The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-27 00:00:00

The Price of Gold.

The quotation of gold at Paris is about per mille pm., and
the short exchange on London is 25.15 per £1 sterling. On
omparing these rates with the English Mint price of L 3
►'rs. 100. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold is
about 2- Jails per cent. dearer in earls than in London.

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By advic:s from Hamburg the price of gold is 4•:.7 per mark
and the short exchange on Londoh is 13.5 i per £1 stcrlinJ..
Standard gold at the Englieh Mint price is, there:ore, at
about 2.loths per cent, dearer in Hamburg than in London.

IMPORT OF COTTON AT ANTWERP.—An Antwerp
letter states that the ship Due de Brabant has just arrived
there from India with 3,500 bales of cotton, representing
a value of 2,000,000 f. For the last eight or nine years not
a single bale had reached that port direct.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY.
THURSDAY, APRIL 26.—Admissions on payment, 1,903 ;
ditto by season tickets, 1,358; total visitors, 3,261.
PRINCE ALFRED'S CITY FREEDOM.--It will be in
the recollection of our readers that a short time since
the corporation unanimously decided upon presenting the
freedom of the city of London to his Royal Highness
Prince Alfred at a grand ceremonial to be held next June,
and the date of which is not yet fixed. On the same occa-
sion it was also determined to depart from the usual rou-
tine of the gold box, and topresent the time-honoured scroll
of freedom in a casket that should be more characteristic of
the great profession which Prince Alfred follows. In the
circulars, therefore, which were sent out to the chief jewel-
lers who were invited to compete in designs for the casket
the specification was limited to a carved polished oak-box
inlaid and enriched with pure gold. The oak of which
the casket is to be made is, we believe, to be taken from
one of the massive beams which lately supported the roof
of old Guildhall, and which were put in after the partial
destruction of the building in the great fire of Loudon.
These designs for the casket wore submitted yesterday to
the General Purposes Committee at Guildhall. Among
other competitors were Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, Mr.
Hancock, Mr. Benson, Mr. Brooke, &c. After a very
short discussion the design of Mr. Benson was uuani-
mously chosen. It is a very exquisitely carved oak
cabinet, somewhat similar in general style, though, of
course, not in material, to that made by Mr. Benson
when the City's freedom was preSented to the
Prince of Wales at the great Guildhall ball. Its
delicate tracery will make it almost unique of its kind, and
its massive chased gold mouldings and inlayings relisve
the darkness of the oak, and give great richness to the
whole design. The arms of Prince Alfred, with the shield
of Gotha, are enamelled in gold on the front and back, with
nautical emblems in dark blue panels supporting them,
while the ends of the casket, which is oval shaped, are
closed with a scroll work of foliage surmounted with
masks. A more beautiful work of art has seldom been
presented by the city, and, though perhaps not equal in
cost, it almost surpasses in design the celebrated casket
which was given to the Prince of Wale'.