The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-20 00:00:00

TEE SION, LONDON, SAVIRDAY EVENiNo, DEC% VIBE[ 20, 1862.

through which the South learns the military move-
ments of its enemies; while he assures us that no
Southern newspaper will ever be found publishing
any war news, unless it be either before the move•
ments are made, in order to mislead, or afterwards,
when it can do no harm.

The same remark applies to the numerous ships
which run the blockade. At first such feats were
reported with a little boasting. It was soon found
that the information was useful to the North. Such
reporting immediately ceased; yet he saw abundant
proof that the blockade was extensively evaded.
We have wondered much how the South was so well
provided with arms. He mentions that the num-
ber stored by the traitor FLOYD, in Southern
arsenals, was immense; but far the greater part
are of English, Belgian, or French manufacture,
and the ammunition comes with them, As the
newspapers are all as silent as death in regard to
such arrivals, no one but those directly interested
are aware of them. They have done a great deal
in the way of manufacture also, and altogether he
the South will not, even in a long war, feel the
want of arms and ammunition.

The book itself cannot fail to interest, even as
a vivid personal romance. The writer was actu-
ally engaged on the Staff, and was badly wounded
at Pittsburg Landing, having vainly endeavoured
to escape previously to the battle, and put GRANT
on his guard. It was long after before he could
effect his escape, partly by the aid of gold, and
partly by the help of his revolver. But he has given,
as he says, facts which may be of value to his bleed-
ing country, " facts as to the diabolical barbarism
of Southern society in trampling upon all personal
rights—facts showing the intense and resolute
earnestness of the whole Southern people in the
rebellion—facts demonstrating the large re-
sources of the rebels in arms and money,
and the absolute military despotism which
has combined and concentrated their power
—facts of the atrocious character of the gurilla sys-
tem organised and legalised among them--facts
exhibiting the efficiency of every arm of their mili-
tary course,—facts showing the necessity of restric-
tions on the freedom of the press in times of war"—
and many other facts which if duty regarded,
" would stir the North to a profounder sense of the
desperate and deadly struggle in which they are
engaged than they have ever yet felt." His book
can hardly fail to be of service to the North ; it

will open many eyes to the necessity of military
tactics more decided than those of M'CLELLAN, and
of emancipation measures that shall at least destroy
the great advantage which the Southern armies
gain from the camp and fortifications labours of the
poor slaves. Englishmen will learn from it also
much which they had little conception of before, and
will better understand from it the conditions of this
great struggle.

General BURNSIDE has taken his first step to-
wards Richmond. He has crossed the river, the
Rappahannock, in the teeth of the Confederates.
1 The town of Fredericksburg lies on its south side,
but within range of the north side. The Confede-
rates were prepared with batteries, which they
opened at once on the troops employed in making
the bridges, but their fire was so successfully replied
to that the Federals crossed at last with slight op-
position. The Confederates, we are told, retreated to
their line of works outside the town, probably from
motives of humanity, as Fredericksburg is in Secessia,
as much as for military reasons, and there our in-
formation ceases for the present.
The weather has been very bad, which, however,
brings one military compensation with it. The
rivers rise with the wet, and the Federal gunboats
are able to exert themselves so much the more
effectively. On this very occasion, we are
informed they shelled the Confederates fifteen
miles below the town, where they had concentrated.
Indeed, wherever the boats can turn, the Federals
are masters of the passage of any river. The
Federal position in regard to Richmond now, is
that they are with an army probably 200,000
strong at Fredericksburg, which is sixty miles
from Richmond by railway direct having
there the Confederate army of probably
about half their number to dispute their passage.

If beaten, the Confederates would retire, of course
destroying the railway as they retired, and render-
ing the Federal advance necessarily very slow, as
the railway !lust be repaired merely to keep up the
requisite supplies for the army. Next, the state-
ment has been of late that a co-operating
expedition is to advance from Fort Monroe
along the James River, and a land force
on the south of the river, to take Richmond in the
rear and destroy its southern railroad communi-
cations. Such combinations are always difficult,
and it would seem easy work for men of STONE-
WALL JACKSON'S stamp to interfere with them
successfully.
But in this immense continent the war is car-
ried on at vast distances. In the far west of
Arkansas we find the two parties engaged in mur-
derous conflict in bodies of considerable size, re-
mote
and unsettled as the country yet is. We
are told by the Federals that their opponents
numbered 24,000 men, they themselves at first
only 7,000, though afterwards reinforced by
5,000; yet the smaller body held more than
three times their number at bay all day,
and on the arrival of the reinforcements com-
pletely routed the Confederates. It is impos-
sible not to suspect some Federal exaggera-
tion here. Probably the combatants, on both sides,
were rude and rough backwoods-men, with little
military discipline, fighting very much in the style
of our ancestors in the wars of the Roses.

