The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-19 00:00:00

The Palestine and Virginia have arrived out.

The President, it is said, has deferred issuing the formal
proclamation declaring the restoration of the Union until
the opinions of Generals Grant, Sherman, Meade, Thomas,
Sheridan, Sickles, and others could be obtained relative to
the submission of the Southern States to the Constitu-
tional authorities.

Copies of the preliminary report on the Treaty of Reci-
procity with Great Britain, to regulate trade between the
United States and the Provinces of British North America,
prepared by E. H. Derby, at the request of the Secretary
of the Treasury, were on January 29 laid on the desks of
the members of Congress. The report includes a bill pro-
posing to continue the present Treaty one year from the
17th of March next, provided the duties and taxes on cer-
tain enumerated articles shall be repealed by Canada, the
internal tax on certain other articles bo raised, her free
ports on Lakes Huron and Superior be discontinued, with
some other advantages to be secured to the United States.
The Fenians appear to be carrying on their internecine
war with unabated vigour. Colonel Roberts has issued a
reply to the attack of Mr. B. D. Killian, the Olfahony
treasurer, upon the Roberts' Senate, in which he denies the
several allegations of the aforesaid Killian, and makes a
searching review of that gentleman's management of his
financial responsibilities. Taking up the report of the
committee appointed to examine Mr. Killian's accounts,
Mr. Roberts declares from it that out of $70,000 received
for the Fenian cause between the 30th of October and the
6th of January, not less than $60,000 has been extended
for the benefit of the 011ahony Government, leaving but
$lO,OOO to be used in achieving the liberation of Ireland,
and on this text Mr. Roberts proceeds to comment in a
manner which must be rather unpleasant to the feelings of
Mr. Killian.

On the 23d ult. United States Marshal Murray of New
York proceeded fon board the propeller Meteor, a steamer
of 1,400 tons burden, and seized the vessel, it being charged
by an affidavit of Mr. Podestat, an attache of the Spanish
Legation, that the vessel was fitted out as a Chilian priva-

teer, destined to destroy Spanish commerce on the high
seas. The Meteor, which was to have sailed for Panama,
is in charge of a Deputy Marshal. A formal libel has been
filed against her by United States District Attorney
Daniel Dickinson.

During the year 1865 about 125,000,000 letters passed
through the Post-office of the city of New York. The
amount of postage on both letters and papers was
$1,721,579 40c. ; amount received for box rents, $67,786
75c. ; expenses of office, $359,791 71c. ; profit to Govern-
ment over expenses, $1,503,174 22c.
General Terry, commanding Department of Virginia, has
issued a general order forbidding any magistrate or other
person to attempt to carry out the vagrant law recently
passed by the Virginia Legislature, on the ground that it
is unjust in its application to the freedmen, compelling
them, under penalty of punishment as criminals, to
labour for wages established by combination of employers.
Its ultimate effect being to reduce them to a condition
of servitude worse than that from which they have been
emancipated.

The court-martial in Savannah has acquitted and ordered
the release of the rebel General Mercer, who has been on
trial for some days en charge of causing the shooting of
national soldiers who had enlisted in the rebel ranks to
avoid starving to death, and who had deserted from the
rebels and been recaptured by them.
The Governor of South Carolina has addressed a letter
to the President, strongly urging the transfer of all the
lands now in possession of negroes to the late owners of
said lands.

