The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-16 00:00:00

The Price of Gold.

By advica from Hamburg the price of gold Is 424 per mark
and the short exchange on London is 13.4 i per £1 strrlin
Standard gold at the English Mint price is, therefore, at
about the same price in London and Hamburg.
tile quotation et gold at Paris is about per mille pm., and
the short exchange on London is 25.25 per Li sterling. On
comparing these rates with the English Mint price of L.
17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, it appea's that gold is
nearly 3-Ictlis per cent, dearer in London than in Paris.
The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days' sight is about ion per cent. At these rates there
is no profit on the importa,lon of goad from the United
States

CABINET COUNClL—Summonses have been issued
for a Cabinet Council to-morrow aftornoon, at half-past 2
o'clock, at Earl Russell's official residence, in Downing-
street.

EXTENSIVE FIRE NEAR THE DOCKS THIS DAY.—
About half-past two o'clock this morning the exten-
sive pile of warehouses, belonging to Messrs. Watson and
Metcalf, wharfingers, situated on the north side of Burr-
street, Lower East Smithfield, wore found to be on fire.
Up to ten o'clock this morning there still remained much
fire among the ruins; and on account of the vast quantity
of jute, there is likely to be for some time several engines
playing to prevent a; fresh outbreak. The origin of the
fire is unknown.

OFFICAL REPORT OF FIRES.—The annexed is a
copy of Capt. Shaw's official returns to the Metro-
politan Board of Works of fires that occurred from 6 a.m.
of the 14th to 6of the 15th:-14th. Half-past 7 p.m.: 57,
Fore-strcat, Cripplegate, occupied by A. Ashley, umbrella
maker, caused by lighted paper thrown down area, contents
insured in the Scottish Union ; damage, end of counter
burned, and stock in shop damaged by fire, heat, &c.
Eight p.m.: 69, Willow-walk, Tabernacle-square, occu-
pied by G. Goodwin, turner ; alarm caused by chimney on
fire. Quarter-past 8 p.m.: 61, Borough-road, Southwark,
occupied by Messrs. Harvey and Co., china and glass mer-
chants, caused by a candle, contents insured in the Phomix
—damage, back warehouse (ground floor) and contents
seriously damaged by fire ; front shop and upper part of
house slightly damaged by smoke. 15th, quarter past 12
a.m.: 6, Leigh- street, Burton-crescent, occupied by G. Mills,
oil and colourman, contents insured in the Norwich Union ;
damage, front shop and contents severely damaged by fire,
upper part of house by heat, &c. Quarter-past 3 a.m.: 12,
Wilderness-row, Goswell-road, occupied by W. Tamer,
watchmaker, contents insured in the Phoenix ; damage,
front shop and contents severely damaged by fire, rest of
house by heat, &c.

A PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.—Letters from Tangiers
report that locusts have committed great ravages at Maza-
gan and Rabat. Every green leaf had disappeared at
Rabat, and the orange groves presented a singular spec-
tacle of wood and fruit. Rain was very much wanted.
The continued drought was beginning to excite apprehen-
sions of a famine.

Business in the Foreign and Colonial produce
Markets during the last few days has been very
quiet. Sugars have only been dealt in to a limited
extent, without any material change in prices.
Coffee has been in fair demand at steady rates, while
the dealings in rice have been checked by the high
rates demanded by holders in rice.