however, that Juarez will be permitted to as-
sume the presidency which he claims. Everything
points to Vidaurri as the successor of Zuloaga, and I
am convinced that neither he nor Garza will sub-
mit to the rule, however nominal, of a man who has

shown neither courage, honesty, nor ability, in the
events of the last six months. It is possible that,
on the - flight of Zuloaga, some such Consejo
de Notables (Council of Notables) may be
assembled as that which was convened last
Juiniaiy vii the fall OI Uomonfort, and the pre-
sidency be adjudged to the worthiest or the highest
bidding leader. I fancy that the Government at
Washington will look with some displeasure at the
downfall of Zuloaga, as it will block the game, so
long in preparation, of demanding redress for the
various offences he has committed. Mr. Whitehead,
the efficient agent of British creditors now in the
country, will doubtless use all his exertions with the

new regime to obtain some step towards the payment
of the Mexican bonds. The report that Spain is
preparing another expedition against Mexico is
scarcely credited here ; nevertheless it gives rise to
much comment on the possibilities it would involve
of a seizure of Cuba under the Mexican flag. A good
commander, however, could with ease secure the
island against any attack not conducted by regular
Govermental forces.
The affairs of Hayti continue to attract some at-
tention. That mischievous scoundrel, Santana, is
once more installed in the presidency of the Domini-
can republic, and a close watch must be kept upon
his proceedings. I do not doubt that the British
and French agents will exert themselves, as before,
to prevent the reckless cession of the Bay of Santana
(to be used as a coal depot !) to the United States ;
but at the same time care ought to be taken that the
interests of Great Britain are not to be invaded by
the representatives of her ally. The important
position of Hayti, as regards the West Indies, renders
it of the utmost importance that it should not fall
into the bands of a Power that may one day be ac-
tively hostile. On the other side of the island the
Emperor Faustin has driven the American quasi-
guano-diggers from the island of Navassa, and has
put it in possession of the parties in Jamaica to
whom he had conceded the right of removing the
deposit.
The vessels decided on for the expedition against
Paraguay are the steamers Waterwitch, 800 tons,
2 guns ; Fulton, 5 guns ; and Harriet Lane, revenue
cutter, 2 gnus ; with the three old sailing brigs
Bainbridge, Perry, and Dolphin, mounting respec-
tively 6,6, and 4 guns. In case any hostile measures
are taken, which is very improbable, President Lopez
can oppose a serviceable fleet of Thames-built screw
steamers, adapted to river navigation, to this rickety
squadron. He has a well-disciplined force of tone
12,000 men, and there are several French engineers
and military men in his employ. No bloodshed will,
however, take place. Indeed the expedition is too
ridiculously inadequate to allow the expectation of
such an event. The vessels are sent merely as an
excuse for the despatch of the commissioner who
accompanies them, and whose duty it is to bully as
much apology from Lopez as possible for having
been insulted and cheated by an individual who
happened to be entitled United States Consul.
The New Grenada difficulty is still pending. The
Legislature steadily refuses to ratify the treaty by
which Gen. Herran virtually gave up the isthmus
to American control, and granted a large indem-
nity to the parties who suffered by the massacre
of April, 1856. They have, however, it would
seem, agreed to pay the damages, but have struck
out the clause by which the cession of an island
in the Bay of Panama was secured. I think it
likely that the treaty as amended thus may be ac-
cepted by the United States Government, although
the possession of the island opposite Panama wits the
only inducement that led to its proposal in the first
place. A • question has arisen whether the United
States or the British Government have the right to
transport troops over the territory of a friendly
Power, as in the case of the transit route of Panama,
without first obtaining permission from the Govern-
ment. A detachment of troops was recently sent
across the Isthmus to California, and whatever force
the British Government may contemplate sending to
New Caledonia (if any) will doubtless pass the same
way. The railway has so completely altered the
ciecumstAnete Of the Tight of passage, that the point