The National Freedmen's Savings and Trust Company
are asking Congress for an amendment to their charter,
making their different banks depositories for such funds
as are b
eld by Treasury officers on behalf of the freedmen.
Thus far the
success,
over Company has met with the most gratifying
various branch $250 000 having been deposited with the
h vebe
bunks by the freedmen, of which $50,000
for other winetebetrn for the purchase of homesteads, and
offices, deposits. necessary purposes. Five per cent. is allowed
Company has now fifteen branch
the PrbleiPaloneobing located in New York.
For the fiscal
year
United
June 30 1865, the Mint and
branch mints of the unina
in gold, silver, and copper, States coined $32,819,248 64
In the official correspomnedieironjust published between
Generals Weitzel and
ly
former states that he sent 300 mentilt: thilaatg aad e
eaffair, p
ur e the
as
an act of humanity, without partiality to either of the con-
tendin parties.
Advices from the Northern Pacific coast repot
unpre-
cedented falls of snow and severe weather. The snow
Scott Mountain is from twelve to fifteen feet 811°
deep, and no
mail over that route has been received for twelve days.
The telegraph lines were broken at many points, aniii;
Washington Territory it *as nearly destroyed.
Secretary Seward and son were at their posts at
the State Department on January 29. They are looking
physically improved by their voyage. They came to
Washington direct from Havannah. At the latter place
they were treated with distinguished courtesy by the
Spanish officials.
A brother of General Grant, formerly his partner
in business, is in Washington, and submitting to con-
siderable lionising at the hands of the military and civic
authorities.

General Sherman visited both Houses of Con-
gress on January 29, while they were in session, and re-
ceived an enthusiastic reception. In the House of Repre-
sentatives three cheers forhimwere proposed by a member,
and heartily given both on the floor and in the galleries,
aoefeto the assemblage,
in the latter portion of the hall by the rising
the swinging of hats, and the waving of
handkerchiefs.
Mr. A. T. Stewart has caused the arrest di

Messrs. G. W. Matsell and W. McKellar, editors and pro-
prietors of the National Police Gazette, on a charge of libel,
in that they had in an issue of their sheet held him up to
reprobation and ignominy as having involved himself in
a disreputable intimacy with a profligate French actress.
Ou the examination the Gazette editors denied that the
article complained of referred to Mr. Stewart. The case
is yet before the court.
Hiram Powers, the American sculptor, is now
engaged, at his famous studio in Florence, in modelling an
ideal bust, which promises to be one of his most
brilliant efforts. Ile has selected for his subject
" Clytie."

The benefit to " Stonewall " Jackson's widow in
Richmond netted her over two thousand dollars.
Hon. John Sherman has been re-elected
United States Senator from Ohio.
William Gillmore Simms is making a collection
of the leading war poems written in the South during the
rebellion.

The marriage of Mrs. Steaphen A. Douglas and
Brevet Brigadier General Williams took place on the even-
ing of the 23d January, at nine o'clock, at the residence
of the bride in Washington. The ceremony was per-
formed by Rev. Father Lynch, of the Catholic Church.
There were present on the occasion General Grant and

lady, Secretary Stanton and lady, General Fry and lady,
General Kelton, A. A. G. 11. S. A. ; Colonel' Chalfin, and
several other intimate friends of the bride and bride-
groom.

The Lafayette (bad.) Journal says that John A.
Wilstach, Esq., of that city, will visit Europe, and be pre-
sented at the groat Paris Exhibition, under a commission
from Governor Baker, empowering him to act as a com-
missioner for the encouragement of emigration to Indiana,
and to take such steps, both in the United States and
Europe, as he may deem advisable for the purpose.

Col. John S. Mosby, the rebel guerilla, who was
arrested at his home in Fanquier, a few days since, by
military authority, and taken to Washington and impri-
soned, is charged with having hanged two Federal soldiers
in the Valley during the war, in retaliation for the murder
of some of his men.

Mr. Frank Moore, the historian of the late Ame-
rican war, is engaged upon a new work, " Women of the
War : their Heroism and Self-sacrifice."

Bayard Taylor is writing a new novel, which has
'or the hero an American tourist.

Mrs. Bigelow, wife of the American Minister in
Paris, is seriously ill. The French papers describe the
modest menage of the Republican Representative with much
admiration for its Spartan simplicity. Our journalist found
Mr. Bigelow cooking his own ham and eggs, without any
attendant to wait on him, and appears to think that these
domestic incidents aro fit subjects of public curiosity.
The Vera Cruz correspondent of the New York
Herald, writing under date of January 6th, says:—" Gen.
Jubal Early arrived here a few days ago, accompanied by
several Confederates. It is understood that he will leave
to-day for the City of Mexico. He has dyed his hair and
beard black. He rode all the way through the Southern
States from his place of concealment in Western Vir-
ginia."

