The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-22 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the
Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, and attended by
Major-General Buckley and Colonel Wylde, visited the
Zoological Gardens, in the Regent's Park, yesterday
morning.
Prince Albert presided yesterday afternoon at a meet-
ing of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.
His Royal Highness arrived at the New Palace of
Westminster at 3 o'clock, attended by Colonel Wylde
The other commissioners present were—Lord Over-
stone, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, the Right Hon.
E. Cardwell, the Right Hon. B. Disraeli, Sir Alexander
Spearman, Sir W. Cubbitt, Sir C. L. Eastlake, Mr. T.
Baring, M.P., Mr. Coulson, Q.C., Mr. C. W. Ddke,
Mr. T. F. Gibson, Mr. John Gott, Professor Forbes,
and Mr. P. Pusey. Mr. Edgar A. Bo wring, Secretary
to the Commission, attended.
His Royal Highness previously presided at a meeting
of a committee of the Royal Commission, which was
attended by Lord Overstone, the Right Hon. E. Card-
well, the Right Hon. B. Disraeli, Sir A. Spearman, Sir
W. Cubitt, Mr. Baring, M.P., Mr. Coulson, and Mr.
Edgar A. Bowring (secretary.)
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
d'Aumale and her Imperial Highness the Princess of
Salerno visited her Majesty yesterday.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess
Royal, Princess Alice, Prince Alfred, and the Princess
Helena and Louisa, honoured the Princess's Theatre
with their presence last evening. The royal suite con-
sisted of the Marchioness of Ely, Lady Caroline Bar-
rington, the Marquis of Ormonde, Majur-General Buck.
ey, Colonel Wylde, and Mr. Gibbs.

A deputation on the subject of metropolitan railway
communication had an interview yesterday with the
Right Hon. E. Cardwell and Lord Stanley of Alderley
at the Board of Trade. The deputation consisted of Mr.
S. M. Peto, M.P., Mr. C. Geach, M.P., and Mr. J.
Hawkshaw.

PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris is
about 3 per mille discount (according to the last tariff),
which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 105 d. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.095 ;
and, the exchange at Paris on London at short
being 24'975, it follows that gold is about
0.48 per cent. dearer in Paris than in London.
By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is
422 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3/.
17s. 10&d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange
of 13.33- ; and, the exchange at Hamburg on London at
short being 13.38, it follows that gold is at the same
price in Hamburg as in London. The course of ex-
change at New York on London for bills at 60 days'
sight is 109 per cent., and, the par of exchange between
England and America being 109 23-40 per cent., it fol-
lows that the exchange is nominally o'sB per cent.
against England ; but, after making allowance for
charges of transport and difference of interest, the pre-
sent rate leaves no profit on the transmission of gold
either way between the two countries.
ST. PETERSBURG.—From St. Petersburg the dates are
to the 13th inst. The prices of imported goods continued
to advance, in anticipation of a blockade, and the rate
of exchange had declined to 3741—a point at which
shipments of gold to England would prove profitable.
It is doubtful, however, if any will be made, since,
although no prohibition had thus far been issued, the
merchants would hesitate to incur displeasure by such
a step. The first exportation that might be attempted
would doubtless also be the signal for restriction. Never-
theless, in the event of a continued decline, considerable
sums will be smuggled out of the country:
FRENCH LOAN.—The statements recently current
with regard to an intended French loan have been
strongly revived, and it is understood that Messrs.
Rothschild and other capitalists are endeavouring to
treat for it on specific terms. The letters from Paris
mention that some idea was entertained of the affair
being undertaken by the Bank of France, in considera-
tion of an extension of their privileges, but this was
probably nothing more than one of a multitude of ru-
mours. The sum lately talked of has been six millions
sterling in a 3 per cent. stock, to be issued at about
62 or 63. Whether the contemplated French loan
will be followed by the smaller one which has also
been proposed for Turkey remains to be seen. Some
quarter,to indicate sincet h
a the t
all a p pl
hopeica-
of time back it wag pointed out that neither the French nor
the Turkish contract would be likely to be brought for-
a a war price would con-
ward so long as the slightest belief in the possibilty of
stpiegeoani
uct eeohnf
atdlwaitsy wouldbhentertainedeaev ne atbobbeneedoo paid
fietddr anyd n
ue
at a time when it might yet
,d
turn out to have been unnecessary. The intimation on
the part of the French Government of their willingness
to accept tenders was therefore certain to be delayed
hu
andanLst i teGtdabi
seTw
ia
lyrl
probableriv
V.
be
eE
DARKNESS.—An
of
Al
m Rltt
athNthaEeetds finalsbt
the
e w
the
Ahaenn
coursesinegrf
Cabinetet orn om St.
i which
ingenious
oha Petersburgndtsahtpaa adaptation
atat innoosn
pwl
of
r
the recent novel discovery for diffusing and extending
daylight has been applied to the shutters of such shops
or warehouses where the whole of the street front is
used for the display of goods ; and a large poulterer in
Leadenhall-market thus lights up the very remotest por-
tion of his store, despite ti.e festoons of poultry and
game, which would otherwise render darkness yet more
palpable. The improvements of substituting an endur-
able metallic material for the flimsy paper surface, which,
while it served to prove the principle, could scarcely be
intended to last, is due to M. Aubin Chapping, of St.
Mary-axe, who has lately supplied many of the Govern-
went establishments with his myriastractic reflectors.