The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-30 00:00:00

steamers belonging to the Virginia Steamship Com-
pany, and offered to pay for them, Mr. Heineken
asked Mr. Sewarti's reasons for considering it an act
of treasolf if he (Mr. Heineken) should accept Go-
.vernor Letcher's cffer. Mr. Seward answered that
the Executives of all those States now in insurrection
against the United States with the design to over-
throw its Government were parties to their treason,
that if it was treason for them to buy or seize yes,-
sels to be used against the Government, it was
equally treasonable for any one to sell them vessels
or receive pay for Teasels seized by them for sach
purpose, and that the Government would visit on
such seller or receiTer all the penalties of treason.
The following rumour, o had been telegraphed
from Washington :
" It is useless to lisguise the fact that the lead-
ing members of the diplomatic corps in Washington
are engaged in constant and anxious discussion on
the course it may 3e necessary for them at any day
to adopt. They have recently received urgent in-
structions from their respective Governments to in-
form them with the utmost precision of the chances
of the two sections in their present deadly quarrel.
It is leaking out that the Governments in question
declare that their commercial interests are identi-
fied in a great degree with the South, and that if
they are forced itto taking sides with either, they
will be compelled to look carefully after cotton and
free trade. England is disposed to move cautiously
in this importan: matter, and is playing her usual
game of urging France to take the chestnuts out of
the fire. The country may not generally be aware
that there is at this moment an agent of th• French
Emperor travelling in the South, by the name of
Baroche. He is instructed to say that he is simply
collecting information for the Commercial Bureau,
for the Minister of Politic Works, but this artifice
is too transparent to deceive the most credulous.
He is a political more than he is a commercial
agent, and Lis despatches, regularly forwarded to
riz, necessarily exercise great influence over the
mind of the Emperor. What may be the final con-
clusions of France, whether she will think it her
interest to play into the hands of the revolutionary
party in the South, remains to be seen.
It was understood that an army of 15,000 Fede-
ral troops would be concentrated in and about Fort
Monroe.

says :
" The steam-frigate Niagara, which it was stated
some days since was coming off this port to blockade
the harbour, was first noticed off here at an early
hour on Saturday by pilot. boat No. 4, then outside
the bar, and also from the steeple of the Custom-
house. The pilot-boat had observed in the offing
on Friday evening what appeared to be a merchant
ship bound into this harbour, and which not being
in sight on Saturday, was no doubt ordered off by
the Niagara.. Towards midday the frigate disap-
peared, but returned off the port in the afternoon.
On Saturday Capt. Robert Lockwood, pilot, in boat
No. 2 (the W. Y. Leitch) took to sea the schooner
Minnehaha, for Baltimore, and soon after leaving
the schooner outside he went on board his boat,
when he made in the offing, standing in, a square-
rigged vessel. Night coming on, and the Niagara
being in sight, he thought it best to send his pilot
boat into port, and to take his skiff and one hand
and proceed to the bark. He reached her about '7
p.m., and found her to be the barque Hilja, from
Liverpool, in ballast, consigned to Messrs. R. Mure
and Co., of this city. The tide being too late to get
her into port, he remained on board during Satur-
day night, his skiff being taken on deck and carefully
stowed away. On Sunday morning, it being calm,
the pilot was unable to get her under way, and at
half-past 8 she was boarded by a boat from the Nia-
gara, commanded by Lieut. R. L. May, who informed
the captain of the Hilja that the port was blockaded,
the rebels inside having fired on Fort Sumter with a
garrison of less than 100 men, gave him a Yankee
paper containing the latest news, and mentioned
that an army of 100,000 men had been landed on
the coast of Louisiana. The captain of the Hilja
informed the Lieutenant that he was short of
water and requested to know if the Niagara
could supply him; but he was informed that the
frigate had a shorter supply of that than any other
necessary article. The following is a copy of the
endorsement of Lieutenant R. L. May on the papers
of the Hilja :
" Boarded May 12th, and ordered off the whole
Southern coast of the United States of America, it
being blockaded.

