The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-29 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Money easy—gold, 58 per cent, prem. Stocks
advancing—New York Centrals, 135; Erie, 1241.

NEW YORK, FEB. 19 (Afternoon).
It is reported that General Johnston is preparing
to attack Chattanooga.
The City of Manchester has just arrived out.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Money easy. Gold 58i per cent. prem.; Ex-
change on London, 174; Stocks very firm; New
York Centrals, 135 i ; Illinois, 1331; Six per Cents.
United States Bonds, 112. .

FEB. 16 (Evening).

Money easy. Gold has fluctuated since Monday
between 591 and 611, closing to-day at 6077 per
cent. prem. Exchange on London : bankers' bills,
1751: on Paris, 3.171. The ease in the money mar-
ket has caused renewed speculation, and a consi-
derable advance in stocks. The market is firm and
advancing. New York Centrals, 1331 ; Illinois
shares, 1321; Erie, 1151; Six per Cent. United
States Bonds, 111. Cotton dull. Middling Up-
land, 81c. Petroleum: crude, 299 to 31c.; refined,
46c. to 48c.

FEB. 18 (Evening).
(By Telegraph to Halifax.)

Money easy. Gold, 59; per cent, premium. Ex-
change on London, 175 ; ditto on Paris, 3.18.
Stocks firm and advancing. New York Centrals,
135 ; Illinois, 133 a ; Erie, 201; 6 per Cent. United
States Bonds, 112. Cotton dull. Middling Up-
land, 80ac. Flour and wheat dull. Corn quiet.
Provisions good inquiry. Coffee steady. Sugar
inactive. Molasses dull. Petroleum inactive,
Crude, 291 to 31; refined, 48 to 49.
The Arabia brings 130 sacks of mails, 101 passen-
gers, and 35,000 dole. in specie.
She left Queenstown for Liverpool at 3 50 a.m.

DANISH GUNBOATS AT FEHMERN,
HAMBURG, FEB. 29.
Danish troops 'nave been brought by a Danish
steamer from See'and to Fehmern.

A Danish gunboat is stationed in Fehmern Sound,
which enables the Danes to take up a similar flank
position towards Holstein as they occupy upon
Alsen towards Scsleswig•

SPAIN.

MADRID, FFB. 28.

The vote, by sections, of the Congress on the last
Ministerial bills is not favourable to the Alinietryi

It is believed that a decree will soon be pub•
lished ordering the closing of the session and fresh
elections.

MADRID, FEB. 29.

Senor Mon and the Marquis of Novaliches have
been charged by the Queen to form a new Minis-
try, the members of which are all to be chosen from
the Liberal and Conservative fractions of the
Cortes.

FRANCE.

PARIS, FEB. 29,

The 211oniteur of this morning publishes a minis-
terial report, and a decree appointing a committee
for the organisation of a scientific expedition to
'Mexico.

PARIS, FEB. 28.

The Emperor and Empress visited the Porte-
St.-Martin Theatre last evening to witness the
representation of "Faustine."
Viscountess Royston was safely confined of a
daughter at the British Embassy on the 25th inst.
We rre happy to state that her ladyship and
daughter are both doing well.
BOURSE, Feb. 27.—Preparations for the ap-
proaching settlement monopolize the attention of
speculators to the exclusion of anything in the
shape of fresh operations. The market remains firm.
Threes, for the Account, are now at 66f. 60c.
Mobilier have improved to 1,085 f. Railway shares
little dealt in, bat prices generally well maintained.
The market closed as follows :

41 per Cents . . 95 60
Do. end month....

3 per Cents
Do. end month 66 50

Credit Mobilier 1072 55
Do. end month 1073 75
Bank Shares 3300
Credit Fonder 1265
Roman —

RAIL

Orlear s

Italian Loan 67 75
Do. end month —

New ditto
Do. end month —

Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes —
Home Debt
Deferred

'AYB.
Cash. Account.
1007 50 .. 1005
955 .. 932 50

Northern
New ditto —
Lyons and Mediterranean 930 .. 930
New ditto OO • ..
Southern 667 50 .. 665
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lorybe.rd
North of Spain
Saragossa .. 590 .. 590
Ditto to Barcelona .... 290 .• 290

WEST INDIA, PACIFIC, AND MEXICAN

MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 29.
The Royal Mail steamer Shannon, with the above
mails, arrived off the Needles at 11 a.m. to-day.

PROVISIONAL DANISH PRIZE LAW,

COPENHAGEN, Feb. 23.

