The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-29 00:00:00

TEE UNITED STATES.

" In order to prosecute the war with Mexico with vigour
and success it is necessary that authority should promptly be
given by Congress to increase the regular army, and to re-
medy existing defects in its organisation.
" With this view your favourable consideration is invited
to the annexed report of the Secretary at War, which ac-
companied my message on the Bth inst., in which he recom-
mends that ten additional regiments shall be raised to serve
during the war.

"; Of the additional regiments which have been called for
from the several states, some have been promptly raised; but
this has not been the case in regard to all.
" The existing laws requiring that they should be or-
ganised by the independent action of the State Governments,
has in some instances occasioned considerable delay, and it is
yet uncertain when the troops required will be ready for ser-
vice in the field.

" It is our settled policy to maintain in time of peace as
small a regular army as the exigencies of the public will
permit. In a state of war, notwithstanding the great ad-
vantages with which our volunteer citizen soldiers can be
brought into the field, the small regular army must be in-
creased in its numbers in order to render the whole force
more efficient. Additional officers as well as men then be-
come indispensable.
" Under the circumstances a peculiar propriety exists of
increasing the officers, especially in the higher grades. The
number of such officers who, from age and other circum-
stances, have been and are rendered incapable of active ser-
vice in the field, has seriously impaired the efficiency of the
army.

"'From a report of the Secretary at War, it appears that
about two-thirds of the whole number of regimental officers
are either permanently disabled or necessarily detached from
their commands on other duties.
" The long enjoyment of peace has prevented us from ex-
periencing much embarrassment from this cause; but now,
in a state of war in a foreign country, it has produced serious
injury to the public service.
An efficient organization of the army, composed of regu-
lars and volunteers, while prosecuting the war in Mexico, it
is believed would require the appointment of a general officer
to take all command of our military forces in the field.
" Upon the conclusion of the war the services of such an
officer would no longer be necessary, and should be dispensed
with upon the reduction of the army to a peace establishment.
" I recommend that provision be made by law for the ap-
pointment of such general officer to serve during the war.
" It is respectfully recommended that early action should
be had by Congress upon the suggestions submitted for their
consideration, as necessary to secure active and efficient ser-
vice in prosecuting the war, before the present favourable
season for military operations in the enemy's country shall
have passed away. " JAMES K. POLK.
" Washington, Dec. 29, 1846 "

The proceedings in Congress since our last accounts have
been unimportant. The House had rejected a Bill containing
propositions to the following effect :
" 1. That the President of the United States receive from
any moneys in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated,
30,000 dollars for the purpose of taking measures for the
procuring a peace with Mexico, whenever it is deemed
compatible to secure such peace by an offer for renewed ne-
gotiations.

" 2. That, in any territory which may be secured to the
United States from Mexico, slavery and involuntary servitude
shall be for ever prohibited% provided, however, that it shall
be lawful to deliver up any servants belonging to the United
States who may have escaped into our territory.
" 3. That the sum of 20,000,000 dollars may be appro-
priated towards securing the result of any settlement of
boundary, and securing any territory which may be the re-
sult of negotiation between the two countries."
The official journal at Washington had made a bitter
attack on the democratic party for rejecting the recommen-
dation of the Executive to levy duties on tea and coffee.
Our accounts from the seat of war are of considerable in-
terest. A number of vague reports from the interior of
Mexico are published in the American papers. Accounts
from Monterey, dated December 9th, state that Santa Anna
had concentrated a force of 37,000 men at San Luis Potosi,
and had marched eight days of the journey from San Luis to
Saltillo. Provisions were scarce at San Luis. A courier had
arrived from Mexico, with news that a pronunciamento had
taken place, and that Herrera had driven Almonte from 'the
city. In consequence of this intelligence Santa Anna had
detached seven regiments of infantry to put down the insur•
rection.
Accounts from Tampico state that an attack, which was
repulsed, had been made on that town by a body of 7,000
Mexican cavalry. A number of letters of instructions from
Ampudia and Paredes had been intercepted by the Ame-
ricans.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, JAN. 6.

Cotton was more active, and the market closed on the sth
with a firm feeling, at an improvement in price of A to *c.
per lb. above our last quotations.
Flour remained inactive; 5 dolls. 50c. to 5 dolls. 56.1/0.
was quoted, as the ruling rates of Genesse, and 5 dolls. 37%c.
to 5 dolls. 50c. for other descriptions of Western Canal corn.
Cominon Southern ranges from 5 dolls. 25c. to 50 dolls; 500
barrels Pennsylvania sold at 5 dolls. 25c.; 200 barrels Rich-
mond City-mills, 6 dolls. 75c. ' • Troy, &c., 5 dolls. 54c. ; corn
meal is in good demand at 3 dolls. 871,4 c. ; barley, 61%c. ;
rye, 85c.; corn at 73c. to 75c. for New ; and 80c.
for Old Jersey and Northern.
Provisions were not active. Sales of mess pork were 10
dolls, 25c. ; prime, 8 dolls. 37%c.
Beef was dull at former prices. Lard continued in request
at 7c. to 71c. in kegs and barrels. Exchange on London
was quoted at 105 to 105%. Paris, 5 dolls. 4%c. to 5 dolls.
454 c.
PHILADELPHIA, JAN. s.—The market had a much better
appearance. Holders of cotton firm. Quotations were made
of uplands at 11c. to 111/4c., and for fair Mobile, I lie. There
was little or no export demand for flour; 300 barrels of good
brand sold at 4 dolls. 75c.; 4 dolls. 621/2c. was refused for
middling brands.
Corn meal stands at 3 dolls. 50c.; little business doing in
wheat. Good reds, 104 c. to 105 c. There was an increased
demand for corn. Southern yellow, slightly mixed with old,
sold at 62c ; new was worth 60c.; mixed, 65c.
There was an improvement in pork. Prices were 1 dolls.
50c. for mess, and 9 dolls. for prime mess. Freights still keep
up, and are, in demand.

SIONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
(From The Sun of last Night.)
The Cotton Market at Liverpool yesterday was quiet.
There was no alteration in prices. Sales, 3,500 bales, of
which 500 bales were on speculation. American realised
%d, to 73/q d., and Surat 44d. to sd. per lb. Shares were
rather fiat.
Later accounts have come to hand to-day from the
colony of Van Dieman's Land, viz., to Sept. 7, 1846. It is
singular that in some respects the position of the corn trade
there should so nearly resemble what it has been here of late.
The crops of Van Dieman's Land were plentiful, and those of
Australia, where pastoral pursuits are most attended to,
being always inadequate to meet the current consumption,
as a corollary, supplies are drawn from every available
source. With abundant crops, however, the Van
Dieman's Land growers were striving to withhold their
grain and keep up the market, to such an extent, indeed,
that it was mooted as a serious question whether it would not
be desirable to bespeak supplies from America, even at 80s.
per quarter, the price in Hobart Town being already 70s.
People do not like the prospect of being reduced to " short
commons" without making timely preparations, and it was con•
tended that if the Hobart Town speculator would not let out
his grain at a fair profit, he might soon find himself unable to
sell but at a loss. As fables often_ impress the youthful mind
more deeply with truths sought to be conveyed, possibly
the " regrator " in the mother country recognise the
may
faithfulness of this colonial portrait, and apply the " moral
to himself.

The weather in Van Dieman's Land has been showery
and seasonable, and very favourable for the sowing of
maize. The Dundee Merchant, a whaler, owned by Mr. C.
Seal, tf Hobart Town, and having 150 barrels of oil on
board, had been lost, about 120 miles north-west of New
Caledonia.
There has been more quietude, a = sort or lull in the