The report of the removal of the remains of
Washington from Moult Vernon by the Secession-
ists was totally false. .
The Virginia papers report continues arrivals of
Confederate troops, and their departure for points
not designated.

"R. L. MAY.
" ' Lieutenant United States Steamship Niagara.'
" The officer remained by the Hilja for about 20
minutes, when he left. The boat's crew had each
a revolver in a belt attached to the waist. Mr.
Lockwood left the Hilja about 10 o'clock, and
reached the city in his skiff, accompanied by
a valuable boat hand, who remained faith-
ful, although appearances indicated that the boy
had only to open his month, when he might have
had a passage to some other place than ' Dixie's
Land.' The Hilja went off during the day, and
will proceed to the British provinces.
"The British ship Monmouth, from Liverpool,
and the ship General Parkhill, from the same place,
were seen off the bar yesterday, and were ordered
off, and we understand that the Niagara had pre-
viously sent off three other square-rigged vessels.
During Sunday the Niagara went well off shore,
accompanied by two of the above vessels, and while
she was absent the British ship A. and A., Captain
Hutchinson, from Belfast, stood in from the east-
ward, when the Niagara made after, her ; but the
ship having much the start was run into shoal (From the Special !Yorresponclent of the Times.)
water, where the frigate could not well approach
MONTGOMERY, CAPITAL OF THE CONFE-
her, when the Niagara put about and proceeded
DERATE STATES OF AMERICA, MAY 8.
south. Should the boats of the Niagara omit to
board the A. and A. before morning she may be got In my last letter 7 gave an account of such mat-
intoters as passed uncle. my notice on my way to this
port with the aid of steam. The race was
city, which I reacted, as you are aware, on the
flay
anxiously watched from the wharfs and also by a
4. I am on difficult ground,
party of gentlemen who were out in the pilot-boat night of Saturday,
the land is on fire, the earth is shaking with the
Rover, Captain Evans. They went alongside and
spoke the ship." tramp of armed nen, and the very air is hot with
The same carnal of the following day says :
passion. My communications are cut off, or are at
j best accidental, aid in order to reopen them I must
" The British ship A. and A., from Belfast, which get further away from them, paradoxical as the
we reported in our last issue as having anchored statement may appear to be. It is impossible to
near the outer buoy of North Channel, after having know what is going on in the North, and almost
been chased by the Niagara, escaped being boarded the same to learn what is doing in the South out of
by the man-of-war on Sunday night, and was sue- eyeshot ; it is useless to inquire what news is sent
cessfully towed into port by the steamer Gordon, to you to England. The telegraphic communica-
yesterday morning. The officers of the Niagara tions are now broken, so are the mail routes.
supposed the A. and A. to have been ashore when Newspapers and letters now and then reach well-
she anchored, she was so close in; but in this sup-
position they were mistaken, and the ship has got known people New
here from York in six or seven
days. Events hurry on with tremendous rapidity,
into a port, where she will make a most superior
and even the lightning lags behind them. The
freight, say about lid. for Uplands, and lad. for
eo le of the South at last are aware that the
p
Sea Island cotton. The British ship Susan G. -le
P
" ankees" are preparing to support the Govern-
Owens went to sea yesterday for Liverpool, and it
was ment of the United States, and that the secession
rumoured that she was boarded by a boat from
can only be maintained by victory in the field.
the Niagara, and her papers strictly examined ; but There has been a change in their war policy. They
the pilot who took her to sea informs us that he now aver that " they only want to be left alone."
watched her closely after she got outside until she and they declare they do nor intend to take Wash-
had almost disappeared, and that no such event took ington, and that it was merely as a feint they spoke
place. She was, when last seen, going off finely, about it. The fact is them are even in the compact
with all her canvas set. So far as we can ascertain, and United South men of moderate and men of ex-
no outward bound vessel has yet been stopped. treme views, and the general tone of the whole is
" The Niagara was about ten miles south-east regulated by the preponderance of one or the other
from the Ship Bar yesterday, and was there at the moment. I have no doubt on my mind that
visited during the afternoon by Mr. Robt. Bunch, the Government here intended
to attack.
