The Sun. — 1856-05-05 (London, England)

AMERICA.  SOUTHAMPTON, MA.y 4.  By the United States' mail steam-ship Washington, Capt. Cavendy, which arrived off Cowes this morning, en route from New York to Bremen, with the German, French, and English mails, we have dates from New York to the 19th ult.  The Washington brings 186 passengers, and on freight about 150,000 dols, in specie, principally for London, and the usual cargo.  The Collins' mail steam ship Baltic arrived at New York from Liverpool on the 18th ult. The steam-ship George Law, from Aspinwall, with the semi-monthly mails and nearly 1,50C,000 dols. in treasure from California, had arrived at New York. The Aspinwall Courier of the st:i ult. states that Col. Schlessinger, at the head ot. 400 troops, was defeated near San Jose by 500 Costa Ricans, under Gen. Mora. Twenty Americans were taken prisoners and shot. The Costa Rican army was about to enter Nicaragua. The statements as to the result of the battle are conflicting. The Washington correspondent of the New York, Herald, in alluding to the Costa Rica war, says— " That despatches from Col. Wheeler to the Government mention that Col. Schlessinger'J retreat was not a defeat of the Costa Ricans, but a stroke of successful policy, superinduced by the largely-overwhelming force of the enemy."  The same correspondent says— " Among the offi.nal documents received from Oregon is a letter from Joel Palmer, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, who, confirming the statements of Governor Curry, says, The present difficulty in Southern Oregon is wholly attributable to the acts of the whites;' adding, `I cannot but feel it is our duty to adopt such measures as will tend to secure the lives of these Indians, and maintain the guarantee secured by treaty stipulations. The future will prove that this war has been forced upon these Indians against their will, and that, too, by a set of reckless vagabonds, for pecuniary and political objects, sanctioned by a numerous population who regard the Treasury of the United States as a legitimate object of plunder. The Indians in that district have been driven to desperation by acts of cruelty against their people. Treaties have been violated, and rats of barbarity committed by those claiming to be citizens that would disgrace the most barbarous nations of the earth. If none but those .3171)pperpctr_4 such acts were to b aar we migh' look upon it with ind happily this is not the case.' "  Ince ;  ,tit nn Advices from Havaunali are to the 11th ult. The man who attempted to take the life of the Archbishop of Cuba was to be garotted. The cause of the attempt is said to have arisen out of the denunciations of the archbishop from the pulpit of certain Spanish hidalgos, who were living in open concubinage with their own slaves. The aggregate number of Asiatic labourers which hare arrived at the island since the importation commenced is 4,066. In addition 390 of the unfortunate creatures had been lost by disease, accidental drowning, and suicide before reaching Cuba. In the New York money market foreign exchange continued firm. There were but few bills in the market, but with a continued large business in cotton at 'ho southern ports the market would ultimately become well supplied. The quotations for bankers' bills on London at 60 days' sight was 109.1 ; Paris, 5 181 to 5 161 ; Antwerp, 5 181 to 5 1742 ; Amsterdam, 41 to 411 ; Hamburg, 361 to 361 ; Bremen, 783 to 781 ; Frankfort, 41 to 411. The stock market during the week was active, but subject to heavy fluctuations. Government stocks were held at high rates and very little business was done. The cotton market continued firm, with sales of about 2,000 to 2,500 bales, closing at about 11c. to 11!ic. for middling Uplands. Flour, with fair sales, was firmer, and in some cases sold at 61 c. to 1242 c. per bare el advance. At the close, however, the market was less animated. Wheat was quiet. Small lots of Tennessee red and Southern white were sold 1 dol. 70c. to 1 dol. 81c. Rye was at 91c. for Pennsylvania, and 93c. to 95c. asked for northern. Corn ranged from 63c. to 65c. and 66c. for all kinds of sound qualities. Pork again advanced, with sales of mess at 17 dols. 50c. to 17 dols. 681 c., and at the the close 17 dols. 75c. were demanded. Prime sold at 15 dols. 75c. Sugars were again active and firm, with sales of about 2,200 hogsheads. Coffee was steady, with moderate transactions. Freights were rather firmer. Wheat was engaged for Liverpool at 41d. in bags, and, 1,500 barrels of flour were taken at ls. 3d., with compressed cotton at NEW OrLEANS,