The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-04 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.
The Africa, which touched at Queenstown yes-
terday, arrived this morning.
The New York Herald publishes the following
letter from Wasinghton :
" Washington, May 21.
" Our Government, it is quite understood, have
decided on their course should any foreign Power
display any disposition to truckle to the rebel States.
ny act of intervention which affords direct advan-
tage to the insurgent States, and which tends to
hamper or obstruct the action of our Government,
will lead to the most decisive measures on the part
of the Administration. Frequent consultations
are taking place on the best means of avenging
any interference in this domestic brawl by England
or other Powers, and a complete programme, it is
rumoured, will shortly be settled upon. It appears
that more than a month ago our Government gave
notice to the Powers of Europe who took part in the
Congress of Paris in 1856, that they were willing
to accept the code they. adopted at that period,
which declared privateering to be piracy. How,
then, will it be possible for England, one of the
Powers in question, to refuse to accept the unqua-
lified offer of our overnment to adopt their own
code ? And how will it be possible for her, after
this, to treat the rebel States simply as belligerents,
however pliant may be the opinions of the legal
advisers of the Crown ? Is England disposed to
become the patron and partner of pirates ?—for such
her laws pronounce privateers to be. This timely
act of our Government places England in a false
and untenable position if she persists in regarding
the privateers of the South merely as belligerents
This movement in the British Parliament isconsi-
dered by the Administration merely as a party
measure, meant chiefly to embarass Lord Palmer-
ston. They feel sure that the people of England
are strangers to it. It will be gratifying to the
country to learn that our Government has received
the amplest assurances from Austria that she will
have nothing to do with the rebel States whatever ;
while Prussia has not hesitated to manifest in plain
terms her unequivocal sympathy with our country.
The Secretary of State has given notice to Mexico
and to other States that the Monroe doctrine will
be carried out with all the energy and resources of
the Government, and that nothing in the shape of
foreign intervention will be tolerated or submitted
to for a single hour. Mexico has been assured in
the most positive language that she can depend on
the active and determined support of this country
should any European Power attempt to violate her
soil. A warning has been given to Spain that if
og
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she ventures to accept the artful proffer of St. Do-
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would do well to exercise the utmost discretion in
her foolhardy attempts to extend her dominion in
this part of the world. It is certainly remakable
that the three most despotic European Govern-'
ments, those of Prussia, Austria, and Russia, have
hastened to express their sympathy with our in-
ternal troubles, and intimate their indisposition to
give any direct or indirect aid or comfort to the
Southern rebels, while the rulers of England and
France, whose boast is a certain liberality of poli-
tical sentiment and action, are slow in assuming a
position on the side of law and justice and humanity,
against anarchy, usurpation, and barbarism. Russia
has evidently well remembered the American sym-
pathies shown to her during the Crimean war. The
Government regards with absolute certainty the
speedy termination of our domestic difficulties
should the rebel States receive no aid or comfort
from England, and they are quite resolved not to
deliberate for a single moment should England
manifest any such insane disposition, but to launch
against her the thunderbolts of a war that would
not cease till every Power in Europe was involved.
On this vital matter the President, the Secretary
of State, and all the Cabinet entertain but one
view, and are animated by the same sentiments.
They feel they can rely to any extent on the courage
and energy of the nation, which will sustain them
at every sacrifice against England and all the
world, when they see their dearest rights assailed
and their best interests rudely trampled on. It is
fortunate for the country, at this momentous crisis,

that there shoald be no- division of counsels as to
the best and safest policy both at home and abroad.
It is equally fortunate that the President and
Cabinet put so high an estimate on the sagacity
and firmness of the Secretary of State, as well as
upon his thorough knowledge of the condition and
interests of Europe, that they are content at all
times to defer to his views and support his sugges-
tions. It cannot but fill with surprise all who may
have followed the career of this able statesman to see
his usual caution and moderation suddenly converted
by the force of events into boldness and decision.
It is consoling to think that while the portfolio
of the State Department is in his hands there will
be no blunders to regret, and certainly no timidity
to deplore. Secretary Chase submitted the oath of
allegiance to the employes in his Department to-
day ; 16 men refused to take it in the State Audi-
tor's-office alone, and there were several in the
other bureaus."
On the 20th the Federal Government, by a simul-
taneous movement, seized all the telegrams re-
ceived at the principal telegraph offices in the Free
States during the last year.
It was intended to establish two extensive camps
of Federal troops—one on Staten Island and the
other at Harrisburg.
General Butler has left Annapolis for Fort Mon-
roe, where hostilities were anticipated early.
The Federal steamers Thomas Freeborn and Star
had shelled one of the Confederate batteries at
Sewell's point, near Norfolk, and driven the garri-
son out. Hampton Roads was expected to be
" covered with prizes" captured by the Federal

cruisers.
Further seizures of arms had taken place at
Baltimore.
Military reconnaissances have been pushed from
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, inside of the Vir-
ginian lines, at two points—Sheppardstown, 10
miles above Harper's Ferry, and Williamsport, 23
miles above. At Sheppardstown there were 303
brass pieces. Pieces of artillery were stationed on
the Virginian side of the river, commanding the
approaches to the bridge, also the approaches to the
town. The troops were encamped in a dense wood
crowning the heights opposite Williamsport.
The Charleston Coarier of the 17th of May re-
ports the raising of the blockade by the Niagara :
" For two days past our port has been without
the presence of the Niagara, which vessel has left
for parts unknown. She has been reported off
Savannah, in company with the brig Perry, and has
been seen off North Edisto, but at present we have
no certain information of her position. The Huntress
has also been observed near this bar, but she has also
left. Our port is consequently without obstruction
at the moment, and yesterday we had several
arrivals from foreign ports, among them a cargo of
molasses from Cardenas, and a British brig with
pig iron and coal from Glasgow. The latter has been
taken up to return to the same port, and has been
engaged full of Sea Island cotton at the enormous
freight of 2,1,d per lb. Such a freight has not been
given in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. Pas-
sengers by the railroad last evening report hearinc,
some
heavyof E d firingEdisto.
It yesterdaywas
thaitn
itth e
was
direc-
tion
salute to the flagship of the blockading fleet, which
the officers of the Niagara.t reported on Alonday to
the Lady Davis
vessels. This
i
the British Consul as on lAs way here, and expected
to arrive in a few days.
ot,or.eopoolrht.swionas
wcuirthrenotntehoatf
Davis, Lieut. J. the blockading s.Thlhis proved to be mere
rumour and incorrect.evloet, paidl us a last.. even-
ing,e commander
visitof the Lady
of the Confederate Navy,
and reports that
h in o
has been
ecno condition and
her
forces
her officers and men allwell.vessel
the command of the naval at Commodoreth this
station, at na it
w
arrived in this city last evening, and has taken
rooms at the Mills House.
Lieut. J. N. Maffit also
arrived in this city from Montgomery.
The steam-tug America had arrived at Philadel-
phia, having in tow the ship General Parkhill, of
Charleston, and taken while attempting to make
that port, on the return trip from Liverpool. The
ship made two attempts to evade the blockade and
ran into Charleston. She was ordered off twice,
and attempted to make signals to the land. She
was then seized, and sent North in charge ofPassed
Midshipman Sly and a prize crew. The ship is 555
tons burden, and she is owned by Patterson and
Stark, of Charleston, South Carolina. The Confe-
derate steamer Calhoun had captured the barque
Ocean Eagle.
The Southern Confederacy had established