The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-30 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, Dee. 15.—The stock market developed in-
creased strength and activity to-day, under which thebear
element sensibly weakened. At the early session of the
open board New York Central sold at 961; Erie, 931 ;
Hudson River, 1081. ; Cleveland and Pittsburg, 924; Cleve-
land and Toledo 1081; Rock Island, 107 ; Fort Wayne, 1051 ;
Schuylkill C0a1,131. Maraposaproferred,2o. At the first regu-
lar board there was a general advance of prices. New York
Central closed * higher than at the second board yester-
day, Erie 1, Reading 4, Michigan Southern I, Cleveland
and Pittsburg I, North-Western 1, preferred 1, Rock Island
11, Fort Wayne 1, Ohio and Mississippi certificates 1.
Hudson River, Toledo, and Quicksilver were unchanged.
There was some inquiry for city railway stocks, and 64
was bid for Second Avenue. Government securities were
dull but firm, and Five-twenties of the old issue advanced 1,
Ten-forties Seven-thirty notes were steady.
The gold market was strong during the early part of the
day, but afterwards heavy. The opening price was 1461
followed by an advance to 1461, and a decline at the close
to 1461. Loans were made flat or by paying one per cent.
interest on the currency.
The importations of dry goods at this port during the
week ending December 14 compare as follows with those
of the previous week :

7-, ,--Dec.
Consumption. Pkgs. Value. Pkgs Value.
Manufactures of w001...1,140 5466,472 1,488 5638,340
Manufactures of cotton. 743 231,948 1,258 395,649
Manufactures of silk ... 251 248,704 302 297,790
Manufactures of flax ...1,263 284,953 1,367 368,144
Miscellaneous .. 218 77,570 473 176,480

Total 3,615 $1,304,647 4,888 $1,875,403
Withdrawals.
Manufactures of wool 89 $35,256 122 $55,558
Manufactures of cotton. 106 34,794 106 35,368
Manufactures of silk 4l 57,259 48 67,389
Manufactures of flax 112 32,062 106 35,860
Miscellaneous

Total 351 $160,764 401 $197,308
Warehoused.
Manufactures of wool 517 $238,018 848 $389,318
Manufactures of cotton 603 200,067 677 241,046
Manufactures of silk
Manufactures of flax
Miscellaneous 2B 16,948 27 19,979

Total 1,629 $584,155 2,313 $1,002,145
COTTON.—A fair demand prevailed, though the market
was not quite so strong at the close, and holders were free
sellers, and in some instances considerable anxiety was
manifested to secure a- market for speculation lots. The
sales comprise 3,050 bales at our quotations, as fol-
lows :

Upland. Florida. Mobile. N.O.&T.
Ordinary
Middling
Good middling 5l 52 52 53
The sales of cotton by auction passed off with consider-
able animation ; the attendance was good, and very full
prices were generally obtained. The cotton was sold for
Government accounts by order of Simeon and Draper,lTnited
States Cotton Agents. The condition was reported to be
good, though not perfect. The sale comprised 3,181 bales,
at the following prices:-2,406 bales Memphis cotton at
53c. for middling fair, 511 c. for strictly middling, 45c. to
461 c. for good ordinary, 41c. to 411-c. for ordinary, 37c. for
low ordinary, 201 c. to 311 c. for pickings,!and 411 c. to 431 c.
for rebaledi; 658 bales New Orleans cotton at 53c. for mid-
dling fair, 501 e, for strictly middling, 471 c. for low mid-
dling, 45ic. for good ordinary, 424 c. for ordinary, 38c. for
low ordinary, 191 c. for pickings, and 421. to 42c. for re-
baled ; 117 bales Florida cotton at 49c. for low middling,
46c. for good ordinary, 441 c. for ordinary, 391 c. for low or-
dinary, 33c. for pickings, and 401 c. for rebaled ; also 7
bags Sea Island at 59c. The terms of the sales were net
cash, payable in currency.
FREIGHTS were quiet, but unchanged for grain. Cotton
offered freely, and rates were rather better. The engage-
ments were :-To Liverpool, 1,500 bales cotton, at 5-16 d.
to Id.; 7,000 bushels corn, at 51d., in bags; 50 hhds.
tallow, at 17s. 6d. ; 50 do. tobacco, at 30s. ; per steamer,
300 bales cotton, at Id. to Id. ; 21,000 bushels wheat; at
61d. To London, 500 bhds. petroleum, at 6s. 3d. To
Antwerp, 1,000 hhds. petroleum, at ss. 6d. to ss. 9d. The
charters are :-A brig to Marseilles, petroleum, at 6s. 6d. ;
one to Cork, for orders, at 6s. 6d., if to the Continent, 7s. ;
a ship to Belfast, grain, at ss. 3d., and flour at 2s. 6d. ; a
bark from Baltimore to Belfast, corn, at 7s. 3d. ; a brig
to Pernambuco and Bahia, 95c. to $1; a brig to Charleston,

private.
Inox.—Pig has boen rather quiet, and prices slightly
favored the purchasers for both American and Scotch.
The sales were 400 tons No. 3 grey to mottled American, for
present delivery, at $3B 25c. No. 1 was held at from $49
to $53, as to time of delivery. Small sales No. 1 extra
American were made from yard at $5O to $54, and 300
tons No. 2 extra do. at a private price. The sales of Scotch