The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-30 00:00:00

that Gen. Lee was making extensive preparations
to defend it, though the nature of the preparations
was not made very clear. A battery had been
erected at Port Royal Ferry, upon which were

mounted guns taken out of the privateers Lady
Davis and Huntress, and it was stated that a stand

would there be made.
A Federal reconnaissance was made as far as
Mathias Point on the 11th. The forces penetrated

into Virginia over four miles without encountering
any of the Confederates, except a body of 30 cavalry,
who were driven in, and a few pickets, two of whom
were shot while endeavouring to escape. A consi-
derable quantity of wheat and several houses were
set on fire. No batteries or earthworks were found
on the Point, and there were no evidences of any
guns having been recently ther3. Attempts were
made to fire the woods on the Point, but the damp-
ness of the underbrush prevented it.

A delegation from Baltimore had an interview
with the President on the 15th, and addressed him
as follows ;

"By the violence and facetious opposition of a
treasonable minority, Baltimore has been involved
in disaster and distress beyond what is due to the
mere existence of a state of war, and their troubles
have been still further aggravated by the disabled
condition of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the
principal artery of their trade and source of their
prosperity. Of their misfortunes as merchants, how-
ever, they did not propose to complain, but they
appeared to plead for such relief as the Government
could afford to the labourers and mechanics of Bal-
timore. The almost total suspension during the past
six months of the trades and manufactories, upon
which so large a proportion of the people are de-
pendent, has brought famine to their doors, and
aroused the most gloomy forebodings of the ap-
proaching winter; but amidst all their sufferings,
the patriotism of the industrial classes has been
proof against the insidious arguments of those who
sought to involve them in hostilities to the Govern-
ment by representing the war as the needless and
wicked cause of their misery, and the Administra-

tion as apposed to their State interests and reckless
of their personal welfare. The great majority have
always been loyal. They have furnished many of
their number to the army and navy, and have, by
their overwhelming votes at the last election, vindi-
cated the honour of the State, and demonstrated
their own fidelity and zeal. The delegation expressed
the belief that the Goverment would consult eco-
nomy no less than policy in causing, more liberally
than heretofore,vessels to be repaired and constructed
in Baltimore. They further suggested the expedi-
ency of establishing there a naval depot, and also a
branch clothing bureau. By furnishing employment
in these and other ways, so far as the Government
has the power, to the labouring classes, the effect
would be not only to encourage loyal men, but con-
firm the wavering and attract those who for a time
have been seduced by the misrepresentations of the
rebels, or intimidated by the threat, daily made and
acted out, of withdrawing all custom and patronage
from thefriends of theGovernment.Theyexpress their
warmest wishes for the prosecution to a successful
issue of the war now waging for the preservation of
the dignity, unity, and stability of our common
country."
To this address of the delegation, the President
replied as follows :
" Gentlemen,—l thank you for the address you
have presented to me in behalf of the people of Bal-
timore. I have deplored the calamities which the
sympathy of some misguided citizens of Maryland
had brought down upon that patriotic and hereto-
fore flourishing State. The prosperity of Baltimore
up to the 19th of April last, was one of the wonders
produced by the American Union. He who strangles
himself, for whatever motive, is not more unrea-
sonable than were those citizens of Baltimore who,
in a single night, destroyed the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, the Northern Pennsylvania Railroad, and
the railroad from Baltimore to Philadelphia. From
the day when that mad transaction occurred the
Government of the United States has been diligently
engaged in endeavouring to restore those great
avenues to their former usefulness, and at the same
time to save Baltimore and Maryland from the dan-
ger of complete ruin through an unnecessary and
unnatural rebellion. I congratulate you upon the
declaration which the people of Baltimore and
Maryland have made in the recent election, of their
approbation of the acts of the Federal Government,
and of their enduring loyalty to the Union. I regard
the results of these elections as auspicious of return-
ing loyalty throughout all the insurrectionary States.
Your wishes for a fair participation by the mechanics
and labouring men of Baltimore in the benefits of
supplying the Government with materials and pro-
visions, are reasonable and just. They have deserved
that participation. Loyalty has involved them in
some danger, and has demanded of them some sac-
rifices. Their wishes, as you have communicated
them, shall be referred to the proper departments,
and I am sure that every member of the Adminis-
tration will cheerfully lend his aid to carry them
out so far as it can be done consistently with the
prudence and economy which ought always to regu-
late the public service."
The rumour of the capture of the Sumter priva-
teer is not confirmed, and the report of the capture
of the British screw steamer Fingal appears to be
doubtful. The public advices by this arrival do not
mention the arrival of the San Jacinto at any Ame-
rican port.
It is stated that 37 contraband negroes arrived in
Philadelphia on the 12th, having walked northward
from Accomac county on the peninsula of Virginia.
They were supplied with money by the Wisconsin
troops. Numbers of these people were said to be
constantly arriving, which had stimulated a public
meeting to be held to assist them.
The steamer for Fortress Monroe stopped at Fort
M'Henry on the 13th, and took on board 37 released
prisoners, captured at Bull's Run, who are to be sent
home by a flag of truce.
A telegram from San Francisco states that the
privateer schooner Neva, from China, had been
seized by Captain Pease, of the revenue cutter
May.

The New York Chamber of Commerce had peti-
tioned the President in favour of the legal opinion
given at Alexandria confiscating rebel property.
At Columbus, Kentucky, on the 11th, two lieu-
tenants and six privates were killed by the explo-
sion of a Dahlgren gun. General Polk narrowly
escaped a similar fate.
A Boston paper gives a doubtful rumour, men-
tioned in a letter from a soldier at Fortress Monroe,
that 3,000 Confederate troops had mutinied at Nor-
folk and were backed by the citizens, and that on
the 11th a Federal flag was floating from one of the
Confederate batteries.
A balloon reconnaissance from Stump Mile Point,
on the Lower Potomac, had shown that the Confe-
derates were strongly encamped in the neighbour-
hood.

We have advices from Springfield, Missouri, to
the 15th which etate that the Federal troops were
to evacuate that town. General M'Kinstry, who
was recently ordered to head-quarters at Washing-
ton, was met at St. Louis by a number of officers,
who arrested him, together with his cashier, Mr.
Hahn. The arrest was based upon charges growing
out of alleged irregularities in General M'Kinstry's
administration of the quartermaster's department.

FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST.