The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-31 00:00:00

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.
LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.
The Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphin
Company's screw steamer City of IVashingtol3'
Capt. Petrie, arrived at this port early this morn
in. with advices from New York to the 18th insl''
107 passengers, and 172,564 dols. in specie cs"„
freight.
The New York Times of the 18th says :—Caf
gressional proceedings yesterday were devoid
general interest. The Senate was not in session'
'raving adjourned over from Thursday to Monday'
The President dissents from the opinion givenbJ
the Attorney-General in reference to the 1111c,°fI:
stitutionality of the law authorising the appont
ment of the Naval Retiring Board ; and, instead n„
reinstating all the retired and dropped officers, 5;
it has been reported he would do, he will, befor,.
the Ist of January, make such nominations to tile
Senate of officers to be restored as he deems proper,'
It is probable that he will be very liberal in ll'
restorations.
It is announced that Senor Mata, Minister of the
Juarez Government in Mexico, has returned ,o
Washington, with plenipotentiary powers to nuro
treaties and settle all difficulties between ige%lc
and the United States. 'tit
ST. LOUIS, DEC. 17.—The Overland mail,
San Francisco dates of the 21st ult., has arrive°
here. Two through passengers came with O
mail. The news is unimportant. The passengers
report the roads in good condition.
Mr. Pardee, the bearer of the President's 31e ,so'
sage, was met 50 miles east of Fort Belknap, a
hours a-head of time.

COMMERCIAL.
NEW YORK, DEC. 18' ,
Bankers' change on Europe rose to day to 109 k for sw.,
ling, and 5.121 francs. At these rates, of course, sly
may be freely shipped, and it is expected that a llergdo
amount will be sent out in the Persia on Wednesday. "
business done in sterling exchange at 109 k was quite lttrgroe'
and purchasers were still found lifter the principal drill°
raised the rate to / and 1.
The sales of cotton yesterday embraced about 2,500 biae-4',:,
including 300 in transitu. The market closed with steal'
ness on the-basis of 12c. per lb. for middling uplands.
Flour was firm for nearly all descriptions, with a -
demand from the trade, including some purchases for efes
port. Wheat was in better request, and firmer, with
of white southern at 1 dol. 35c. to 1 dol. 50e white west'
at 1 dol. 28c., white Canadian at 1 dol. 22c. to 1 dol. 305 1.
and red southern at 1 dol. 121 c. Corn was firmer, with fol,
sales at 76ic. to 77e. for western mixed, new white southT'.
-at 76c., and new yellow ditto, part damaged, at 70c. to 77t
Freights.—To Liverpool 50 tierces rice were takent
165., 1,000 oars at id, per foot, and 250 bales of cotton
3-16 d. To London 100 barrels irk were engaged at 35. 9'd
and 35 tierces ditto at ss. 6d., : t t boxes cheese at 305., ang
100 boxes tobacco at 3s. To Bremen 200 barrels shoe peg
at 2s. 6d., and 30 hogsheads tobacco at 255. There was ll°,
thing new to Glasgow or to Havre.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 17.—The publication of ,
Arabia's advices here had no effect upon the cotton ell,
ket, which closed dull. We quote middling at lliehe
11 c. The sales of the week add up 31,500 bales, end '-
exports 61,000 bales. The receipts of the week foot 01)
67,500 bales, against 67,000 last year.. Sterling exchane,
1081 to 1081. Freights—Cotton to Liverpool, id.
17-32 d.
MOBILE. Dec. 16.—The sales of cotton to-day were 3,5(4
bales. The market is depressed.
SAVANNAH, Pee. 16.—The sales of cotton to-dal 'we'll,.
870 bales, closing with an upward tendency.
fair Me. Dec. 17.—The sales to-day were small, I,"
prices firm.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, DAC. 17.-COItOR-SSIOB to-C1(0
1,503 bales at 111 e. for middling. 70° CHARLESTON, Dec. 17.—Cotton—Sales to-day 17
bales at 11/c. to 111 c. for middling fair.