The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-19 00:00:00

The Palestine and Virginia have arrived out.

The President, it is said, has deferred issuing the formal
proclamation declaring the restoration of the Union until
the opinions of Generals Grant, Sherman, Meade, Thomas,
Sheridan, Sickles, and others could bo obtained relative to

tho submission of the Southern States to the Constitu•

tional authorities.

Copies of the preliminary report on the Treaty of Reci-
procity with Great Britain, to regulate trade between the

United States and the Provinces of British North America,

prepared by E. If. Derby, at the request of the Secretary
of the Treasury, were on January 29 laid on the desks of
the members of Congress. The report includes a bill pro-
posing to continue the present Treaty one year from the
17th of March next, provided the duties and taxes on cer-

tain enumerated articles shall be repealed by Canada, the

internal tax on certain other articles be raised, her free
ports on Lakes Huron and Superior be discontinued, with
some other advantages to be secured to the United States.
The Fenians appear to be carrying on their internecine
war with unabated vigour. Colonel Roberts has issued a
reply to the attack of Mr. 11. D. Killian, the O'Mahony
treasurer, upon the Roberts' Senate, in which he denies the
several allegations of the aforesaid Killian, and makes a
searching review of that gentleman's management of his
financial responsibilities. Taking up the report of the
committee appointed to examine Mr. Killian's accounts,
Mr. Roberts declares from it that out of $70,000 received
for the Fenian cause between the 30th of October and the
6th of January, not less than $60,000 has been expended
for the benefit of the 011ahony Government, leaving but
$lO,OOO to be used in achieving the liberation of Ireland,
and on this text Mr. Roberts proceeds to comment in a
manner which must be rather unpleasant to the feelings of
Mr. Killian.
On the 23d ult. United States Marshal Murray of New
York proceeded lon board the propeller Meteor, a steamer
of 1,400 tons burden, and seized the vessel, it being charged
by.an affidavit of Mr. Podestat, an attache of the Spanish
Legation, that the vessel was fitted out as a Chilian priva-
teer, destined to destroy Spanish commerce on the high
seas. The Meteor, which was to have sailed for Panama,
is in charge of a Deputy Marshal. A formal libel has been
filed against her by United States District Attorney
Daniel Dickinson.

During the year 1865 about 125,000,000 letters passed
through the Post-office of the city of New York. The
amount of postage on both letters and papers was
$1,721,579 40c. ; amount received for box rents, $67,786
75c. ; expenses of office, $359,791 71c. ; profit to Govern-
ment over expenses, $1,503,174 22c.
General Terry, commanding Department of Virginia, has
issued a general order forbidding any magistrate or other
person to attempt to carry out the vagrant law recently
passed by the Virginia Legislature, on the ground that it
is unjust in its application to the freedmen, compelling
them, under penalty of punishment as criminals, to
labour for wages established by combination of employers.
Its ultimate effect being to reduce them to a condition
of servitude worse than that from which they have been
emancipated.
The court-martial in Savannah has acquitted and ordered
the release of the rebel General Mercer, who has been on
trial for some days on charge of causing the shooting of
national soldiers who had enlisted in the rebel ranks to
avoid starving to death, and who had deserted from the
rebels and been recaptured by them.

The Governor of South Carolina has addressed a letter
to the President, strongly urging the transfer of all the
lands now in possession of negroes to the late owners of
said lands.

