The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-07 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Money easy. Gold declined yesterday to 214,
and has since advanced to 2164. Exchange on
London, 238 ; ditto, Paris, 2.84 2.131. Stocks
steady. New York Central, 114.1 ; Illinois, 124/ ;
Erie, 86/ ; 5.20 Bonds, 1088. Cotton much lower.
Middling Upland, 115. Flour dull. Wheat and
corn very dull. Provisions mid coffee quiet. Sugar
steady. Molasses dull. Petroleum, crude, 51;
refined, 70.

Despatches from Beauregard to the 24th inst.
state that Hardee reports that a Federal force of
infantry, artillery, and cavalry was moving from
Savannah towards the Alamah River. Hardee had
made dispositions to check their advance. Their
object is supposed to be to destroy the Savannah
and Albany Gulf Railroad. The cotton captured
at Savannah is believed to belong to foreign owners.
General Thomas continues a vigorous pursuit
of Hood. He advanced on Sunday 20 miles south
of Columbia. Hood on Saturday, being 20 miles
north of the Tennessee River, having abandoned
his means of transportation to his pontoons. One
pursuing Federal brigade had been repulsed by
Hood's forces and one gun was captured.
Grant reports that the Richmond papers state
that the Federal fleet numbering upwards of 50
vessels, including 12 monitors and several armed
frigates, furiously attacked Fort Fisher, below
Wilmington, at 10 o'clock on the 24th inst., firing
on an average 30 shots per minute until night.
The attack was renewed on Sunday morning,
and was furious and continuous. The fort replied
to the enemy's fire slowly and deliberately. The
enemy, under cover of a heavy fire, landed three
brigades two and a-half miles above Fort Fisher,
and a smaller force immediately engaged them. At
night the enemy held the ground.
Admiral Porter bombarded Fort Fisher on Sun-
day, driving the Confederates into their bomb-
proofs and silencing their fire.
A detachment of troops landed on Sunday and
pushed up to the fort, some entering the works and
capturing a flag. The bombardment continued on
Monday.
i A Federal gunboat captured and brought off a

company of North Carolina troops in the outworks.
Late on Saturday night the enemy's infantry
attacked Fort Fisher, but were repulsed with con-
siderable loss.

The Southern papers' state that the enemy

having effected a lodgment above Fort Fisher is
a serious matter. It will cost double the force
to dislodge him that would have prevented his

Landing.

A portion of Lee's forces has left Grant's front

for some unknown point of the Federal column.
They have left Suffolk, and are marching towards
Weldon.

The Federals have been repulsed at Fort Branch,
on the Roanoke River. The Federals have renewed
the attack but the result is unknown.
The Richmond papers claim that Breckenridge
had defeated the Federals in several encounters in
Western Virginia.
The Federals are retiring towards Tennessee.

Nashville despatches assert that the high state 6
the river would impede Hood's crossing the Ten•

nessee.

The Associated Press announced this afternoon
that Admiral Porter and General Butler's expedi-
tion have withdrawn from Wilmington and arrived
near Fort Monroe. The Government afterwards
ordered the withdrawal. The despatch states that
only one vessel had returned to Fort Monroe, bring-
.
ing a report that a powder ship had exploded on
Saturday within 300 yards of Fort Fisher.

Gold advanced to 224, in consequence of the re-
ported return of the Wilmington expedition, and has
since receded to 220 k.

SPAIN•

PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF SAN DOMINGO

MADRID, JAN. 6

The War Committee of the Congress has decided.
by 13 votes to 9, on recommending to the Govern•
went the evacuation of Saint Domingo.

The Espiritu Publico contains an article accusing
France of sowing discord in Spain, in order to
obtain an opportunity of invervening and keeping
the Basque provinces as an indemnity.