The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-12 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

About a week ago there was organised in this city a
party of capitalists who had it in their hearts to make
money by forcing up the price of gold by large speculative
purchases. As gold was rather scarce in the market
they were in a fair way to succeed had not Mr. M'Cul-
- Secretary of the Treasury, discerned their game,
which he has most unmercifully spoilt by selling during
the last few days over $5,000,000 of his gold received
from Custom duties, which is a larger amount than our
speculators bargained for. The consequence is the premium
is gradually declining, and cash gold is again very plenti-
ful. As the Secretary has constantly on band from forty
to fifty millions of the precious metal, all of which he
has power to sell at his discretion, it is not probable
that the speculators will soon repeat theirherculean efforts
to advance the premium. A further decline, in the ab-
sence of a foreign demand, is likely to take place.

MONEY MARKE r.
As all the gold sold this week by the Government has
had to be paid for in greenbacks, and as many of the
compound interest notes formally used as currency are
now hoalded for the interest due on them, thus
making the amount of active circulation so much less,
money has been decidedly in more demand, and the
rates are now full 7 per cent. for the best names. Good
commercial paper is not negotiated for less than at the rate
of 8 and 9 per cent. Secretary MlCullagh's proposal to borrow
money in foreign countries meets with strong opposition in
and out of Congress. His bill will probably be defeated.
Some fears are entertained that the split between the Pre-
sident and his Congress, will injuriously affect the country
by nnsettling public confidence; but people generally en-
dorse the President, and have no fears for the financial
affairs of the Government.
DRY GOODS.
The trade in dry goods is dull, and very inactive. The
importations continue heavy, and buyers are holding back
for lower prices.
NEW YORK BANK RETURNS.

The following are the last returns of the New York

Banks :

Discounts. Specie. Circulation. Deposits.
Feb. 10, 1866 242,608,872 10,128 9,806 22,210,469 188,708 1,463
Feb. 17, 1866 248,068,2 U 10,308,758 22,983.274 189,777,290
AMERICAN RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR
JANUARY.
1866. 1865.
Chicago& Alton 210,171 ... 261,903 ...
Milwaukee and
Prairie du
Chien
Milwaukee and
St. Paul
Pittsburg, Fort
Wayne, and
Chicago

Increase. Decrease.
61,732

Toledo - and
Wabash
,226,059 ... 144,084 81,975

WEEKLY REVIEW OF THE NEW YORK MARKETS.
Co7ox.—The market is greatly excited by the foreign
intelligence, prices 2c. to 3c. higher, with a large specula-
tive demand. The theory connected with the rise in
American cotton at the Liverpool market, and the decline
of short staple cottons like Surats is, that goods from
Surat cottons are rejected, while there is a peremptory
demand for goods made from American cotton. The sales
to-day were 5,000 bales at 45c. to 47c. for middlings, clos-
ing at 46c. for middling Uplands.
BREADSTUFFS.—The market was irregular and gene-
rally easier, under the foreign advices. The common and
medium grades of State and Western flours were sc. to
25c. lower, and very irregular and dull. Sales, 6,600 bals.
at $6 65 to $7 15 for supers ; $7 25 to $7 70 for extra
State ; 57 75 to 88 10 for choice State ; $8 20 to $8 56
for shipping round hoop Ohio ; $7 50 to $lO 15 for extra
Western ; $lO 25 to $l4 50 for double extra Western and