he
rariel:3l"ational Freedmen's Savings and Trust Company
":11-1 g Congress for an amendment to their charter,
making their different banks depositories for such fund;
as are held by Treasury officers on behalf of the freedmen.
Thus far the" in2Psany has met with the most gratifying
success, over
various branch
have been wneitchedra 0,000 having been deposited with the
banks by the freedmen, of which $50,000
:n for the purchase of homesteads, and
for other
on all depositas:6 r,/, peurposes. rive per cent. is allowed
offices, the prinnipaino Company has now fifteen branch
For the fiscal year ':3laabingjleonceat3edo,in New York.
branch mints of the United States coiinge6dsi t3h2e,
83119i,n2t48an6d4
in gold, silver, and copper.
ust published between
In the official correspondence i
Generals Weitzel and meilan the Bagdad affair, the
rm
foer states that ho sent 300 men
an act of humanity, without partiality that
place purely as
to either of the con-
tending parties.
y
Advices from the Northern Pacific coast report
cedented falls of snow and severe weather. unpre-
cedented snow n o
Scott Mountain is from twelve to
fifteen feet deep, and no-
mail over that route has been received for twelve
days.
The telegraph lines were broken at many points, and in
Washington Territory it_was nearly destroyed.
Secretary Seward and son were at their posts at
the State Department on January 29. They are looking
physically improved by their voyage. They came to
Washington direct from Hava,nnah. At the latter place
they were treated with distinguished courtesy by the
Spanish officials.
A brother of General Grant, formerly his partner
in business, is in Washington, and submitting
to con-
siderable lionising at the hands of the military and civic
authorities.
General Sherman visited both Houses of Con-
gress on January 29, while they were in session, and re-
ceived an enthusiastic reception. In the House of Repre-
sentatives three cheers forhimwere proposed by a member,
and heartily given both on the floor and in the galleries,
accompaniedte
of assemblage, the swinging of hats, and the waving of
handkerchiefs.fir. A. T . Stewart has caused the arrest of

Messrs. G. W. Matsell and W. McKellar, editors and pro-
prietors of the National Police Gazette, on a charge of libel,
in that they had in an issue of their sheet held him up to
reprobation and ignominy as having involved himself in
a disreputable intimacy with a profligate French actress.
On the examination the Gazette editors denied that the
article complained of referred to Mr. Stewart. The case
is yet before the court.
Hiram Powers, the American sculptor, is now
engaged, at his famous studio in Florence, in modelling an
ideal bust, which promises to be one of his most
brilliant efforts. lie has selected for his subject
" Clytie."
The benefit to " Stonewall " Jackson's widow in
Richmond netted her over two thousand dollars.

Hon. John Sherman has been re-elected
United States Senator from Ohio.

William Gillmore Simms is making a collection
of the leading war poems written in the South during the
rebellion.

The marriage of Mrs. Steaphen A. Douglas and
Brevet Brigadier General Williams took place on the even-
ing of the 23d January, at nine o'clock, at the residence
of the bride in Washington. The ceremony was per-
formed by Rev. Father Lynch, of the Catholic Church.
There were present on the occasion General Grant and
lady, Secretary Stanton and lady, General Fry and lady,
General Kelton, A. A. G. U. S. A. ; Colonel Chalfin, and
several other intimate friends of the bride and bride-
groom.

The Lafayette (Ind.) Journal says that John A.
Wilstach, Esq., of that city, will visit Europe, and be pre-
sented at the great Paris Exhibition, under a commission
from Governor Baker, empowering him to act as a com-
missioner for the encouragement of emigration to Indiana,
and to take such steps, both in the United States and
Europe, as he may deem advisable for the purpose.
Col. John S. Mosby, the rebel guerilla, who was
arrested at his home in Fanquier, a few days since, by
military authority, and taken to Washington and impri-
soned, is charged with having hanged two Federal soldiers
in the Valley during the war, in retaliation for the murder
of some of his men.

Mr. Frank Moore, the historian of the late Ame-
rican war, is engaged upon a new work, " Women of the
War: their Heroism and Self-sacrifice."
Bayard Taylor is writing a new novel, which has
for the hero an American tourist.
Mrs. Bigelow, wife of the American Minister in
Paris, is seriously ill. The French papers describe the
modest ménage of the Republican Representative with much
admiration for its Spartan simplicity. Our journalist found
Mr. Bigelow cooking his own ham and eggs, without any
attendant to wait on him, and appears to think that these
I domestic incidents are fit subjects of public curiosity.

The Vera Cruz correspondent of the New York
Herald, writing under date of January 6th, says:—" Gen.
Jubal Early arrived here a few days ago, accompanied by
several Confederates. It is understood that he will leave
to-day for the City of Mexico. He has dyed his hair and
beard black. He rode all the way through the Southern
States from his place of concealment in Western Vir-

ginia."

Mr. Wendell Phillips delivered a lecture in
Springfield, Mass., lately, on the labour reform question,
in which he advocated the eight-hour movement. He said
that he expected to live to see such a progress made in
machinery that four hours will accomplish the work of
eight under present conditions.

