The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-14 00:00:00

THE BANK RETURNS.

The Bank return of yesterday evening presents
most singular features. The amount of notes in
circulation, which was already beyond all ordinary
precedent, shows a further increase of £1,600,000.
The average total required by the public is between
19 and 20 millions, and they hold at this moment
£23,467,000. Compared with the same period
of the memorable year 1857, when the trade of the
country had reached a degree of inflation never be-
fore known, the excess of notes now in use is
£3,715,000, or 19 per cent. No one, therefore, can
complain of want of accommodation. The total, in
fact, is such as was never attained except during
the extraordinary time shortly after the gold dis-
coveries, when the Bank bullion touched its highest
sum, and Consols were at 101 ex. dividend, and the
rate of money 2 per cent. The cause of the move-
ment is still unexplained, or if an explanation be
hinted, it is such as everyone must hope will prove
unfounded. Looking only for a natural solution,
the circumstances now witnessed can spring only
frsm a single cause,—namely, a sudden and won-
derful augmentation of the business of the country.
Supposing it to be a healthy augmentation such as
can be carried on at a profit, notwithstanding the
advance in discounts, there will be reason for uni-
versal satisfaction, no less at the prosperity of thr3
mercantile body, but also at the fact that capitali,ts
share in it in fair proportion. Supposing it to be
speculative or fictitious, then every one must hail
the measures by which the evil is to b© repressed.
We know, therefore, that the advance in the rate is a
great good, either as promoting a fair distribution
of legitimate profits among traders and money
dealers, or as a remedy for a dangerous condi-
tion. Here all reference to the matter might
end, the commercial and banking community
being left to exercise their own judgment as to
whether this astounding growth of trade is healthy
or unhealthy. But within these few hours a report
has become current, which, but for the otherwise
inexplicable character of what is going on, would
seem altogether incredible. The public are aware
that since the experience of 1857 the Bank have
resolved to lend no encouragement to the vicious
practice of rediscounting, and that, while opening
their doors to the commercial community, they have
for that reason excluded the discount brokers. On
the inherent soundness of this policy there can be
no dispute, and the leading members of the mercan-
tile world have regarded it with strong approval.
It is now asserted, however, that in their dissatis-
faction at its operation the discount firms have re-
solved to draw from the Bank as many notes as
possible, to lock these notes up, and thus to create
a sense of scarcity and an inconvenient advance in
the Bank terms that shall induce all business men
' to believe that they are suffering through the in-
ability of the discount houses to help them, and that
this inability is caused by the exclusion of those
houses from the Bank. An operation of this kind
would be at once so ridiculous and so censurable
that every considerate person will refuse credence
to it, unless upon the authority of the discount
houses themselves. Indeed, but for the circum-
, stances that the report this evening is in universal
' circulation, that the alleged particulars are fully
stated in commercial circulars, and that some in-
dividuals even affirm that the parties in question
virtually admit its correctness, any notice of it
would seem improper, and, even as matters stand,
the reference to it must merely be for the sake of
enabling an unequivocal contradiction to be obtained
without delay.—Times' City Article.

LITERARY NEWS.—Among the publications an-
nounced as forthcoming by Messrs. Hurst and Blackett
are the following works :—" Memoirs of the Courts and
Cabinets of William IV. and Victoria," completing the
Buckingham Papers, 2 vols.; " Narrative of a Residence at
the Court of Meer Ali Moorad. with Sporting Adventures
in the Valley of the Indus," by Captain Langley, 2 vols.,
with plates; "The Upper and Lower Amoor," by T. W.
Atkinson, F.R.G.S., 1 vol., with 100 illustrations; "Domes-
tic Memoirs of the Royal Family, and of the Court of Eng-
land," by Folkstone Williams, F.G.S., 3 vols.; " Six Years
of a Traveller's Life in Western Africa," by Francisco
Valdez, 2 vols., with map and numerous plates; "A Jour-
ney on a Plank from Kiev to Eaux-Bonnes," by Lady
Charlotte Pepys, 2 vols. ; " Six Months in Rflunion;eva
Clergyman's lioliday, and How he Spent it," by the _
P. Beaton M.A. 2 vols.; "A. Book about Doctors,"itn 1.11
Mr. J. C. Jeaffreson, 2 vols. ; " Half Hours:7
.‘11.7...rh01ri
it_
Painters, from Ilogarth to Turner," by Mr. G
new novels:—,/ Grandmothers.
Thorn-
bury, 2 vols. The same vublishersalso
.I‘ainennoeuyn,,c,,e tbhye fol-
lowingtheßertrand," by Francis
author of " Wildflower ;
the Life a Clergyman."
Meredith ; "The Curate
LordOf3niairiitl(‘lvaal eri:n eit,"ecboyl Recollections
St icornust n-
torTcE" )GlaninEsAtoTnoE'sAHsToEusiteicke._epecr,a"pbty
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directors packettChoeuGr i
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with r,espreglet. toj
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y. shipbeia,chheineagpteoifnt(hieeelgarreedatfiiate in St.
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place, could not be found to enable the bottom of the ship
to be examined until a dock is built for her, and he offered
to take her over 1r ith safety; in line weather there 11-aild
not be the slightest dancer. Captain Goodt idge has been
running to and from Jersey twice a week for the last 30
years. He is always employed as pilot when the Qn-en
visits the Channel Islands. Mr. Stubbing, the Pret:de
of the Southampton Chamber of Commerce, stated at the
Last meeting of that body there was every probabi ity that
a Great Eastern graving dock would soon be built at
Southampton.