The political news is not much. Tne Republicans
have of course a large majority in the present Con-
gress, and appear to carry their point easily, The
opposition endeavours to embarrass the majority as
much as it can, in the hope of delaying business
till after the 4th of March, when an extra
session must be held to vote the appro-
priations. This would, of course, shorten the
time during which the Republican party would
have free play, through the PRESIDENT, to carry
on the war according to their own views. The
coming year is therefore the most important one of
the war. If the Confederates are ever likely to
feel the exhausting effect of the war, they wilt feel
it during the winter, spring, and autumn of 1863.
If during that period the Federals can make their
emancipation policy tell pretty widely, it
will decide the conditions of the war.
Even the Democrats, if they see slavery
practically abolished to a very great extent—
knowing as they do that it is the perennial root of
all their difficulties—even they, will be warm abo-
litionists. They will feel that it is not worth while
to preserve a remnant of slavery, though they
would have strongly resisted its abolition while
almost half the States were practising it. All
therefore depends, apparently, on what the Federals
can achieve during the coming year, and before the
Democratic congress meets in December, 1863. May
it achieve a general emancipation. " Compensated
abolition" to be compled by the beginning of 1900 is
better than nothing, but better far—indeed Ameri-
can experience has already proved it—to emanci-
pate the negroes at once and for ever. Wherever it
has been done, they are working better than they J
did before.

7HE LANCASHIRE RELIEF FUND.

„~: -r---_-.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six,— Will you allow me, through the columns of The
Sun, to inform the thousands of people who will be seek-
ing for instruction and amusement in Christmas week,
that Handel's oratorio, " The Messiah," will be given by
the members of the National Choral Society, at Exeter
Hall, on Monday next, in aid of the Lancashire Relief
Fund P The band and chorus will number 700 performers,
the price of tickets will vary from Is. to 10s. 6d., and they
may be had at the offices of the National Choral Society,
14 and 15, Exeter Hall, so that all classes may, while en-
joying a rational evening's entertainment, contribute to
the fund for the relief of the dire necessities of our brothers
and sisters of the North.—Your obedient servant,

GEO. W. MARTIN,
14 and 16, Exeter Hall, Dec. 19, 1862.

MURDEROUS ATTACK ON A CONVICT WARDER AT
PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD.—Another diabolical attempt to
murder a convict keeper wasperpetrated yesterday, at Ports-
mouth dockyard, under the following circumstances. It
appears that while a party of convicts were employed in
the old rope store of her Majesty's dockyard, under a keeper
named Deane, who had incurred the animosity of a convict
named Frazer, the latter seized an opportunity to make a
murderous assault on the keeper, by striking him on the
forehead with a piece of teak wood about three feet in length
by five inches in circumference, which formed one of the
steps of what is termed a " Jacob's ladder." Other prisoners
are said to be concerned in the outrage. This is the second
case during the past week of a similar nature, and only last
week a convict belonging to the same prison was sentenced
to 15 years' penal servitude for assaulting a keeper named
Martin Gibbs.
SHOCKING OCCURRENCE IN THE ADELPHI.—
Yesterday much excitement was caused in the neighbour-
hood of the Adelphi, by the report that a gentleman had
been found dead in a room, at No. 12, York-buildings, with
a bullet wound in his body. It was soon ascertained to be
the body of Mr. S. F. Nicholson, a solicitor, who occupied
chambers in the above house. He was about 30 years of
age, and has left a wife. Dr. Duncan was called in, and he
stated that the unfortunate man had been dead some hours'
death having been caused by the bullet wound in his body.
A pistol was found lying by his side, and it is supposed h
committed suicide. Information has been sent to the co-
roner of the sad event.
Garibaldi's Hymn was called for by the audience
the other night at the Andrea Doria Theatre, Genoa, and
received with much applause. The orchestra afterwards
played the "Marseillaise," but this was hissed.
The Zenzero of Florence announces that Gari-
baldi now leaves his bed, and can walk about on crutches
in his room.

