The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-16 00:00:00

neral markets are so unsettled by the movements in
gold that prices are nominal.
Money easy. Exchange on London—Bankers
bills, 173 to 175. Stocks steady—New York Cen-
trals, 117*; Illinois, 911 ; Erie, 771. Cotton heavy
—Middling Uplands, 841. Flour, whet, and corn
heavy. Provisions dull_ Coffee depre,Eed. Sugar
steady. Crude Petroleum, 40,

(From the Times' Cbrresporaent.)
NEW YORK, March 3.
The term of the present Congress expires to-morrow
at 12 o'clock., It has passed the Conscription Act,
the Banking and Currency Bills, and the Act autho-
rising the President to suspend the Habeas Corpus
at his discretion. There being still business for the
Senate to transact, the President has issued a pro-
clamation summoning an extra Session of that
body, to commence immediately after the adjourn-
ment; in consequence, the meetings of the Senate
will not be for a moment interrupted.
The Bill of Indemnity for the recent acts of arbi-
trary arrest and imprisonment by the President
and the Secretaries of State and War was brought
up in the Senate yesterday. The debate lasted till
5 o'clock this morning. Mr. Bayard, of Delawate,
was protesting against it as unconstitutional at half-
past 4, when a motion for adjournment was made.
The motion was not carried. On attempting to re-
sume the discussion Mr. Bayard was Galled to order
by the chair on the ground that the bill had passed.
As no vote was taken upon it the Democrats con-
tend that it is not law, and must be resisted. Con-
siderable excitement exists upon the subject, and
the debate will probably be renewed in the extra
Session of the Senate.
Rumours have been current for the last five days,
both in Washington and New York, of a disastrous
repulse of the Federal arms before Vicksburg, at-
tended with an enormous sacrifice of life. The re-
port is not traceable to any trustworthy source,
but, nevertheless, it creates considerable anxiety.
The Secretary of the Navy publishes official in-
formation from Admiral Porter of the loss of
another Federal ram, the Indianola, 25 miles below
Vicksburg. The Indianola had been sent to retake
the Queen of the West, but was so fiercely attacked
by that vessel, aided by three Confederate gun-
boats, that, after an obstinate resistance of several
hours, she was compelled to surrender. The whole
of her officers and crew were made prisoners.
A detachment of 80 Confederate cavalry entered
the Federal lines near Strasburg, Virginia, on the
25th, and captured 12 of the Federal pickets and :1
number of horses. They then retired beyond Wood-
stock, closely pursued by 500 Federal cavalry, who
succeeded in recovering most of the prisoners and
horses. Shortly afterwards the Confederates, having
received reinforcements, turned upon the enemy,
threw them into confusion, and drove them 20
miles, killing and capturing 200 of them in their
flight.

Owing to insuperable differences with Genera
Hooker, General Sigel has resigned his command in
the Federal army.
The secret organisation of whites and blacks,
reported by the Tribune to be in existence at Hilton-
head for the purpose of instigating an insurrection
among the slaves in the States composing General
Hunter's department, is pronounced by the other
journals of this city to be wholly untrue.
The disagreement that existed between Generals
Hunter and Foster in regard to the command of
the Charleston and Savannah expeditions is stated
to have been adjusted.
Mr. Opdyke, the Mayor of New York, has voted
a series of resolutions adopted by the Board of
Aldermen, condemning the action of the Govern-
ment in dismissing General Porter from the Federal
service, and tendering that officer a public reception
at the City-hall. Mr. Opdyke is a prominent mem-
ber of the Republican party.
The Confederate steamer Florida has captured
and burnt the merchant ship Jacob Bell, bound from
China for New York, with a cargo valued at
1,500,000 dols. The capture was effected on the
12th ult., in lat. 28 deg. N., long. 65 deg. W. The
news is brought to Halifax by the Delta from St.
Thomas's and Bermuda the 20th and 25th ult. The
pasoongere worn transfarrp.d to a Danish vessel and
landed at St. Thomas's.
Gold has been sold to-day at from 1711 to 1711.
Exchange, 188 to 189.
Stocks are lower—Erie, 76 to 761; New York
Central, 1171 to 1171 ; Illinois Central, 91 to 911.
Cotton, 87c. per lb. Flour has declined from sc.
to 10c. per barrel. Provisions slightly improved.
The investments in real estate continue numerous.
(Via Halifax and Roche's Point.)
MARCH 5.
Wall-street has been in a state of great agitation
since the commencement of business yesterday
morning. Among the amendments to the National
Tax Bill adopted by Congress on its last day of sit-
ting was one designed to check gold speculations,
For the future all contracts for the purchase of goid
and silver must be reduced to writing and stamped
under the Stamp Act, at the rate of one half per
cent. on the whole amount, and bear interest at the
rate of 6 per cent. per annum. Loans or deposits
made for less time than three days, when renewed
or extended, are to bear the same burden, and all
loans of currency made by brokers on security of
goid or silver shall not exceed par value of the coin,
under penalty of non recovery before courts of law.
The effect of this legislation was to create a panic
among speculators, and to send the premium on
gold yesterday from 711 74. To-day the excite-
ment was still greater, and sales were effected as
low as 50. The price rallied to 56 at noon, and at
the Second Board went up to 571, a decline since
the day before yesterday of 141 per cent.
The discussion on the alleged unfair passage of
the Indemnity Bill was resumed in the Senate yes-
terday morning.
Bp mutual consent it was agreed to take a test
vote on the question whether the bill had not been
legally passed. The Senate decided in the affirma-
tive by a majority of 25 against 13.
The correspondent of the Journal of Commerce,
at Hilton-head, writing on the 25th, states that no
immediate attack will be made on Charleston,
Savannah, or Wilmington ; that an expedition is
being fitted out at Port Royal, in which every con-
ceivable engine of destruction will be concentrated
to render it successful. Its destination is not known.
The Mobile Southern accounts state that the Con-
federate steamer Nashville grounded in front of
fort Macallister on the Ist inst., and was destroyed
by shell from the Federal iron-clads that were
bombarding the fort. The steamers Ruby and
Douglas, from Nassau, ran the blockade and en-
tered Charleston harbour a few days previously.
No confirmation has been received of the rumours
of a great battle at Vicksburg.
Her Majesty's ships Petrel, Vesuvius, and Des-
perate have arrived in Hampton Roads.