The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-21 00:00:00

SOUTH AMERICA.

We have received, per French mail steamer
Estremadura, advices from Buenos Ayres to the

3th of December. The Standard of that date has

he following :

"While Buenos Ayres is making sensible progress
most of the sister provinces seem rather retrograd-
ing, and the latest accounts from the interiorprove at
once how necessary is an interval of peace and how
wretched is the condition of the Republic. The In-
dians of the Gran Chaco have swept down like a
tornado on the province of Santa Fe, carrying off
plunder and captives, and butchering some 30
Christians. Governor Cullen has equipped several

expeditions in their pursuit, one of which he com-
mands in person ; but the savages, taking refuge in
impenetrable woods, defy our troops, and await a
fresh opportunity to make incursions up to the very
suburbs of the city of Santa Fe. Col. Charras lately
took 36 prisoners, the wives and children cf the
Indian warriors, but disgraced our arms and name
of Christians by killing a child who refused to sur-
render, and ordering a youth to be stabbed on the
plea of murders committed by his tribe. These acts
give an aspect of ferocity to the war, which is only
beginning, and we expect no good results from the
crusade of extermination."
At Corrientes rumours were rife that Urquiza in-
tended to invade that province, but the Captain-
General was leading quite a retired life, and his
activity at the saladeros', combined with his recent
loan in London, was considered proof that his
thoughts were bent more on money-making than
on politics.
Mendoza had again been visited by an earthquake
and several severe shocks were felt; the new town,
rising out of the ruins of 1861, is constructed of
wood, and no serious accident was heard of. The
Uspallata piss of the Andes was about to be opened
to mail coach traffic.

The Legislature of Santa Fe had made an extra-
ordinary attempt to annul the sales of public lands
authorised under the late Government. The Salado
expedition of Mr. Rams had set out for the terra
incogntla lying on the banks of that river ; the navi-
gation project was in a fair way for success, and
Mr. Hutchinson, consul at Rosario, accompanied
the party, with a view of investigating the facilities
and adaptability of that region for cotton-growing.
President Mitre had granted a military escort for
the protection of these scientific pioneers,and named
an officer to report the points most suited for a cor-
don of pickets to keep back the Indians.
The Finance Minister had proposed to nationalize
the Bank of Buenos Ayres ; and, as he promised to
remodel the present imaginary currency, his idea
was well received.

It was rumoured that the President intended
making a tour of the provinces, which is a more
laborious journey than to visit all the capitals of
Europe. The cotton-seed arrived per Lady of the
Lake had renewed the fervour of some native plan-
ters, who had applied for large quantities, but the
San Juan mines occupied the public mind in pre-
ference.

The first section of the Buenos Ayres Northern
Railroad was inaugurated on the Ist of December,
when President Mitre,the Ministers of Government,
and other public dignitaries, went over the line in
a special train, which carried 400 persons. The
journey to the Alsina station was performed in 17
minutes, and there they were received by the Juez
de Paz of Belgrano, who invited the President and
other guests to his residence, where a "buffet" was
laid out for their entertainment. On their return

to the station a splendid dejeuner was given by the
directors of the company, Mr. Zimmerman in the
chair, supported by President Mitre and other dis-
tinguished guests. " Success to the line" and other
toasts having been enthusiastically drunk, the train
returned to Buenos Ayres in the evening. The
line was after wards doing a good business, owing to

the holidays, over 3,000 passengers being conveyed
over the section in one day ; but the general traffic
was not expected to be permanently extensive
until the road was opened to San Fernando. The
Government and the company's agent had expressed
their satisfaction with the manner in which the
works had bcen constructed.
The greatest interest was being taken by the
Government and all classes in the Cordova Railway
project, and the nation was unanimous in demand-
ing the immediate action of the National Govern-
ment in the matter.

