The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-10 00:00:00

Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day,

Mark©t very flat, and prices continue to droop,
Sales, probably 4,000 bales.

THE BANK OF FRANCE,

PARIS, MARCH 9.
The Bank of France has reduced its rate of dis-
count from 4 to 3i per cent.

Bank of England Return•—Last Evening.

An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for the week ending Wednesday, March 8, 1865.

ISSUE DEPARTMENT.

Notes

Government Debt .01,015,1( 0
Other Securities .. 3,634,90 u
G old Coin& Bullion 15,010,5; 0
Silver Bullion

.C 28,50,5901

£228,L6),5. 0

BANKING D
eroprietors' Capi- -
tai 414,553.000
Rest
Public Deposits (in-
cluding Exche-
quer, Savings'
Banks, Commis-
missioners of Na-
tional Debt, and

,EPARTMENT.
government Secu-
rities cincluding
DeadlN eightAn-
unity) £11,023,211
Other Securities 19,828,855
Notes
Gold and Silver 818,017
Coin

Dividend Ac-
counts) 9.677.721
Other Deposits 13,912,70 t
Seven Day and
other Bills

£10,429,773 I
X 11,429,773
W. MILLER, Chief Cashier.

March 9, 1865.

THE QUEEN A FRANK COLLECTOR.—The Queen
has, or had, a collection of franks of the Peers and M.P.'s
who held seats in her first Parliament. In procuring those
she is said to have employed the services of the Hon. Col.
Murray, Sir Charles Phipps, and the ladies of her court;
but I have never heard that her Majesty was able to suc-
ceed in making her collection quite complete.—Once a
Week.

GOLDSMITHS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in becoming
patron of the %hove charity, has forwarded his cheque
for twenty-five pounds as a life subscriber. It is the
intention of the subscribers at the next general meeting
to alter their laws, to enable them to give pensions of
twenty pounds a year to all elected in future

The

funded capital of the Institution has within a few years
increased to upwards of £ll,OOO.

FIRE IN THE EDINBURGH MUSIC HALL.—At a
quarter before three o'clock on Wednesday morning
a fire broke out in the Music Hall during the ball of the
United Service Club, which for a short time created consi-
derable alarm. The decorations, which were elaborate and
of the most tasteful description, were principally confined to
the orchestra, which was entirely concealed by most artistic
erections that elicited universal admiration. Along the top
of the screens which stretched across the orchestra in front
of the organ was a row of gas-jets, which, being unpro-
tected, appear to have caused flame to communicate with
the muslin, calico, and other light materials used in the de-
corations. The fire spread with alarming rapidity, and in a
few minutes the orchestra appeared in a blaze. In an upper
stage below the organ the band of the 74th Highlanders was
stationed, and we have no hesitation in saying that, but
for the energetic and courageous manner in which they
rushed at the burning materials and tore them down, irre-
spective of all danger, the consequences would have been
much more serious than those we have to record. Several
ladies and gentlemen were seated on the platform ; but, so
far as we have ascertained, all have escaped without injury.
I The gallant bandsmen leaped from their elevated position,
and wrought with astonishing energy in the midst of flame
and smoke, and falling planks, till the whole temporary
erections were torn down and the flames trampled out with-
out the aid of water. Valuable assistance was also lent by
many of the gentlemen present. When the flames were
subdued the company joined in hearty cheers in honor of
the noble efforts of the 74th. The alarm, of course, spread
to the peincipal ball-room, at ono time a panic seemed
,
imminent, but luckily nothing untoward happened beyond
umedin the Assembly-rooms; and although many
wthaesfraeins fainting of several ladies through agitation. Dancing
the dancers left, it was continued till a late hour. We
understand that none of thestructure
been materially injured, and thattheof
rt
thece Al alhas
of Music-hall
theh l
Phil-
harmonic Society this evening will not be interfered with,
cde
eB
thatthesm ar
Bing
of.
cenu-
, will
Edinburgh, Courant..
amb urbgya Countnnli
shortly make an excursion into Schleswig-Holstein.
The precise object of the journey is not stated.
accompanied
The journals of Messina mention that a public
A d
Prussia,vl.e e s
from H
meeting has been held there in favour of abolishing capital
punishment, and of extending the conscription to the stu-
dents in the ecclesiastical colleges.
a has
nowthe ea
madee.3rt, successful debut Mr. Hartvigson, the young pianist who last year
utnouatr theof
givingP h Philharmonic r m
lessons onic
to her Society's
Rcoo3l-
Highness the Princess of Wales.
LONDON COFFEE AND EATING-HOUSE KEEPERS'
BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.—H. Rumsey Foster, Esq.,
London, manager of Messrs. Allsopp and Sons, have con-
sented to preside at their annual dinner at the London
Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, on Wednesday, April 12th,
1865.

A PRISONER SET FREE.—A few days ago a very
fine frog was discovered firmly embedded in a large
block of stone at the Lady Lee Quarries, oreupil I.)y Mr.

to et I.

J. Ellis, of Worksop. Tho block wft
the surface, and the frog, on being liberkted, jump(
cheerfully; and afterwards, on being placed in a I
water, the animal showed its dexterity b 3.
ease. It is supposed the prisoner must have been (
from 1,000 to 2,000 years. The block of stone had
impression of the frog very distinctly marked where it
lain for such a long period.—Sh,effleld Telagraph•

1111iP.fr, at