The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-21 00:00:00

The Price of Gold.

The quotation of gold at Paris is about per mule pm., and
the short exchange on London is 25.17 i per £1 sterling. On
comparing these rates with the English Mint price of £3
17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold is
at about the same price in London and Paris.

By advicee from Hamburg the price of gold is 4221 per mark,
and the short exchange on London is 13.4i'per £1 sterling.
Standard gold at the English Mint price is, therefore, about
3-10ths per cent, dearer in London than in Hamburg
The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
GO days' sight is about 149 per cent., and the premium on
gold is 351 per cent. At these rates there is a profit ou the
importation of gold from the United States.

ANIMATED SANDWICHES.—If we object to an
apparatus of hoops carried by her who doubled
our joys and divides our sorrows, how shall we regard an
inflexible wooden garment with obtrusive edges and angles
on the person of an ill-favoured and elderly instance of the
opposite sex ? Perhaps a smart appeal to the shins may be
an appropriate reminder of the existence of the " Sydenhanx
trouser ;" but we cannot think it is the right way of recom-
mending Mr. Sims Reeves and " Israel in Egypt," having
a tendency to make the sufferer wish that Mr. Sims Reeves
and Israel were in Egypt, or further. But even if this mode
of advertising were perfectly decent, even if did not tend
to impede locomotion, and to inflict personal injury, its
cruelty would furnish sufficient grounds for abolishing it.
Are we, who have done away with climbing boys and draw-
ing dogs, to tolerate the degrading exhibition of these stag-
gering men in our streets? London hardly affords a more
touching sight than one of these unfortunate creatures
beating up the Strand in a stiff gale. At one moment he is
scudding before the wind, spreading confusion among
the passengers about him ; at another he is taken aback,
and becomes an obstruction, sworn at by the profane
vulgar, thrust at by umbrellas, poked at by the poles
of vehicles. The only consolation that he has in life is,
that they cannot hurt him. If he attempts to bear up and
run for a friendly archway as for a harbour of i efuge
he only makes matters worse, for if he misses stays in wear-
ing, the wind works its wicked will with him, and the
boards flap and belabour his wretched carcase like the wings
of some ravenous bird of prey, Amid all this palpable
I misery the fiction is kept up that he is a cheerful individuals
I and that—at least, so say the placards—he has " seen Peep
o' Day and wants to see it again." Sometimes a dozen or
so go in single file, commanded by a tough and seasoned old
walking advertisement, who manoeuvres his men among
the crowd at a rapid shuffle. In this case the rear is gene-
rally brought up by an asthmatic or shortlegged Peep o'
Day, for whom the pace is too severe, and who, while he
advertises his employer, puffs himself, and runs against you
just as you are congratulating yourself on having escaped
without any casualty.—Saturday Review.
THE LAST OF HUNG ERFORD SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
—Yesterday a number of workmen were engaged
in removing the brickwork surrounding the anchorage of
the chains on the Surrey side of the river, preparatory to the
taking down of the massive links which ware used to sup-
port the wooden footway, These will be conveyed to Clif-
ton, where they will be employed in the construction of the
suspension bridge. The only portions of Ilungerford-bridge
still remaining are the two lofty towers in the centre of the
river and the chains, which latter are now in the course o
removal. The whole of the bridge proper has been cleared
away, many of the suspending irons having been left loosely
hanging from the chains, while the towers will soon be
pulled down, as they stand directly in the centre of the
roadway of the new railway bridge, the lower portions or
piers being still retained to support a portion of the new
erection. llungerford Suspension Bridge has been used for
public traffic since the Ist of May, 1545 (on which day it
was opened), a period of 17 years. The length was 1,342
feet, the width being 14 feet, while the length of the central
span between the two piers was 676 feet. No less than 700
tons of iron were used in its construction, at a oost of
£17,000, the masonry of the structure costing £60,000, and
approaches £13,000. Its total cost amounted to £102,245.
The engineer was Sir I. K. Brunel, from whose designs the
bridge, which attracted much admiration for many years
was constructed.