The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-31 00:00:00

CONINIERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Gold, 1501. Exchange, 168. United States'
Sixes, registered, 1881, 108; Treasury, 7-30 Notes,
1061.

New York Central Railway, 1331 ; Erie, 1087 ;
Illinois Central, 1231.
Cotton, 90c. Breadstuffs unsettled. Provisions
heavy. Sugars firm, at 12 to 12.

OCT. 20, 5 P.M.

The despatches from the Army of the Potomac
and Washington, both to the 19th inst., convey no
information of the position and actual movements
of General Lee. Reconnaissances in all directions
report no considerable force of Confederates dis-
covered, and the consequent conclusion is that Gen.
Lee, having failed in an endeavour to interpose his
army between that of General Meade and of
Washington, and having consumed the limited
supplies with which alone he could encumber his
men upon so hasty a march, has fallen back to a
point nearer his base of operations.

The rumours that the Confederate advance was
designed to inaugurate another invasion of Mary-
land and Pennsylvania are not borne out by any
ascertained facts. It is thought, in some quarters,
that General Lee's real plan at the outset was to
drive General Meade back to the Potomac, and
then himself retire to the Rappahannock, destroy-
ing the railways on his return, thereby retarding
Mtlade's movements of pursuit, and gaining time
until the heavy rains of autumn should set in,
which would, for the third time force the Army of
the Potcmao into winter quarters—" mud-bound"
north of the Rappahannock, giving Richmond an
additional six months' security from attack from
the Northern approach,

On Sunday, the 18th, the Confederates surprised
and took possession of Charleston, in 'Virginia,
eight miles from Harper's ferry, captured 400 of
the Ist Maryland Regiment stationed there, and
then withdrew. They were subsequently pursued
by the Federal cavalry, a,41 a few of their prisoners
taken from them, together with several of their own

men.

The Federal General Crook has submitted offici-
ally, an account of his encounters with General
Wheeler's cavalry in Tennessee, previously reported
through other channels. He claims to have de-
feated Gen. Wheeler in three engagements, in one
of which, at Farmington, he captured 1,000 small
arms and 40 prisoners.

The Tribune asserts that it has trustworthy
authority for stating that Gen. Rosencrans is about
to be removed from the command of the Army of
the Cumberland. It adds that his successor has not
yet been publicly announced.
The Chattanooga Robel, of a late date, reports the
arrival of President Davis at General Bragg's
headquarters. The object of his visit was believed
to be the investigation of the causes of disagreement
which, it is alleged, exist between General Bragg
and his officers. Mr. Davis was received by the
troops with the greatest enthusiasm.
The steamer Thomas, from Port Royal on the
16th inst., reports all quiet at Charleston at that
date.

The steamer Douro, which was captured last
spring by the Federal steamer quaker City, con-
demned, sold, and taken to the British provinces,
was run ashore on the North Carolina coast, and
burnt, on the 11th inst., by the Federal steamer
Mansell:tend.

The Douro was endeavouring to run the blockade
from Wilmington, with a valuable cargo of cotton,
tobacco, turpentine, and resin.

In consequence of the directions of the British
Consuls at Richmond and Charleston to British
subjects taken by conscription into the Confederate
army, to throw down their arms if required to
engage in actual conflict with the Federal forces,
the exercise of the functions of office of these COn.