The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-22 00:00:00

COURSE OF EXC.

Amsterdam CF. 12 6
Ditto, at sight l2 4
Rotterdam 2U. 12 6
Antwerp 25 90
Elamburgh M.B. 13 13t
Altona l3 14
Paris, 3 days' sight 25 60
Ditto, 3 months 25 80
Marseilles
Bourdeaux 25 85
Frankfort on Maine l2lt
Petersburgh, 3Us 37

Berlin - 7

Vienna, effec. fl. 3 M 953
Trieste, ditto
Madrid 37
Cadiz
Bilbao 36
Barcelona 36

Seville —

BANK OF ENGLAND.

Quarterly Average of the Weekly Liabilities and Assets of
the Bank of England, from the 23d day of March, 1844,
to the 15th day of June, 1844, both inclusive, published
pursuant to the Act 3 and 4 Will. IV., cap. 98.
LIABILITIES. ASSETS.
Circulation . £21,327,000 Securities ...£21,916,000
Deposits ... 13,483,000 Bullion

£34,810,000 I
11, Downing-street, June 21

£37,816,000

, 1844.

SAFETY BEACON FOR THE GOOD-
WIN SANDS.
DOVER, JUNE 19.—This day the Trinity Buoy steam-
yacht towed off to its station, on the Goodwin Sands, a
stupendous safety beacon, designed and executed, we be-
lieve, by James Walker, Esq., C.E., under the auspices
of the Trinity Board. The beacon is intended not only
to be a guide to mariners, but also a place of refuge for
the crews of vessels cast away on the fatal Goodwin. It
will be recollected that a safety beacon, the invention of
Captain Bullock, R.N., was placed on the Goodwin
Sands some years since and still braves the storm. The
one that has been towed out to-day is of larger dimen-
sions, and will be placed on a different part of the sands.
This beacon is an experiment, and we understand, should
it succeed, it is the intention of the Trinity Board that
similar fixed erections shall supersede floating buoys.
Mr. Walker's beacon consists of a strong iron column,
about forty feet high, based on a circular platform of
solid masonry, the latter being upward' of twenty feet in
diameter. The foot of the pillar is bell-shaped, and
tapers upwards to the extent of some six or eight feet.
About the middle of the column there is a convenience
resembling a vessel's top, surrounded with an iron rail-
ing, capable of receiving, we should say, half-a-dozen
men; and on the summit is placed an iron basket, shaped
like a balloon, which is also constructed to contain about
a like number of persons, should they be enabled to
reach it in the case of shipwreck. The column is tied'
down to the stone-work by iron stays, and on it are
fixed steps, by which it may be ascended.
The whole of the unwieldly machine is incased in a
huge timber vessel, resembling a brewer's vat, in which
it was built, for the purpose of floating it to its station on
the sands. The sides of this wooden building are con-
structed in such a way as to admit of their being re-
moved on the beacon settling down in the sand. Thee
bottom, on which the masonry rests, will, however, re.
main under the beacon.

THE NEW HOUSES or PARLIAMENT.—The follow.
ing report has been presented by the Select Committee
appointed to inquire into the progress of the building of
the Houses of Parliament: " That the Committee have
met, and considered the subject matter to them referred.
and have examined witnesses, and have come to the fol-
lowing resolution, viz.:—That, considering the great in-
convenience of the present House of Lords, and that mph
inconvenience will be greatly aggravated by the progress
of the new buildings before the commencement of the
session of 1844, no delay should take place in the build-
ing and preparing the new House of Lords beyond what
is absolutely required for the safety of the work; that
the architect be directed so to conduct his operations as
to secure the occupation of the new House of Lords,
with temporary fittings, at the commencement of the
session of 1844 ; that in case the architect, in the pro-
gress of the work of the new House of Lords, shall find
that more time will be required in consequence of any
apprehension of injurious consequences to the buildjag,
he shall report the same to the Commissioners or haw
Majesty's Woods and Forests, in order that such report
may be communicated to this House in due time ; that it
does not appear to the Committee that it is advisable!
that any alteration in the ventilation of the present
House of Lords, which would lead to additional expense,
should be adopted ; and the Committee have directed
the minutes of evidence taken before them to be laid be-
fore your Lordships."