The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-11 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY.
The Royal Mail steamship Europa, Captain
Anderson, which left Boston on the 29th ult., and
Halifax on the 31st, arrived in the Mersey at noon
to-day.
A telegraphic summary of her advices has already
•
been published.
The steamship Etna arrived at New York on the
27th with files of papers to the 15th inst., extracts
from which, including the Queen's proclamation,
were copied into the evening papers, and the news
eagerly read by the people,there being great anxiety
as to the course that will be pursued by the Euro-
pean Powers in the present American crisis. The
press generally interpret the proclamation as a quasi
recognition of the Southern Confederacy, and the
New York Times states that England had more right
to recognise the Hungarian nation during the revo-
lution of 1848 and 1819 than the present Southern
Confederacy, and concludes a long article by stating
that centuries of4ind relations will never wipe
from American memories the recollection of that
crisis of supreme danger to the very existence of
liberty and law in America in which the English
people had nothing to offer but fears for their cot-
ton supply and sympathy with American slave-
holders.
The Reto fork Herald of the 28th thus describes
the position of affairs at the seat of war in Vir-
ginia
" The Federal troops now lining the heights of the Poto-
melon the Virginia side are actively engaged in throwing
up arthworks and fortifying their position. A reconnais-
sance made yesterday from Alexandria, in the direction of
Fairfax Court-house, resulted in the discovery of a body of
secessionist cavalry, drawn up in line. Two of their picket
guard were captured and sent to Washington. They con-
firm the report that a force of 700 rebel infantry had ad-
vanced within a few miles of Alexandria on the 25th. These
were no doubt the troops who attacked the pickets of the
12th and 7th regiments, which gave rise to the rumour of
a great battle going on in that direction.
"A mail agent of the Government who has been employed
in the South for some months past returned to Washington
yesterday, and reports that he had an interview with Jeffer-
son Davis a few days ago, whom he represents to be in very
low spirits. He states furthermore that the Southern army
is in a wretched and discontented condition, and quite do-
moralised. This statement would appear to be confirmed
by the fact that numerous desertions take place every day
in the vicinity of IN ashington ; secessionists surrendering
themselves to our pickets with apparent gratification.
"Affairs at Fort Monroe remain unchanged. General
Butler made a reconnaissance, from his camp at Hampton,
of the peninsula lying between the York and James Rivers,
satisfying himself that a good many rebel troops were scat-
tered in that quarter. There are now fully 6,000 men in
Fort Monroe, but General Butler is of opinion that no hos •
tile move ought to be made until there are at least 15,000
troops concentrated there. This will be accomplished, it is
expected, within a few days, when an attack will probably
be made simultaneously on Norfolk and Sewall a Point.
The rumour of the capture of the latter post is premature.
" The rebel forces at Harper's Ferry are actively occupied
throwing out men on the Maryland Heights. Intelligence
received yesterday confirms the report that there are 10,000
men at Richmond under General Lee, and 12,000 at Frede-
ricksburg under General Ruggles. Mr. Davis and General
Beauregard were expected at Richmond on the 27th,
" Manassa Gap Junction appears to be an important
point of concentration for the rebel forces. They are pouring
in there rapidly from Richmond, and are fortifying the place
strongly with earthworks, fearing, it is said, an attack from
the Federal troops at Alexandria in their advance on Har-
per's Ferry by that road. It has been ascertained that there
are over 5,000 troops now at the Manassas Gap Junction;
and a fight in that quarter on an early day is not impro-
bable."

On the 28th a Federal force 0f2,500 men from Fort
Monroe had made their way up Hampton Roads,
and entrenched themselves at New Point, which is
about six miles from Hampton. This body commands
the mouth of the James river, which is the water
route to Richmond. At the same time a large body
of Ohio troops entered the western part of the State
took possession of the North-Western Virginian
Railroad, and moved in the direction of Grafton.
Three columns have thus entered Virginia, and, con-
verging toward the centre of the State, they will
shortly have the rebel forces separated from each
other, and completely at their command.
