Financial and commercial.
Richmond, Dec. 23, 1862.
Specie and Bank Notes.--Quotations remain unchanged, viz: Gold, $1 90@$2.25 premium; Silver, $1.60@$2. Virginia and North Carolina bank notes, 25 @30 cents; South Carolina and Georgia, 27@30 cents premium.
The inside figures represent the buying rates; the extremes, the selling rates.
Bonds and Stocks.--The market continues quiet, with sales of Confederate bonds, (100 M's) at par and interest; Virginia coupon bonds, (interest suspended,) 130; do. do., (interest paying,) 115; Virginia registered stock, 110; North Carolina sizes, 133 --heavy; do. do.
eights, 116 and interest; city of Petersburg bonds, 125 and interest; South-Side Railroad bonds, (guaranteed,) 128 and interest; Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance stock, 40.--There is some inquiry for bank stocks, but we do not hear of any sales.
Real Estate.--Since our last report there have been no sales of real estate, in or near the city, deserving special mention.
With the near approach of Christmas, there is an increased demand for all articles of domestic consumption, yet few articles have advanced in price since our last report, doubtless from the fact that the culminating point had already been reached. The quotations given below are generally wholesale, the retail prices being fixed by dealers to suit their own views: Wheat.--We quote from sales at the mills at $3.98@$4 for prime red, and $4@$4,10 for prime while, as the outside figures. Corn is unchanged, and selling at $3 p bushel. Corn Meal, $3.50 p bushel. Flour continues dull at the following quotations: Superfine, $20; Extra, $21@$22; Family @25 p bbl. Tobacco.--Interior Lugs, $5.50 to $7; Good do., $8.50 to $10; Fine, $12 to $14. Leaf — Interior, $15 to $18; Good $20 to $25; Fine Shipping, $30 to $39.50; Fine Manufacturing, $35 to $40. These quotations are from the last sales at the Exchange. The receipts are very light, and the business may be conducted over until the 10th of January. The market closed with an improved demand and an upward tendency. Bacon.--Market firm at 65@70 cents for hog round. Potatoes.--Irish $40, Sweet $4 to $4.50 p bushel. Apples.--$15@20 p bbl.; $6@7 p box of one bushel each, and in demand. Onions have probably reached their highest price, and the market is more freely supplied. We note sales at $12@16 p bushel. Groceries--Coffee $3 75 p lb. Sugar — Brown @95 cents, Clarified $1.05@1.10. Molasses $4.75@5 per gallon. Salt 60 cents p lb.; (sales at auction yesterday at 33@36 cents) Liquors.--The demand is very large, and prices are advancing. A prime article of Whiskey selling at $25, and Apple Brandy at $15 per gallon. Miscellaneous.--Butter $1.25@1.50. Beans $3@4 p bushel. Beeswax 75 cents p lb. Cheese $1.10@1.25. Dried Apples $4@4.50. Dried Peaches $8@10 per bushel. Clover Seed $27@60. Timothy $7@8. Orchard Grass $4@4.50 b bushel. Tallow 50@60 cents p lb. Tallow Candles 75@85 cents. Lard 60@65 cents. Country Soap 60 cents. Eggs $ p dozen — retailing in the markets at $1.25.