It is currently reported among military men, says
the Washington National Intelligencer, that Lieut.-General
Grant will visit Europe during the present season, and
will remain there several months.

Forty-three major-generals and one hundred and
forty-one brigadier-generals remain at present in the
service of the United States, but twenty-one of the former
and one hundred and two of the latter have been ordered
to be mustered out.

The Washington correspondent of the Philadel-
phia Press says that, as the impression prevailed to some
extent that nearly or quite all the distinguished person-
ages who were active rebels have been pardoned, it is
proper to state that nearly twelve hundred applications
are now upon the President's table, most of which have
been there for several months. Seven hundred of them
fall under the $20,000 clause. The remainder are classi-
fied as follows : Members of rebel Congress, 86 ; ex United
States army officers, 132; rebel generals, 127; prominent
rebel civil officers, 32 ; ex officers of the United States
navy, 116.
A Cincinnati merchant, on a trip down the Mis-
sissippi river, writes home that the outcry about the dis-
organisation of labour, and the unwillingness of the negro
to work, is caused by cotton planters and speculators, who
want to frighten others away from the business in order
to augment their own profits. Nevertheless, Northern
men are rushing in, and there will be a great cotton crop

this year.
A Virginian clergyman writes to the Post Office
Department asking for a mail contract. He states that he
does not know that ho can take the oath of allegiance, for
he has prayed in the pulpit during the war for the success
of the Southern cause; but as the prayers were never
answered, he is of opinion that no aid and comfort were
ever given, and therefore he remains a loyal citizen.
The Louisville Courier says that the Homestead of
Henry Clay—the Ashland estate, consisting of three hun-
dred and twenty-five acres—was sold a few weeks ago by
Mrs. James B. Clay to John B. IlJwman, Regent of the
Kentucky University, for $90,000. It is the design of the
purchaser to transform it into the Agricultural College
of Kentucky. Possession.will be giVen immediately.
New Orleans, after the Ist of March, is to be
lighted by three thousand petroleum lamps. The charges
of the gas company are considered excessive.
Oil has been struck near Decatur, Alabama, only
fifteen feet below the surface.

The San Francisco directory, published on the
Ist of January, contains nearly 45,000 names, by which the
population is estimated at 120,000. The number of build-
ings in the city and county is 15,518, viz. ; of wood, 12,268 ;
of brick, 3,250. Many of the buildings erected during the
last year werevery costly, and of great architectural beauty.
There are 1,729 liquor saloons, 386 attorneys, 248 physi-
cians, 56 drug stores, and 54t hotels and boarding
houses.

The failure of the Columbian Marine Insurance
Company, one of the oldest of the joint stock marine in-

surance institutions of New York, is announced. Its
liabilities are estimated to reach six million dollars; but
Mr. Phelps, the agent of the company, says that the assets
will be sufficient to meet all these and leave a handsome
surplus. It was found necessary to close up the concern
in consequence of recent very heavy losses. Its payment
on account of rebel piratical depredations alone, it is said,
aggregating over a million dollars.
Colonel Whittlesey, Assistant Commissioner of
the Freedmen's Bureau for North Carolina, reports that
the negroes generally of that State have made contracts
for the year and are labouring industriously ; that the holi-
days passed without any insurrectionary demonstration
on their part, and that their minds have become disabused
of the erroneous impressions that Government intends to
distribute lands among them.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, Feb. 7 (Morning).

Money easy—Gold, 1391. Exchange on Lon-
don, 1511 ; on Paris, 5.73. Stocks dull—New
York Centrals, 86i ; Illinois, 115 ; Erie, 76i ;
Five-twenty Bonds, 1031. Cotton steady—Mid-
dling Upland, 48. Flour dull. Wheat quiet. Corn
declining. Provisions slightly firmer. Sugar steady.
Coffee quiet. Molasses quiet. Petroleum dull—
Crude, 31i ; refined, 50.

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. s.—Cotton dull, 48.