St. Louis.
Corn was in good demand and firm. Sales 55,000 bush.,
including unsound mixed at 72c. to 76c. ; sound western
mixed, at 76c. to 78c., in store and afloat ; Jersey yellow,
at 78c. to 80c., the latter being scarce.
Oats were in better demand, part for export. Sales
60,000 bush., including Canadian, at ,550. ; western sound,
at 39c. to 41c., in store and delivered ; State, at 561 c. to
58c.; Jersey and southern, at 50c. to 52c.
Rye was rather firmer. Sales 10,000 bush.
Butter was firm but quiet, at the late advance, at 25c. to
35c. for Western and Ohio, and 46c. to 47c. for State.
Cheese, with better supply, was scarcely so firm, at 17c.
to 20c. for State, and 21c. to 22c. for factory-made-latter
an extreme price.
ASHES-We notice of sales 60 casks pots, part to arrive,
at 71c. to 71c. Pearls nominal.
BETIDING MATERIALS-The market is dull, with prices,
and no sales sufficient to establish quotations.
COFFEE-The market was quiet and unchanged. We
quote : prime Rio, 21c. to 21P. ; good Rio, 20c. to 201 c. ;
fair Rio, 18c. to 181 c. ; ordinary Rio, 171 c. to 17/c. ; fair
to good cargoes Rio, 18c. to 20c. ; mats and bags Java,
28c. to 281 c. ; Maracaibo, 21c. to 231 c. ; Laguayra, 21c.
to 23c.; St. Domingo, 17c. to 171 c.-gold, net cash, duty
paid.
DRUGS, DYES, &c.-The market has been quiet; sales
include 1 case opium at $5.80 ; 100 bales cutch, 13c., now
held at 131 c. ; 800 lb. poor, western ginseng, 70 ; 20 casks
Dutch madder, 8 gold ; 10 do. cream tartar, 31 gold ; 90
tons soda ash, 8 to 101; 25 do. Sal Soda, to arrive, 21 to
21 gold; 35 do.; here, 31 to 4 ; 10 do. caustic soda, 101 to
; 200 kegs bi-carb. soda, 111; 250 do. to arrive, 7 gold,

Ppi_s_ll.—The market is firm, with a good trade.
roorreign fruits are plenty, and dull. Raisins,
$4 t 015.175
proportion, Currants, bunch and layer, halves and quarters in
tfigsri, 5c".130e.t 141-c. to 15c. Turkish prunes, 154 c.;
Green
uraizil nuts, 81c. Sardines, quarter boxes,
23c. to 29e.
illo to $l2 per bbl. fruits are plenty. West India oranges,
deed
lemons and oranges, $2 to $3.50
Fer box. Domestic fruits are quiet. Dried apples,
12c. to 14c. per lb.
NAVAL STOKES.--Spirits
et t
; zpentine is firm at 85c to
90e for Whole and retail lots
hear of no movement
of importance. Rosins continuo-yr
prices rather hardening. Sales includeg°°(l demand, with
250 bbls straimoveatutsitti
ist.l:aoa.mumivo2end,
3Q° bbl
at $4.37-1 to $4.50 ;
.or
_r.is firm
150 bbls. No. 2at $5.62f. Crude tur • '75 to $4.871 .
freely, but remains nominally at $6.75 t503a.57,;
at $2.621 to $2.75 for Washington, and
ton. Pitch is dull at $5 to $5 50. 1 Wihroog_
Wis.—Linseed is selling slowly to the trade at ,i.,,,,
to $1.40. Lard oil is firm at $1.85 to $1.90. TareuZ
some inquiry for both sperm and whale oil ; holders are
firm, but prices are unsettled. The transactions
bbls for
for the
week includo sales of 440 bbls. Sperm-200
export and the balance to the trade, and 170 bbls hump-
back, for manufacturing—all on private terms.
OIL CAKE.—WC only hear of sales of 131 tons city bag
part at $49 cash.
PAINTS.—The sales are 50 tons French snow white
oxide zinc, to arrive, at 142-e. ; 10 do. American dry white
lead, 142 c.; 10 do. English do., to arrive, 104 gold; 2,000
casks English, and 300 brls. American whiting, n; 150
Venetian red, to arrive, 3i ; and 5 casks orange mineral,
to arrive, 171, cash.
PETROLEUM.—The market was rather firmer, with more
doing at 28c. to 29c. for crude ; 45c. to 47c. for refined, in
bond, and 63c. to 65^', for refined, free.
Ricz.—T •
here is a fair demand for Rangoon at 91e. to