STEAMSHIP-BUILDING ON Tin CLYDE.—Several
handsome new steamers have just been launched by bug ilcrs
in the Clyde district. Messrs. I'. Wingate and Co. La vs
turned out a paddle steamer named the Comercio, and it.
tended for passenger traffic on the north coast of Spair.
The Comercio is 140 feet in length, and a pair of engines of
70 horsepower are now being placed on board. Messrs
Wm. Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton, have launched a
screw yacht named the Margaretta Stevenson for Mr. H. C,
Stevenson, of Quebec. The yacht is intended to be employed
as a tender to her Majesty's surveying ship in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, and she is being engined by Messrs. Tulloch
and Denny. A screw steamer of 500 tons has been launched
from the building-yard of Mr. A. Denny, of Dumbarton.
She is intended for the Glasgow and Londonderry trade,
and will replace the Eagle, lost last winter. She has been
n lined the -Falcon, and is teingfitted with 90-torso engines.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE.--
GRAND ENGLISH OPERA.
The Public and Subscribers are respectfully informed
that the Management have entered into arrangements for the
production of ENGLISH OPERA with most eminent Ar-
tistes.
Tills EVENING, Saturday, April It, Verdi's admired
opera of IL TROVATORE. Manrico, Mr. Henry Haigh ;
Count de Luna, Mr. Charles Durand ; Ferrando, Mr. Thomp-
son ; Azucena, Miss Emma Heywood ; Leonora, Miss Dyer.
Previous to which the MAGNIFICENT ORCHESTRA of
this establishment will perform IVeber's overture to the ro-
mantic opera of OBERON. Balfe's popular opera, THE
BOHEMIAN GIRL, will be produced on Wednesday next.
Hale Ty's opera, THE QUEEN'S MUSKETEERS, is in ac
tive preparation, and will be placed upon the Stage almost
immediately.
The Band and Chorus, numbering nearly 100 performers,
under the direction of Dr. JAMES PECH.
The usual Reduced Prices—Stalls, 4s ; dress circle, 3s ;
first circle, 2s 6d ; pit, 2s ; upper boxes, 1s 6d ; gallery, is ;
upper gallery, 6d ; private boxes from 100 6d upwards. T
ut
D ie open daily, under the direction of Mr. Nugent.
Doors open at 7 ; to commence at half-past.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
GRAND ENGLISH OPERA.
The Orchestra of this establishment, one of the most
magnificent in London, will perform Weber's GRAND
OVERTURE to OBERON every evening previous to the
representation of the Opera, IL TROVATORE.
Conductor and "Musical Director, Dr. JAMES PECYI.

THEATRE-B4OYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, will be performed THE OVERLAND
ROUTE. Messrs. C. Mathews, Buckstone, Compton, Chip-
pendale, Mrs. C. Mathews, Miss Weekes, and Mrs. Wilkins.
After which, a new fairy romance, THE PILGRIM OF
LOVE.
To conclude with A DAUGHTER TO MARRY.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Lessee, Mr. A. Harris.

TIIIS EVENING, the comedy of THE MAN OF THE
WORLD. Mr. Phelps and Miss Atkinson (their 6th ap-
pearance at this theatre).
To conclude with the extravaganza of THE SYLPHIDE.
Miss C. Leclercq, Miss Louise Keeley, Miss Helen Howard,
Miss Rose Leclercq, Mr. Shore, Mr. Saker, and Mr. Frank
Matthews,