The customs duties in gold for the month of January, at
the port of New York, reached the large sum of $12,469,865,
and judging by the reported import entries at Boston, the
additional sum of about $2,250,000 has probably been re-
ceived at that port. And at all the ports close on to
seventeen millions. The Secretary of the Treasury, it
will be remembered, estimated, for only $100,000,000, from
Ist October last to June 30th next, being for the last nine
months of the current fiscal year, or an average of only
$10,110,000 per month. For the four months of this
term, the deposits for customs at tho New York office have
been, in
Oct
ember 511,064,409
Novber
December 8,378,335
January

Total for four months
Add for other ports at least f4,000,000

Total, $14,012,802 per month, or $56,051,210

I 14,
The average of the nine months will be nearer $15,000,000
per month, without some great shock to trade not now
anticipated. The whole customs revenue for the fiscal
year we estimate at $180,000,000.

• •
The price of gold to-day is 1391 to 140 per cent. The
California steamer arrived this morning and delivered
$953,288 in gold and silver bars and coin, for which there
is at present no export demand, owing to the falling rates
of exchange. We learn that cotton bills on England, with
shipping documents attached, have been dono in New
Orleans as low as 1(4 to 104} per cent., and similar bills
drawn in this market have been done as low as 1051 to
106} per cent. Standard bankers, who buy these and other
merchant and Southern bank bills, are drawing at 1081 per
cent.

The trade of the past week was active in the line of
import entries and export clearances. Tho amount of
foreign merchandise upon which customs duties were paid
is larger than the value of the new entries ; the stock in
bond being reduced in preparation for the spring trade.
The Customs reach $3,226,040, which would imply that
about $6,500,000 goods had been placed on the market.
The exports of produce reach nearly five millions. The
export of bullion continues limited to the gold and silver
bars recently received from California. The foreign ex-
changes, even with interest advanced to 8 per cent. in
London, continue below the point at which it would cost
us to ship American gold coin. The price of gold advanced

1 per cent. during the week on the expectation of higher
exchange and the large daily demand to pay in for cus-
toms. The figure is yet below 140 per cent., and the
belief that the Government will come in as a seller again
should the price advance much above that point, represses
active speculation in the gold room.
The import entries for the past week, including the dry
goods return, amount to $4,629,628, as against the total
entries of $2,965,177 same week last year. The export
clearances of domestic produce amount to $4,860,386
against $6,333,663 same week last year. The export of
specie amounts to $656,812 against $997,136 same week
last year. The customs for the week are $3,226,040. The
receipts of cotton, coastwise and by railroad, are 22,801
bales. The number of emigrant passengers arrived during
the week, 3,498.
New York city contributes nearly one-fifth of the entire
income of the national treasury from internal revenue.
Last year the internal revenue receipts of the Government
in this city were $37,156,412, against $18,242,773 in 1864,
and $7,911,105 in 1863 ; showing an enormous increase,
due, in part, to the amended law, but chiefly to the vastly
increased efficiency of the collection system, and the
thoroughness with which the law is now enforced by the
revenue agents, collectors, assessors, &c., under the vigi-
lant supervision of the chief of the Internal Revenue
Bureau.

The total amount of internal revenue collected in New
York since the formal inauguration of the system (Oct.,
1862), is $64,222,056, of which amount $37,156,412 were
collected in the single calendar year of 1865. In the cur-
rent year it is confidently anticipated that the revenue of
the Government from this city alone will approximate
fifty million dollars, or equal to considerably over a
sixth of the aggregate income of the national treasury from
this source, throughout the country, as estimated by Secre-
tary IPCulloch, in his last annual report.
On Wall-street the rate of money to the brokers on call
was 6 per cent. as the rule, with exceptions at 5 per cent.
on Government collateral. There is a demand for prime
merchant paper at 7 per cent. There is a general good
feeling among money lenders, both private and corporate,
and confidence is improving as to the prospects of the
spring trade. The preparations making by importers and
jobbers, and by the domestic commission houses, continue
on a liberal scale. To-day the customs duties on foreign
goods passing into the market amount to $656,000. The
total at this port in January will be in the close neigh-
bourhood of twelve millions.

