The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-18 00:00:00

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, SUNDAY.
The following is a fuller summary of the news
brought by the Niagara :
The peace conference met at Washington on the
4th inst, to devise some compromise to dispose of
the national dissensions, The conference met with

closed doors. All the States were present that had
elected commissioners, except New York, Tennessee,
Missouri, and Illinois. Eleven were fully repre-

sented. Mr. Wright, of Ohio, was temporary
chairman, and Mr. E. Ward, of Maryland, tem-

porary secretary. A committee of one from each
State was appointed on permanent organisation.

The Washington correspondent of the New York
7imes states that it was understood that the entire

proceedings would be conducted in secret session.
He also states that the Virginian delegation in

the peace convention were determined to demand
the eqnality of the South in all the
territory hereafter to be acquired, as well
as in that now held by the United
States, in order, they said, that the
present settlement might stand for ever. Tempo-
rary expedient they ignored. In this they were
supported by the entire Kentucky delegation and
a majority from Maryland. Missouri, it was un-
terstood, would take the same position.
In the Senate, on the 4th inst., Messrs. Slidell
and Benamin, the senators from Louisiana, with-
drew from the Senate, and made speeches on the
occasion.

Mr. Slidell set forth the objects and aims of the
new confederacy, which he announced was to be
constructed soon, and assured the Senate that all
existing treaties of the United States would be
faithfully regarded, including those relating to the
African slave trade. A just proportion of the
public debt would be assumed, the fortifications
and other public property which had been seizad
would be accounted for, and the free emigration of
the Mississippi would be guaranteed to all those
residing in its valley.
Mr. Benjamin's speech was similar in tenour to
that of Mr. Slidell.

Previous to this episode Mr. Wilson, of Mas-
sachusetts, offered a resolution, which was laid over,
making inquiries relative to the late alleged seizure
of Federal property at New Orleans.

Lieut. James Jewitt, United States navy, of Ken-
tucky, arrived at Washington on the 31st ultimo,
from Pensacola, and in consequence of the peculiar
circumstances under which he left that city and
made the transit of the State of Florida, he made
haste this morning to call upon Senator Crittenden
to report the facts to him, and solicit his advice.
It appears that as soon as it was known that
Lieut. Jewitt was about to leave Pensacola, the
State authorities of Florida ordered him to be
arrested, and would not let him depart unless upon
his parole of honour that he would never take up
arms against the State of Florida. The document
was duly drawn up and presented to the lieutenant,
who accepted it as the only means of escape from
imprisonment. Without this document he could
not have passed through the State.
Senator Crittenden advised Lieut. Jewitt to pro-
ceed at once to the Secretary of the Navy and
report the facts, which he did.
What action the Federal authorities will take in
relation to the matter was not known.
On the 28th ult., the Alabama State Conven-

tion in secret session adopted resolutions, instruct-
ing the deputies to the Southern Convention to
insist upon such measures as will for ever prevent
the reopening of the African slave trade.

On the 29th the Convention passed a supple-
mentary ordinance, authorising the Governor to
carry into effect a previous ordinance for the pro-
tection of the defences in the gulf.
The Convention also passed an ordinance adopt-
ing as the law of Alabama the laws of the United
States, relative to patents securing the rights of
invention to citizens of all the slave States.
The Convention was then adjourned to the 4th
March.
Captain Meigs, commanding the United States
forces on the fort at Tortugas, had despatched to the
Government that he was sufficiently reinforced to
defy any power.
While the Government steamer was landing
troops and supplies, the steamer Galveston, of New
Orleans, with a force on board to take the fort, ap-
peared in sight ; but upon discovering the steamer,
and probably understanding the object of her visit,
did not approach or make any demonstration, other
than to put about and disappear.
It is also stated that Fort Taylor at Key West is
well manned and provisioned.
The steamship Northern Light, arrived at New
York from Aspinwall on the 25th ult., arrived on
Sunday.
The news by the Northern Light, from New
Grenada, is that Mosquera was within a day's
march of the capital. A report that he had been
defeated by General Paris, near the city of Neiva,
and which was received with great acclamation by
the people of Panama, turned out to be utterly
untrue. We shall probably hear next time of his
entry into Bogota.
President Barrios, of Salvador, had paid his
promised visit to President Carrera, of Guatemala,
and was expected to return to his own capital by
the 18th or 20th ult.
It is said that the Government of Costa Rica
intends annulling the Chiriqui-Thompson grant,
in consequence of the failure on the part of the
New York company to pay into the State treasury
on the day agreed on a certain stipulated amount.
Peru was quiet, though there was still talk of
war with Bolivia.
Congress had voted the necessary funds to sup-
ply the port of Paita with fresh water.
Garcia Morena, Governor of Guayaquil, was said
to have been elected President of Ecuador.
Trade at Guayaquil had revived, and that city
was now lighted with gas.
In Chili the Indians were very troublesome.
The continued absence of the Archbishop of Chili
was the general source of dissatisfaction, and the
Government had refused to pay him his rents.
In Valparaiso, South Carolina rice is scarce, and
in demand. Exchange on the United States, 13
per cent. premium.
The New York _Herald has advices from Porto
Cabello, Venezuela, to the Bth ult. The country
continued in a very unsettled condition both in
foreign and domestic affairs.
The accounts from the United States bad a most
paralyzing effect. The French and English Am-
bassadors and subjects assumed tones and conse-
quences heretofore not practised towards the
natives.
The New York _Herald publishes the following
despatch dated New Orleans, Feb. 2 :—A =tiny
has taken place on board the ship Devonshire, from
Liverpool, and the captain and mate are severely
wounded.

Lady Emily Cavendish comes to town to-day
from Brighton.

Colonel the Hon. W. P. and Lady Emma Talbot
have taken a mansion in Cromwell-road, South Kensing-
ton, fora term of years.
The lion. Miss Copley is suffering from severe
indisposition.

Mr, John Foley, M.P., has left the St. George's
Hotel.

Colonel Pave (aide-decamp to the Emperor
Napoleon) and Madame Fav6 left the Brunswick Hotel,
Jermyn-street, yesterday, on their return to Paris.

Major Weyland has left the St. George's Hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Namee and family have
arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, Jerznyn-street, front New
York.

TIIE LATE COUNTESS OF HADDINGTON.—The
body of the Countess (Dowager) of Haddington has been
removed from Berkeley-square to Tyninghame House,
N.B. The funeral is to take place to-morrow.
Register reports that the health of
Cardinall:he WeeklyNViseman continues to progress most satisfactorily.
His Eminence was in Loudon in Tuesday, and returned on
the same day to Leyton.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has positively
refused to receive a deputation from the hop growers pray-
ing for a further postponement of the payment of the duty.
The letters from Paris mention that the French
Government are understood to have just borrowed a sum
equal to £1,000,000 from the Bank of France.
The advices from the Continent state that, owing
to our high rate of discount, bills on London are in great de-
Adfit all the principal cities.