Late Northern and European News,
Norfolk, March 12.
--Information has been received here from Northern sources of the battle in Arkansas.
The Federals claim a great victory.
A dissipation from St. Louis, of the 10th, from Gen. Halleck to McClellan, says, that the army of the Southwest, under Gen. Curtis, after three days hard fighting near Sugar creek, Arkansas, has gained a victory over the combined forces of Generals Van-Dorn, McCulloch, Price, and McIntosh.
The Federal loss is estimated at one thousand killed- and wounded.
The Confederate loss is thought to be much greater.
Guns, flags, provisions, &c., were captured in large quantities.
The Federal cavalry were in hot pursuit of the Confederates.
On the 10th, the expedition sent out from Sedalia by McKean, had returned with the prisoners of war. The steamer City of Washington, with Liverpool dater of the 26th, and Queenstown dales of the 27th February, arrived at New York on Monday.
A telegraphic dispatch from Madrid, of the 25th Feb, says that the Captain of the Sumter (Semmes) was arrested at Tangier, at the instance of the American Consul at Gibraltar, and of the Commander of the Tuscarora, who went to Tangier for that purpose.
In the House of Commons, on the 25th, Lord Palmerston said, that Sir Robert Peel had used language personally insulting to O'Donohue.
It was understood that the difficulty would be asserted outside the House; but Palmerston said he was Peel's friend, and that the question at issue must be settled in the House by an apology.
Insulting taunts were made by O'Donohue.
No fight has resulted.
Troubles are increasing in France.
Some 2,000 workmen marched in procession to the Place de la Bastile on the 24th, and attempted to march round the column of July, but were dispersed by the police.
The Bourse was firm on the 25th.
Rentes 70f. 60
At London on the 26th funds were firm and advancing.
Consols quoted at 28½ to 28 ½.
At Liverpool on the 28th, the sales of cotton for three days previous were twenty- four thousand bales, of which twelve thousand were taken by speculators and exporters.
The markets were quiet and firm, At London on the 25th funds were steady.
Consols 23½.
At Liverpool on the 27th, cotton was unchanged.
The Washington Star of the 10th says,‘"the Stars and Stripes are floating over Centreville.
The place was evacuated by the Confederates last night.
Our men are in full possession of the fortifications and warm camp fires of the rebels."’
The Star also says, that rumors of important movements of the Federal troops are in circulation about Washington.
There is bitter and angry complaint at the North for allowing the Merrimac to commit such terrible havoc among Federal vessels.
The leading Northern journals bewail the terrible sacrifice of brave men and vessels in Hampton Roads.
They denounce the blind confidence and neglect of the Federal authorities as the cause of their deplorable defeat and great loss.
The question at the North is who is to blame.
They say that all the sailing vessels should have been out of reach of the iron leviathan.
One of these journals says, that the opportune arrival of the Monitor prevented the destruction of the whole fleet.
It calls loudly for a speedy change in the Navy Department; that the old-time sailing lumber is as helpless as an infant in the hands of a giant, and urges that a mail-clad fleet be built within a hundred days. The dead wood of the navy, and the Navy Department, must be cleared out.
A dispatch from Washington, on the 10th' says that the Merrimac was struck seventy-five times, and that she went back to Norfolk uninjured.
The State prisoners lately arrested at Alexandria, charged with aiding the Southern cause, were asked if they would take the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government.
They unanimously refused.
A dispatch says that before long Lincoln may try the experiment of setting fire to the Navy- Yard at Norfolk by means of a stream of liquid fire, which has been considered by the Congress Military Committees.
Worden, who commanded the Monitor, is now the lion of Washington.
His head and eyes were closely bandaged.
He is led from place to place, and attracts universal interest.
When introduced to Lincoln a flood of fears gushed from his eyes.
Lincoln grasped his hand with warmth, and said we owe to you, sir, the preservation of our navy.
I cannot thank you enough.
No one at the Navy Department could give any answer to the telegraphic dispatches which came thick and fast, asking who, on board the Cumberland and Congress, were killed and wounded.
A dispatch from Charlestown, Va., on the 10th, says, that Winchester has certainly been evacuated.
At Baltimore, on the 10th, Gen. Dix announced that for the present no more passes will be granted to parties for the South.
A dispatch from Fortress Monroe, on the 9th, says that Worden of the Monitor was wounded by fragments of shell, and his eyes filled with powder driven through the lookout holes.
He was stunned and carried below.
The naval authorities at Washington are quite confident that the Merrimac was disabled, and that the Monitor, had found her match.
They say that the ruse practiced by a Norfolk paper, in stating that the Merrimac when a failure deceived them.
It was feared from the sample already had of the Merrimac, that she would sweep the seas and raise the blockade generally.
From Baltimore papers of the 10th we learn that Capt. Davis, late flag officer of the South American squadron, brings intelligence of the capture of Fernendina, Fla., and Bruns wick, Georgia.
The Federal defeat in Hampton Roads affected the Northern stock market unfavorably. 