COTTON—Is in good demand at buoyant prices. Mid-
dlings, 48c to 50c per lb. Sales and resales since our last
4,100 bales. The receipts at this port during the current
week have been 22,801 bales, making 76,473 bales since
Jan. 1, 1866, 'and 519,836 bales since the commencement of
the current Cotton year, September 1, 1865. The exports
from the port since Tuesday last have been 2,313 bales:;
since January 1, 1866 43,081 bales ; and since Septem-
ber 1, 1865, 223,153 bales. The week's operations in
this market Messrs. Cornwall and Jeroga notice
thus :—" Our market for the week has been dull and
heavy, with a decided decline from the prices of last
week. The advices received on Saturday by the Nova
Scotia and Asia, from Liverpool, being unexpectedly un-
favourable, shook the faith of holders and operators in
cotton, and prices at once ruled in favour of buyers. Fur-
ther unfavourable advices received on Thursday by the
Hibernia had the effect still more to depress the market,
buyers demanding a concession of two to three cents per
pound, which holders are hardly prepared to grant. There
is, however, a good amount of cotton offering, and an in-
creasing disposition on the part of holders to realise,
the faith in future high prices growing decidedly
weaker. The transactions are confined almost exclu-
sively to exporters and speculators, the demand from
spinners being very light.
DRY GOODS.—The Dry Goods Exchange report to-day
is as follows :—Jobbers' prices : brown sheetings—Atlantic
A, 31c; Atlantic D, 28c; Atlantic E, 25c; Great Falls M,
25c ; Great Falls S, 23c. Bleached sheetings—Wamsutta,
45c ; James 36-inch, 31ic ; James 33-inch, 27c ; James
31-inch, 25c; Greene Manufacturing Co., 25c; Canoe, 19c.
Prints—Merrimack W, 25c ; Merrimack D, 24c ; Sprague,
221 c; Hamilton, 221 c ; Arnold, 191 c. Delaines—Hamil-
ton Woollen Company, 29c ; Hamilton Manufacturing
Company, 25c. Ginghams—Lancaster, 29c; Glasgow,
27c. Cambrics—Washington, 23c ; Maaville. '22c. Se-
lecias —lndian Orchard, 321 c ; Lonsdale, 321 c ; Corset
Jeans—Naumkeag, 33c. ; Naumkeag Satteen, 361 c. Can-
ton Flannels—Naumkeag, 35c; Nashua, 30c. Ticks—
Methuen A A, 621 c; Hamilton, 55c; Hamilton D, 471 c.
Stripes—Whittendon A, 40c; Whittendon 88, 30c. De-
nims—York, 52c ; New York, 40c. Hoop Skirts—Brad_
ley's Duplex Eliptic, 20 to 50 hoops, 87ic to $1 05c; Em-
press Trail, sl2se ; Meyers' I X Lin good inquiryat former
prices. The following despatches were received at the
Dry Goods Exchange to-day :—St. Louis—Trade is rather
quiet ; buyers all afraid of the present high prices.

- -
Louisville—Goods in better demand ; trade improved.
Cincinnati— Market unchanged ; demand' light ; there are
no movements of any consequence. Chicago—Nothing
new to report ; trade fair for the season ; stocks generally
well assorted.
WooL—Has been rather less sought after since our last.
Tho finer grades have not been freely offered and have
been firm. Inferior and common qualities have been
pressed for sale, and have been heavy in price. We quote
domestic thus :—New York, Michigan, and Indiana
Fleece—Saxony Fleece, 64c to 63c; three-quarters
and full-blood Merino fleece, 60c to 65c ; half-blood
fleece, 60c to 62e ; native and quarter-blood fleece,
50c to 53c ; common fleece, 45c. to 48c. Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania, and Virginia- Choice selected Saxony fleece, 75c to
78c ; Saxony fleece, 70c to 75c ; three-quarter and full-
blood Merino fleece, 65c to 70c; half-blood' fleece, 62c, to
65c ; native and quarter-blood fleece, 52c. to 55c. ; com-
mon fleece, 48c. to 50c; tub washed, 60c. to 66c. Wiscon-
sin, lowa, Vermont, and Illinois—Three-quarter and full-
blood Merino fleece, 55c to 60c ; half-blood fleece, 54c. to
58c; native and quarter-blood fleece, 50c to 52c per lb.
Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee—Washed fleece, 50c
to 60c ; unwashed fleece, 35c to 40c ; Canada fleece, 55c.