really requires elucidation. It would be strange if
it were decided that while 200 men with Colt's re-
volvers in their pockets may pass in perfect liberty
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, 100 men with
muskets must wait for permission from a distant scat
of Government to make a journey occupying only
three or four hours !
The affairs of the other transit—that of Nicaragua
—are still enveloped in obscurity. No mortal in
North America knows in whose hands the right has
been placed. The international relations of the
country are also as doubtful as ever. Presidents
Martinez of Nicaragua, and Mora of Costa Rica, re-
main as firmly opposed as ever to the infamous Cass-
Yrissari treaty, but an agent, Gen. Jerez, has been
despatched hither by the former to attempt a com-
promise in co-operation with Yrissari. I have no
confidence in the honesty of either. Martinez agrees
in part to the treaty, but strikes out the article ad-
mitting United States troops to the transit route.
The other republics are in a flourishing condition.
Honduras, usually the most obstinate and pigheaded
of all the States, favours the proposal of uniting all
the five in one republic. The municipalities of that
State are collecting the antiquities of the country, in
accordance with law, for the formation of a national
museum. Valuable discoveries have been made in
the ruins of Copan.
Coming northwards, we find the Mormons and
their invaders living peaceably within a few miles of
each other in Salt Lake Valley. The concessions
made by the agents despatched to Utah by President
Buchanan have secured the comfort, and probably
the lives of the troops, but all the questions ever
mooted remain still to be disposed of. The disciples
of Brigham Young are no less fanatical than before
in their belief, and an attempt by Judge Eckels to
enforce the old Mexican laws (still binding, it is said,
on Utah) against polygamy, would undoubtedly be
met with resistance. The Mormon females are still
at Provo, situate about 40 miles from Salt Lake
City. At the same place arc the two agents who
have been treating with Brigham Young for the
complete removal of the Mormons to the Mosquito
coast, where that filibuster manqué, Col. Kinney,
thinks he can " locate" them to his o*n advantage.
I consider it most probable, however, that their
exodus will be into Sonora, and they will be encou-
raged in this plan by the representatives of the
United States' Government. Gen. Johnston is
erecting a fort to the southwards of Salt Lake City.
Much comment has been excited by the appoint-
ment of the editor of the San Francisco Herald to
the post of United States diplomatic agent in the
new Fraser's River gold diggings. Mr. Nugent's
character is none of the brightest, it appears; but it
was necessary to send him somewhere, as his services
at the last election were great. lam informed by a
Californian, intimately acquainted with Mr. Nugent,
that he is very unpopular among the miners and the
population generally. The New York Times says of
this militia-diplomat, as Mr. Dallas would call him :
"If it had been President Buchanan's design to create an
imbroglio at the New Caledonia gold diggings, bis choice of
Nugent, the late editor of the San Francisco Herald,
might be pronounced not only unexceptionable, but sin-
gularly judicious. A man better calculated to stir up broils
could not be found, or one who would command, in a mea-
sure more diminutive, the respect of the Californian miners.
But if, as we are bound to suppose, the appoir.ttnent wr.s
made fur pacific purposes, and by means of judicious
advice to exercise a good influence over the rough spirits at
the mines, so as to prevent the difficulties which may be
likely to arise between our citizens and the British employes
of the Hudson's Bay Company, then we can conceive of
nothing more intensely absurd than the selection of this
restless, quarrelsome, office-seeking Irishman
The case appears to be that Nugent came from California
to Washington, determined to have an office of some sort,
and one has been made for him. lie is at least competent
to take the salary, and no other qualification has been re-
quired by the Administration."
It is to be hoped, however, that Mr. Nugent will
have no opportunity to exercise his mischief-making
talent. He is probably sent only by way of Govern-
ment reporter ; and if endued with higher powers,
the excellent instructions issued by the Colonial
Department, and the good sense of the British officials,
will doubtless obviate all difficulty.
It is natural that the Pacific Railroad question
should be actively debated at present, now that the
construction of the line through British territory has
become almost a positive certainty. Your Canadian
correspondent will doubtless inform you of the
earnest manner in which the subject has been taken
up in that country, snot it needs but a little judicious
fostering from the British Government to continue
the magnificent highway of the Grand Trunk Rail-
way from Lake Superior to the Rocky Mountains
and the Pacific. This prospect has again brought
into notice the plan proposed by Governor Stevens,
but rejected by the late and present Governments, on
account of its practicability, to form a road through
Minnesota and Oregon to the Californian coast, and
a stormy series of discussions will doubtless
ensue upon this question when the debate, post-
poned by Congress until December 7, is brought
up. This route will be violently opposed by
the Government and the South as it cannot be
made instrumental in bringing more slave States
into the Union. It will be, as it has always been,
supported by the Northern representatives. If not
decided before 18G0, this question will, undoubtedly,
supply one of the great issues of the presidential

