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FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. THURSDAY, Dec. 20-6 P. M. The steamship Persia, which arrived this afternoon from Liverpool, brought over three millions of dollars in specie-£632,000 sterling. This remittance was evidently much larger than was expected; the London and Liverpool circulars and the newspapers predicted a shipment of about £200,000. Besides this, the Borussia brought $17,500, and the Quaker City, from Havana, $107,718. Judging from the general tone of the public and private advices, it seems that, at the time the Persia sailed, it was generally believed in England that "the American monetary crisis" was about over, and that no more exports of gold would be made from England to this country. Within a day or two after the sailing of the Persia the fallacy of this theory will have come to light, more gold withdrawals from the Bank will have taken place, and, as a necessary consequence, the rate of interest will have gone up, and the price of merchandise and produce gone down. The Persia reports a firm market for breadstuffs, provisions inactive, and American cotton 1/₈d. lower. Money was freely supplied at the Bank rate, and business generally looked healthy enough. When the English receive the news by the Canada, and the steamers which suc ceeded her, they will probably begin to regard the monetary crisis in a more serious light, and will adopt prompt measures to protect themselves. In a sound mercantile view it is we, and not the English, who are the losers by shipments of bullion from England to this country, as such shipments are sure to cause a decline in the price of our staples-cotton, breadstuffs and provisions. But it is very questionable whether the English will at first take this practical view of the subject. As each steamer from New York arrives with tidings of the continued depression here, and of the spread of the revolution at the South, it is quite likely that London and Liverpool may have their panic before they settle down to a common sense appreciation of the emergency. In the meantime these receipts of foreign bullion are producing an excellent effect here in restoring confidence and strengthening the banks. Nearly five millions have now come from England, and $1,200,000 will arrive to-morrow or next day from California; 80 that our banks are now in a position of undoubted security and strength. We are able to send-as we are doing-half a million or more each week to the South, for the purchase of cotton bills, and are thus helping New Orleans and Mobile out of their troubles. Sterling exchange at New Olreans has been raised by these remittances from 95 to 101½ a 102, and the New Orleans banks now hold nearly twelve millions in coin. The telegraph informs us that the banks of Alabama have been authorized to suspend specie payments the Bank of Mobile and the Northern and the Southern bank have not yet suspended, but will doubtless do 80 ere long. All these institutions have had to struggle-first against short crops, next the political revolution, and finally the holding back of cotton. Our money market is decidedly easier to-day. There is an active demand for first class paper, which is not so abundant as was supposed. On call money is a drug at 6 a 7 per cent. Liquidation has been proceeding 80 vigorously, and trade is generally so sound, that money can hardly fail to be very easy in the course of a few weeks. The change will be of importance to the United States government, which awards $5,000,000 of Treasury notes on the 28th inst. Yesterday and the day before it was generally said that the government would have to pay ten per cent for its money; to-day seven per cent seems to be nearer the mark, and if the present feeling lasts till the 28th, and no political crisis occurs, the notes may find buyers at six per cent. We have to report another exciting day in the stock market and a general advance all round. State stocks, railway bonds and railway stocks were all wanted by purchasers for cash, and advanced in a marked manner. Illinois Central was one of the most active stocks. It opened at 65, sold up to 681/4 between the boards, and closed 68 bid, against 643/4 yesterday evening. New York Central, which is greatly over sold, advanced two per cent in the morning, and closed 761/4 bid, against 743/8 yesterday evening. Erie vashigher, and so were all the Western shares. Comparing the closing prices of the day with those of last evening, we note an advance of 1 per cent in Virginias, 1 in Missouris, 2½ in Tennessees, 2½ in Pacific Mail, 2 in New York Central, 1½ in Erie, 1 in Reading, 31/4 in Hudson River, 1/8 in Michigan Central, 2½ in guaranteed, 3 in Panama, 31/4 in Illinois Central, 2 in Galens, 4½ in Toledo, 3½ in Rock Island. The market closed firm, the following being the quotations:-Virginia 6's, 77 a 78; Missouri 6's, 70 a ½; Tennessees, 77 a 78; Canton, 14 a 15; Cumberland Coal preferred, 8; Pacific Mail, 821/2 a 831/2; New York Central, 761/4 a 3/8; Erie, 31 a 1/2; Hudson River, 43½ a 44; Harlem, 14 a 1/4; Harlem preferred, 35½ a 1/2; Reading, 36 a 1/2; Michigan Central, 68% a 69; Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana, 14½ a 1/2, do. guaranteed, 31 a 1/2; Panama, 118 a 120; Illinois Central, 68 a 1/4; Galena and Chicago, 65 a 1/4; Cleveland and Toledo, 29% a7/a; Chicago and Rock Island, 507/8 a 513/4; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, 64 a 651/2; Illinois Central bonds, 901/2 a 92. Baring Bros., in their circular by the Persia, say:Prices have not followed the fall in the United States in a corresponding degree, and there has been a disposition to buy at the decline. Some amounts have been realized which were on' the market for a deceased estate, and these sales will be continued, as purchasers are found without forcing them. United States 6's, 99 100; ditto 5's, 92½ a 93; Kentucky 6's, 92 94; Maryland sterling 5's, 94 96: Massachusetts 5's, 101 a 103: Mississippi Union, 12 a 14; Pennsylvania 5's, stock. 85: bonds, 85 86: Virginia 6's, so 82; Pennsylvania Central Railroad bonds, 89 a 91; New York Central 7's, bonds. 91 a 92, ex coupon; shares, 77; New York and Erie third mortgage, 79 81 shares, 35 a 36: Illinois Central bonds. 86 88; shares, 28 discount Some of these quotations are nominal, and in general no large sales could be rapidly made. Colonial stocks are steady, with little business. Messrs. D. Bell, Son & Co. report as follows:There has been an active business in American securi-
