The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-21 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE AUSTRALASIAN.
(Via Crookhaven.)

NEW YORK, JAN. 10 (Evening).

Mr. Francis Blair has again left for City Point.
It is said that he goes on an unofficial peace mis-
sion to Richmond,with a pass from the Confederate

authorities.

General Butler has been removed, and ordered to
report at Lowell, Massachusetts. General Ord
has temporarily superseded him.

Gen. Butler received the order at about half-past
11 o'clock last Sunday forenoon, and before 3 o'clock
in the afternoon of that day he had made all his
farewell preparations, turned over the army to his
successor, and taken his departure for the North.
Operations against Wilmington are to be imme-
diately resumed, and, in addition to the original
plan of combined naval and military attack upon
Fort Fisher, a strong co-operative column from
the army of the James River, under the command
of General Terry, will march overlaid from New-
bern, and attack the city in the rear.

The news from the Shenandoah Valley represents
the inhabitants as suffering from a scarcity of food,
and the rebel troops being quartered upon them ren-
ders their condition still more deplorable. No artil-
lery operations of importance have taken place in the

valley.
General Thomas is opening a base of supplies at
Eastport, Mississippi, on the Tennessee river, for a
fresh campaign. Hood's army is estimated to have
been 25,000 stroug when it crossed the Tennessee.
Lyon has retreated from Kentucky towards Rus-
sellville, Alabama, in order to join Forrest. He
captured a company of Union cavalry at Mac-
minville.

Richmond papers state that Sherman is,concen-
trating between Hardeeville and the Savannah
river, and they also assert that only a small num-
ber of persons were present at the meeting held at
Savannah by the Mayor, when the resolution ad-
vocating submission to the Federals was passed.
The Senate have passed a bill emancipating the
wives and children of coloured soldiers. .
The Missouri Convention hate resolved to reorga-
nise the State constitution.

It is rumoured that Mr. Fessenden will be ap-
pointed to succeed Mr. Dayton as Minister at Paris,

The New York Tribune asserts that the peace pro-
posals of Mr. Blair will be on the basis of a return
to the Union.

The blockade runner Fox escaped from Charles
ton on the 17th.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Money easy. Gold, 2238. Exchange on Lon-
don, 246. Exchange on Paris, 2.10 to 2.15. Stock
quiet. New York Centrals, 1161 ; Illinois, 1271 ;
Erie, 841 ; 5.20 Bonds, 1091. Cotton dull.
Wheat depressed. Corn steady. Provisions heavy.
Coffee good inquiry. Sugar steady. Molasses
steady. Petroleum, crude 50, refined 73.

NEW YORK, JAN. 11 (Morning).

Arrangements have been made for the immediate
shipment to New York of the cotton captured at
Savannah.

Mr. Fessenden has requested the Committee of
ways and keans to modify the law to enable him
to issue $200,000,000 seven-thirty bonds.
It is semi-officially announced that no person
authorised or unauthorised has left for the front on
a peace mission, or to consult the Confederate au-
thorities on existing difficulties.

A despatch from Washington says it is rumoured
hat Gen. Lee has been placed in command of all
he Confederate armies, and that he immediately

determined to put Beauregard in command of the
defences of Richmond, intending himself to pro-
ceed to South Carolina to concentrate the Confede-
rate forces in that quarter for the purpose
of confronting Sherman in his proposed movement
northward. Sherman's movements are said to be
considered by Lee as more important than any
Grant can possibly make upon Richmond in four
months.

Gold closed last night at 2221.

(BY BRITISH AND HUSH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)
(Per Australian, Via Crookhaven.)
NEW YORK, JAN. 10, 8 P.M.
Mr. Blair, sen., has returned to City Point, and is
thought by this time to be in Richmond on a peace mis-
sion—the Confederate Government having offered him a
safe conduct. He goes, however, unofficially, and no im-
portant results are anticipated. The Tribune says Mr.
Blair is not empowered to make peace, but is authorised
to ascertain whether a true peace is obtainable. A Wash-
ington correspondent says that Mr. Blair will propose
pacification founded on the basis of the return of
the rebellions States to the Union ; but no hope
is entertained that he will be successful. Many
of the leading Republicans in Congress approve the mis-
sion. The Times opposes the mission, and says no possible
good can result from the mission, for to treat with Presi-
dent Davis for peace would be to recognise the nationality
of the South.
The Richmond papers generally oppose the visit of Mr.
Blair. The Whig says the Blairs deserve hanging. The
Examiner warns the Government against fraternising with
individual enemies and spies, and says that theßlairs should
not be allowed within the lines.
The Times gives a rumour that the Georgia officials have
asked to return to the Union.
The editor of the Louisville forma, just from Richmond,
reports that the authorities are fully resolved on arming
200,000 of the slaves.
The Herald says that General Butler has been removed
from the command and ordered to report at Lowell. His
successor is General Ord.
General Burnside is exonerated from all responsibility
of the failure of the mine at Petersburg, and Generals Grant
and Meade are censured.
General Sherman was concentrating his (forces between
Hurdeville and Savannah River. He has allowed the citizens
of Savannah 15 days to settle up their bank accounts, and
the Augusta papers say that only 17 persons were present
at the meeting. The Examiner denies that the meeting was
an expression of the spirit of Savannah. It says that
Sherman's conciliatory measures are a treacherous bait to
deaden resistance. The Enquirer also calls for a public
meeting in order that the voice of the Georgian population
may be had.
General Thomas has selected East Point, in North East
Mississippi, and not Florence, as his new base of opera-
tions. He is concentrating at East Point. General Hood
is marching on Tupelo, his probable future base. His
' army numbers nearly 30,000, and rumour says that he will
operate against Sherman.
General D. H. Hill is ordered to Charleston.
The Confederate Congress is discussing the consolida-

tion of the army.
The Federal Government has withdrawn the Ten-Forty
Loan, and Seven-Thirties will be depended on in future.
The War Department refuses to give tho city of New
York credit for the troops supplied by it under the previous
calls. The Mayor says that the city debt is 21+ millions.
The steamer Fox ran the Charleston blockade on the
17th December. The steamer Lee was wrecked off Rio
Grande, and 20 perished.
The Richmond Enquirer urges the Government to secure
a monopoly of the blockade-running. The State Govern-
ments and the Central Government should control all the
imports and exports, and the import of luxuries should be
avoided.
The Federals have evacuated Fort Smith and Van Durin

in Arkansas.
The ship Bridgewater, from Liverpool, is ashore below
the city. The steamer Knickerbocker is lost on the
Chesapeake—it is supposed with all on board.
NEW YORK, J.A.N. 11.
General Butler is ordered to deliver everything, in-
cluding public monies, over to his successor.
The Foreign Committee Of the Oenate yeaterday ceii-