The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-17 00:00:00

her, but, much to the surprise and chagrin of all on board,
she was put about by order of Capt. Poor, and proceeded
back to her cruising ground. The Brooklyn captured, on
the 9th July, the barque Pilgrim, of New Orleans, with a
valuable cargo of wines, brandies, &c., consigned to parties
in New Orleans."
The Baltimore Exchange says three Federal
steamers which left Fortress Monroe on the 31st ult.
reached the mouth of the Pocomoke river the same
evening; that in attempting to ascend the river
they were repulsed, and that in endeavouring to re-
treat they ran aground. The Virginians had sent
for reinforcements, and the capture or destruction of
the vessels was expected. The expedition referred
to consisted of Lieut. Ashley with 300 men and
several pieces of artillery, on board the propellers
Cadwallader, Fanny, and Adriatic.
A despatch of the 2d
.instant from Washington

says :
"The appropriations thus far made by Congress amount
to about 240 million dols. The Secretary of War has asked
for 20 million dols. more, on account of volunteers now being
mustered into service. A bill for that purpose will probably
be passed to-morrow. It appears by an examination of the
two volunteer bills, one being supplemental to the other,
the President has power to call 1,000,000 men into the field
although that extent of authority was not, it is believed,
designed. It is not thought, therefore, that more than
500,000 men will be accepted. Congress will probably ad-
journ on Monday, the public business having nearly all
been transacted. A number of members will leave for home
to-morrow. The flag of truce brought from Gen. Johnston
to Gen. M'Dowell is said to be chiefly relative to the ex-
change of prisoners. It certainly was not in connection with
the affairs of State. The new Provost Marshal Col. Porter,
is rendering efficient service in gathering in the few re-
maining stragglers from the army. The effects of General
M'Clellan's recent order relative to discipline are every-
where apparent."
The proceedings of Congress on the Ist instant
were interesting. In the Senate, a number of
important bills were passed—among them the one
making appropriations for fortifications, the one to
promote the efficiency of the volunteer forces, the
one reducing consular fees on vessels running to or
between foreign ports, and the one to punish fraud
in making contracts with the Government. The
report of the Committee of Conference on the Bill
for the better organisation of the army was agreed
to, and the bill passed; and the same action was
taken on the Loan Bill. These two important mea-
sures only awaited the signature of the President to
become laws. The bill for the suppression and
punishment of insurrection was then taken up, and
discussed until the adjournment. It was bitterly
opposed by Mr. Breckinridge, who denounced it as
an atrocity of the worst character. A motion to post-
pone its consideration, however, was negatived by
28 to 16, though the matter was not finally disposed
of. rn the House, a bill was reported from the Naval
Committee, and passed, which authorises additional
enlistments in the navy for three years or for the
war. A bill was reported from the Committee of
Ways and Means, and passed, which appropriates
100,000 dols. for field fortifications for the defence of
Washington. A bill from the Committee on Com-
merce was passed, which authorises the Secretary of
the Treasury to employ additional revenue vessels.
Mr. Fenton, of New York, offered a preamble and
resolution, making inquiry of the President relative
to the detention of Congressman Ely among the
rebels as a prisoner. The rest of the session was
occupied in a discussion growing out of a personal
explanation made by Mr. Blair, of Missouri, in
answer to an article published in the Albany Evening
Journal, written by Thurlow Weed. He denied the
truth of the charges of Mr. Weed, that he had, as
chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs,
urged premature action on the part of General Scott.
Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, also explained that he
did not, in his remarks a few days ago, intend to
be understood that General Scott had accused the
President of forcing him to fight the battle of Bull's
Run against his better judgment.
On the 2d Congress took another bold step in the
prosecution of the war. The Tariff and Direct Tax
Bill passed both Houses, providing for a direct tax
of 20,000,000 dols. The bill imposes a tax of 3 per
cent. on incomes over 800 dols. per annum. The
duty on sugar is fixed at 2c. a pound, on coffee at
31c., and on tea at 15c. In the Senate the bill to
enable the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase
additional vessels for the revenue service was passed.
The bill authorising the construction of 12 small
sidewheel steamers for the blockading service was
passed. The resolution approving the acts of the
President elicited considerable discussion, but was
not finally disposed of. A bill making additional
appropriations for the army—among them 20,000,000
dols. for raising and organising the volunteers—.
was passed. The vote by which the bill to punish
fraud on the part of the officers making 'contracts
was passed was reconsidered, and the bill was laid
on the table. The Senate soon afterwards went into

