The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-30 00:00:00

AMERICA,

The Montreal Ocean Steamship Company's screw
steamer Norwegian arrived in Liverpool yesterday
afternoon from Quebec, whence she sailed on Satur-
day, the 18th inst. She was detained by fog for
12 hours in the river St. Lawrence.
The following is the text of Mr. Seward's answer
to the Governors of States relative to the fortifica-
tion of the seaboard :--
"Department of State, Washington, Oct. 14.
" To his Excellency. Governor of the State
of New York.
" Sir,—The present insurrection had not even re-
vealed itself in arms when disloyal citizens hastened
to foreign countries to invoke their intervention for
the overthrow of the Government and the destruc-
tion of the Federal Union. These agents are known
to have made their appeals to some of the more im-
portant States without success. It is not likely,
however, that they will remain content with such

refusals. Indeed ft is understood that they are in-
dustriously endeavouring to accomplish their dis-
loyal purpose by degrees and by indirection. Taking
advantage of the embarrassments of agriculture,
manufactures, and commerce, in foreign countries,
resulting from the insurrection they have inaugu-
rated at home, they seek to involve our common
country in controversies with States with which
every public interest and every interest require that
it shall remain in relations of peace, amity, and
friendship. lam able to state for your satisfaction
that the prospect of any such disturbance is now
less serious•than it has been at any previous period
during the course of the insurrection. It is, never-
theless, necessary now, as it has hitherto been, to
take every precaution that is possible to avoid the
evils of a foreign war, to be superinduced upon those
of civil commotion which we are endeavouring to
cure. One of the most obvious of such precautions
is that our ports and harbours in the seas and lakes
should be put in a condition of complete defence,
for any nation may be said to voluntarily incur
danger in tempestuous seasons when it fails to show
that it has sheltered itself on every side from which
the storm might possibly come.
" The measures which the Executive can adopt
in this emergency are such only as Congress has
sanctioned, and for which it has provided. The
President is putting forth the most diligent efforts
to execute these measures, and we have the great
satisfaction of seeing that these efforts are seconded
by the favour, aid, and support of a loyal, patriotic,
and self-sacrificing people, and are rapidly bringing
the military and naval forces of the United States
into the highest state of efficiency; but Congress
was chiefly absorbed during the recent session with
those measures, and did not provide as amply as
could be wished for the fortification of our sea and
lake coast.

" In previous wars the loyal States have applied
themselves by independent and separate activity to
support and aid the Federal Government in its
arduous responsibilities. The same disposition has
been manifested in a degree eminently honourable
by all the loyal States during the present insurrec-
tion.
" In view of this fact, and relying upon the in•
crease and continuance of the same disposition on
part of the loyal States, the President has directed
me to invite your comideration to the subject of the

improvement and fortification of the defences of the
State over which you preside, and ask you to sub-
mit the subject to the consideration of the Legisla-
ture when it shall have assembled. Such proceed-
ings by the State require only a temporary use of
its means. The expenditures ought to be made the
subject of conference with the Federal Government.
Being thus made with the concurrence of the Go-
vernment for general defence, there is every reason
to believe that Congress would sanction what tLe
State should do, and would provide for its reim-
bursement. Should these suggestions be accepted
the President will direct proper agents of the Fe-
deral Government to confer with you, and to super-
intend, direct, and conduct the prosecution of the
system of defence of your State.
" I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient
servant, "W m. IL SEWARD."

The commander of the blockading squadron off
Charleston had been superseded for allowing the
Confederate steamer Nashville, with the English
and French commissioners, to escape. Vessels had
been despatched in pursuit of the Nashville. The
mission of these commissioners is, it is stated, not
only to negotiate treaties of extraordinary commer-
cial advantages with tl-ese Powers, but to place the
Southern Confederacy for a limited period under
their protection. They were expected to land in
the West Indies and proceed to England by British
steamers.

Washington letters report that the order relative
to the exchange of prisoners would shortly lead to
the discharge of all the prisoners held both by the
Federals and the Confederates.
Sir James Ferguson and Mr. Burke arrived at
New York on the 16th from Manassas.
A despatch, dated Point of Rocks, October 17,
says,—

" Colonel Geary, with a part of the force under
his command, achieved a glorious victory yesterday,
at Bolivar, Virginia, against a greatly superior force
of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, capturing four
32-pounders and some prisoners, who report the
rebel loss as not less than 150 men in kilted and
wounded. Our loss was 4 killed and 7 wounded,
1 mortally, and 1 missing. Colonel Geary was
slightly wounded by a shell. The fight lasted five
hours."

Oa the 16th a detachment of 1,000 troops from
the 12th Massachusetts, Colonel Leonard, and a
Pennsylvania regiment, crossed the river at Boli-
var and attacked the enemy, 1,600 strong, driving
them back from the river, and capturing a 32-
pounder.

On the 16th the Confederates showed themselves
on Bolivar heights at Harper's Ferry, and com-
menced an attack with artillery upon three com-
panies, under Major S. B. Gould. of the 13th Mas-
sachusetts, stationed on the north side of the Poto-
mac. A constant fire was kept up for some hours,
when three companies of the 3d Wisconsin Regi-
ment crossed the river, formed into line and drove
the enemy back, and captured one of their heavy
guns. They were, however, compelled to retreat,
but in good order, to the river, where they were re-
inforced by three other companies. They then,with
Colonel Geary at their head, marched upon the ene-
my, and after hard fighting drove them from their
position, and recaptured the gun, a 62-pounder
columbiad.

