The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-05 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

The mercantile advices from New York this week
show great general steadiness in all departments of
business, without a prospect of its being disturbed
in any quarter. The remittances of gold to this
side continue much larger than was anticipated, the
amount by the present steamer, although she sailed
from Boston, being 90,0001. ; but the fact is in a
great measure accounted for by the large draughts
from China on American account that are constantly
made payable in London and require to be provided
for. The grain-market remained firm, although the
last advices from England had brought rather lower
quotations, the demand on French account exer-
cising an influence at New York similar to that which
it has produced in London, most of the recent purchases
having lately been for that country. Rye, also, was in
request for both France and Belgium, and it was con-
sidered that the requirements- of these two countries
alone would be sufficient to give firmness to prices
throughout the winter. There was nothing later' from
California. From Mexico the advices indicated that the
negotiations for the fresh territory required by the
United States-for their road to the Pacific would soon be
concluded by Santa Anna for a sum of money, on the
receipt of which he may probably exalt himself from
Dictator to Emperor. From Peru accounts had been re-
ceived of an alleged outrage committed iu the house of the
United States' Consul, by the seizure of some of the par-
tisans of the insurgent Don Elias, who had been allowed
shelter there. Coining immediately after the attack
upon American seamen at the Chincha Islands, for
which Peru was forced to pay compensation, this new
affair has attracted more attention than would otherwise
have been bestowed upon it. The course of exchange at
New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight is 1094
per cent., and the par of Exchange between England and
America being 109 23.40 per cent., it follows that the
exchange is nominally 6-17 per cent. in favour of Eng.
land ; and, after making allowance for charges of trans-
port and difference of interest, the present rate leaves a
trifling profit on the importation of gold from the United
States.

SHIPMENTS OF SPECIE.—The shipments of specie by
the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Ripon amount to
235,9001.. of which 207,5001. is silver, for Bombay,
Penang, Batavia, Hongkong, Canton, and Shanghai, and
28,400/. gold, for Alexandria, Ceylon, Madras, Batavia,
and Hongkong.
COTTON STOCKINGS.—Between January and Decem-
ber the value of cotton stockings exported was no less
than 423,0701., against 201,4121. for the previous year.
SOUTH MIDLANDI3 UNION RAILWAY. —The declaration
and estimate of expense just made by this company to
Parliament for constructing the proposed line from Poole
to the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth line of the Great
Western, between Bruton and Castlecary, with connect-
ing branches, is, including the purchase of land, 450,0001.
LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.—
The directors have just given instructions to the traffic
manager of the line to distribute, as the reward of rail-
way merit, gratuities among such of the men whose
general conduct and length of service have rendered
them deserving of the benefaction, which consists in the
presentation of a week's pay to those of the first class
whose service has exceeded 21 years, and half a week's
pay to those of the second-class who have been in the
service 12 months.