The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-17 00:00:00

BANK OF ENGLAND RETURNS.

An Account, lursuant to ti • Act 7 and 8 Victorir, cap. 82
for the week ending Wednesday, June 15, 1870.
ISSUE DEPARTMENT.

Notes issued £34,917,020

Governmt. Debt £11,015,100
Other Securities 3,984,900
Gold Coin and
Bullion
Silver Bullion

£34 917,020
BANKING D

£34,917,020

Proprietors'Capi-
tal
Rest
Public Deposits
(including E-
xchequer, Sav-
ings' Banks,
Commissioners
of National
Debt, and Div.

:PARTMENT.
Governmt. Secu-
rities(including
Dead Weight
Annuity) .... E 13,017,279
Other Securities 20,209,952
Notes 12,313,145
Gold and Silver
Coin

Accounts 11,166,165
Other Deposits 17,342,775
Seven Days and
other Bills 367,154

£46,541,189

£46,541,189

The New Independent College at Taunton, Somer-
setshire was opened on Tuesday.
The complete returns of membership in the Wes-
leyan Methodist Connection
.give a total of 348,359 per-
sons "in society." The net increase in the year is 2,833,
and under the head of "net loss by removals," is set down
the very large number of 16,188.
The election, by household suffrage, which took
place at Birmingham to the chaplaincy of St. John's
Church, resulted in favour of the Rev. W. C. Badger.
He won by 3,898 against 2,309. Everything went off
quietly. At the last election, about 25 years ago, scenes
of gross debauchery took place.
MR. CHARLES MATHEWS IN AUSTRALIA.—The
Melbourne Argus, of the 23rd of April, in an article on
theatrical matters, says : " Unquestionably the greatest
event to be chronicled this month. , is the ap-
pearance of the versatile actor and comedian, Mr.
Charles Mathews, who arrived in, the colony safe and well
about the middle of March, and opened here at the
Theatre Royal on the sth inst., to a crowded house. Of
his success on the Australian stage, there can be but one
opinion. The doubts of those who, having seen him a
score of years ago, questioned the possibility of his retain-
ing the qualities which then made him so acceptable, have
been entirely dissipated, and his coming here can hardly
fail to improve public taste, as it will promote a healthy
emulation in our own young actors."

DETAILS OF, THE GREAT FIRE AT
QUEBEC.

The Canadian papers just arrived are full of details of
the great fire at Quebec. The Quebec Chronicle gives the
following account of the origin of the disaster and the
destruction of the two ships :
Owing to the confusion which prevailed when the fire
originated, and for a long time afterwards, it was impossi-
ble for our reporter to ascertain, with anything like
accuracy, the exact spot where this great fire started, but
we now learn that it was upon the premises of Mr. Lortie,
baker. It would also appear, from reliable information
received, that it had been burning fully half an hour, and
had communicated to two or three dwellings, before any
person rung the alarm from the box. This neglect, no
doubt, happened through the excitement usual with per-
sons whose properties are in danger from fire, but it is a
neglect which will prove serious to the unfortunate unin-
sured householders. We are inclined to think
that, had the fire brigade received prompt notice
•of the breaking out of the fire, it would have
been extinguished with the loss of perhaps one or
two houses. One thing is certain, that it would have been
effectively checked berore it could have communicated
with the buildings on the opposite side of Crown-street,
which is at least fifty feet wide. This was generally
commented upon by those who were present at. its
origin.