sentatives of banks in Boston and Philadelphia of their co-operation, see no reason, justification or necessity for a suspension of specie payments under the existing state of their relations with the banks of this country, the United States government and Europe. Relying, therefore, confidently on the harmonious action of the government, on the continued confidence of their depositors, and on the patriotism of the people, they will maintain specie payments."

Notwithstanding these views, the banks, on the 28th, concluded to suspend specie payment, in view of the heavy withdrawals of coin.

President LINCOLN, in his annual message, urges the construction of a national rail-road:

"I deem it of importance that the loyal regions of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina should be connected with Kentucky and other faithful parts of the Union by rail-road. I therefore recommend, as a military measure, that Congress provide for the construction of such a road as speedily as possible. Kentucky, no doubt, will co-operate, and, through her legislature, make the most judicious selection of a line. The northern terminus must connect with some existing rail-road; and whether the route shall be from Lexington or Nicholasville to the Cumberland Gap, or from Lebanon to the Tennessee line, in the direction of Knoxville, or on some still different line, can easily be determined. Kentucky and the general government co-operating, the work can be completed in a very short time; and when done, it will be not only of vast present usefulness, but also a valuable permanent improvement, worth its cost in all the future."

At the December meeting of the New-York Chamber of Commerce a proposition was brought forward for a memorial to Congress, urging the construction of a double-track rail-road between Washington and NewYork, as a military, postal and commercial desideratum. Such a road, in time of war, would meet the government demands for transportation of men and military stores.

The Secretary of the Interior reports, that by an order of last May the execution of the law for the suppression of the slave trade was confided to that department. The Secretary convened the marshals of all the loyal Atlantic States at New-York, and explained to them all the devices of the traffic. The result of this energy has been the capture and condemnation of five vessels. One person has been convicted as the captain of a slaver, and sentenced to death, the first instance of a capital conviction on record; and another has been found guilty for fitting out a slaver at Boston. Within a little more than a year, 4,500 Africans, recaptured by our cruisers, have been taken into the Republic of Liberia, through the agency of the American Colonization Society.

Letters from Brazil state that commercial matters at Rio Janeiro have assumed a new aspect. It is stated that Minister WEBB, immediately on his arrival there, instructed the consuls at that port and the eight other ports under his jurisdiction, to give notice to all concerned, on their arrival, that upon the display of a Confederate flag from any part of an American ship, the master would be instantly removed and the vessel be placed under the command of the first officer, or some other suitable person, and be sent home to her owners; that she will be treated in all respects as if retaken from her captors, her voyage be considered as terminated, and sent home, as the readiest way of restoring to loyal Ameri

can citizens their property recaptured from the Confederates who may have had possession of her. This vigorous and determined policy checked the evil at once in Rio, and frightened the secession masters out of their demonstrations.

The Secretary of the Treasury has issued instructions in regard to securing and disposing of the property of the Confederates found or brought within the territory now or hereafter occupied by the United States forces in the disloyal States. Agents are to be appointed to reside at such places, whose duty it will be to provide and prepare for market all products of the soil, &c., &c., of which a record is to be made. The cotton and other articles, when prepared for market, shall be shipped to NewYork, and, so far as practicable, by the returning government transports, and all shipments shall be consigned to the designated agent at NewYork, unless otherwise specially directed by the Secretary of the Treasury. A carefully detailed account will be kept by the agent of all supplies furnished by the government and of all expenditures made. Each agent will transmit a weekly report of his proceedings to the Secretary of the Treasury, and render his account in duplicate monthly for settlement. All requisitions, bills of lading and invoices will be countersigned by the military commander, or by such officer as he may designate for the purpose. Each agent will so transact his business and keep his accounts that as little injury as possible may accrue to private citizens who may maintain, or may, within reasonable time, resume the character of loyal citizens of the United States.

An unusual feat in rail-road transportation was lately accomplished on some Western roads, viz.: The Third Michigan Regiment, Col. KELLOGG, travelled the entire distance from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Alton, Illinois, a distance of 750 miles, without change of cars. This was over the following routes: the Detroit and Milwaukie, from Grand Rapids to Detroit; thence to Adrian by the Detroit and Toledo; thence to Chicago by the Michigan Southern; thence to Mattoon by the Illinois Central; thence to Alton by the Terre Haute and Alton Road.

The canals of the State of New-York were closed the first week in December. The tolls show an increase of $897,338.

Total receipts for November, 1861,....

Tolls received from May 1st, to Dec. 1st, 1861,....

