The Express. — 1861-06-04 (London, England)

AMERICA.  ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT EASTERN. LIVERPOOL, Tomas.  The steamship Great Eastern, Captain J. B. Thompson, which left New York on the morning of the 25th ult., arrived at the bar of the Mersey at 9 o'clock yesterday (Monday) evening, and her despatches reached Liverpool about 1 o'clock this morning.  The steamship Etna, from Liverpool for New York, was intercepted off Cape Race by the newsboat of the Associated Press on the afternoon of the 23rd ult., and her advioes were telegraphed to the States, and somewhat modified the angry feeling caused by the European sdvices of, the jprevious arrival.  An advance was made by the Federal tromiyon the night of the 23rd ult., into Virginia. ITZ New York 2nd, 7th, 12th, 139th, 71st, and Ellsworth's Zouaves, the New Jersey and Michigan brigades, and some of the Washington troops, constituted the force, which numbered about 13,000, besides those sent down the Potomac to act in conjunction with the troops at Fortress Monroe. This force has been disposed at various important points Alexandria, Arlington Heights, and Fairfax Court-house the movement on the latter point being made for the purpose of taking possession of the junction of the Orange and Alexandria and Manassas Gap railroads. The advance into Virginia was made from three points—over the Long Bridge at the mouth of the Potomac aqueduct, at Georgetown, and at Alexandria. The first troops which passed over the bridge, constituting the advance guard, were the Washington City National Rifles, and they were followed by other District Volunteers acting in a similar capacity, who drove in the Virginia pickets. The Federal troops bad possession of all the points for which they were destined by 2 o'clock on the morning of the 24th, and immediately commenced the necessary operations to insure their positions. The occupation of Alexandria was the most important movement accomplished, and this duty was gallantly performed, iu part by the New York Fire Zouaves, but not without a loss, which must be deeply deplored. Their dashing young commander, Colonel Ellsworth, was basely assassinated in the Marshall House by the landlord, named Jackson, while descending the stairs of the hotel, with a secession flag in his band, which he had taken frown a flagstaff on the roof. Retribution for the base act was swift, however, as the murderer was immediately shot and run through the body by a bayonet by one of Colonel Ellsworth's men. Aa the regiment entered the town (Alexandria) the rebel force fired upon them without effect and then fled. Almost simultaneously with the entry of the Zouaves into the city, the Ist Michigan Regiment arrived by the road from the Long Bridge, and took possession of the railroad depot, when they succeeded in surprising and capturing a troop of rebel cavalry with their horses, arms, and equipments. It was expected at last accounts that a decided demonstration would be made on the rebels at Sewall's point, on or about the 24th. General Butler left Fortress Monroe on that date for Sewall's Point, with 4,000 men ou propellers, fur the purpose of demolishing the fortifications there, and landed at Lynnhaven. Commodore Stringham, with the frigates Minnesota and Cumberland, was to conduct the attack from the waterside.  It had been ascertained with certainty that additional batteries were being erected by the rebels near Norfolk, and that there were 15,000 troops located between that city and Sewall's Point, so that General Butler might expect a sharp brush with the enemy. On the 24th there were 12,000 rebel troops reported to be in Richmond, and additional forces wore arriving every hour. From Charleston we learn that there were, beyond doubt, 9,500 rebel troops between Point of Rocks and Williamsport, being the outposts of the force at Harper's Ferry. They were compowl of 7,000 Virginians, and the reserve corps from Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and the Carolinas, including 300 Cherokee Indians from North Carolina, in full war costume, with tomahawks and scalping knives. The news from Missouri is important, and may be considered as a final disposition 'of that state to the Union. By a compact entered into between General Harney and General Price, commanding the State Militia, the latter forces, comprising 4,000 men, have been disbanded and sent to their homes. All trouble iu Missouri may thus be considered at an end.  The Postmaster-General had completed the isolation of the seceding states by forbidding the transmission of all snail matters, either coastwise, by river or by land route, to each and every one of the rebellious states. Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee, are exempt from thin prescription. The British barque Hiawatha, with a cargo of tobacco, had been seized, she having attempted to run the blockade.