A number of vessels had sailed for Hampton
Roads, to join the expedition.

THE WEST INDIA MAIL.

SOUTHAMPTON, OCT. 29.
The Royal Mail Company's steamer Shannon,
Captain Abbott, with the above mail, has arrived.
She brings 75 passengers, specie value 1,246,246
dollars, comprising gol I bullion, £77,683; gold coin,
£3,452 ; silver bullion, £63,171 ; silver coin,
£100,940; also pearls, £2,860; jewellery, £5,330;
and platina, £2BO.
Her cargo consists of' 544 serons cochineal, 181
serons indigo, 52 serons jalap, 120 cases cigars, 116
bales tobacco, 222 casks and 66 tierces coffee, 13
casks ginger, 10 packages vanilla, 7 turtle, 3 cases
succades, 299 bales bark, 74 bales indiarubber, 50
bags cocoa, 78 packages silver ore, and 373 packages
sundries.

Her Majesty's ship Termagant was at Panama,
Desperate at Vera Cruz ; Cygnet, Landrail, Bara-
couta, and Imaum, at Jamaica ; Cadmus at Trini-
dad. The English bark Sir Walter Raleigh, of
Liverpool, bound from Montego Bay to the former
port, with a cargo of sugar, rum, &c., ran on the
beach 20 miles north of Cape Florida, and became a
total wreck. The captain and ten of the crew were
lost. The British bark Evangeline, of Sunderland,
bound from St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, to London,
with a cargo of sugar, was destroyed by fire, after
being fourteen days out, in lat. 27 deg. north, long.
71 deg. west. The captain and crew were saved.
From Barbadoes there is nothing to note in
public affairs. The House of Assembly met on the
Bth, but nothing of importance was done. The
Governor left on the 26th for St. Lucia, the admi-
❑istrator of which, Mr. Breen, had been dismissed
from the public service, it is said for gross miscon-
duct in connection with the coolie immigration.
The Demerara Court of Policy met on the 25th
ult. and on the 2d inst. The bill to regulate the
sale of opium and bhang had been the subject of
considerable discussion, and had, with various
modifications and amendments, passed through
committee. The weather continued hot and dry,
and the canes rapidly maturing. Manufacturing
operations were being carried on with increased
activity, and were expected to continue to the end
of the year. Exchange on London per £lOO,
drawing at 90 days, 480 dols. ; 60 days, 483 dole. ;
30 days, 486 dols. ; three days, 489 dole.; sight,
500 dole.; purchasing at 90 days, 472 dole.
The Jamaica Legislature was to meet for the
despatch of business on the 12th proximo. Rumours
were rife that it was the intention of the party
lately in power in the House of Assembly to offer
a most determined opposition to the Government.
The weather was exceedingly fine, and agriculture
of every description was in a very forward state.
The Panama Star says the accounts received
from Bogota of the success of the Liberal army are
conflicting.
By a private letter, we learn that Santander and
An tioquia had declared to remain by the old govern-
ment. Canal, it is said, was marching with a force
of 4,000 men on Bogota ; and Santos Gutierrez had
taken the field to oppose him. The conservatives
say that Gutierrez had been defeated, but the repor
wants confirmation.
On the other hand, we learn from another source

that Mosquera was very successful, having won a
battle in Tolima, freeing the upper Magdalena; that
there were only 1,000 under arms in Antioquia,
which state, however, still held out; and that
Santander was nearly quieted in favour of the
liberals. A congress of representatives had met at
Bogota. General Mosquera had, by a decree, in-
creased the army to 19,000 men, and to carry out
the order, all citizens from 15 to 50 years of age
were subject to be pressed into the service. From
Carthagcna welearn that Nieto had despatched two
columns of 500 and 300 men respectively to aid
Mosquera. Mosquera has decreed an issue of

500,000 doll. in Treasury notes to pay off citizens
who hold claims against the Government.

Foreigners are not obliged to receive these notes,
but their claims will be paid in cash. All the
monks and nuns in Bogota have been turned out
and their property confiscated by Mosquera, which,
it is said, has caused great dissatisfaction.
Senor Mercado has been nominated Intendentet
to Panama, and Senor Manuel Maria Mosquera has
been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Wash-
ington, and Commissioner under the Cass Herran
treaty, instead of Senor Jose Marcelino Hurtado,

who was appointed by the Ospina Government

General Ilerran is still very ill in Antioquia.

In Ecuador the government was expecting Pre-
sident Castilla, of Peru, would soon commence war
against the former country, and Guayaquil Was
being fortified in consequence.

Active efforts aro being made to re construct the
city of Mendoza.

From Chili we have very little news of conse-
quence. The political situation of the Republic is
represented as being very satisfactory, and the
inaugural of the President, Don Jose J. Perez, has
been well received throughout the provinces. The
commercial crisis •?ontinues, although the failures
are on a smaller scale. The country presents a
favourable prospect as regards agriculture and the
mines are improving. ,
- The news from ,Boliyia rather more fayow:able '