her Britannic Majesty's Consul at this port, who
at heart to reduce Fort Pickens as
Washington—not the least
soon
as andp
ooscsciubpl
ey.
left the city about two p.m. in the steamer Charles- _ that they had it much.
ton, and proceeded on board the Niagara, where he Now some of their friends say that it willbe a mere
utter of convenience whether they attack was received with the usual salute, and had every
or not, and that, es for Fort Pickens, they
Wash-
courtesy extended to him, and every matter in re- •et
iwniql°cn.ertainlyhlet it alone at all events for the pre-
Alllation to the blockade satisfactorily explained.
sent, inasmuch as the mei acing attitude of General
neutral vessels now in this port would be
Bragg. obliges the enemy to keep a squadron of
allowed a reasonable time to leave, but none would be
their best ships there, and to retain a force of Re-
gulars they can ill spa're in a position where they
allowed to come in. The A. and A., which got in
yesterday, and whose manner of getting into port
to the climate. They has discovered,
must soon lose enormously from diseases incidental
position is of little value rather disturbed the nerves of some cotton ship-
pers, will be allowed to go unmolested. All open
States hold Tortugas am,'
letters for masters of foreign vessels expected here
they have their foreesW,
will be received on board the Niagara and given to uae
so
long
aE4 too,
thetuhantittehde
the parties when they come off the Bar, but no
,: alimeertiTsfiheeyd, aarveeraytrpesroe
federates are preparin s
Key
sealed communications will be received. A fleet organised gcr th P. e conflict and when
tebsety. Bwulti
ltmheakCeo,n;
is expected off here shortly, when the blockade will
of eight or ten sail, with Commodore Stringham.
difficulties presented to
suppose, in their do advance all along the
be rigidly enforced all along the coast. They ex-
force by the nature of
Iseutt.hneet
as strong
advance
,noofu enough, h
b,
etsht
ielye
domestic resources, and in the
pressed a willingness to have supplied the Hilja
to invasion, or, at all events to inflict a very severe
chastisement on the invaders, and their excited
the country, to bid defiance
with water, but the captain sailed off in such haste
that it could not be done. The commander
of the Niagara was pained at the position
begin to think they can defy, not merely the United
acts upon their mindsthat they
manner of speech so
he had to occupy in reference to the seceded
States, but he intended to carry out his orders.
Mr. Bunch says the Niagara is a formidable- States, but the world.
Thus it is that they declare
looking ship, has a noble crew of about 600 men, is they never can be conquered, that they will die to
loaded down with provisions and war material, a man, woman and child first, and that if 50,000, or
decks piled up with shot and guns of the most for-
any number of thousands, of Black Republicans get
midable size. The only Charleston ships ordered 100 miles into Virginia, not one man of them shall
off have been those reported—say., the Monmouth, ever get out alive. Behind all this talk, however,
great resolution, and fixed
the General Parkhill, and the Hilja, all from Liver-
heir strategy consists in
pool. The Eliza Bonsall, the Sir Allan M'Nabb, there
keepingis immense
ciuiquiet
t till
i l I energy,
they
principles of action.
