The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-01 00:00:00

AMERICA.

By the papers brought by the Australian we
learn that a crisis had at last arrived in Missouri.
Former advises stated that Governor Jackson, hav-
ing issued a proclamation in favour of Secession,
and joined a body of State troops, General Lyon
had gone in pursuit. A telegram, dated St. Louis,
June 18, gives the result :
" The Democrat has a special despatch from Jef-
ferson city, which says that citizens of this place who
have just arrived in a skiff from six miles below
Booneville, bring news that Gen. Lyon attacked and
completely routed the State forces at Booneville, kil-
ling 300 and taking 600 prisoners. Gen, Price was
mortally wounded. The national loss was only 17.
Full confidence is not placed in the news. Colonel
Boernstein is continually sending scouting parties
into the country surrounding Jefferson city. One
company has just arrived, bringing a large number
of kegs of powder, taken from one of Governor
Jackson's secret depots in the interior. The Seces-
sionists of Boone, Holloway, and Howard counties
are fleeing, and the Union Home Guards are be-
ginning to organise in these counties. A desperate
effort was made by the convicts to escape from the
Penitentiary to-day, which was prevented by four
companies of troops. Six convicts were shot and
several wounded.

The New York Tribune says the President's
message to Congress, to meet July 4, was approach-
ing completion. It will take strong ground in
favour of the most energetic measures, in order
that the war may be concluded by the next winter.
Half a million of men, and 200 millions of dollars,
are spoken of as likely to be raised.

PORTSMOUTH. DOCKYARD.—The experiment of
firecordedo a t .
This onr morning
Thursday,si
g lednal tow furtheraae made, proofß tittiennenaisae
on
dock-
yard,testing the efficiency of the men and engines in the
fire tt
fire,".. which led to great activity in manning
Tboha
fis andfi re-
pairing
engines) were also as soon as possible under weigh,e
pairmg.to the supposed scene of eon flac..ration° re - otah
the
is owing enginetth
largest in tow of the tug ; but from the time the signal was
first made it was at least two hours before thi
was alongside the Britannia. This delay
fact that the float is moored some distance up the hgarbooure
and has to be manned by the crew of the Asia, and a steam:
tug has to be got in readiness before she can be moved.
Such delays in case of a real fire would be most disastrous.
A question naturally arises, would it not be far better to
have these floats, or at least the large one, moored at a
short distance from the Asia, so that, if required, she would
soon be manned, unmoored, and ready, if need be, to be
taken in tow of the steam-tug P The experiment, however,
was a good one, and again and again repeated, which will
soon prove that the men and engines can be always available.
THE LATEST ABOUT THE GREAT EASTERN.—
The last cheer from British voices which greeted the
Great Eastern and her gallant soldiers ere the mountains
of Old England faded from their sight, was given by a
body of Manchester volunteers who met them on their
way to Liverpool from Ireland. The volunteers were the
let Irish, or ninth company of the 2d Manchester Regi-
ment. There were fifty men, under the command of Cap-
tain Porteus, and they were also accompanied by Captain
Weston, Captain Beattie, and Ensign Miller. They had
been spending a day or two at Warrenpoint and Armagh
where the annual sports had been going on. They left
Warrenpoint on Wednesday, for Dundalk, and sailed from
the latter place the same day at midnight, by the steamer
Enterprise,
he Enter rise met the Great Eastern about
five miles from Liverpool on Thursday, and on getting
p
close to her the volunteers were formed on one of the
paddle-boxes, and a salute given. The steamer then
turned round, and sailed side by side with the big ship.
Having given the salute, the volunteers fired three rounds
of blank cartridge,
their gigantic consort returning fire with
four rounds from her cannon,