The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-31 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Money easy. Gold 32t- premium. Exchange
and London bankers' bills, 146. Stocks firm, and
advancing—New York Centrals, 1041 ; Illinois
shares, 79/; Erie, 62g.
Cotton quiet; middling upland 66c.
Flour heavy, and 10c. lower. Wheat and corn
declined. Provisions, good inquiry. Coffee and
molasses quiet. Sugar steady.

NEW YORK, DEC. 20, MORNING.
It is asserted that Mr. Seward has resigned, but
no official statement has been published.

The New York Herald contains a rumour that
General Burnside had resigned, but that his resig-
nation was not accepted.
The official reports state that the Federal loss in
the battle at Fredericksburg amounted to 1,400
killed and 8,000 wounded.

The Confederate General Lee has officially re-
ported his loss at 1,800 killed and wounded.

The Confederate Generals Thomas, Cobb, ttnd
Gregg are killed.
Northern acconnts state that the Confederates
have captured Kingston, North Carolina, with 500
prisoners and 11 pieces of artillery.
The Southern journals, announcing the capture
of Kingston by the Confederates, add that they
were obliged to retire from the town, the Federal
bombardment having greatly injured it.
The Federals are advancing from Kingston in
the direction of Goldensborough and Weldon.
Fighting was going on is the vicinity of Corinth,
Mississippi.
The Confederates had made a demonstration
against Harper's Ferry, but were repulsed.
General Butler has ordered that all persons who
have registered themselves as enemies to the United
States can, if they desire, go within the Confederate
lines and not return. They may take personal
luggage only not exceeding 50 dole. value.
General Butler has ordered a further assessment
of the cotton brokers for support of the poor.
An order has also been issued by Gen. Butler
that no person be allowed to land from any vessel
arriving at New Orleans without taking the oath
of allegiance.

The public meeting at New York is postponed
until the report of the Committee of Inquiry in the
Senate on the battle of Fredericksburg has been
published.

The House of Representatives has passed a re-
solution instructing the Committee upon Naval
Affairs to consider whether letters of marque should
not be issued for the capture of the Alabama.
The Senate has passed the Army Appropriation
Bill, amounting to 731,000,000 dole., for the support
of the army until June, 1864.
The Edinburgh has arrived out.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, DEC. 20, 1 P.m.
Money easy. Gold 32 premium. Exchange on
London, bankers' bills, 1451. Stocks steady. New
York Centrals, 103-7, ; Illinois, 79 ; Erie, 62.

SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 31.
The North German Lloyd's steamship Hansa
arrived off the Needles at 8.40 a.m. to-day.

FRANCE.

PARIS, DEC. 31.

The 11Ioniteur of this morning publishes an Im-
perial decree, ordering that in future the sittings of
the Prefectural Councils for the trial of ordinary
law suits shall be public. After the report upon
each cause has been heard, both parties will be
allowed to make observations either personally or
by their representatives.

The decision of tho Council, together with its
motives, will be pronounced during the sitting,
after a consultation, at which neither plaintiff nor
defendant will be present.

The accounts of the tax gatherers of the com-
munes and of the public charitable establishments
will not be audited in public.
BOURSE, Dec. 30.—The market has been buoyant,
and a fair amount of business transacted at an ad•
vanee. Threes, for the Account, are now firm at
70f 200. Railway shares and other securities are
also firm, and in many cases show an improve-

ment. Prices again sli
close, when the market le

41 per Cents. 9B

le. en,

mon'

3 per Cents!

D. end month.... 70 10

10. ell

monti

Credit Mobilier ....1150
Do. end month ....1152 50

;htly receded before the
1 off as follows :

Bank Shares 3320
Credit I, oneier 1390
Piedmontese FivQs, 71 75
Italian Loan 72 75
Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes —
Home Debt .. —

RAILWAYS.
Cash. Account.
Orleans 1072 50 .. 1070
Northern
New ditto lOlO
Lyons and Mediterranean 1158 75 .. 1160
Gen Ava 372 50 .. 372 50
Southern
Western
Eastern ....
Sardinian
Austrian
I,orpbard

North of Spain
Saragossa 665 .. 663 75
Ditto to Barcelona

ITALY.

A Turin letter of the 27th says :—" In default of
other news, I will give you the political programme
of the Ministry, as expressed by its principal mem-
bers to those who have the honour of their intimate
acquaintance. The principle of the external policy
of the Farini Cabinet is the absolute independence
of Italy. It is averse to close connection with any
Power, but wishes to be on good terms with aU.
Italy is now too strong to be treated as a nullity ;
she will therefore patiently await the course of
events, and choose her alliances according to cir-
cumstances. Italy relinquishes none of her aspi-
rations, but will not attempt to precipitate the
march of events. She will hold herself ready to
profit by every opportunity that may offer, with-
out binding herself by any previous engagement.
But the Ministry has no intention of breaking
with France, which it still regards as Italy's best
ally. As to home affairs, the Ministry will look
for support to the Parliament alone, in which it
is convinced that its whole strength lies. It
considers itself as the true expression of the Cham-
ber of Deputies to which it owes its birth, and it
will not belie its origin. The ultra parties will be
firmly kept within bounds ; but if exceptional
measures should prove necessary it will hesitate to
apply to the Chambers with the confident hope of
obtaining them. M. Peruzzi, who must be regarded
as the real head of the Cabinet, has the utmost
faith in the Parliamentary system. He is con-
vinced that the full development of that system is
the best means of consolidating the unity of Italy.
Of course no efforts will be spared to strengthen
the Administration, to restore the finances, and to
organise the new kingdom. But that thought must
be common to all possible Ministries. The prac-
tical application of the measures that may be taken
will alone enable us to judge of their merit."
Aooounts from Naples state that Prince Alfred
of England intends remaining there during the
Christmas festivities. The St. George, line-of-
battle ship, on board of which his Royal Highness
is serving, is at anchor in the Bay of Baia.