$628,854 46 411,559 45

$217,295 01

$ 3,902,700 3,005,362

$ 897,338

The total amount of tolls received during the season of 1861 exceeds that of 1847 by more than two hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars, while the rates of 1861 are about "sixty per cent." less than those of 1847.

A marked contrast is again seen in the official exhibit of dry goods imported at this port for the past month, compared with former years. In the article of wool the imports are well maintained, owing to the wants of the army. In silks the decline is 78 per cent., compared with

November of last year. In cotton goods the decline is over sixty per cent. In the withdrawal from the bonded warehouses there is, on the other hand, a large increase, viz., $1,054,716 in 1861, against $235,781 in 1860; thus showing an aggregate upon the market, for the month, of $3,216,194 in 1861, against $4,431,609 in 1860, and only $823,580 in 1857.

These figures show, that notwithstanding the depreciation of the Southern trade, heretofore enjoyed, the aggregate imports are materially above those of the fall of 1857, viz. :

IMPORTS OF FOREIGN DRY GOODS AT NEW-YORK FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER,

Upon a review of the business for the year, of which eleven months have expired, we find that the imports are less than thirty per cent. of those for the same period last year; and the quantities upon the market are less than forty-five per cent. Woollen goods, of this sum, are more than one-third. Silks are largely reduced, as well as cottons. The general results are fully shown in the annexed summary:

IMPORTS OF FOREIGN DRY GOODS AT THE PORT OF NEW-YORK FOR ELEVEN MONTHS.

Total,......... $48,501,658.. $96,920,955.. $86,621,713.. $24,589,851

Entered at port, $55,170,929 .. $104,345,418 .. $96,222,379 .. $41,632,470 In the business of imports generally we find the aggregates are above sixty per cent., in November, of 1861, of those of 1860, viz., $9,639,012, against $15,421,156; but for the whole year, since January 1st, the quantities are 189 millions, against 246 millions last year, or a decline of about 24 per cent. only. The most marked feature in this summary is the fact that the present year, with all its curtailments of trade, exceeds that of the year 1858. This is a commentary upon the statements made abroad that the South has been heretofore the great consumer of foreign goods. It is true that specie forms a larger portion of the aggregate than ever exhibited before; but, deducting the specie, we find the imports for the present year (including withdrawals) exceed two hundred mil lions of dollars in value.

FOREIGN IMPORTS AT NEW-YORK IN NOVEMBER, 1858-1861.

FOREIGN IMPORTS AT NEW-YORK FOR ELEVEN MONTHS, FROM JANUARY 1ST.

ENTERED

1858.

1859.

1860.

1861. For consumption, . $93,167,226.. $163,721,999 .. $149,286,252.. $49,911,475

Total entered,
Withdrawn,

$139,522,442.. $226,267,118.. $217,007,427.. $153,151,869 35,684,657.. 25,016,335.. 29,857,721

36,055,372

It is in the foreign export trade for the past month, and for the eleven months of the year, that the real importance of New-York exhibits itself. Boston and Philadelphia participate, of course, in this enlargement of export, now mainly in cereals and provisions.

If to these had been added cotton, the export trade of the Union would have been a surprise to the commercial world. As it is, however, without the aid of King Cotton, the exports of New-York for eleven months have been beyond 124 millions of dollars in value, besides specie. For the month of November the exports exceeded fourteen and a half millions, equal to an annual aggregate of 175 millions.

We find the exports of domestic produce in November have been absolutely enormous, the total being a very large gain upon any month of any year in our history. The total for the same month of last year was then one million in excess of any previous month; and it was thought that the figures then reached ($11,747,086, exclusive of specie) would stand at the head for some time to come. It has been exceeded, however, several times during the year 1861, but the last month is distinguished by nearly one and a half millions over any month's export since New-York was settled.

EXPORTS FROM NEW-YORK TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

Total exports,..

$4,337,605.. $10,523,560.. $12,272,177.. $14,577,291 6,140,437 .. 11,747,086.. 14,528,906

Total, ex. specie, 3,865,635.

EXPORTS FROM NEW-YORK TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR ELEVEN MONTHS, FROM JANUARY 1.

The changes in the tariff of August, 1861, are beginning to be seen in the receipts for customs. The dutiable imports on the market in November, amounting to only $6,602,608, produced $56,636 more revenue than $10,122,717 of dutiable imports thrown on the market in November, 1860. The custom-house did not avail itself of the duties on the stocks of tea and coffee in bond last July. These have been since placed on the market without any additional revenue to the government. From this