A correspondent of the lndependance Beige states
that according to reports which have reached him, M. Thiers
is about to come forward as a candidate for a seat in the
Corps Legislatif, and that he has determined to speak upon
three delicate subjects—the Roman question, free trade,
and the affairs of Mexico.
YORK CHRISTMAS HORSE FAlR.—This great
annual fair commenced on Monday last. During the week
there has been a good supply of all descriptions, and a brisk
demand has been experienced for hunters, some of which
have been purchased to send abroad. Prices vary from £lOO
to £3OO each. There was a good demand for carriage horses
at £lO to £100; for nags lower prices had to be taken; the
best sorts made £5O to over DO ; secondary, £2O to £45;
cab horses, £l5 to £26; ponies, £l5 to £2B each. The de-
mand for agricultural horses was fair, and tolerably good
prices were made. There has been a numerous attendance
of buyers from various parts of the country.
SALE OF THE ESTATE OF NETHERLEY.—The
estate of Netherley, Kincardineshire, has been sold by Mr.
Horatio Ross to Mr. W. N. Forbes, of Auchernach and
Dunottar, for £53,000, being at the rate of 30 years' pur-
chase of the present rental.—Aberdern Herald.
Among the officers who have returned from
Mexico with General Lorencez is Commandant Detrie, who
so highly distinguished himself at the Borrego. He left
Franc.) for Mexico, it may be remembered, with only the
rank of lieutenant.
ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL.—•The Governors of
this institution are now understood to be negotiating with
the Fishmongers' Company for the purchase of a plot of
ground in the Walworth•road, a little beyond the Elephant
and Castle, as a site for the new hospital. A deputation of
them, headed by the treasurer, had an interview on the
subject yesterday with the committee of the Court of Fish-
mongers, of which Mr. Cubitt, the late Lord Mayor, was
chairman for the occasion, at their hall, near London-
bridge. The piece of ground is between seven and eight
acres in extent, and is nearer the more populous portions of
Southwark than the Surrey-gardens, and on a better level.
The building in all its parts, it is said, could be erected
simultaneously, whereas in such a locality as the Surrey-
gardens it would have to be put up in sections. The Fish-
mongers' Company are understood to have offered the site

to the hospital authorities for £40,000, plus certain expenses,
which are not to exceed £5,000. The negotiation, of course,
cannot be concluded without the approval of the Governors
of the hospital. The Court of Common Council, who aro
largely represented in the governing body, showed by the
complete unanimity on a very recent occasion that they
are thoroughly alive to the question of locality in the in-
terests of the poor, and there need therefore be no appre-
hension now that anything will be done in a corner in this
important matter.

Two men of the Beni Hayane tribe, named Abd
ben Kouider, and Youssef ben Kouider, who were con-
demned to death by the military tribunal of Blidah for the
murder of another man of the same tribe, have just been
executed on the market-place of Teniet el Had, in Algeria.
All the male portion of the Beni Hayane tribe were sum-
moned to the execution, and formed one of the three sides
of a square in which the two men were shot. After the
execution, the bodies were given up to the families to which
they belonged.

The captain of the French merchant brig Miltiade,
which was lost at Tabarque, near Tunis, has written a letter

to the Semaphore of Marseilles, in which he expresses the
gratitude felt by himself and crew towards the captain of
the Tunisian vessel Mansour, who conveyed them to Tunis
after supplying everything of which they stood in need.
The Bordeaux journals announce the sudden
death from apoplexy, of M. Gout-Desmartres, of that city,
member of the Council-General of the Gironde, and Presi-
dent of the Societie Philomatiquo of Bordeaux. When re-
turning home from his club, he suddenly alighted opposite
the octro-office, close to his own residence, exclaiming,
" Help 1 help I I am suffocating I " and fell dead in the
arms of one of the men on duty.

