The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-13 00:00:00

commerce.

Baltimore advices report that ex-Governors Pratt
and Lowe had been arrested and sent to the Wash-
ington Navy yard.
Charleston accounts are to the effect that General
Beauregard had relinquished the command of the
forces around that city to Colonel R. H. Anderson.
The General had arrived at Memphis, to take com-
mand of the western division of the Confederate
army.
The blockade of the Southern ports would seem
to be extending to the furthest points in the Gulf,
as well as along the Atlantic coast. A telegram re-
ceived by the New York agent of Lloyd's, under
• date of the 28th ult., announced the commencement
of the blockade at that port (New Orleans) on the
day mentioned, and requested him to notify the
principals at London.
A New Orleans paper states that the number of
prizes taken by the privateers of the Confederacy,
up to the 24th ult., was seven, representing a total
value of 170,000 dols. The following are the prizes
—The ship Milan, from Liverpool, with 1,500 sacks
of salt, vessel worth about 20,000 dols. ; the bark
Ocean Eagle, from Rockland, Maine, with a cargo
of lime, worth about 20,000 dols. ; the schooner
Ella, from Tampico, for Pensacola, with a cargo of
bananas, oranges, &c., vessel and cargo worth about
5,000 dols.; the ship Marathon, from Marseilles, in
ballast, worth 35,000 dots. ; the ship Abaellino,
from Boston, with a cargo of ice, vessel worth about
20,000 dols. ; the ship Marshall, from Havre, in
ballast, worth 50,000 dols. ; the ship John H. Jar-
vis, from Liverpool, in ballast, worth about 20,000
dols.

An Act had passed the Confederate Congress
prohibiting the shipment of cotton from the " Con-
federate State" except through the seaports of the
said States.
An Englishman who had arrived at New York
from New Orleans had made the following doubt-
ful report :

" A. novel feature in the militarymovements of the State
was i body of 1,500 free negroes, rho were armed, and were
daily drilling in New Orleans. Mr. Fairchild witnessed one
of their parades. He states that they exhibit a fair profi-
ciency in their evolutions. The non-commissioned officers
were selected from the negroes themselves, but they were
commanded by whites. The whole body had enlisted for
general service, and were subject to be ordered to any point,
at the option of the authorities. Slaves, too, were being
armed in many cases. This was especially the case in Caddo
and St. Mary's parishes and in the sugar-growing portions
of the Attakapas country. Many planters there had ob-
tained arms, and placed them in the hands of the most
trusted slaves."
Advices from Vera Cruz to the 12th ult. report
the arrival at the capital of three new diplomatists
commissioned to the Government—namely, by Eng-
land, Belgium, and tit ashington. Senor Mate, the
newly-appointed Minister of Finance, had resigned,
and another Ministerial crisis was expected shortly.
Congress had at last formed a quorum.

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.

The Hamburg-American Company's screw steamer
Saxonia, Captain Elders, arrived off Cowes early
this morning, with New York mails of the Ist inst.

She brings 44 passengers for Havre and 187 for
Hamburg, with 800 tons of cargo, but no specie.
This vessel experienced fine weather and pleasant
favourable breezes during the passage. Between
long. 50 and 43 W., in lat. 4'7 to 48 N., numerous
icebergs were passed.

On the 2d inst., at 9 p.m., in lat. 41 17 N., long. ,
66 20 W., the Saxonia passed a large steamer
bound west, supposed to be the City of Washington,
for New York ; and on the 9th, in lat. 50 18 N.,
long.
signalled the British ship Empire
Queen,
The steam-ship New York, hence on the 15th,
arrived at New York on the 28th ; the America,
from Liverpool, at Boston at 9 p.m. on the 31st ;
bou
and the North Briton, from Liverpool for Quebec,
was intercepted off Cape Race at 1 p.m. on the 31st.
The batteries erected by the rebels at the mouth
of Aquia Creek, the terminus of Richmond, Fre-
derickshurgh, and Potomac Railroad, and 55 miles
below Washington, on the Potomac, were attacked
on the 31st ult. by the Thomas Freeborn and the
Anacosta. The Keystone State passed them at
noon on her way to Washington, and reported that
the batteries with suc-
the commander at the
etNwhe
Navy-yard,
y steamersyeapr
Captainadr,t immediately
weren
nts
aabni
dg rengagingente telegraphed the fact to the
,received
instructions to send
two additional war steamers to the scene of action
at once. The capture of the batteries at Aquia
Creek, which has, no doubt, been accomplished, is a
stroke of the utmost importance, as it gives the
Government possession of the railroad to Richmond.
Captain Dahlgren states that the batteries opened
fire on the Freeborn, Water Witch, and Anacosta.
The vessels replied, and a brisk fire was kept up on
both sides for an hour, till the ammunition run
short on board, and the vessels hauled off. The two
ships of war, with plenty of ammunition, which
wero immediately sent from the Navy-yard, were
expected to arrive off the creek at midnight, and the
fire to be re-opened on the batteries next morning.
It was stated in communications from Manassas

Junction that the earthworks erected there by the
rebels command both roads to Richmond and Har-
per's Ferry, for about four miles, but it was
rumoured that the Secessionists had ceased the