The Buenos Ayres Great Southern, or Chascomus
Railway Company, was awaiting the sanction by
Government of the contract, specifications, and by-
laws, before commencing operations. The agent of
Messrs. Peto and Betts, the [contractors, has re-
turned to Europe by this packet, having acquired
all the necessary information he required as to the
description of materials, carriages, locomotives,
barges, &c., most suitable. It was understood that
the earthworks, stations, wharves, &c,, would be
immediately commenced, and that no time would be
lost in pushing the works on as fast as possible.
In the Custom-house the greatest activity pre-
vailed, as importers were aware of the intention of
the Government to raise the valuation on goods at
least 30 per cent. on Jan. 1, 1863. The amount of
English goods in bond was, however, very trifling
in comparison with that of other years.
On the subject of cotton cultivation the Buenos
Ayres Standard says :
" The cotton-seed which we were so anxiously
expecting has at last arrived, and it affords us sin-
cere gratification to assure our friends in Manches-
ter that the National Government has at last deter-
mined to help us in the matter, and to afford us
every assistance possible in the enterprise. We have
been visited by several large property holders in
Cordova, Catamarca, Corrientes, Entre Rios, and
Santa Fe, all of whom speak in the most confident
terms as to the ultimate success of our efforts. In
no country in the world does the cotton plant
thrive so well as in this, but, owing to the low price
of the raw material and the enormously heavy
freights, the natives preferred sowing maize, which
has a home consumpton, to cotton, which nobody
knew the use of."
Trade at Buenos Ayres was brisk in all depart-
ments, this being the busy season of the year; but
the market was so ill-assorted that many articles,
particularly United States products, commanded
exorbant prices.
Wool was arriving in large quantities, and the
clip bade fair to exceed the estimate given some
months since. The great increase in the sheep
business was so perceptible that it was admitted by
all that the staple was becoming too great for the
market which it was brought to. The farmer who
last year had only 250 arrobas of wool has this year
close on 400. The imports from the commence.
amounted to abouest part goodt 40,0 ar-
ment of the season
meostiozoo sold
robas, of which the great
at between 85 dole. and 95 do's.
-e prices had
not beer: well sustained, and several sellers had de-
posited their wools in expectation of better prices.
Wools in good condition, however, were easily dis-
posed of, and had obtained readily an advance of
15 per cent. over the same qualities in inferior con-
dition. Prices are quoted as follows :—Superior
mestizo wool, 100 to 103; good ditto ditto, 00 to
95 ; middling ditto ditto, 72 to 85 ; mixed ditto
ditto, 65 to '7'). Cordova wool had been selling at
10 Teals, at which price 107 bales were sold. From
Entre Rios news was received of the sale of wools
from the establishments of General Urquiza,
amounting to 14,000 or 15,000 arrobas, at 5 pata-
' cons, bated, on board, duty paid ; also 9,000 arro-
bas, at 34 reals.
Dry hides from the provinces were disposed of
more freely than classified from the province of
Buenos Ayres, but the total sales did not amount to
as many as the two preceding fortnights.
Salted Hides.-17,000 ox and cow at 43 reals.
Sheepskins.--About 4,000 dozen were sold during

Exchange transactions by this mail were consi-
derable, especially on England, and the sum total
amounted to about £150,000 sterling, drawn at the
uniform rate of 668. ; of this sum £20,000 was
drawn by the new London and River Plate Bank.
The amount of exchange transacted on the Continent
and France was about 200,000 f , drawn at the rate
of 831 f. per doubloon. On Brizils about 2,500 ounces
wire drawn, at the rate of 29,000 rcis. Boliviano
currency had slightly improved, and come into bet-
ter demand ; it was worth 201 dots. per ounce.
Paper currency was worth 1 to 2 per cent. under
the last quotations, and secreed to bo, stationary
about this fi:ore, the last price being 390 dollars
per doubloon.

RIO JANEIRO; DEC. 23.
The coffee market ruled firm, at previous ratcsl,
dealers in many cases demanding higher prices,
until the arrival of the French steamer, when the
more favourable advices by her from New York led
to art active business, and 40,000 bags change-1
hands in two days at 6,800 to 7,000 reis. At the same
time dealers purchased all the coffee in the hands of
the cornmissarios, and also from the smaller dealers,
and have advanced their pretensioni to 7,000 and
7,500 reis, according to quality, which has caused a
suspension of operations on the part of exporters,
one exporter, in fact, reselling his lot to a ;dealer at
7,300 reis.

Receipts are upon a very insignificant scale, and,
from all accounts, will continue so; while the err')
now on the trees, and which from the flowering pro-
mised to be very abundant, has become more or less
affected by the insect, and, at the outside, cannot
be more than a regular one. Only the new estecs
will produce anything like what the flower pro.
mised, the old estates being more or less injured—
so much so that there appears to be some radical
and incurable evil, which can only be remedied by
the growth of new trees, which it is well known
takes time to bring to perfection. The position of
the article here is unusually strong, and when we
say this we speak considering the American war us
continuing, and consequently with but one outlet,
Europe, for seven-eighths of our crop.
Sales since our last were 70,000 bags, of which
13,400 bags were for the United States, 48,600 bags
for the Channel and North of Europe, 6,000 bags
for the Mediterranean, and 2,000 bags for the Cape
of Good Hope. Stock, 80,000 bags.

Lots for the United States are quoted at 7,00 to
7,300 reis per arroba ; ditto, Channel and MeditEr-
ranean, 7,000 to 7,300 reis; ditto, North of Europe,
7,300 to 7,500 reis.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.—Morning, 3h. Bm.—Afternoon, 3h. 32m,
To-moßrovi.-Morning, 3h. 56m.—Afternoon, 4h. 15m,