The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-25 00:00:00

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, DEC. 24.

The royal mail steamship Scotia, from New York
en the 16th inst., arrived here at 9.15 p.m. to-day,
after en unprecedented passage of eight days. She
brings 135 passengers and 441,671 dols. in specie.
She landed all the mails and nine passengers, and
proceeded for Liverpool immediately. All well.
NEW YORK, DEC. 15 (Evening).
Congress has proposed legislation to cheek specu-

lation in gold,
The military situation is unchanged.
The report of the Confederate Secretary of the
Treasury represents the finances to be in a very un-
favourable condition.

Money easy. Gold, 49 per cent. prem. Stocks

higher.

Both armies in Virginia are going into winter

quarters.

Oa the 30th ult. the Federals occupied Fort
Esperanza, Matagorda Bay, capturing 10 guns. The
Confederate garrison, numbering 1,000 escaped.
The command of Matagorda Bay is said to give the
Federals the control of Central and Western Texas,
and all the important points cn the east coast, ex-
cept Galveston.
Gen. Banks is sick with fever at New Orleans.

Reconnaissances have been made by the Federals
from Chattanooga to Lafayette. No large body of
Confederates was met with.

Longstreet is reported to be at Rutledge, 30 miles
north-west of Knoxville, in a comparatively safe

position.

Gen. Price is crossing the Red River into Texas,
pursued by a large Federal force. Marmaduke is
endeavouring to join Price.
It is reported that. Meade has demanded a court of
inquiry into the late campaign.
The representatives of the loyal leagues have had
an interview with President Lincoln to urge a more
radical policy in Missouri, and the removal of Gen.
Schofield.

The report of the Confederate Secretary of the
Treasury recommends an immediate reduction in
the currency from 700 to 200 millions, by the com-
pulsory funding of 500 millions into 20 years 6 per
Cent. Bonds. For this and other purposes he pro-
poses a loan of 1,000 millions with interest payable
in coin. Currency not funded before April will not
be received at the Treasury, but will be paid after
the declaration of peace. Guarantee wi Ibe given
that the issue of currency will be confined to
200,000,000 dole. left in circulation. The Secretary
proposes to levy a tax payable in coin, and to tax
all property five per cent, on its value. Those mea-
sures must be adapted or the country must suc-
cumb, as a depreciation of the currency renders
taxes useless for carrying on the Government.
In the Confederate Congress, Senator Foote, the
former political opponent of President Davis, de-
nounced the latter as being responsible for the defeat
at Caattanooga, by keeping General Bragg in com-
mand against the wishes of the people and the
army. He said that President Davis had almost
ruined the country by his action in military affairs,
and he hoped that President Davis would never visit
the army again.
In the Federal Congress Fernando Wood intro-
duced a resolution proposing to send commissioners
to Richmond to arrange for securing peace under
the constitution upon terms of justice and equality.
The proposal was defeated by a vote of 98 to 59,
The large vote favouring the proposition has ex-
cited some surprise.
A resolution, to the effect that war ought not to
be waged for conquest or subjugation, but that as
soon as the rebellion was crushed the States should
be restored to the Union with their dignity and
equality of rights unimpaired, was likewise nega-
tived by 82 to 74 votes.
Resolutions have been introduced for a new reci-
procity treaty with Canada ; also to inquire into the
expediency (it' putting coloured soldiers on the same
footing as white men as regards pay, and of abolish-
ing the 300 dols. draft commutation.
A bill has been introduced in the Senate prohi-
biting the sale of gold, silver;or exchange through
brokers, unless the whole of the purchase be paid
down, under the penalty of a heavy fine and impri-

sonment.
The New York Herald asserts that Mr. Mae-
Dougal will introduce a resolution in the Senate
declaring the invasion of Mexico to be an unfriendly
act towards the United States, and inquiring if it
is not the duty of the United States to declare war
against France is consequence.
A banquet to both Houses of Congress took place
on Saturday last on board tho Russian fleet at
Washington. The Russian Minister and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives made speeches.
The Confederates have refusei to receive any
more stores for the Federal prisoners, in consequence
of the imputations of the Northern press and
Governtrent authorities that the stores were not
honourably delivered.
in his message to the
Legislature,ihe
Governortak oesfstVroirinngggiarOunds that reunion is
utterly impossible, everything showing the neces-
sity for eternal separation.
The Confederate Senate has passed a bill prohi-
bit;ng the employment of substitutes in the army.
The steamer Mina has been captured near Wil-
mington.

NEW YORK, DEC. 16 (Morning).

All is quiet at Knoxville. General Foster
assumed the command on the 14th inst. General
Burnside has left for Cincinnatti.

The Federals are reported to have captured much
of Longstreet's artillery and baggage. It is also
reported that Longstreet's rearguard had repulsed
General Sheridan, who was pursuing him, with
heavy loss, Sheridan being badly wounded. Both
these reports, however, require confirmation.
Guerillas continue active in raids upon Meade's
outposts.

General Butler has despatched a negro regiment
which has occupied Elizabeth City, North Carolina
and will make it the base for future operations.

