The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-17 00:00:00

THE DERBY.

Little or no feature presented itself in the transactions
upon this all-important race this afternoon worthy of re-
mark. The favourite, Buckstone, rraintains his supre-
macy, anything over his quoted odds finding eager and in-
fluential supporters. The Marquis did not appear quite so
buoyant, 100 to 8 being freely offered, but without meeting
with a customer, which mas, in a measure be accounted for
from the strong feeling evinced in favour of his stable com-
panion, Ace of Clubs, who was inquired after, and quietly
supported at 25 to 1. Lord Wilton's colt was also backed
at 1,000 to 30. From the extreme outside division, Ellen-
gowan, a recent purchase of Mr. Ward's from the Earl of
Winchilsea's stud, was introduced into the quotations,
1,000 to 12 being accepted several times, and at the close
1,000 to 15 could have been obtained in good quarters to
any amount.

The following may be taken as a correct return of the
business transacted :

TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
4to 1 agat Old Calabar (offered)
100 to 15 agst The Marquis (taken and offered)
11 to 1 agat Alvediston (taken)
11 to 1 agst Caterer (taken)

THE DERBY.
Bto 1 agst Buckstone (offered)
100 to S agst Marquis (offered)
25 to 1 agst Ace of Clubs (taken)
33 to 1 agst Typee colt (taken)

PEDESIRIANISM.

MILLS AND DEERFOOT FOR £2OO.

The race between the above celebrated pedesttians took
place this afternoon in presence of an immense concourse
of spectators. Mills is the only i unner who has defeated the
Indian (in a six miles race), and Dcerfoot has proved
victor over Mills at 10 miles. This race of eight miles was
expected to bring them together. Deerfoot has been the
favourite since the match was mad e,but many of the " know-
ing ones" quietly invested their money on Mills. The start
took place at 3 o'clock. The pace was good throughout, both
men evidently reserving their g. eat effort for the finish.
When they had accompl;shed about six miles, one of
Mills's boots stuck in the ground, which nearly threw him
out of the race ; but noth;ng daunted, though he had lost a
boot, he put on a fine spurt and passel redskin, which position
he maintained till a few yards from home, when the Indian,
with one of his war whoops, closed upon him, and the
referee proclaimed it a dead heat.

According to a paragraph now going the round of
the French papers, the heir to the imperial throne is a bril-
liant specimen of the forcing system of education. Al-
though only five years and a half old, he already speaks
four languages " fluently"—French, English, German, and
Italian. We wonder that his mother should not have
taught him her native tongue—Spanish.
THE AMERICAN QUESTION.-At the Chamber of
Commerce of Edinburgh on Friday a motion was made by
the members to memorialise the Government to do the ut-
most in their power to act on the resolution proposed by
the British Government to the Paris Conference of 1850, to
have recourse to arbitration before appealing to arms.
Several members having opposed the motion on the ground
that it might perhaps be construed into an expression of
want of confidence in Government, the mover, though dis-
claiming that idea, consented to withdraw the motion.

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.

The Royal Mail steam-ship Asia, Captain Lott,
has arrived with advices from New York to the 4th

inst.

Advices from Montreal to the 2d inst. report that
snow fell on the previous night, but the St. Law-
rence was free from ice.
The Federal cruiser James Adger arrived at Bal-
timore on the 2d from England, via the Azores.
One of her officers proceeded immediately to Wash-
ington with despatches.
The 37th Congress assembled on the 2d inst., and,
contrary to expectation, more than a quorum was
present in each House. The customary joint com-
mittee was appointed to wait on the President, and
notify him that they were ready to receive any com-
munication he might be pleased to make. Pre-
viously to the adjournment of the Senate, Mr.
Trumbull, of Illinois, gave notice that he would in-
troduce a bill to confiscate the property of Confede-
rates, and give freedom to persons in Slave States;
and Mr. Wilkinson, of Minnesota, gave notice of a
bill to abolish the distinction between Regulars and
Volunteers.

On the 3d little or no business was transacted in
the Senate beyond the reading of the President's
Message.
In the House of Representatives on the 2d Mr.
Lovejoy, of Illinois (Republican), offered a joint
resolution tendering the thanks of Congress to
Capt. Wilkes for his arrest of Messrs. Slidell and
Mason. Mr. Edgerton, of the Ohio (Republican),
moved as a substitute that the President be re-
quested to present to Capt. Wilkes a gold medal,
with suitable emblems and devices, expressive of the
high sense of confidence in him entertained by Con-
gress for his prompt arrest of Messrs. Mason and
Slidell. Thesubstitutewas rejected, and the original
resolution was adopted. Mr. Colfax, of Indiana,
offered a preamble and resolution, which was
unanimously adopted, requesting the Presi-
dent to direct the confinement of Mason in the
cell of a convicted felon, until Col. Corcoran should
be treated by the Confederates as the United States
had treated all prisoners taken by them on the
battle-field. It was subsequently decided to advise
the same treatment of Slidell, in reference to the
imprisonment of Col. Wood. Mr. Eliot, of Massa-
chusetts, then offered a series of resolutions,
" solemnly declaring that the war now pend-
ing is simply waged by the Government
for the suppression of the rebellion and the
re-establishment of the Union, but insisting
upon the right of the President to emancipate
all persons held as slaves in any military district in
a state of ilisurrection against the Government, and
advising such a course." The house refused to table
the resolution, 70 against 56, but its consideration
was postponed for a week. Mr. Stevens, of Penn-
sylvania (Republican), submitted the following for
future consideration :

" Whereas slavery has caused the present rebel-
lion in the United States ; and 'whereas, there can
be no solid and permanent peace and union in this
republic so long as that institution exist within it ;
and, whereas, slaves are now used by the rebels as
an essential means of supporting and protracting
the war ; and whereas, by the law of nations, it is
right to liberate the slaves of an enemy to weaken
his power—
" Therefore, be it enacted, by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United States in
Congress assembled, that the President be requested
to declare free, and to direct all our Generals and
officers in command to order freedom to all slaves
who shall leave their masters, or shall aid in quel-
ling the rebellion.
" Second.—And be it further resolved,—That the
United States pledge the faith of the nation to make
full and fair compensation to all loyal citizens who
are, or shall remain, active in supporting the
Union, for all loss they may sustain by virtue of
this resolution."

Various other resolutions on the same subject
'were offered for fature consideration. On the mo-
tion of Roscoe A. Conkling, of New York, the Sec-
retary of War was requested to inform the house
whether any steps had been taken to ascertain who
was responsible for the disaster at Bull's Bluff. On
the 3d the President's Message occupied the atten-
tion, of the house.

According to the Washington correspondence of
the New York Times, the President only completed
his Message at 5 p.m. on Sunday, the Ist.
We extract from the report of the Secretary of
War the following leading items :
" The strength of the army is as follows :
Volunteers. Regulars. Aggregate
Infantry 557,208 11,175 568,383
Cavalry
Artillery
Rifles and sharpshooters.. 8,395 8,395
Engineers