The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-10 00:00:00

arrived at Panama, with accounts from San Fran-
cisco to the 16th of November, on the 4th ult. She
had a specie freight of 500,000 dolls. and 235 pas-
sengers.
The Atlantic steamer Empire City arrived at New
York on the 25th ult. in ten days from Chagres, and
seven days from Jamaica, bringing half-a million
dollars on freight, upwards of 270 passengers, and
private mails from California, &c. The Government
mails were at the Isthmus waiting a mail steamer's
departure for Chagres.
Her Majesty's steam-sloop Hecate, with Sir H.
Bulvver on board, arrived in the Potomac on the 21st
ult., froth Bermuda.

_ From the Pacific, via the Isthmus of Panama, we
have by this mail accounts of the highest interest,
more especially in reference to the expedition in
search of Sir John Franklin ; and most opportune
must it be regarded that those advices have been re-
ceived in the very moment of the new expedition's
departure. From Mazatlan, under date the 24th of
Noveptiher we learn the arrival at that port on the
13th of her Majesty's ship Herald, 8, Captain Kel-
lett, and also that of the British yacht Nancy Daw-
son, Captain Bill, with intelligence from her Ma-
jesty's ship Plower at Behring's Straits. We learn
that the relief ship had previously penetrated as far as
73 degrees 10 min. latitude in search of Sir J.
Franklin ; and in company viith the yacht named,
under the command of her noble-spirited owners,
the Plover's boats also penetrated along a vast
extent of the coast of North America, extending
from Behring's Straits to the mouth of the
Mackenzie River, the scene f Sir S.
o Richard-
son's exit into the northern seas during his late
expedition. It appears that no traces of the
missing navigators were discovered ; and it is stated
that the boats of the Plover consequently determined,
in accordance with their instructions, to winter on
the spot, attempting to reach one of the nearest
traders' stations in the vicinity. According to our
information the private schooner-yacht then re-
turned, her light draught having previously enabled
her to explore in company with the boats, and, with
the Plover, re entered Behring's Straits from the
north; there the Plover took up her winter quarters,
and subsequently the Herald and Nancy Dawson re-
turned to Mazatlan. The commander of the Plover,
it is stated, entertained great hopes of Sir John
Franklin's safety, although we are not informed of the
grounds upon which that expectation is based. It is to
be regretted that the advices received are, in a mea-
sure, indefinite ; and it is still more mournful to
learn that the owner of the yacht which was so nobly
conducted along the Arctic coast from the promptings
of a philanthropic spirit should have subsequently
closed his career at Mazatlan. It is stated that he
had previously been engaged in a tour round the
world, and suddenly altered his course to aid the
search for Franklin's ships. The yacht had been put
in charge of esailing master from one of her Majesty's
ships at Mazatlan, and will be dispatched home by the
British Consul.
From New York we learn also some details of in-
terest in reference to Sir John Franklin. Letters had
been received by influential individuals in that city
from Lady Franklin, desiring advice and information
from the person to whom they were addressed, as to
the expediency of her visiting New York to arrange
an expedition, at her own expense, for the renewal of
the search for her lost husband next spring. Lady
Franklin is described as meditating the purchase of
two small vessels with that aim.
Her Majesty's ship Amphitrite, Commander Eden,
was at Mazatlan on the 24th of November, and also
the Herald ; and the brig of war Cockatrice, was at
San' Bias. Her Britannic Majesty's ship Champion
sailed from Panama for Callon, on the Ist of Decem-
ber, en route to England,
From the ;United States our accounts, as might
hare been anticipated, are of unusual interest, conse-
quent on the delivery of President Taylor's first mes-
sage to the Houses of Congress, and the issue of various
reports for the Secretaries of the various departments.
Up to the 22d ult, the struggle between the con-
tending sections of the representatives continued
with little indication of either a victory or a
compromise on the part of any ; and ultimately a
choice of a Speaker was effected simply by a general
agreement to accept a plurality of votes instead of a
clear majority of the whole House. Accordingly,
the 631 ballot held since the opening of the House
produced a decisive result, Mr. Cobb, of Georgia,
being elected by a vote of 102 against 100 for Mr.
Winthrop, of Massachusets, and 20 for all other
candidates. On the evening of Saturday, the 22d
ult., therefore, Mr. Cobb took the appropriate oaths,
and on the subsequent Monday both branches of the
Congress being then fully organized, the President
delivered his first annual Message. We learn that
the document met with considerable difference of
opinion, and a widely varied reception from the dif-
ferent sections of politicians, many complaining of its
vague character, on the slavery question more espe-
cially. it has, on the whole, however, been received
with eatiifaction in almost all quarters ; and amongst
the manufacturing and iron interests it cannot be
ques'iged that its allusions to the question of " pro-
tecting duties" are mo-t- popular.
Accompanying the Presidential state pipers we
received-1, the annual report of the S.2cretary of the
Treasury; 2, that of the Home Department; and 3,
that of tiee Secretary of War. They are exceedingly
voluminous, and possess considerable interest, more
especially in. reference to the Treasury demand for a
new' loan—a measure not anticipated hitherto in face
of the apparent preferability of an issue of Treasury
notes. The Secretary also recommends several modi-
fications in the existing tariff-1. A moderate increase
of duties on articles, such as cotton, woollen, and
hempen goods, iron, sugar, salt, and cod ; 2, a return
to the system of specific duties on articles on which
they can be conveniently laid ; 3, where the ad valorem
duty is retained, the duties to be levied on the market
value in our own country at the time of arrival ; 4,
non enumerated articles to be subject to a higher
duty than others.
Since the date of our last accounts from Wash-
ington the proceedings of the Senate and House of
Representatives had exhibited few features of interest,
except in reference to the election of a Speaker. In
the upper branch, however, political animosities had
betrayed the southern members under the influence
of Calhoun, &c., to attempt to exclude Colonel
Benton from the chairmanship of the Senates' Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs, a post occupied by him
since March last. Partially from M. Benton's own
desire to retire previously to the discovery of the
cabal, the movement was ultimately crowned with
success, and hence a most important advantage would
appear to have been gained by the Southern section
of politicians. Amongst other indications of public
feeling it may be noted that General Cass had intro-
duced into Congress a resolution desiring the Execu-
tive to suspend all relations with Austria on account
of her conduct in the late struggle in Hungary. Pro
tent. the motion lies over; subsequently to be revived,
however, under the influence of the Presidential
views. The nature of those views is indicated in the
message, but it may not be uninteresting to add the
following note, addressed to the recent refugees from
Hungary