Mr. Wendell Phillips delivered a lecture in
Springfield, Mass., lately, on the labour reform question,
in which he advocated the eight-hour movement. He said
that he expected to live to see such a progress made in
machinery that four hours will accomplish the work of
eight under present conditions.

It is currently reported among military men, says
the Washington National Intelligewer, that Lieut.-General
Grant will visit Europe during the present season, and
will remain there several months.

Forty-three major-generals and one hundred and
forty-one brigadier-generals remain at present in the
service of the United States, but twenty-one of the former
and one hundred and two of the latter have been ordered
to be mustered out.

The Washington correspondent of the Philadel-
phia Press says that, as the impression prevailed to some
extent that nearly or quite all the distinguished person-
ages who were active rebels have been pardoned, it is
proper to state that nearly twelve hundred applications
are now upon the President's table, most of which have
been there for several months. Seven hundred of them
fall under the $20,000 clause. The remainder are classi-
fied as follows : Members of rebel Congress, 86 ; ex United
States army officer; 132 ; rebel generals, 127; prominent
rebel civil officers, 32 ; ex officers of the United States
navy, 116.

A Cincinnati merchant, on a trip down the Mis-
sissippi river, writes home that the outcry about the dis-
organisation of labour, and the unwillingness of the negro
to work, is caused by cotton planters and speculators, who
want to frighten others away from the business in order
to augment their own profits. Nevertheless, Northern
men aro rushing in, and there will be a groat cotton crop
this year.

A Virginian clergyman writes to the Post Office
Department asking for a mail contract. He states that he
does not know that he can take the oath of allegiance, for
he has prayed in the pulpit during the war for the success
of the Southern cause; but as the prayers were never
answered, he is of opinion that no aid and comfort were
ever given, and therefore he remains a loyal citizen.

The Louisville Courier says that the Homestead of
Henry Clay—the Ashland estate, consisting of three hun-
dred and twenty-five acres—was sold a few weeks ago by
Mrs. James B. Clay to John B. Bowman, Regent of the
Kentucky University, for 890,000. It is the design of the
purchaser to transform it into the Agricultural College
of Kentucky. Possession will be given immediately.
New Orleans, after the Ist of March, is to be
lighted by three thousand petroleum lamps. The charges
of the gas company are considered excessive.

Oil has been struck near Decatur, Alabama, only
fifteen feet below the surface.

The San Francisco directory, published on the
Ist of January, contains nearly 45,000 names, by which the
population is estimated at 120,000. The number of build-
ings in the city and county is 15,518, viz. ; of wood, 12,268 ;
of brick, 3,250. Many of the buildings erected during the
last year were very costly, and of great architectural beauty.
There are 1,729 liquor saloons, 386 attorneys, 218 physi-
iclans, 56 drug stores, and 511 hotels and boarding
houses.

The failure of the Columbian Marine Insurance
Company, one of the oldest of the joint stock marine in-
surance institutions of New York, is announced. Its
liabilities are estimated to reach six million dollars; but
Mr. Phelps, the agent of the company, says that the assets
will be sufficient to meet all these and leave a handsome
surplus. It was found necessary to close up the concern
in consequence of recent very heavy losses. Its payment
on account of rebel piratical depredations alone, it is said,
aggregating over a million dollars.
Colonel Whittlesey, Assistant Commissioner of
the Freedmen's Bureau for North Carolina, reports that
the negroes generally of that State have made contracts
for the year and aro labouring industriously ; that the holi-
days passed without any insurrectionary demonstration
ou their part, and that their minds have become disabused
of the erroneous impressions that Government intends to
distribute lands among them.