The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-28 00:00:00

Bank of England Returns,

An Account, pursuant to the Act ith and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for the week ending Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1868.

ISSUE DE

'ARTMENT.

Notes issued .....C2,191,935

Governmt. Debt.Xll,ols,loo
Other Securities 3,984,900
Gold Coin and
Bullion
Silver Bullion

£32,191,935

X 32,191,935

BANKING D.
Proprietors' Capi-
tal X1.4,553,000
Rest
Public Deposits
(including E-
xchequer, Sav-
ings' Banks,
Commissioners
of National
Debt, and Div.

&PARTMENT.
Governmt. Seen-
' tities(including
' Dead Weight

Annuity) £14,124,874
Other Securities 18,339,395
Notes 9,251,750
Ciold and Silver
Coin .... 1,099,686

Aeconnts 6,899,705
Other Deposits 37,850,902
Seven Days and
othor Bills 431

£42,

.£42,814.'70

The Price of Gold.

The quotati.m of gold at Paris is about at par, and
the short exchange on London is 251. 20c. per £1 sterling.
Unconiparing these rates with the English Mint price of
£3 lie. 104 d. per ounce for standard gold. it appea,s that
gold i • abut 1.;011► per cent. dearer in London Clan in

The course of exchange at New York on London for bill;
at 60 days' sight was on the last date about 101 per cent.
At this rate there is no profit on the importation of gol
rom the Uni ed

DEATH OF MR. JOAN P RITCIIARD. —T h e .Northern
Express announces the death of the talented tragedian,
John Pritchard. He died, of fever, on Thursday, at Lie
residence, Nursery Cottage, Newcastle, at the age of 40.
Mr. Stanley first introduced Mr. Pritchard to Newcastle
at the celebration of the Shaksperian tercentenary in the
Town Hall, when they gave selections from "
Mr. Stanley sustaining the character of Ingo, and Mr.
Pritchard that of Othello. This and Virginius were his
finest impersonations. As Othello he first made his bow at
the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, two seasons ago, and con-
tinued a groat favourite until he took his final farewell,
.liortly after the close of last season. He leaves a young
widow, herself a great favourite in Newcastle.

NOVEL CHRISTMAS WEATHER.--On Saturday,
shortly after four o'clock, Liverpool was visited by a sight
storm of thunder and lightning, accompanied by a heavy
fall of rain and elect.

THE EASTERN FISHERIES. —lt appears that during
the ]ata.horring "voyage" on the eastern coast 7,635 lasts,
or 92,862,000 herrings, were landed at Lowestoft. The
corresponding total for 1867 was 6,154 lasts, showing an
increase this year of 881 lasts. The principal increase was
in October ; in November there was a decrease; but the
currant month again witnessed an increase.
ECONOMY IN STEAM.—An inventor in New York
city announces that lie has discovered a new and perfectly
practicable method of propelling vessels by steam, whereby
a saving of 75 per cent. of the power can be effected. The
mechanical construction is said to be perfectly simP!e,
consisting in a pair of steam oars so arranged that uhly
the parts correspo Kling to the impinging surfaces of tbe
glade come in contact with the water, the other sides never
touching the water. It is ass, trted that a canal boat of 200
tons can be propelled two miles an hour with less than
one-horse power of steam, :old larger boats with a speed
varying as the square root. the horse-power employed.