A Federal expedition from Yorktown has occu-
pied Charles City Court-house, on the James River,
capturing a small force there.
Congress has called for reports of General
l‘PClellan's campaigns.
The New York Herald has nominated General
Grant as a ee.ndiciate for the next Presidency, and
urges public meetings to confirm the nomination.
The same journal declares President Lincoln's
administration and conduct of the war and Cabinet
have proved a failure.
The Chesapeake is reported to be near Chester,
Nova Scotia.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YOEK, Dec. 15 (Evening).
Money easy. Gold opened on Monday at 502,
but declined yesterday to 49, on account of the re-
ported legislation concerning speculation in gold.
G.)ld is now quoted 49. Exchange on London,
163 ; do, on Paris, 3.421 to 3.45. Since Monday
there has been considerable speculative activity in
stocks, at higher prices. New York Centrals, 132 f ;
Illinois, 118; Erie, 1061 ; 6 per Cent United States
Bonds, 1.044. Cotton in good inquiry; Middling

Upland, 82c. Flour very firm. Wheat and ecru
advancing. provisions steady. Coffce quiet_ Sugar
in good inquiry. Molasses dull, Petroleum dull;
crude, 30 to 31; refined, 45 to 46.

FRANCE.
THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.
PARIS, DEC. 24.

In to-day's sitting of the Corps Legislatif the
election of M. Pelletan was declared valid. The
report of the committee censures the proclamation
of the Mayor issued at the time of the election. A
debate then followed upon the loan.
M. Thiers spoke in defence of his amendment.
His speech, which was remarkable for its perspi-
cacity and practical character, was applauded by
the house. M. Thiers reviewed the financial con-
dition of affairs, and stated that peace was the wish
of the world, and that any war would be a fatal
mistake.

M. Vintry, who replied to M. Thiers's speech,
confined himself to the financial question.
M. Picard censured the Mexican expedition.
MM. Gueroult and Havin, members of the Oppo-
sition, explained their reasons for not voting for
the amendment of M. Thiers.
M. 011ivier then stated the policy he himself
advocated, which he declared to be of a pacific
character. M. Oilivier's speech was greatly cheered
by the Chamber.
MM. Gouin and Gaillaumin and Lanjuinais also
spoke.

The Loan Bill was finally adopted by 242 against

4 votes.

PARIS, DEC, 25.

The elections in the department of the Lower
Rhine, Gard and Vooges, has been fixed for the
17th January.

BOURSE, Dec. 24.—N0 improvement has been
visible as regards business, and prices remain un-
changed, Threes, for the Account, being at 661. 40c.
The Railway Market has been firm, and with an
advance on some of the lines. The market closed as
follows :

41 per Cents. 94 10
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 66 40
Credit Mobilier 1041 25
Do. end month 1038 75
Bank Shares —
Credit F ander 1225
Roman

Italian Loan 7l 60
Do. end month 7l 50
Near ditto —
Do. end month —
Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes 52
Rome Debt
Deferred

RAIL'

Orleans
Northern

'AYa.
Cash. Account.
970 .. 971 25
968 75 .. 970

New ditto —
Lyons and Meditsnauean 927 50 .. 930
New ditto.. SS6 25

Geneva
SJuthern 677 50 ~ 681 25
Western

Eastern
SarJinian .. 4OO 398 75
Austrian
Lon.bard .. 520 .. 521 25

North of Spain. ...... 517 50 .. 517 50
Saragossa 6ll 25 .. 613 75
Ditto to Barcelona

JAPAN.

The following extract of a private letter is dated
Yokohama, Oct. 14, 1863:
"The action of Kagosima is still under criticism,
as regards itself and its consequences. The peculiar
features of that affair are :-1. The tatal disuse or
forgetfulness of the proper use of the Armstrong
guns, which would at long range have effected just
as much damage without the loss of s 9 many
valuable lives as was done at close quarters. 2.
An attack in a gale of wind and rough sea. 3.
Euryalus taking position close to a target, about
400 yards from the forts, at which the Japanese had
been practising for months. 4. There was no an-
ticipation of a fight, and it was regarded by all as
a diplomatic cruise, which was to end in the pay-
ment by Satsuma of some thousands of dollars.
We also told that no action was apprehended
after the capture of the material guaran-
tee, i e., the three steamers. And it is ad-
mitted that as the fleet went to sea the
firing was resumed by the forts along the coast as
the ships passed. There has been no negotiating
since the fight, nor any attempt to prevent the re-
pairs of the damaged forts, which are probably as
strong as at first. The report of the fight rendered
by Satsuma appears to be believed by the Tycoon's
Government, for a few days ego a member of the
grand council renewed his request that all foreigners
should leave the country, and it is rumoured that all
the hostile Daimios are mustering in army to carry
out this policy, should the Tycoon not succeed in it.
" The French have taken the most commanding
part of the South -Yokohama bluffs and hoisted the
tricolour ; the British portion is outside the
French, and commands the sea and some part of
the settlement. These heights are the key of
the position, from• which the town could lie
easily destroyed; they will, therefore, undonbtedly
be occupied in the event of hostilities. The French
have also landed stores and coats, &c. Our admiral
does nothing without home orders, and the present
protection of the place is dependent on the French-
men on shore, and in case of an attack the English
residents would remove to the ships, and thus vir-
tually do what the Japanese want—go away,
'The following item of news is significant. A
French officer of Zonaves (and cousin of the Admiral
Juarez) was cut to pieces in the country about two
miles from Yokohama on the Yedo side, as he was
going out in that direction. The body was
brought in fearfully gashed. The cause of
this is unknown, and will probably remain in
obscurity, but it gives the French a famous excuse
for military occupation, and it is more than pro-
bable that they will use it as a causus belli, into
which we shall doubtless be drawn. It is already
rumoured that the burning of a town near the scene
of the murder has been determined on, if the mur-
derers are not given up by 10 o'clock this evening ;
so the Belle Court does not regard money as a corn•
pensation for wanton blood as your Foreign Secre-
tary seem,, to do. A doubt exists as to the origin of
the murder, and whether the officer infringed in
any way the customs of the country. His horse
was also badly cut up.''