The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-29 00:00:00

HUNT CUP STEEPLECHASE.

Sepoy
Wilful

Ten ran.
MATCHES.
Westender beat Columbine.
Old Woman beat Worcester.

7HE BANK BULLION.

According to the return published yesterday, the
Bank bullion is now at a point below any previ-
ously touched during the current year. On the
11th of June last, when the rate of discount was 3
per cent., as at present, there was a decline to
£15,033,100, and the total shown yesterday is
only £15,018,993. But the peculiarity is observable
that, owing to the restric ion of trade, the total of
unemployed notes held by the Bank, instead of di-
minishing, as is usually the case when a continuous
drain of gold is in progress, shows an increase, and
is now £654,495 in excess of the amount at that
period. Some further considerable changes, there-
fore, must take place before the question of another
advance in the rate of discount is likely to be enter-
tained. Last November, when the bullion held was
only £14,210,774, and, therefore, £808,219 below
its present sum, the rate was reduced from 31 to 3
per cent., and although the difference then existed
that there were signs of an approaching influx of
bullion, while now there is but a doubtful antici-
pation even of a temporary check to a long con-
tinued efflux, there will apparently be no special
reason for further action until a reduction to that
point shall have taken place. The drain has now
been of almost unprecedented duration, but there
has rarely been a time when so much uncertainty
prevailed as to the probabilities either of a conti-
nuance or a turn of the tide. There are no larie
amounts immediately expected from Australia,
and consequently for the present it is upon the
West Indian and American supplies we must
depend entirely for our Indian requirements.
The quotations of exchange received this morning
from Bombay do not hold out any prospect of a
heavy or speedy lessening of the process of absorp-
tion going on there; but, on the other hand, there
are reports to-day from Paris of an improvement in
the condition of the Bank of France, and of a cessa-
tion of the recent efforts of that establishment to
attract gold from all available quarters. Our grain
importations are still on a scale equal to more than
a million sterling per week, but these will gradually
diminish, and as there will be heavy payments to
come from America at the commencement of the
new year, and the Australian arrivals both of wuol
and gold will at that date be numerous, it is possible
that if no upward movement of the rate of discount
should previously be found necessary the position of
the market will then admit of the operation being
further postponed. Meanwhile, it is satisfactory to
notice that the Government balance at the Bank is
75 per cent. in excess of its amount at the corres-
ponding period of last year, and to undr rstand that,
notwithstanding the trials consequent on the cotton
crisis, the revenue receipts throughout the United
Kingdom are very favourably maintained.

The Giornale di Napoli states that the body of
the notorious brigand Esposito was found a few days ago
near Centola (Principata Ullteriore) with five stabs in the
neck. It is believed ho was murdered by his own com-
panions.

ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL.—VALUE OF LAND.—
The Alliance Bank of London and Liverpool have taken
from the Metropolitan Board of Works on building lease, a
plot of ground at the corner of the new street, Borough,
measuring 280 yards, at an annual ground-rent of £5OO ;
this, if sold in the ordinary way, would produce a freehold
of £260,000 an acre. The hospital property must have
been sadly mismanaged, when but £296,000 was obtained
for four acres of land, with all the buildings thereon, in-
cluding also compulsory sale, &c. It is said that the Board
of Trade originally selected a London man, who thought
the property was worth £350,000, but the Board was per-
suaded to appoint a Liverpool man at the request of both
parties. Surely it is not too kite to inquire into the
matter.— City Press.
A NEW RAPHAEL.—The connoissurs amongst
your readers are probably acquainted with the discovery of
a new Raphael, alleged to have taken place at Rome a few
months ago. The work of art, which was palmed upon an
admiring world by one M. Nicollet, and represents the
death of St. Joseph, is ni,w being exhibited at Berlin,
where it has given occasion to another discovery more
curious than its own. The Berlin critics, justly renowned
for their learned scepticism, speedily recollected seeing an
engraving of the would. be stranger among the treasures
of the Royal Museum. The copy is net only entirely
devoid of any legend in allusion to Raphael, but, for
the more effective exposure of the hoax, bears the
name of the well-known Maratta, who died about the be-
ginning of she last century, and, although a painter of con-
siderable merit, has not been hitherto compared to any of
the Coryphees of the art.—Lotter from Berlin.
AN AMUSING MISTAKE.—A gentleman of Doual
was going out in his carriage to make some calls with his
wife, when he discovered that he had left his visiting
cards. He ordered his footman, recently come into his
service, to go to the mantelpiece in the sitting room and
bring the cards he should see (here. The servant did as
he was ordered, retained the articles to be used as he was
directed, and off started the gentleman, sending in the
footman with cards whenever the" not at home" occurred.
As these were very numerous, he turned to the servant
with the question " How many cards have you left ?"
" Well, sir," says the footman, very innocently, " there's
the king of spades, the six of hearts, and the ace of
clubs I" " The deuce I" exclaimed his master. " That's
gone," said John.

Who, of the present generation, knows anything
of Count Rumford ? At the mention of his name every-
body thinks of stoves. In most people's minds there is a
sort of wonder whether he could be a real count if his busi-
ness in life was—stoves. Some of us elders of our day had
fathers who knew Count Rumford, and who remembered
and talked of him, not in connection with stoves, but as a
nobleman of great knowledge, of an active inquiring spirit,
of great administrative faculty, and the most indefatigable,
resolute, vigilant, and enterprising benevolence. When-
ever society needs the largest amount of comfort at the smal-
lest cost, the name and memory of Count Rumford come
up again. In times of ordinary prosperity, whenour
work-
people are well employed and paid, and our gentry gatherve.,
new luxuries about them, and entertain their mindoskenituof
study and speculation, the man is forgotten,
only for this or that intervention. When. wed ehorarsvi spoken
a
• which
cularly bad harvest, or any commercial adversity
hands to be fed
throws millions of destitute people on
is heard
part'"
old
and cheered, Count Rumford's name is
people are talking together of the. black yearsofptheir a
away';
lives.ay.
There may be less and less of this as the old folks
but it will be a good while yet before there is nobody lett
to quote the sayings and doingse ohfutnhgrye lairagfeo-uhreacrotuendtarineds
practical-minded man who fed h
of Christendom, and shelved how the
mheegraelalteeestt couldcost.—Once
a
be nourished and cheered at the
Week,

A fire broke out on the 24th in the buildings of
the Ministry of the Interior at Turin. Fears were enter-
tained for the archives of the kingdom and for the Royal
Theatre, but fortunately the flames were got under in time
by considerable exertion.

The cure of Caltanisetta, in Sicily, having refused
to baptise a child under the name of Joseph-Garibaldi, the
parents have instituted law proceedings against him,