The Sun. — 1851-08-18 (London, England)

IERICAN NEWS.  ARRIVAL OF THE ATLANTIC. LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY.—This morning, at three o'clock, the United States steam-ship Atlantic, Capt. West, arrived in the Mersey from New York direct, with the usual mails from the United States and the British provinces, and having on board 52 passengers (among whom are Signor Belletti and M. Benedict), and 110,000 dollars in specie on freight. On her outward passage the Atlantic arrived at her wharf in New York about six o'clock on Sunday morning, August 3, making the passage_ from Liverpool in 10 days and 18 hours. The British steamer Niagara arrived at New York on Thursday, July 31, at half-past four o'clock, P.M, after a passage of over 12 days. The steamer Europa arrived at Halifax at a quarterpast eight o'clock on Monday morning, August 4, and at Boston on Tuesday afternoon, August 5, between five and six o'clock. At the same hour that the Atlantic left the port of New York the British steam-ship America, Captain Shannon, was to leave Boston. It was anticipated that the Atlantic would arrive first, as the result has proved. The news by this arrival is of greater importance than we have lately received, not only on account of the excitement relative to the Cuban insurrection, but also intelligence from California, via Chagres and Jamaica, that the city of San Francisco had, for the sixth time in its short history, been the scene of a terrible conflagration, some particulars of which will be found below ; the property destroyed is said to have been worth three millions of dollars, and several lives were lost. It is believed to have beon caused by incendiaries.  From British America we learn that no progress had been made in the Canadian Legislature toward the settlement of the reciprocity question. The Government still refuses to concede the navigation of the St. Lawrence to foreign vessels, until it obtains an equivalent from the Uaited States. A proposal was made in the Assembly last week to open the St. Lawrence to the vessels of all nations, but it was opposed by the Government. A motion against removing the seat of government to Quebec until after the expiration of four years from the time of its removal to Toronto, has been negatived in the llouse, by a vote of 48 to 12. It is considered certain that the removal will take place during the present season. Mackenzie's Bill for the election of sheriffs, and Ross's Bill for disqualifying persons from sitting in the Legislative Assembly who may hereafter bo guilty of treason, have both been thrown out. The accounts from the southern states report that great excitement prevails on account of the Cuban insurrection. Several volunteers were said to have left Savannah for Cardenas. One thousand men had sailed from New Orleans for the same destination. Two steamers have been purchased by the Cubans and their friends in New Orleans, where it is currently believed they will obtain possession of the island in the present struggle. A large number of persons in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and other southern states, are preparing to give their personal aid to the Cuban revolutionists. We learn from Cincinnati that large bodies of young men in that vicinity are waiting for an opportunity to join the same standard. The President exerts the utmost vigilance for the prevention of any overt acts on the part of the Americans against the Government of Spain ; but the zeal of private adventurers cannot be repressed by the action of public authorities. The news of the insurrection at Puerto Principe arrived at St. Jago de Cuba on the 9th of July, but the accounts were vague and unsatisfactory. An express arrived on the morning of the 11th, with dispatches to the Governor, stating that Las Tunas was threatened with an attack from the insurgents, and that they bad seized upon the funds of the Treasury. In the afternoon of the same day the Governor, General Manzano, started for Las Tunas with a body of troops. The revolutionists at St. Jago number, at least, 500 men, well armed with muskets and other weapons, and supplied with ammunition. The feeling in favour of freedom was general, and the young men of the first families were on the side of  the Patriots. Our last advices from Havannab, by telegraph from New Orleans, state that Trinidad and Villa Clara had taken side with the insurgents against the Government. The Virginia State Convention for the revision of the constitution have reported an amended form of that instrument, which is to be submitted to the decision of the people on the 23d of October next. The new constitution is highly democratic in its character, surpassing in that respect any previous fundamental law of the ancient commonwealth. Every free white male citizen of the age of 21 years is to enjoy the right of suffrage, without regard to property qualifications. The judges of the several courts are to be elected by the people, and may be removed for cause by the Legislature. At the same time the provisions of the new constitution for the maintenance of slavery are of quite a stringent character. On the outward passage of the Atlantic, when only two days from Liverpool, one of the passengers, formerly a merchant of high renown in Boston, committed suicide by shooting himself. It is stated that the unfortunate man was labouring under delirium tremens, brought on by excessive drinking. Captain Hovey, of the packet-ship Devonshire, which arrived in New York on the 3d instant, reports that there was no sickness among his passengers (emigrants) on the voyage out, except one man, who, it appears, came on board affected with the smallpox. As soon as this circumstance became known to the captain, the patient was placed in the stern-boat, hanging at the davits, several feet from the ship. Over the boat a tent was erected covered with tarpaulins. Here the patient was nursed, and attended by the physician and officers of the ship. He is now quite well, and he never left his romantic domicile during the whole course of the passage. This timely precaution taken by Captain Hovey prevented the disease from affecting any of the other passengers.