ate, have not yet been seen. Several other Britishhave their troops well in
vessels have been ordered off, two of which, it is hand, in such numbers and discipline as shall give
said, were bound to Savannah, but their names we
them fair grounds for expecting success in any
did not learn. No vessels appeared off this harbour campaign with the United States troops. They are
on Monday, so far as we could see or learn, and the preparing with vigour to render the descent of the
Niagai a had a quiet day, but she keeps steam on all Mississippi impossible, by erecting batteries en the
the time, and moves rapidly when under way." commanding levees or embankments which hem in
On the 14th the American ship Arago, with a its waters for upwards of 800 miles of bank, and
cargo of tobacco from Richmond, Virginia, valued they are occupying, as far as they can, all the stra-
at 150,000 dols., was seized in the Chesapeake by tegical points of attack or defence within their
the gunboat Quaker City. There was a prize crew borders. When everything is ready, it is not im-
placed on board by Flag-officer Stringham, of the
probable that Mr. Jefferson Davis will take the
command of the army, for he is reported to have a
squadron, her destination being New York. The high ambition to acquire reputation as a General,
following gunboats were on the blockading squad- and in virtue of his office he is Generalissimo of
ron—The Harriet Lane, off the mouth of the James the armies of the Confederate States. It will be
and Elizabeth Rivers; the Monticello, off York remarked that this plan rests upon the assumption
River ; the Quaker City, at the mouth of the that the United States cannot:or will not wage an
Chesapeake Bay. The Dawn and the Yankee were
offensive war, or obtain any success in their
at anchor off Fort Monroe waiting orders. The attempts to recover the forts and other property
of the Federal Government. They firmly believe
steam frigate Minnesota, Flag-officer Stringham, the war will not last a year, and that 1862 will
arrived off Old Point Comfort on the morning of behold a victorious, compact slave-holding con-
the to hold its own against the world, or
13th inst. The ports of Florida had been put federate Power of 15 States under a strong Govern-
under blockade since the 6th inst., and the yacht ment, prepared . .
that portion of it which may attack it. I now but
'Wanderer, of slave-trade notoriety, had been seized
repeat the sentiments and expectations of those
off Key West by the Crusader. The steamer City around me. They believe in the irresistible power
of Richmond, arrived at Philadelphia from Wash- of Cotton, in the natural alliance between manufac-
ington, reported having passed the United States turing England and France and the cotton-pro-
steamer Yankee 30 miles south of Cape Henlopen,
during Slave States, in the force of their simple
with three prize steamers in charge.
tariff, and in the
system of free trade, which, however, interests
er,by a rigorous which arise out ,if a
From Charleston we learn that active prepare- legislation they will interdict to their neighbours in
tions were going forward to increase the defences of
the Free States, and only open for the benefit of their
1 the State along the seaboard. On this subject the foreign customers. Commercially, and politically,
Charleston Mercury, May
Orders have been issued from headquarters for
never was there such confidence exhibited by any
the immediate organisation of the 9th Regiment pee
S. C. V., which will be made up of citizens from havple in the future as they have, or pretend to
have, in their destiny. Listen to their programme.
the parishes and districts of our sea coast, all of It is intended to buy up all the cotton crop which
whom are acclimated, and by their habits of life are can be brought into the market at an average price,
accustomed to boating and shooting. They know and to give bonds of the Confederate States for the
thoroughly every island and inlet on our coast, do amount, these bonds being, as we know, secured
not mind exposure, are familiar with the use of the by the export duty on cotton. The Government,
small-bore rifle and the hunting knife, and if called with this cotton crop in its own hands, will use it as
on to meet invaders will do it an an old-fashioned a formidable machine of war, for cotton can do any-
and wonderfully effectual manner." thing, from the establishment of an empire to the
Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State, had written securing of a shirt button. It is at once king and
subject, master and servant, captain and soldier,
an important letter to G. Heineken, agent of the artilleryman and gun. Not one bale of cotton will
be permitted to enter the Northern States. It will be
of Virginia, haying seized 00 made an offence puniohable 'with
Virginia Steamship Company, Washington. Go-
Ter= Fetcher,

From Havannah we have advices to the 11th.
The Southern privateer steamer William H. Webb
entered the port of Havannah with the United
States flag flying, and sought a clearance from the
Consul-General. This was denied, when the vessel
was immediately transferred to British subjects,
hoisted the Union Jack of England, and sailed for
New Orleans. The sugar-market of Havannah was
still dull, and sugars heavy (no sales), at 51- reals to
6 reals for No. 12. Stock, 225,G00 boxes. Molasses
12 reals per keg, and nothing doing. Freights active
for all European vessels ; no inducement for United
States bottoms.

THE CIVIL WAR I A lIERKA.