...--.......----
10c. ; 200 bags in bond, sold on private terms ; also, 75 tcs.
Carolina at 124 c to 131 c.
SUGARS.—Raw sugars have receded fully cc from the
late advance, and we quoto fair to good refining, 111-c. to
111 c. ; fair and good grocery grades, 111-c. to 121 c. Sales
to-day 325 hhds. at 11 c. to 121 c. for Cuba, and 121 c. for
Porto Rico ; also, a few bxs. at 11c. for common. Refined
sugars are quiet at 17,1 c. to 171 c. for ground and crushed,
and 16c. to 1610. for soft white.
TOBACCO.—The market continues very dull ;no change
in prices. Sales 52 hhds Kentucky at Sic. to 280., and 78
bols. Havanna on private terms.
117uisicv—Was quiet at $2 15 to $2 20.
FREIGHTS—Were less active, except in the shipment of
cotton. To Liverpool, 400 bales cotton, at 5-16 d., and per
steamer 800 bales cotton ai 7-16 d. ; 250 boxes bacon at 255.
To Bremen, per steamer, 7,600 bushels rye at 7d.
bonds,
Railway A ns issue
ourt eh
therho ausgbh firste
tehnea Stated divisionv r advertised
os
of
fdl
lot
the
Minnesota,
e7s880L101:0a0autli naapinndpe.corpeacciceuinflatel.
to 140 for 200 in bonds.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.

The official Custom-house returns of the foreign trade
at the port of New York for the month of December, 1865,
have just been rendered. These complete the Foreign
Commerce at New York for the calendar year 1865 which
we proceed to recapitulate in comparison with the calendar
year 1861.

The comparative value of foreign goods entered at the
port of New York, and of foreign goods actually marketed
for the calendar years 18654 are as follows :

1865.

1864.

Jan. Ito Dec. 31. Jan. Ito Dee. 31.
Total entries $222,619,133 $215,890,538

Total marketed
Customs paid

Average duty
In addition to the above there was entered during the
year 1865 foreign gold and silver of the value of $2,123,281
as against $2,265,622 in 1864.
The exports of all descriptions for the calendar year
are : _ _ .

-- - .
1865. 1864.
Jan. Ito Dec. 31. Jan. Ito Dec. 31.
Domestic produce 5174,247,154 $201,855,989
Foreign re-exports
Specie 80,003,683 50,825,621

Total

Average price of gold ...1491 per cent. 205 per cent
FOREIGN GOODS MARKETED AT NEW YORK.
1865. 1864.
Peace. War.
July
August 26,401,412 15,507,970
September.
October - 10,159,743
November 22,064,390 10,104,219
December

Total 6 months $134,626,484 $69,201,651
Customs in gold .. 65,077,327 24,473,900

Average duties 48! per cent. 35} per cent.
The following are the exports of some of the leading
articles of domestic produce :
Past Since Same
week. Jan. 1. time '65.
Cotton, bales 10,038 76,530 6,801
Flour, bbls 22,842 157,093 206,832
Corn Meal, bbls 2,630 12,394 24,281

Wheat bush
Corn, bush 171,655 845,501 74,091
Rye, bush
Beef, tcs and bbls 1,636 9,161 17,483
Pork, bbls
Bacon, &c., 1001bs 13,601 36,929 70,635
Lard, 1001bs
Cheese, 1001bs
Butter, 1001 b 693 1,345 35,200
Ashes, Pots, csks 2O 672 578
Ashes, Pearls, csks. .. 10 119
Beeswax, lbs
Hops, bales 2 112 4,234
Rosin, bbls 10,212 28,403 1,118
Crude, Turp., bbls lO 110 •••
Spirits,Turp.,bbls 2 769 352
Tar, bbls
Tallow, 1001bs
Tobacco, pkss
Tobacco, lbs
Oil, Sperm, galls ... .- 21,933 31,549
Oil, Whale, galls ... 320 1,613 4,605
Oil, Petroleum, galls 624,271 3,809,091 1,372,479
Oil, Lard, galls 829 3,380 4,673
Seed, Clover, bags 9,601 25,825 6,419
Staves, M
Oil Cake, 1001bs
Whalebone, lbs ... 95,718 3,834
FEB. 24 (Evening).-Gold, 136/. Exchange on Lon
don, 148 k. Erie, 80k; Illinois Central, 115.
WALL STREET.

MINING IN rEL LIGENCE.