campaign.
The Kansas election took place on Monday, 2d
inst., but we are as yet without intelligence.
The annual match between the cricketplayers of
Canada and the United States was commenced at
Hoboken, opposite New York, on Monday. Four
of the eleven Canadians are native, and the remainder
Englishmen —viz., Messrs. Fourdrenie, Pearless,
Head, Hardinge, and Sleath. A protest has been
made, in the name of some Canadian clubs, against
the selection of champions for Canada. Large dele-
gations of cricketers from different parts of the Union
were on the ground, but the weather, which was
exceedingly unpleasant, interfered with the game.
It was continued, however, with interruptions through
Monday and Tuesday, but the pouring rain of to-day
will doubtless put a stop to it. The United States
play has been very creditable.
it is just a month since men and women were
dying h.), the score of sunstroke, and a frightfully
hot summer was apprehended. On the contrary,
however, the last fortnight has hccu quite chilly,
and for the, last kw days exceedingly wet. In New
England fires are lighted, and overcoats worn. This
we,ather is very unpropitious to the crops
" Bowmanville coal " in Canada turns out to
be a hoax, and Sir Wni. Logan's science is trium-
phant. An imposition precisely similar took place
in the State of New York a few years ago. With
all deference to the geologists, I heartily regret that
the affair has turned out thus. A dissolution of
Parliament is, as we karti by telegraph, imminent in
Canada.

THE BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTlVAL.—The,pro-
p,,,rattime of this great musical celebration has been pub-
lished within the last few days, and is well calculated
to sustain the character wine!' has been justly ac-
corded to the Birmingham festivals for more . than
half a century. In the composition both of the
choral and instrumental body there are alt the
elements of completeness, whilst the same itself is
even more than usually attractive. In the cheral body
there are upwards of three hundred performers, the en ire
orchestra comprising nearly fire hundred. The first morn-
ing of the festival (Tuesday, August 31) is devoted to the
performance of 11Iendelssohn's oratorio, "Elijah," composed
expressly for the Birmingham Festival, and performed for
the first time under his direction in 1846. On the Wednes-
day morning, Mr. Costa's oratorio, " ;" on Thursday the
" Messiah ;" and on Friday, the concluding morning of the
festival, Mr. H. Leslie's oraterk "Judith,"will be performed
for the first time, with Mendelssohn's cantata" Lauda Zion"
and Beethoven's service in C. The evening performances
will consist, as usual, of selections of miscellaneous
music, alt of it of the very highest character, with one
or two exceptions, which we have not before observed
at these festivals. For instance, on the Tuesday evening,
the first part is a miscellaneous concert ; the second,
Ilandel's cantata " Avis and Galatea," as arranged with
additional accompaniments by Mr. Costs. On the Wed-
tiesday evening will he given Mendelssolm's cantata " To
the Eiona of Art," and on Toursdey evening a serenata, bY
Mr. Cos'a, entitled " The Dream," composed fir the roar-
riag,e of the Princess Rf.val. The principal vocalists include
the names of Clara Nevelle, Cat'tellan, Alboul, Viardot
Garcia, Madile. Victoire Balfe, and Miss Dolby. With,thece
are Mr. Sims Reeves, the Signors Tainberlick,
.Roneeni,
and Belletti, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Montem Smith, lee: rilteCesta
conducts, a 3 usual. The outline wehavegiven of the
programme sufficiently indicates the materials
it is composed,ased, whilst the ofeetiveness of which
is no less shownthe power to be
Inoue ht to bear in the ca inns performances
by the namea we have api.cedeci, which include all the prin-
cipal vocalists of the day- We notice the same excel'ence
I ar.,,d painstaking in waters rf derail which has on ti.rnier
occasions done so roach t """ttlb"te to the pcpnlcirity
of this The Wlot for places for the Toes-
' dly and Wednesday's performances takes place on Friday
the "27tt, of August ; for those cf Thursdny and Friday on
that2B
S u they; will andl s strangers have the pledge of the
committeeselect in every case the best nieces
ird a) ,
which the chances of the l;allot permit. We observe that
there are arrangements made for special trains on the
London and North-Western, Great Western, North Staf-
fordshire, Midland, Oxford, Worces'er, and Wolverhamp-
ton, Stour Valley, and South Staffordshire railways.
every instance the trains arrive in time for the morning and
leave Birmingham after the conclusion of the evening per-
f e-mances. Up to the present time the applications from
parties at a di;ztaneQ wih:ng to attend the festival have
bees l very nuraVicus.