The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-02 00:00:00

Coin

Currency .. 25,578,150.61

Total $124,069,313.31 $128,377,457.11
Amount of debt less
cash in the Trea-
52,527,315,373.19 $2,519,829,622.89 Bury

By comparing this with the statement of February 1,
is shown that the debt bearing coin interest has increased
$13,797,950; the debt bearing currency interest has de-
creased $11,457,750; the matured debt not presented for
payment has decreased $1,658,015 55; and the debt bear-
ing no interest has decreased s3,Bs9,79l—making the de-
crease in the total debt since February 1, 1868, $3,177,606
55. The amount of coin in the Treasury during the same
period has increased $8,132,212 05, and the amount of cur-
rency has decreased $3,824,078 25—leaving the amount of
debt less cash in the Treasury February 1, $7,485,750 30
less than on February Ist.
Our latest commercial news are as follows to March 11 :
—" The improved feeling in commercial circles is 'sus-
ained, and the week Las been characterised by consider-
able animation. Most staple commodities, both domestic
and foreign, are selling more freely as the spring advances,
and the exigencies of consumption are beginning to be
felt at all points of distribution throughout the country,
thus stimulating trade here and at other leading sources
of supply. Buyers seem to have reached the conclu-
sion that there is now no motive for holding off other
than that incident to economy, and hence it is alto-
gether probable that the volume of trade for the ensuing
two months will be sufficiently large to compensate, in
some measure, for the shortcomings of the winter. The
only event of the last few days that has caused a ripple on
the surface of affairs has been a spasm in the money
market, brought about, as it appears from the letter of the
President of the Tenth National Bank, by a strategic
movement of the bears to create an artificial scarcity
of money by locking up greenbacks. This bank was
credited with several millions of dollars at the Clear-
ing House through heavy deposits of a stock firm,
against which it was found that the depositors had
drawn certified checks which were not used. It is inti-
mated that eimilar expedients have probably been resorted
to by other parties, and this view of the case would seem
to be supported by the condition of the loan and discount
market during the week. This species of " sharp practice"
is in the highest degree reprehensible, and should be
frowned down by all honest men. The disturbance from
this cause is by no means confined to the Stock Market,
but has its ramifications through all the chan-
nels of business. The demand for money for legiti-
mate purposes is of itself sufficiently active to
cause a firmer market. The oval demand is much
arger, upon an improved state of trade, than it has
been in several months, which, with the withdrawal of
country bank balances, tends to enhance the rates. But
after the Ist of April,
when the quarterly Bank returns
shall have been made, and a large amount of money dis-
bursed in the shape of dividends, there will doubtless be
greater ease and freedom in mercantile movements. The
current rates are 7 per cent, on call, and Ito 8 per cent. on
prime mercantile acceptances. In some instances 7 per
cent. in gold has been paid on stock collaterals, but at the
close the turn of the market was a shade easier. The
gold market has ruled with remarkable steadiness, in the
absence of fresh sensational material.