A provisional prize law—provisional till its rati-
fication by the Rigsraad—has been issued by King
Christian for the decision of cases relating to hos-
tile or suspected ships captured by the Danish
cr&sers during the war. The provisions of the
enactment are summarised from an official copy as
follows :

1. A court of inquiry to be established in every
district containing a port. The constitution of the
court described. The court may assemble at any
place or hoar within the district on land or sea.
2. A captor to report his capture to the court
immediately upon arrival. The evidence of captors
and captured persons to be taken without delay.
3. Provision made for further judicial assistance
if required.
4. The court to investigate all the circumstances
minutely, and jealously guard the interests of both
parties, giving the captured shipper every oppor-
tunity of making any statement he may think fit.
5. Inventory to be taken of ship and cargo.

6. When the examinations before court of inquiry
are terminated, the case to be sent to the Adxni•
ralty Court.
7. Establishes a Court of Admiralty, and states
its composition members to be nominated by the
Minister of Marine.

8. Describes in detail the course of proceedings
by the Admiralty Court, provision being made for
decision of cases with all possible despatch.
9. Judgment to be published in certain news-
papers, and communicated by. Court of inquiry to
parties effected. Appeal to be made within thrice
24 hours after publication of judgment.
10. Appeal to the Upper Admiralty Court.

11. If the appeal be made by the captor, it must
be prosecuted within a week. If by the captured
party, a term of four weeks is allowed.
12. If no appeal be made, jadgment to become at
once valid.

13. If a captured ship be acquitted' by the
Admiralty, if the captors appeal, and if the
skipper nevertheless wishes to dispose of ship or
cargo, he can do so by giving bonds to full value of
either.

14. Condemned ship or cargo to be sold by public
auction.

15. Contains regulations as to costs and fees.

THE AUSTRIAN AND PRUSSIAN FLEETS.
STETTIN, FEB. 24.

The following statement of the strength of the
Austrian and l•russian fleets has been published
hero :

" The Austrian fleet, exclusive of vessels upon
the inland waters of the empire, consists of one ship
of the line, 800 horse power, 92 guns ; five frigates
—together 1,800 horse power, and 194 guns; two
corvettes, 460 horse power, and 44 guns ; three
schooners, 220 horse power, and 18 guns; seven iron-
clad frigates, 4,250 horse power, and 226 gunl ; ton
gunboats, 1,880 horse power, and 40 guns; ten
paddlewheels, 1,500 ,horse power and thirty -six
guns; 2 steam yachts, 420 horse power, and 6 guns
—in all 40 ships, carrying 656 guns.
The Prussian fleet is stated as consisting of 4
corvettes, each carrying 28 guns; 2 ditto of 17
guns each; 8 large gunboats with 3 guns each; 15
smaller do., with 2 guns each ; 1 yacht; 1 paddle-
wheel corvette guardship, carrying 9 guns ; 2 steam
despatch boats, one carrying 2, the other 4 guns; 2
steam tugs. An ironclad is building for the Prus.
sian Government in England. The active Prussian
fleet in commission at present, therefore, consists of
35 vessels carrying 243.

The Federal Steamer Kearsearge,

BOULOGNE, Feb. 28, 7 p.m.

The Federal war steamer Kearsearge remains at
anchor in the offing, and will take a supply of coals
on board to-morrow. Her departure is uncertain.
The fact of the Confederate vessel Rappahannock,
now lying at Calais, being nearly ready for sea,
will probably explain the Kearsearge's presence in
these waters.

LORD PAL➢IERSTON AND THE MISSES
THACKERAY.—Thackerayana continue to appear in
the local journals. A. London correspondent (understood
to ba Mr. Tom Taylor) writes to the Manchester Examiner
as follows :—" I hear that soon after the death of Mr.
Thackeray Lord Palmerston wrote in very kind and hand-
some terms to his daughters, offering to recommend them
for pensions on the Literary Fund. The answer was
what might have been expected from the children
of a man who consistently exhorted his literary bre-
thren to rely on themselves, and to discard any notion of
State recognition or assistance. The Misses Thackeray re-
spectfully declined the offer, adding, as one amongst other
reasons for doing so, their opinion; that their acceptance of
it would not have been approved of by their illustrious
parent.—London Ronew.
THE BULL AND THE TRAIN,—A few day ago a
bull which was standing at Milnathort railway
station became excited and broke from his keepers, running
along the File and Kinross Railway towards Ladybank at
a fearful rate. Instant chase was given, but the infuriated
animal rushed on for about two miles, till, on nearing
Mawcarse station, it observed a train corning up. This
apparently increased the bull's fury, for he at once bent
down his head and prepared to do battle with the approach-
ing engine. His boldness, however, was shortlived, for in
a few moments the train came down upon him, and, as
may be supposed, he was killed on the spot. No in-
jury resulted to the train or the passengers.—Perthshire
Journal.

THE STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN, which once be-
longed to a member of the Medici family, was sold by
auction, on Friday week, at the Hotel do Drouet, in Paris,
for 5,740 francs,