The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-19 00:00:00

ITALY.

A letter from Rome of the lath, in the Univers,
says—" The ceremony of laying the first stone of
the monumental column, intended to perpetuate
the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate
Conception, took place with great pomp three days
back. Car•linal Fransoni, notwithstanding his great.
age, presided. An immense concourse of persons
were assembled, and everything passed over very
satisfactorily. The Pope left Rome on the 7th for
Castel Gandolfo, where his Holiness will remain
Ascension Day. It is sail that he will go
from Castel Gandolfo to Porto d'Azzio to give his
benediction to the chapel, which be purchased
two years ago. It is also rumoured that the King
of Naples will join the Holy Father there."

AMERICA.

SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 18.

The United States' mail steamship St. Louis,
Captain Wotton, arrived off Southampton this
afternoon on her tray to Havre, with dates from
New York to the sth inst., 30 passengers for Eng-
land, and 61 for Havre.
The liquor excitement was increasing rapidly
throughout the United States, awl in all the cities
and large towns the liquor dealers were organising
associations to test the legality of the prohibitory
law.

_
Mr. Fabens, one of the chief promoters of the
Kinney Nicaragua Expedition, was arrested in
Washington on the 2d instant for an alleged at-
tempt to violate the neutrality laws. He was
bound over in the sum of $lO,OOO to answer the
charge.
A correspondent of the New Orleans Bee; writ-
ing from Mexico, states that Santa Anna was so
seriously ill that he was not expected to live.
In the Boston Legislature, Governor Gardner's
veto of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad
Bill was sustained.
All vessels loading guano at the islands of the
Mexican Republic are prohibited from shooting
birds on them, under a penalty of $5O for each
offence. _ _

A new bridge recently erected over the Passaic
river fell while being tested. There were about 30
persons on the bridge at the time it gave way, the
most of whom were precipitated into the water.
Two persons were somewhat injured, and others aie
missing.
The mayors of several cities in Maine, had issued
proclamations, directing the rigid enforcement of
the liquor law.
The United States', mail steam-ship Black
Warrior, with advices from Elavannali to the 28th
ult., arrived at New York on the 31 inst. The
correspn lent of the New York Herald states that
General Concha had carried his feelings of vin-
dictiveness towards the memory of the late Ramon
Pinto so far as to refuse the request of the family
of the deceased to permit his remains to be depo-
sited in one of the niches of the C tinpo Santo.
Four persons named Renny, Cromrey, Parkins,
and Schumacher have been arrested at New York
for enlisting soldiers for the Crimea. They were
committed for examinati. n.
Several fires had taken place in various towns iu
America ; among others, property valut•d at
$40,000 had been destroyed at New York. •
The St. Louis Intelligencer contains an article
expressing a IWI belief in the exiatonco cf atm rid Ant
gold deposits at the source of the Arkansas river.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
( From the New York Courier and Inquirer.)
NEW Youx, May 4.—We do not fiiid any unfavour-
able effect produced upon our own market by the infor-
mation that the public debt of England is to be increased
23 millions sterling. The stock market for the week
shows no serious decline. The leading fancies are well
sustained. State loans are in better demand at a slight
advance.
Foreign exchange is dull. We quote London 100 to
100 i ;
Paris, 5.111 to 5.15 ; Amsterdam, t 1 to 41t
Hamburg, 36i to 37 ; Bremen, to 79/.
COTTON.—The market has been firm during the week,
with sales up to last evening of 15,000 bales. The sales
to-day amounted to about 2,000 bales, sold chiefly, before
receipt. of the Atlantic's advices. Spinners, who are
generally bare of stock, bought the principal part of
what was sold. Good qualities are very scarce and daily
dearer. The business to-day was at 92c. for middling
uplands, and 10c. for Mobile.
Fnoua.—The trade are in light stock, and, as we are
now so near the commencement of canal navigation, they
purchase only for immediate wants.
GRAIN.—For wheat there is a fair inquiry, but millers
are unwilling. to purchase at present rates, and the mar-
-1 ket is inactive, and prices a few cents lower.

MARSEILLES, MAY 17.—One hundred pieces of the
battering train ordered to be shipped for the Crimea are
collected at the artillery ground near the port of the
Joliette. They consist of heavy cannon and huge mor-
tars. A telegraphic despatch has further commanded
that 25,000,000 ball cartridges be forthwith despat,ned
to the army before Sebastopol, being 250 rounds for
100,000 men. Several ambulance carriages of very
superior construction Lave arrived here for embarkation
for the Crimea.

A hogshead of hardware, in which revolvers and
pistols were concealed, was seized by the authorities at
Hull on Wednesday. It Ras at the Humber Dock,
ready for shipment in the Hamburg [steamer. The
quantity was small,—Zull Packet.

WAR DESTRUCTIVE IN VEN 2110 S.