The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-16 00:00:00

The Price of Gold.

The quotation of gold at Paris is about 1 per mile pm., and
the short exchange on London is 25.271 per £1 sterling. On
comparing these rates with the English Mint price of XS,
i 7s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, it appear that gold la
about 3-10tha per cent. dearer in London than in Paris.
By advices from Hamburg the price of gold is 425 per mark
and the short exchange on London is 13.4 per £1 sterling.
Standard gold at the English Mint price is, therefore, about
7-10ths per cent, dearer in London than in Hamburg.

The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days'
sight is about 135 to Wiper cent., and the premium
on gold about 224 per cent. At these prices there is a small
profit on the importation of gold from the United States.

LTTEItARY GHOULs.—Private life is invaded by
the critic or chroniqueur without the least hesita-
tion. Eugene Delacroix was turned to account by the
gossip-mongers, before his body was laid in the earth. 'We
had a description of his house, of his manner of living, and
of his death and appearance after death. His last words
made copy in the Figaro!. We are told that his furniture
was in the style of the First Empire ; and that his home had
a severe aspect. His dying words were a request that his
eyes might be closed directly after death. He ordered his
body to be embalmed. Had the writer known who was the
painter's barber, and how many francs were in the artist's
house when he breathed his last, the facts would have been
served up for the Boulevard cafes.

AUSTRALIAN BARNUMS,—Those two spirited and
enterprising gentlemen who netted large fortunes
• short time since by a speculation with our English pro-
fessional cricketers, Messrs. Spiers and Spend, are now, t
is stated, in London, and open to an engagement with any
first-class Britisher who would draw in their thriving
colony. They offered Mr. Dickens a tremendous sum to
give readings over there, but he declined with thanks, for
the present at all events. The brilliant reception of the
cricketing eleven is very tempting certainly. There is little
doubt, however, that the smart Australians will capture
some celebrity or other, and carry him back with them in
triumph,

THE COMING EXHIBITION OF STAINED GLASS
—The Science and Art Department having invited
the leading firms engaged in the production of stained glass
to meet at South Kensington, and explained to their repre-
sentatives the nature of the plan and its means of carrying
it out, that department now proposes to hold the exhibition
in a gallery in the west wing of the South Kensington
Museum, which contains 15 windows, each 11 feet high, by
4 feet 9 inches wide, and could, if necessary, apply the win-
dows of a gallery adjoining that in question to the same
purpose.

THE GREEK FIRE the Americans are now using
against Charleston is not known in this country.
The ancient Greek fire was invented in the 7th century,
when the Arabs besieged Constantinople in 6GS, by Celli-
nicus of Heliopolis, who deserted from the Caliph to the
Greeks. Its nature is unknown, although the Baron Cotta
is said to have discovered a MS. in the library of Munich,
containing a formula of its composition. It would almost
seem to have been a kind of gunpowder, or to have had
saltpetre for its basis, as sometimes it was fired, wrapped in
flax on javelins, to set fire to buildings, and at other times
for throwing stone balls from metallic tubes against the
enemy. It was continued in use during the 13th cen-
tury. The American missiles, probably, contain naphtha
or rock-oil,—London Ecrietc.