A FEAT OF ARMS.—A feat of arms (says the
Constitutionnel) has just been performed in Senegal which
is worthy of mention. A detachment of 14 French Marines,
under the command of a sergeant named Burg, who were
entrenched in the post of Kaolakh, kept in check for 14
hours, and finally repulsed, a body of 5,000 fanatics, under
the orders of two desperate chiefs, named Maba and Ma-
codou. When the enemy retired before such an heroic
resistance, there were found lying round the post the bodies
of 250 men and 70 horses. The remainder of the army had
fled in disorder across the Saloum.

SOUTH YORKSHIRE COAL TRADE.—Business has
been very brisk during the whole of the past month at all
the collieries in the district, and the demand both by land
and water carriage appears likely to continue good. There
has been a large increase in all kinds of coal carried into the
metropolitan district, especially by the Great Northern.
The quantity carried by that line was 46,652 tons, against
30,717 tons in October. The London and North-Western
carried 63,512 tons; Midland, 22,986 tons; and the Great
Eastern, 10,392 tons. Although there has been a falling
off in the total quantity carried by the various lines of
railway for the eleven months of 1862, as compared with
the same period of 1861, yet there has been a large increase
for the month over that of 1861. The returns are—
November, 1861, 139,568 tans November, 1862,
151,819 tons. The principal supplies have come from Earl

Fitzwilliam's Elsecar Collieries, 3,671 tons; Newton and
Co., 5,210 tons ; Wharncliffe Silkstone, 5,880 tons ; Clarke's
Old Silkstone, 3,281 tons. There is a brisk demand in the

southern and midland counties for the Silkstone nuts, for
gas purposes, so much so that some of our largest proprie-
tors have been obliged to refuse orders. The Lancashire

market continues dull for steam coal, and but a limited busi-

ness is done on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire
line. The prospects of the trade just now, however, are
much brighter than at any other period of the year.
DESTRUCTION OF IRON SHIPS BY GALVANIC AC-
TION INDUCED BY PREPARATIONS OF COPPER.—The

French floating battery La Gloire has lately been examined,

and found to be seriously injured by the action of copper

_ ..
on her iron plates, the whole of which, below the waterline,
will have to be removed, being converted into a kind of
plumbago by galvanic action. We had occasion some time

since to call attention to the extraordinary state of her Ma

jesty's ships Triton and Sharpshooter. On their being
docked for examination, the iron plates were in some
places reduced to the thickness of writing paper, and in the
Triton the scrapers actually went through the plates when
removing the tons of oysters, barnacles, &c., attached to
the bottom. It appears that the ship had been coated with
a preparation of copper, and the destruction of the plates
and rivets arose from galvanic action on the exposed sur-
faces of the iron, where the undercoating has become rubbed
off under the bow and forefoot and along the light-load
water-line. The salvation of this ship from foundering was
no doubt occasioned by the adhesion of the shell-fish. She
has just been thoroughly repaired at Devonport Dockyard,
and is now coated with Messrs. Peacock and Buchan's pre-
paration, which is superseding the copper preparation
hitherto used in her Majesty's
dockyards. We understand
that Captain Peacock, formerly a master in her Majesty's
navy, who published a pamphlet on this subject some years
since, actually warned the late Ministro do Marine in Paris

against what has now taken place, two years ago; he also
waited on the Minister of Marine in Madrid, on the same
subject, and has been for several years in communication
with our own admiralty authorities on the importance of
preventing galvanic action upon the iron ships of the
British navy, and we are glad to see that the lordships and

our dockyard officials are at length alive to this important
subjeot—,Shipping &sato.

LATEST NEWS•

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, DEC. 19.

The Royal Mail steamship Africa arrived hero
at 5.30 p.m. She brings 60 passengers and 227,581
dols. She landed in all 65 sacks of mails, and
proceeded at 5.45 for Liverpool, all well. The
Africa left Boston on the 10th and Halifax on
the 12th inst,, thus making the passage from
Boston to Queenstown in the short space of nine
days. The following is a summary of her news :
NEW YORK, DEC. 2, EVENING.

The following is an abstract of despatches pub.
lished to-day, addressed by Mr. Adams to Mr.