On the 28th nothing of special importance occur-
red. Outposts, however, were being extended fur-
ther into Virginia, and additional regiments were
to be thrown into Virginia that night_
A large demonstration took place in New York
during the passage through the city of the body of
Col. Elsworth. He lay in state for some hours in
the City Hall.
The steam transport Philadelphia arrived at Nev,,
York on the 26 th in st.,bringing Lieut. Slemmer, who
had been relieved from the command of Fort Pickens.
It is stated that the secessionists had relinquished
all idea of an attack on Fort Pickens at present.
Colonel Fremont has been raised to the rank of
major-general.
Two of the Firemen Zouaves are sentenced to be
shot at Washington for desertion.
The Federal Government have accepted six ad-
ditional regiments from Indiana.
The New York Herald Washington correspon-
dent writes that the Federal Government have
given orders for building 30 to 40 gunboats.
The War Department had instructed a commis-
sion of highly respectable gentlemen to examine the
telegraphic dispatches (recently seized by the Go-
vernment), under the strict injunction of secrecy,
and after having selected those of a treasonable
character to reseal and return those relating to
mere business transactions. All the despatches
seized would be sent to Washington to be examined.
The New York limes says :--
"It is the determination of the Government to crush out
the rebellion before the coming 4th of July. Simultaneous
attacks will be made on Norfolk, itichmond, Harper's:Ferry,
and Pensacola, and a flotilla will be sent down the Mississipi.
Loyal citizens will be protected, but traitors will be hanged,
and their property confiscated. The steam frigate Minnesota
has been ordered to Charleston. The 7th regiment is to re-
turn to New York in a few days."
It was stated that Lord Lyons had writtenloteokathdee
British consul at Pensacola, recognising the b
in the name of the British Government, and warn-
ing English vessels of its effect. No movement in-
dicative of hostilities had occurred at present.
The Border State Convention met at Frankfort,
Kentucky, on the 27th ult. A resolution had been
adopted for the appointment of a committee to con-
sider the subject for which the convention was
called, and also Mr. Crittenden's original amend-
ments proposed in the Senate of the United States,
with such amendments as will secure the slave
states just and equal rights under the constitution.
The Confederate Congress at Montgomery ad-
journed on the night of the 21st ult. to meet at
Richmond on the 20th of July. The Tariff Bill
was passed with unimportant amendments. A com-
mittee was appointed to make arrangements for the
transfer of the military department to Richmond.
The St. Louis Democrat, of the 24th ult., says :
"Reports from Jefferson City of that date state that the
Missouri troops, organised under the requisition of Governor
Jackson, have refused to disband according to the terms of
agreement between General Harney and General Price. It
is alleged that great dissatisfaction is expressed by the
secessionists at the arrangements alluded to. The same
paper states that considerable excitement prevails at Jeffer-
son City, in consequence of the discovery of an attempt to
poison the Federal troops by putting arsenic in the flour
from which their bread is made. It appears that a union
man is baker to the troops, and a secessionist, in order to
effect his destruction, had made an arrangement with a ne-
gross to poison the bread. She informed against him, and
spies were placed so as to overhear the conversation between
him and the woman, when he was arrested and placed in
gaol. A proposition was made to hang him, but it was
overruled."

Francis Monroe, recently a clerk in the State
Department, had been arrested by military autho•
rity, and placed' in gaol to await examination.
Overland advices from San Francisco are to the
11th ultimo. Trade was fairly active, and prices
steady, with a hardening tendency, but without
noticeable change. The rate of insurance on trea-
sure bound east had been raised to 10 per cent.
Both Houses of the Legislature had passed resolu-
tions pledging the fealty of the State to the general
Government, and its readiness to comply with any
requisition for aid in suppressing the insurrection.
Union meetings were being held almost nightly in
all the principal towns and cities. Speeches and
resolutions are invariably in favour of a vigorous
war policy. Efforts were being made to organise
a company of volunteers in San Francisco, to ten-
der their service to the Government.
A similar
organisation was being made At Sacramento. 0