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

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Shipping and Commercial List of Dec. 20.)

The want of some definite financial scheme, whereby the
enormous expenditures of the incoming year may be pro-
vided for, together with the continued apparent disinclina-
tion of Congress to interpose its authority in the premises,
and the unfavourable and unsatisfactory condition of affairs
pertaining to war matters, combine to keep financial affairs
in an unsettled and unsatisfactory condition, rendering the
public mind decidedly uneasy in regard to the future. The
contradictory character of Mr. Chase's report renders it
next to impossible to ascertain anything
in regard to his in-
tentions, though there is a very general impression abroad
that he really favours the issuing of demand-notes to a suf-
ficient amount to meet the Government requirements with-
out a further resort to loans, which, however, his report re-
commends in preference to legal tender notes.
We still adhere to the belief that Congress will resolve
upon furnishing the wherewithal to carry on the war in this
manner in preference to borrowing. The rejection of Mr.
Chase's banking scheme is a foregone conclusion—as for
that matter, it doubtless was before the public saw the pro-
position. The active speculative movement in stocks is un-
doubtedly based upon the hypothesis of further large issues
of demand-notes, which will, of course, greatly inflate all
kinds of merchandise, by widening the distance between
the currency and gold.

Great as is the public interest in the financial programme
of the Government, it is almost completely overshadowed
by the intense interest which is now felt in all quarters in
regard to its future military programme. The repulse of
the great Potomac army, and the reported repulse of the
army in North Carolina, have cast a gloom over the public
mind, and occasioned considerable uneasiness regarding the
future; while there is a very general apprehension in
financial and commercial circles that the military " dead-
lock" will result in the much-dreaded intervention of the
European powers.
Business has been very dull during the past three days,
and in some departments it has come to almost a positive
standstill. A few commodities have been quite freely dealt
in, but on the whole the New York markets have rarely
been duller or more unsatisfactory to the merchant. The
volume of business since Tuesday is small. The steamer's
news occasioned some movement in several commodities,
but, as a general thing, the influence was not marked.
Gold has fluctuated somewhat, but the changes have not
been of especial importance. The transactions have been
comparatively heavy, both on 'Change and in the "street,"
and the bulk of the sales have been at about 321 to 321 per
cent. premium.

Foreign exchange has ruled comparatively steady, the
vibrations in gold not being sufficient to exert any influence.
Sterling has sold to only a moderate extent, and chiefly at
146 for bankers' bills. The market has been dull, and the
business for the three days is small. We quote bills on
London 1442, to 146 per cent. ; France, 3f 850 to 3f 90c.

STATE OF TRADE.

DUNDEE, Dec. 30.—A few sales of flax have been

made since last report, but the business done in to-

day's market was not large. The price of fine flax
is higher, but common qualities, ca the contrary,

can be bought rather easier than of late, the stocks
of such goods in sellers' hands being large. Tow
and codilla remain unchanged in value, but the
demand is quiet Jute is rather more inquired for,
and prices are steady. For yarns for early delivery
there continues a fair inquiry, and a moderate busi-
ness was done to-day at previous prices. Linens of
all kinds continue in good request, and some rather
extensive transactions were entered into to-day at
full prices. Altogether there was more life in the
market to-day than is usually seen so close on the
end of the year, but the year has been an excep-
tional one, and the trade, on the whole, very
prosperous.

LEICESTER, 31st.—The hosiery trade has been
rather quiet during the past few days ; still there
is quite an average amount of business doing, ma-
nufacturers being quite engaged in completing
orders for useful goods, In the country districts
trade is fiat, and the workpeople continue only
partially employed. Yarns are realising high
prices, the market being firm and worsted spinners
well engaged. In wools there is no important
change, but prices remain firm.

NOTTINGHAM, 31st.--During the past few days
the lace trade has been very quiet, but this is
usually the case after Christmas. A better demand
is, however, expected to set in shortly. Very few
buyers have been in the market, and their opera-

tions have been limited. There is less doing in
foundation nets and cotton quillings. The home
trade is dull, and there is not much doing for ship-
ping. In the silk department there is a little doing
in edgings and black laces ; stocks of all kinds of
goods arc low. In hosiery there is fully as much
doing as could be expected, considering the high
price of goods and the advanced period of the year.
Buyers, however, purchased very cautiously. Yarns
continue extremely dear, and are difficult to pur-
chase.

aenffieovieidoetnueseeoeff the
e
good A TlGERservi
ce ADVENTURE.--AB p
attendantvENTu RuEp.o—Aa
upon
the
rifle by our young men of the volunteer corps, we (Greenock
Advertiser) may place before our readers the following
communication from a young townsman, lately a member
of our corps, and recently settled in a distant locality:—
" One day we had a bullock killed by a tiger, close to the
cattle shed; it dragged it into the jungle about a hundred
yards from the road. We followed the trail and found the
bullock, after pursuing it well, and got it dragged near a
large tree, and as night came on, I went along with an old
acquaintance and ascended the tree, with two guns loaded
with ball. It was a fine moonlight night, and the carcass
was only 20 yards off. At three o'clock in the morning the
moon set and left us in total darkness. Shortly atter this
I observed a pair of eyes shining in the dark quite close to
us. I touched Mr. —on the shoulder with my elbow;
my Lair began to stand on end with excitement, but Mr.
told me not to fire—the animal was too near to us, and
if I missed him he might try to spring up to us. I followed
the eyes till the owner reached the bullock and began to
devour it. I lifted my gun to my shoulder, took a deliberate
aim at the eyes (the only thing I could see), and pulled
both triggers ; there was an awful roar, which made my
blood run cold, and then a profound silence. We waited
for daybreak with the utmost anxiety. At six o'clock in
the morning we descended from the tree, and found the
tiger lying stone dead, with his teeth firmly set in the
1 haunch of the bullock, and two neat little holes in its skull,
(
just above the eyes. The balls had penetrated the brain, and
done the work of death. It measured Bft. 10in: to the tip
of the tail, and was a fine animal, quite young too, judging
from his teeth, which were like ivory."