The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-13 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Dec. 12, Two o'clock.—There is not
much animation in the market, but a disposition to
higher prices is exhibited. The most noticeable ad-
vance is that obtained on Italian Fives, which, after
a rise yesterday of 42ic., have again improved to-
day no less than 55c., the actual quotations being
57f. 10e. French Threes are firm at 69f. 70c ,or
2ic. higher. Credit Mobilier Shares are quoted at
588 f. 75c., an advance of 2f. 50c. Railway shar,:s
are also well maintlined, with an advance in most
cases of if. 25c. A rise of is telegraphed from
Loudon.

Three o'clock.—Quotat
the close, which has taken
4 per Cents 97 85
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 69 70
Do. end mouth 69 70
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Credit Foncier —
Do. end month 1382 50

ions are slightly lower for
place as follows :—•

Bank Shares 3620
Italian Loan 57 05
Do. end month 57 05
Mexican Loan —

Do. Bonds —
Spanish Threes
Homo Debt —
Deferred

RAILWAYS.

For Account.
Orleans
Northern ll9O
Lyons and Mediterranean 9OO
Southern 583 75
Western 568 75
Eastern -
Sardinian ..
Austrian ....
Lombard 33G 25
North of Spain
S aragosE a
Ditto to Barcelona
Roman.. 75

THE STEAMER .BOLIVAR.
CARACAS, Oct. 31.

The Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs has
addressed a circular to the consuls of that Republic
abroad, in which he gives an account of the manner
in which the steamer Bolivar stole out of the port of
Laguayra.
It appears that on the 13th October that vessel
arrived from London, where it had been purchased
on the 31st of January, for the Venezuelan navy.
The Government of the Republic had forwarded
the necessary papers, and the Bolivar was sent out
under English officers and sailors, with a Venezue-
lan register. The contract, however, made by the
Venezuelan Consul in London could not be ratified
by his Government, as, among other things objec-
tionable, it stipulated that the Captain, John Fock,
should not serve under any other official, unless he
were an Englishman of superior rank to his own ;
also that in case any transfer or division of the
officers or crew were made the Englishmen should
not amount to less than one-half of the body
into which they might be merged. The
captain was informed that, according to the Vene-
zuelan constitution, the sanction of the national
Legislature was necessary for the admission of
foreigners into the service, and that the only way
to get out of the difficulty was for the party to
become naturalized citizens.

In case they would determine to remain British
subjects, the authorities would pay them off and
bear their expenses until they could reach home.
To this the captain agreed, stating that he did not
see how the Venezuelan Government could do
otherwise ; but that as to the crew and others he
wished to consult with them. Thereupon he started
from Caracas for Laguayra, for the purpose of con-
sulting with the rest of the party, and on returning
presented terms of settlement which the Govern-
ment would not accept. Admiral Benjamin Arriens,
commanding the squadron, was ordered to take pos-
session of the vessel. After he had done so, and
gone on shore, Capt. Fock proposed as the best
way of settling amicably with the crew that he
should go aboard alone and off,:r them the balance
of their pay, &c. As all along he had entered into
the views of the Government his proposal was.
accepted ; he went ou board, and during the
night the vessel put to sea, leaving the Venezuelan
crew that Arriens had put en board in a small boat
without either oars or sails. They managed to save
themselves by attracting the attention of a fishing
smack, which landed them at Laguayra about one
o'clock iu the morning.
The Bolivar is described as a twin screw steamer
of 829 tons burden, and has two engines, 250 horse-
power. Her length is 226 ft., beam 27ft., depth
20ft. sin., draught 9ft. to 10ft. She carries two
steel rifled guns, 70 pounders, two 21 pounders,
100 rifled carbines, 100 braces of pistols, and other
small arms. She is fittc4 out as to Intteries.on the

Symond's system. Her standing rigging is all of
galvanized iron.

CHATHAM, Wednesday.
The screw war steamer Bolivar, which was al-
leged to have been fitted for service in South Ame-
rica when seized by order of the Government, under
the circumstances already detailed, still remains in
charge of the officials, with a strong guard of Royal
Marines, under the command of an officer on board,
to prevent her leaving the river, and to allow no
unauthorised persons to have any communication
with her. A minute search of the vessel made
yesterday, by order of the Government, failed to
discover any official papers or documents which
would bear out the statement of those on board that
she was intended for service in South America
when her seizure was ordered. As already stated
she was without colours of any kind, and no descrip-
tion of flag has been discovered on board. Since
her arrival in the Medway from the river Tyne, and
before the order was sent down from the Govern-
ment for her seizure to be made, she shipped 32
barrels of gunpowder, together with an unusually,
large quantity of warlike stores, consisting of revol-
vers, rifles, bayonets, swords, &c., some of which
were stated to have been put on board in the Tyne
before she left Shields. The Bolivar carries an arma-
ment of two 40-pounder and two 20-pounder
wrought iron rifled guns, Blakeley pattern, but she
is pierced to mount an additional number of guns at
her broadside. The crew on board at the time she
was seized consisted of eight stokers and firemen,
four able seamen, and two ordinary seamen, to-
gether with three officers, who describe themselves
as " lieutenants," and two engineers. The re-
mainder of the crew was intended to be shipped
from this port on the arrival of the steamer
in the Medway. The hands on board state
that they joined the vessel at North Shields,
from which port they sailed on Wednesday last ;
that they were never called on to sign articles, and
that they were in entire ignorance of the character
of the vessel. On going on board, they state they
were informed that the Bolivar was intended to pro-
ceed on a cruise along the north-west coast of Ame-
rica, and in the North Pacific, and that she was to
be employed in putting down smuggling and piracy.
They were also informed that it was probable they
might have to do " a little fighting." During yes-
terday afternoon a gentleman, who stated his name
to be Henry Little, arrived on board, and informed
those in charge of the ship that he had been ap-
pointed captain of her. He was at once referred to
Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, commander-in-chief,
to whom he stated that the Bolivar was one of three
iron 'steamers built in this country, under the sanc-
tion of the late Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
for one of the Governments of South America, what
purported to be an official document to that effect
being at the same time produced to Sir B. Walker.
Two of the ships had already left this country for
South America, and the Bolivar was about follow-
ing them, when she was detained by the Govern-
ment. During the time Capt. Little was on board
he produced a flag, believed to be the Peruvian
colours, he had brought with him, and this was
hoisted at the masthead for a short time. This
morning Capt. Little proceeded to London for the
purpose, as lie stated, of consulting with the Minis-
ter of the country to which the vessel was ostensibly
proceeding when she was detained. The first officer,
who left the vessel at the time she was seized, has
returned on board. The Bolivar has been removed
up the harbour, and is lying moored near Black-
stakes, her Majesty's steamer Lizard also lying near
her to prevent her leaving the river. The river police
are also on duty near her to allow of nothing being
removed from the ship.