The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-23 00:00:00

BANKING RETURNS.

The returns of circulation of the Irish and Scotch
banks for the four weeks ending the 21st of January,
1854, when added together, give the following as the
average weekly circulation of these banks during the
past month, viz. :
Ave.-age circulation of the Irish banks £6,539,729
Average circulation of the Scotch banks 3,998,126

Average circulation during the past month £10,537,855
On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the
several banks, as given in the Banking Almanac, the
following appears to be the state of the circulation :
The Irish banks are above their fixed issue... £185,235
The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue 910,917

Total above fixed isbue £1,096,152
The amount of gold and silver held at the head offices
of the several banks during the past month have been
as follows :

Gold and silver held by the Irish banks £1,971,233
Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks 1,467,685

Total of gold and silver held £3,438,918
These returns, combined with the average circulation
of the Bank of England for the same period, show a
increase of 872,2101. in the circulation of notes in Eng-
land, and a decrease of 844,0511. in the circulation of
the United Kingdom, when compared with the month
ending the 24th of December ; and, as compared with the
month ending the 22d of January, 1853, the above
returns show a decrease of 1,493,5351. in the circulation
of notes in England, and a decrease of 258,0411. in the
circulation of the United Kingdom.
The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of
England in both departments during the month ending
the 21st of January was 15,962,3421., being an increase
of 538,3021. as compared with the previous month, and
a decrease of 3,749,335/. when compared with the same
period last year.

The stock of specie held by the Scotch and Irish
banks during the month ending the 21st of January
was 3,438,9181., being a decrease of 88,472/. as
compared with the previous return, and an increase of
736,9871. when compared with the corresponding period
last year.

WEBSTER'S ROYAL RP,D-BOOK FOR 1854,

The issue of this well-known work for the present year
exhibits its usual excellences as regards lucidity of
arrangement, correctness of details, and the clearness of
the type in which it is printed. It contains a compre-
hensive street guide, an alphabetical list of the nobility
and gentry, with their town and country residences, a
list of the Houses of Loris and Commons, and of the
baronets of the United Kingdom, and a considerable
amount of other information of a very valuable nature.
It is one of the best Court and fashionable guides pub-
lished, and, being of convenient size for reference, will
no doubt command an extensive sale.

We understand that it is proposed shortly to hold a
meeting to consider the cause of the gallant Scha,nyl
and the heroic Circassians, who have for so many years
struggled for freedom against Ru,;sian aggression.
THE SCOTS FUSILEER GUARDS.—This morning the
first battalion of the Scots Fusileer Guards, under order
for embarkation, were relieved from garrison duty, with
the exception of furnishing the palace guard to-morrow ;
after which the men will be employed in preparations for
the march. Tho non-commissioned officers and privates
of the battalion are to be allowed free egress and ingress
to the barracks until Monday evening, as the system of
on the eve of departure, instead of con-
fininggtiann tghe fulln libertyn
tobarracks, had been found to work well
granting
in the case of the Grenadier Guards. On Tuesday morn-
ing, at four o'clock, the battalion, consisting of 850 rank
and file, will leave the Metropolis, via the South West-
ern Railway, for embarkation at Southampton.
PAVING OF OXFORD-STREET.—The portion of this
important thoroughfare between Duke and Orchard-
streets was closed at the commencement of the week for
repairs, necessitating the detour of the enormous traffic
by way of the adjacent streeA to their several destina-
tions. The necessary repairs have since been completed
with remarkable celerity, and the thoroughfare reopened
to the public.