Seward:

In June Mr. Adams writes that the darling
desire of the governing classes, that America may
be divided, though subdued in expression by

events, remains as strong as ever,

Mr. Adams writes in October that he has had
an interview with Earl Russell, in which, refer-
ring to Mr. Gladstone's speech, Earl Russell said
it was not for him to disavow anything on the part
of Mr. Gladstone, but that Mr. Gladstone had
no idea in saying what he had that there was
serious intention to justify any inferences of a
disposition of the Government to adopt a new
policy. Earl Russell stated as guardedly as pos-
sible that Lord Palmerston and the other mem-
bers of the
.Cabinet regretted Mr. Gladstone's
speech, but it was still their intention to adhere
to perfect neutrality, and let the struggle come to
its natural end without the smallest interference,
direct or other otherwise. Earl Russell, however,
could not say what circumstances might happen
from month to month in the future.
Mr. Seward's recent communication to Mr.
Adams are summarised thus :

In June Mr. Seward writes that a list of pur-
chases made for the Confederates in England, which
list had fallen into the hands of the Federals, shows
that the complaints made to Earl Russell fall short
of the real abuses of neutrality committed in Eng-
land in the very face of the British Government.
" The revolution," says Mr. Seward, "is now ap-
proaching its end, and it is just at this moment proof
becomes irresistible that if it had succeeded its suc-
cess would have been due to the assistance derived
from the English people." Mr. Seward says the
President thinks it desirable that the English
Government should consider before the war closes
what are likely to be the sentiments of England
and America towards each other after its termina-

ion.

In August Mr. Seward writes that a war with
England could not fail to unite North and South.
In November Mr. Seward writes that while Euro-
pean parties are more hostile than ever to America,
America herself is stronger to resist intervention
than at any former period. Intervention would
only afford an additional motive for America to sus-
tain her resolution to remain united. Less than
three years ago all England showed itself desirous
of friendship with America, and a similar desire
may before long recur.
On the 3d, same month, Mr. Seward states that
the President is compelled to regard the destruc-
tion of ships by the Alabama as having been made
by British subjects in violation of the law of nations.
"It is presumed," says Mr. Seward, " you have
already brought the subject before the British
Government in that light. Legal proofs to support
indemnity claims will be collected and transmitted
as soon as possible."
A despatch from Mr. Seward to Mr. Drayton is
also published, stating that America has a right to
inaißt that Fronou shall not Disko uso of th o-o. oho
is carrying on in Mexico to raise an anti-republican
or anti-American Government, or maintain such
Government in power. France having disclaimed
such designs, America is bound to wait, and not
anticipate their execution.
A despatch from Mr. Clay, in Russia, to Mr.
Seward, dated January last, urges him to offer to
the Canadians union with America, and to send
men and money into Ireland to stir up revolt.
" Vengeance will sooner or later overtake England,
the perfidious aristocrat," says Mr. Clay.
The cold is very severe in Virginia, and every-

thing is frozen.
The Confederate General Stonewall Jackson has
joined General Lee at Fredericksburg.
It is rumoured that the Confederate cavalry
under General Stuart is on the north side of the
Rappahannock, moving between the Federal forces
of Generals Burnside and Sigel.
The Southern journals say that the Federals are
cro.sing the Rappahannock at Port Royal. The
same journals think that an attack on Richmond
will be made simultaneously by a Federal column
from Fredericksburg and another from Suffolk, and
by the fleet on the James River, but that the Con-
federates are prepared for such an attempt.
The Confederates have again been repulsed in an
attack upon Cave-hill, Arkansas.
It is rumoured that the Federal expedition under
General Banks has been landed at Petersburg,
Virginia.

The committee of ways and means has introduced
a bill into Congress providing for an issue of
1,009,000,800 dols., in bonds similar in amount and
form to those authorised by the act of February,
1862, with the interest payable in United States
lawful money, and the principal payable in 20
years in gold or silver coin of the United States.
Also the issue of legal tender notes, the amount
not to exceed, with those already authorised,
500,000,000 dols,, in order to enable the Secretary
of the Treasury to call in all 5.20 and 7.30 Treasury
bonds now in circulation, and to cancol them ; and
authorising the Secretary to redeem legal tender
notes held as loans, and bearing interest.
The committee has further proposed that the
law authorising th 3 payment of interest on United
States bonds in gold should be repealed.
The bill aims at the virtual suppression of the
batiks, by imposing a tax of 50 per cent. upon all
their circulation over one-half of the amount of
their capital paid in.
The House of Representatives has passed a bill
indemnifying President Lincoln for suspending the
writ of habeas corpus.
Large quantities of horses are being purchased
in New York for shipment to the French army in
Mexico.

