The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-25 00:00:00

T4E CONFEDERATE SHIPS.

The following letter was prevei tted, on a point of form,
from being read by Mr. Cobden in. the house yesterday :
Washington, Navy Department, Ma 7 19, 1863.
. .

Dear Sir,—You invite my attention to the sileech of Mr.
John Laird delivered in the British House of C. )morons on
the 27th of March, in which he represents that the Secretary
of the Navy made application to him, through an Agent or
agents, to build vessels for the Government of the United
States. Mr. Laird remarks :

"Now, I will go a step further about the Northern
States. In 1861, just after the war broke out, a friend of
mine, whom I have known for many years, was over ht'rO
and came to see me with a view of getting vessels built im
this country for the American Government—the Northern
government. Its agents in this country made inquiries,"&c.
It is not improbable that _Mr. Laird and his friend may
have interchanged views on the subject of building vessels
for the United States as a private money-making transac-
tion; but it is not true that any application to build a
vessel for this government was ever made to that gentle-
man directly or indirectly by himself or by any agent of
the Navy Department. No person or persons have been
employed by n..e as agent or agents, or been authorised by
the Navy Depautment or by the American Government, to
make applicat:on to Mr. Laird, or to the firm of which he
is a member, or. to any other person or firm abroad, to.
build a vessel or N'essels for the government of the United
States or for the ns Ty of the United States.

Inunierable applications were made to me at the
beginning of the rebe Won by persons professing. to be the
agents of English or fo'r eign firms to procure vessels to be
built for this GovernmenA', and I have an indistinct remem-
brance that this departmen t was importuned by more than
one person in behalf of the it tessrs. Laird, and very probably
they, like others, presented plans and solicited our views,
but I pursued a uniform and: undtiviating policy in regard
to each and all of those spinlicatiens, declining in every
instance any proposition to build or procure to be built
vessels for navy abroad.
When, therefore, Mr. Laird :stated or intimated in the
House of Commons that any agent of the .Secretary of the
American Navy or of the Navy Department approached
him, "with a view of getting vessels built in this country
(Great Britain) for the American Government," he stated
what was not true.

I have never at any time had such purpose in view, and
consequently I have never authorised any person to act as
my agent, or as the agent of the Navy Department, or of
the American Government, to procure vessels to be built
without the limits of the United States,—l am, very re-
ppec(fully, GIDEON WELLES,
,Hon. Chas. Sumner Secretary of the Navy.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

WAKEFIELD-FRIDAY.

Wheat dull to-day, and business has been confined to
fine fresh parcels. Prices must be quoted is per dearer.
Spring corn unaltered.

LIVERPOOL-FRIDAY.

At this day's market there was a fair attendance, with
a moderate business doing in wheat. Oats fully supported.
Beans almost a nominal trade. Barley steady. Peas at
former rates. Indian corn scarce, and prices were main-
tained. Flour, prime fresh American, 6d per brl. dearer.
Oatmeal unaltered.

EXETER—FRIDAY.
Wheat, white.. 6s 3d to 6s 4d Barley. ..3s 6d to 4s 3d
I
Ditto red. .6s Od to 6s 3d Oats .........2s 9d to 3s Od
Flour, fine, 35s to 36s ; seconds, 34s to —s per sack.
CATTLE.
Fat beef, p sc., 10s0d to 11s6d Ewes, per n .... 51d to 61d
Pork carcases, 7s Od to 8s Od Wethers, d 0...... 7d to —d.
Lamb, p 1b........—d to d Fat calves, d0...61d to 7d.
Rough fat, 34d per lb.

STAMFORD—FRIDAY.
To-day the show of wheat was small, but late rates were
a shade higher. Barley, oats, and beans were very scarce.
—White wheat, 478 to 51s ; red, 420 to 46s per 36 stone.
Barley, malting, 36s to 40s ; grinding, 29s to 30s per qr.
Oats, 24s to 265: per 24 stone. Beans, old, 40s to —s per
qr. ; new, 37s to —s.

DUBLIN-
There was again a dull tra
former quotations must be rej

-FRIDAY.
Le in wheat to-day, and our
eated.

" -
s. d. s. d. S. d.
Wheat, white.. 11 oto 12 0 Beans.. . oto o
Do., red...... 10 otoll 0 i Bere . —oto 0
Do., new .... oto 0 Rapeseed .... oto 0
Barley ...... 6 3to 8 9 Oatmeal l2 otols 0
Oats .. . , .... 74t0 8 7 Bakers' flour
Do., black....._ oto 0 Indian corn

BRISTOL SUGAR-FRIDAY.

- - -----
The market this week has been quiet, and prices have
been much the same as last week. Refined goods meet 3
slow sale, at late currencies. Rum rather easier, with but
little doing.

COAL A
Prioes of Coal per Ton ai

.AItKET.
the close of the market.
s. d,

d.
Byass's Bebside West B.
Hartley . 15 3
Buddle'sWest Hartley 15 3
Cowpen. Hartley 15 3
Carway and Duffryn
Malting . 19 6
Eden Main."... 16 3
fanfield Moor Butes 13
North Pelton Gas 13 3

Walls End.
Heugh Hall l6
6
Hartlepool... l7 6
Trimdon Harepool 17 6
South Hartlepool 16 0
East Hartlepool 17 3
elloe ..... l6 6
South Kelloe • 16 6
Hetton lB 0
Tnnsta 11 l5 3
Gosforth
Stewart's l7 3
38 ; sold. 27.