to 72c per lb. Putted Wool—New York City extra pulled,
60c to 65c ; New York City super pulled, 55c to 60c ; New
York City No. 1 pulled, 35c to 40c ; lambs, 45c to 50c;
Western pulled, 45c to ;.-',sc; choice country picklock pulled,
70c to 75c ; Country extra pulled, 62c to 67c ; Country
super pulled, 58c to 63c ; country No. 1 pulled, 35c to 45c ;
Canada pulled, 40c to 65c per lb. California—California
unwashed fleeces, in grades, 25c to 42c; California washed
pulled, 40c to 57c ; California common washed pulled, 20c
to 32c.; California Fall Clip, in grades, 22c to 40c per lb.
Ittcm— Is quiet at former prices. We are indebted to
Messrs. Eugene O'Sullivan and Co. for the following
statement of the stock of rice on hand February 1, 1866:
23,004 bags cleaned East India rice, against 25,432 Ihigs
cleaned East India, 13,190 bags uncleaned East India, and
17,086 mats uncleaned East India the same time last year.
SUGARS—Are quiet at former rates. Sales since our last
340 hhds., including Cuba, &c., part at from 11c to 121 c
per lb. We quote—Fair to good grocers' at 1110 to 120 ;
do. do. refining, at 1010 to 111 c per lb. Reduced sugars
are inactive. We quote-14c to 171 c per lb.
TALLOW.—SaIes to-day reach 104,000 lbs., at 121 c to
12ic, and 27,500 lbs. Grease at 12c to 121 c per lb.
WHlSKY—Continues quite nominal, at $2 25 to $2 26
per gallon.

(From Messrs. E. F. Satterthwaite and Co.'s:Weekly Circular,

February 14.)

The "Asia" brought our usual advices from New York
to the 30th January. They report a fair demand for Govern-
ment securities, with but few offering ; notwithstanding
which, however, 5.20 and 10.40 Bonds show a slight de-
cline from the previous week, partly owing to the receipt
of advices of lower prices on this side ; the older descrip-
tions of Government Bonds, however, exhibit an advance
of about $l. In Railroad Stocks the market was uncertain
and fluctuating, being chiefly in the hands of professional
operators. On the week we note a decline of $4 in Illinois
and Erie; $1 in Hudson River and Michigan Central;
while New York Central has improved $1 on the announce-
ment of the dividend of three per cent. The lower quota-
tions of most shares did not appear to induce general buy-
ing, the continued falling off in the weekly traffics of the
Western lines, owing to the non-transmission of cereals
and provisions deterring investors from coming forward.
In State Stocks there has been more activity, but the
latest quotations indicate a fall in Virginian Sixes of $5
and in North Carolina of $3.

Money was abundant on good securities at 6 per cent.
Gold has been up to 1401, closing 140.
The Report of the Special Commission appointed to en-
quire into the revenue system had been published ; it is
most elaborate in its details, and the views expressed are
said to meet with the concurrence of Mr. McCulloch, the
Secretary of the Treasury.
Via " Crookhaven" we have received the following quo-
tations, being to the 3rd inst :
United States 5.20's lO3 I Erie Common 771
Illinois Central ll5 I Gold 140 i
DIVIDENDS.
Long Island 5 p. ct., free of tax, payable Feb. 26,
New York Central 3 do. do. do. do. 20.
Numerous inquiries have been made of us as to the de-
cision of Chief Justice Chase, that foreign holders of
American securities would bo entitled to exemption from
United States Income tax. We applied to our correspon-
dents in New York for information on the subject, and
have received the following reply :
" The decision in regard to the exemption of Foreign
Stock and Bondholders from United States Income Tax
is by no means final, but is liable to appeal, reversion, and
reaffirmation before it becomes established law."
ERRATUM.—In our circular of the 31st ultimo, we gave
the official returns of the amount of gold received for
customs, and paid for interest since the Ist July last.
The receipts amounted to $70,159,033, and the payments to
$27,927,673. By a typographical oversight, the first figure
was omitted, so that the surplus will ba about forty-two,
instead of sixty-two million dollars.
In the London market for American securities during
the past week United States 5.20 Bonds have been well
sustained, the closing quotation-67i to i , showing a slight
advance, but both Illinois and Erie Shares, on considerable
provincial sales, have given way, the former, after having
been sold down to 741, have reacted to 741 to 751. Eries
were at one time as low as 51, but from this point have
improved to 521 to I.
Nearly all the securities of the Atlantic and Great