" Washington, Dec. 20, 1849.
" Sir,—l have duly received your letter of November
2, from London, announcing the determination of your-
self and comrades to seek an asylum in America.
" The people of this Republic have deeply sympathised
with the Hungarians in their recent struggle for consti-
tutional freedom, and in the calamities which have be-
fallen their unhappy land; and I am sure that I but
speak the universal sentiments of my countrymen in
bidding you and your associates a cordial welcome to our
soil, the natural asylum of the oppressed from every
clime. We offer you protection and a free participation
in the benefits of our institutions and our laws, and trust
that you may find in America a seoond home.
" I am, with high respect, your sincere friend,
" Z. TAYLOR.
" Ladislaus Ujhazy, late Governor of Comore,
in Hungary."
A warm discussion had ensued in the Senate in
reference to a motion offering a seat in that assembly
to Father Mathew. The temperance apostle's neutral
views on the slavery question were again brought
into notice in connexion with his former manifesto in
conjunction with the late O'Connell, but ultimately
the motion was carried by a vote of 33 to 18, Mr.
Calhoun voting in the minority.
Our latest accounts state that Congress would effect
no buiiness of importance during the Christmas
season. A quorum of each House would, pro forma,
meet during the •holidays every Thurday.
A letter from a well-informed correspondent at
Washington of the New York Courier and Inquirer,
dated Dec. 22, says, in reference to the political tone
existing—
"It is believed by men of geeat sagacity that we are
approaching a very serious crisis in the affairs o
fthe
Itqalblic. I understand that Mr. Wtbster entertains
depressing forebodings as to the immediate future.
hHe
thinks that there are restless and reckless spirits
evident aim is to effect a disruption of the confederacy,wose
and that they will succeed in entangling in their toils a
sufficient number of the people to give to their move-
ment a formidable appearance. But lam glad to kn w
that Mr. Webster believes that the dissolution of the
Union is an impossibility. He says the people will
never submit to it—never. They ail' stand by the
Union to the very last extremity of physical power; and
so long as the sentiment for union is so nearly
unanimous, the integrity of the American Republic will
be preserved."
From Washington we have accounts of Sir Henry
Bulwer's reception by the President on the 24th ult.
His Excellency was introduced by the Secretary of
State ; and Sir Henry, after delivering his credentials,
Of IC:W S 1 fki 44/ need not say that it gives me the sincerest
--_':7c*etirkCiition to be the bearer of the credentials which I
t -.i , ilave itist-had the honour of placing in your hands.
(
47 • -r': " Perms me to say, that in coming to your country
..----
izi :1. ! , Idtfaoo,ferl that 1 come as a foreigner to a foreign
land; out.p tions speak the same language, spring from
the same co, and seem especially entrusted by Provi-
dence ; the same glorious task of illustrating the 1

~:.~