executive session, and subsequently adjourned. In
the house a resolution was introduced by Mr. Cox,
and passed, which conveys the thanks of Congress
to the officers and soldiers of the army, and the
sympathy of the nation for those who suffered be
reavernent in the late battle. Another resolution
provided for the adjournment of the house on the
3d, the Senate to remain in session as long as it
may be necessary. A substitute for the Senate Bill,
providing for the confiscation of rebel property, was

reported from the Committee on the Judiciary, pro-
voked considerable discussion, and was finally re-
jected. Mr. Bingham then proposed an amend-

ment to the original bill, restricting its operations
to the present rebellion, which was also rejected.
After refusing to lay the bill on the table, the house
recommitted it to the Judiciary Committee-69 to
48. Mr. Stevens, from the Committee of Confer-
ence on the Tariff and the Direct Tax Bills, made
a report explanatory of the modifi. a.tions made,
which were agreed to, and the bills were passed. A
bill was reported from the Judiciary Committee and
passed which provides for the punishment of per-
sons recruiting for service against the Government
in any State or Territory.

The New York Journal of Commerce of the 3d
net. has the following on the subject of the new
Tariff Bill :
g, The new Tariff Bill, the product of the joint Committee
of Conference appointed on the part of each of the two
Houses of Congress, passed yesterday by a large majority,
and now awaits the signature of the President. The House
Bill was taken as the basis of the compromise, but some
very important changes were made in a few words. Sugar
was reduced half a cent, and the duty now stands at 2c per
lb. Coffee was reduced lc, and now stands at 4c per lb.
In the report of the Senate proceedings the new duty is
erroneously stated at 31c ; a private telegram from Hon. M.
F. Odell, to whom we are indebted for other interesting
particulars, fixes the duty at 4c. The duty on cocoa is 3c
per lb ; on crude chicory 2c, and on ground chicory 4c to 2c,
according to condition. On brandy the duty is fixed at 1 dol
25c :''per gallon ; on other spirits 50c per gallon ; on
wines 50 per cent. ad valorem, and nn tea 15c per lb.
Silks are raised to 40 per cent, ad valorem, which is a great
advance on the present rate. This heavy advance on French
produce (silks and wines) is not without very grave politi-
cal significance, and the reasons for it will be developed in
due time. The most important part of the bill is not given
in the telegraphic reports, but private telegrams to the
editor of this paper enable us to supply the omission. Mr.
Simmons's bill, it will be recollected, made no provision
for goods on the way to our ports (with the single excep-
tion of coffee from beyond the Cape of Good Hope), and
thus all goods arriving at the date his bill should take
effect would pay the new duty. The bill, as passed, ex-
cepts from its operation all goods in bonds and actually
on shipboard bound to the United States, and all such
goods will be subject to the rates current before the pas-
sage of the act. It is to take effect, as we understand,
from its passage ;' but it will be some time before any-
thing not now afloat can arrive and be entered ; and, if
we are not much mistaken, it will be a very distant day
before any considerable revenue will be derived from its
extraordinary provisions. Many of our readers who have
kept watch over the various amendments to the two bills,
originating in the House and Senate respectively, will bo
puzzled to understand the singular discussion in relation to
the direct tax in such a connection. The explanation of this
seeming mystery will be found in the fact that the Tax Bill
which started as an independent measure, hung upon
amendments between the two houses, and was finally re-
ferred to the Conference Committee having the Tariff Bill
in charge. After a spirited discussion, and much difficulty
in coming to any agreement, it was finally tacked on to the
Tariff Bill as a make-weight, and both were thus thrown
into the scale together. This Tax Bill, however, is now an
emasculated affair, and although retaining its more odious
features, is shorn of its more sensible and beneficent provi •
sions, It retains the income cruelty, but otherwise touches
lightly upon property, and will prove a lasting disgrace to
its promoters and defenders."
Regiments were continuing to return home from
the war, and were received with great ovations.
Many of the soldiers would re-enlist for the war.
Despatches from Springfield, Missouri, state that
hundreds of Unionists Were flying into that State