A meeting has been held at the Produce Ex-
change for the relief of the distress in Lancashire.
Speeches were made urging British and American
philanthropy to meet half way, and build up a new
temple of reconciliation, in which Americans and
British could join hands once more, and swear to
be true to each other and to all principles of civil
and religious liberty.
The subscriptions on behalf of the Lancashire
operatives reach over 100,000 dols., and large
quantities of grain.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Money easy. Gold, 32Z- prem. Exchange on
London Bankers' bills, 146 k. Stocks steady. New
York Centrals, 103 ; Illinois shares, '784; Erie, 611.

(Per Africa, via Cape Race.)
Early this morning a portion of Gen. Burnside's
army attempted to construct bridges across the

Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg. The Con-
federates immediately opened fire. The Federals
persevered, and the army is prepared to cross as
soon as the bridges are completed.

Gen. Franklin's division crossed the river about
three miles below the city, meeting with slight op-

position.
The Federal gunboats are shelling the Confede-
rates 15 miles lower down, where they have con-

centrated.

A battle has occurred at Fayetteville, Arkansas,
between 7,000 Federals and 24,000 Confederates.
The fight lasted all day until the Federals were
reinforced by 5,000 men, and fell upon the Confe-
derate rear. The Confederates were then repulsed
and retreated across the Boston Mountains, the
Federals remaining in possession of the field. The
Federal loss is stated at 1,000, that of the Confede-
rates at 2,000 men.
The steamer Alabama has captured and burned
the ship Starbuck in let. 35.30, long. 66; also the
ship I'. B. Walis, from Calcutta, in lat. 28.30,
long. 66. The Alabama arrived at Martinique on
the 17th ult., and landed the crews of the captured
vessels. The Federal steamer San Jacinto arrived
at Martinique the same afternoon, and waited out-
side the harbour for the Alabama. The Alabama,
however, escaped from Martinique on the 18th.,
A despatch from the American minister in St.
Petersburg states that Prince Gortschakoff told
him in October last be thought the hope of re-union
was daily growing less, and impressed upon him
that Russia would regard a separation as the
greatest misfortune. The Prince stated that Russia
would refuse to aid in intervention, but was most
anxious 'or some means to be adopted to prevent
separation.

A resolution has been offered in Congress that
an American war vessel should accompany any ship
carrying provisions for Lancashire, to protect her
from pirates.
The financial measure introduced into Congress
by the chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means did not receive the sanction of the com-
mittee or the Secretary of the Treasury.
The repairs of the Great Eastern are completed,
and she will resume her trips immediately.
The Hansa, North America, and Arabia have
arrived out.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, DEC. 11, Evening.
Money easy. Gold 324- prem. Exchange on
London : bankers' bills, 145 x, Stocks steady. New
York Centrals, 1038. Illinois shares, 79; Erie,
62i. Cotton quiet. Middling Upland, 67k. Flour
steady. Wheat dull. Corn quiet. Provisions.
good inquiry. Coffee, sugar, and molasses quiet.
NEW YORK, DEC. 12, Evening.
General Burnside having succeeded in construct-
ing bridges across the Rappahannock, the Federals
crossed, and drove the Confederates out of the city
to their line of works outside Fredericksburg.
Since then no further news has been received.
It is semi-officially stated that the Federal Go-
vernment has received information that France will
not further prosecute her proposal for an armistice
or mediation.
The Mexican Minister at Washington is making
arrangements to accept the services of several
Federal officers, who have volunteered to assist
Mexico.
Apprehensions of a battle in Tennessee have
subsided.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, DEC. 12 (Evening).

Money easy. Exchange on London, bankers'
bills, 145. Stocks lower. New York Centrals,
iu Illinois, ail-. Erie, 62. Cotton, quiet.
Middling Upland, 67. Flour heavy. Wheat dull,
and 2c. lower. Corn dull, at a decline of lc. Pro-
visions, good inquiry. Coffee very firm. Sugar and
molasses steady.