The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-28 00:00:00

to have reference to measures for the prevention of
hostilities.
The New York Herald says :—" Our Washing-
ton despatches reveal the object of the mission of
Col. Hayne, the envoy of South Carolina to Wash-
ington. It is to demand of the Federal Govern-
ment the surrender of Fort Sumter. The South
Carolina authorities notified Major Anderson of
their determination to capture the fort if it was not
given up, and the Major in reply stated that he had
no alternative but to defend it. He however agreed
to refer the subject for decision to his superiors. It
is stated that the President will not yield to the
proposition of Col. Hayne. There appears to be
no doubt that if the Fort is not surrendered the
South Carolinians will attack it."
The New 3 ork Times Washington correspondent
telegraphs on the 13th :—To-day has been the
quietest that we have had here for a month.
Mr. Seward's speech, despite the articles in the
Constitution, which denounces it in unmeasured
phrase, has had a decidedly soothing effect
and is doing much good. Mr. Crittenden declares
that it is in the right direction, patriotic and states-
manlike.
The Southern extremists insist that it offers
nothing, but the more moderate confess that it
reassures the South as to the purposes of the incom-
ing Administration, and indicates that there is no
insuperable obstacle to the South getting constitu-
tional guarantee:against Northern interference with
slavery in the States, and some amicable mode of
settling the territorial question.
The best effect of the speech is to allay irritation,
and to enable all parties to reflect on a future
course.

The most troublesome issue now relates to Fort
Sumter. It was announced to-day that no rein-
forcements will be sent to that point at present, as
they are not seceded ; but I have good reason to
believe it to be the settled purpose of the Adminis-
tration to vindicate the flag of the Union by send-
ing, as soon as the department can be properly
arranged, the means. The chief difficulty is the
scarcity of war vessels suited to this emergency.
It is not considered imperative to retake at pre-
sent the many forts at other southern points, which
it will burden the State to maintain, but the feel-
ing is strong that Government cannot with honour
remain driven out of Charleston harbour since the
unsuccessful effort to enter already made. Some
apprehension is felt that the Charlestonians may
refuse to let Lieut. Talbot return to Fort Sumter
unless they are assured first that his instructions
are peaceful, but, if he fails to return in reasonable
time, Major Anderson will understand why, and be
heard from again when the American flag is fired
on again. It is reported here that a collector at
some minor post in South Carolina maintains his
loyalty to the Union, and refusing fealty to the
Secession Government, has been arrested for
treason. The important question arises, shall the
Federal Government interfere for his rescue. Go-
vernor Pickens, of South Carolina, having a balance
of 3,400 dols. due to him as late Minister to
Russia, sent here for it. The Department adjusted
his accounts by sending him a draft on the Charles-
ton Sub-Treasury, the monies in which have been
seized by the State.
A Washington telegram of the 15th says :—" Th•
resolution of the New York bankers, at their meet-
, ing on the 12th to sustain the Government with
money, is hailed here as a most encouraging token
of confidence in its stability, and chills the movers
for the Southern Confederacy, for they foresee that
the two Republics cannot borrow in the same
market.
Private advices from Texas, just received indi-
cate the probability that the Disunionists will be
badly beaten there.
Letters from Louisiana express theopinion that
the co-operationists will give the immediate seces-
sionists a close race, if the former do not indeed
control the convention.
The secession leaders are much annoyed by the
conservatism of the several Southern States which
hesitate to plunge into revolution, and are endea-
vouring to provoke some new issue that shall drive
the Conservatives into extremes. This is urges
here by the friends of the administration as
a good reason for the forbearance relative to
the recent affair at Charleston.
Lieutenant-General Scott is engaged making pre-
parations to guard against a possible breach of the
peace in Washington, "consequent on the present
political agitation. Effective military forces are to
be posted in parts of the city. It is not pro-
bable that any but regular troops and the militia
will be employed for the purpose.
It is rumoured that Government had positive
information of an intended attack on. the Treasury
here by a mob, whose purpose was robbery under
the pretext of revolution. A troop, numbering 260
Light Artillery, have arrived here with horses and
equipments by special trains. They are quartered
at the Arsenal, pointing on the Potomac, about
half a mile from the capitol.
The New Yorh limes says :—" The programme
for the establishment of the Southern Confederacy
is understood to be already perfected. Georgia, it
is expected, will have declared herself out of the
Union by the 19th. When this event shall have
happened delegates from South Carolina, Alabama,
Florida, Mississippi, and Georgia will assemble at
Milledgeville, in the latter state, to take steps to
establish a Provisional Government and elect a
President and Vice-President pro tempore, provide
for an army, and initiate other defensive measures.
It is the intention, also, to despatch ministers
immediately to foreign powers to negotiate treaties.
It is possible that the states mentioned may be left
alone in this movement, as indications are not
wanting that their precipitate action will not be
followed by either Louisiana or Texas, upon both
of which states the Secessionists have counted."
A telegram from Pensacola announces that Fort
Barrancos and the Navy Yard at that place had
been taken possession of by the Alabama and
Florida troops. It will be recollected that only a
few days since, probably in anticipation of this
movement, the Government forces at Pensacola wer•
all concentrated at Fort Pickens, the strongest of
the three fortifications at that place, so that in
reality the seizure is very much like that of Fort
Moultrie and Castle Pinckney, in Charleston Har-
bour, after Major Anderson had evacuated them for
the stronger position of Fort Sumter.
A telegram from Colonel Todd, in command of
Fort Monroe in Mobile Bay, says he has plenty of
men, guns, and ammunition to prevent any hostile
force approaching Mobile.

The United States sloop of 'war Brooklyn has
returned to Hampton Roads.

Governor Hicks had again refused to call a Con-
vention.

Judge Smalley delivered an important charge to
the grand jury, in the United States' Circuit Court
at New York, on the 14th, on the law of high
treason. He told them that the seizure of United
States property, and firing on the United States
flag by persons owing allegiance to the United
States, constituted high treason by levying war;
that no State could absolve citizens from their
allegiance to the general Government ; and that
neither South Carolina nor any other state could
legally protect citizens of other states in waging
war against their Government. He laid down the
legal definition of treason, and declared it to be the
duty of all good and true citizens to do everything
in their power to suppress rebellion, expose treason,
and bring traitors to justice.
The services of the whole of the Ist Division of
the New York State Militia had been tendered to
the Commander-in-Chief.

The steamship Star of the West, with two
hundred United States' troops and four
officers, which had been despatched hence
for the reinforcement of the garrison of FortlSumter,
returned to New York on the 12th, after an
ineffectual effort to land troops at their place of
destination. It was with great difficulty that an
entrance was effected into the harbour of Charles-
ton, oa account of the removal of the coast lights
and ranges, and the displacement of buoys; but
when the steamer had penetrated to within two
miles of the fort, she was fired upon from a masked
battery on Morris Island. Seventeen shots were
discharged, apparently from an eighteen and a
forty-four pounder, two of which shots struck the