----------------------------------------------
Circulation | L34,948,765 | 481,552,000 francs. | $118,984,112
Specie | 19,843,026 | 458,820,000 " | 45,379,345
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1862.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Circulation | L39,574,862 | 725,417,563 francs. | $126,599,167
Specie | 22,917,846 | 324,915,234 " | 102,507,559
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1885.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Circulation | L37,215,968 |2,912,386,475 francs. | $112,027,858
Specie | 28,146,893 |2,065,937,158 " | 139,747,080
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Gold has robbed silver of the _prestige_ claimed for it two centuries
ago by Locke,--"that it is the instrument and measure of commerce in all
the civilized and trading parts of the world, and its normal currency."
Gold has maintained its present price for one hundred and sixty years,
while silver has declined twenty-two per cent. within thirteen. When,
owing to scarcity, gold advances in price, then we may fear, that, what
the late Mr. Bagehot use to call the "_apprehension point_," is close at
our heels. The amount of gold in existence has increased from
$1,975,000,000 in 1843 to $8,166,000,000 at the present time; while
silver, owing to the great attrition of coin (estimated by Bowen at one
per cent. per annum), has increased from $5,040,000,000 to but
$5,504,000,000, during the same period. Of the two hundred and twelve
millions of dollars of the precious metals annually produced,
ninety-eight millions are furnished by gold.

* * * * *

MY MOUNTAIN HOME.

BY WILLIAM C. STUROC.

Down in the valleys, where the grasses grow,
And waves the gold-rod and the meadow queen;
Where peaceful streamlets, with a languid flow,
Are calmly shimmering in the noonday sheen--
There may be peace, and plenty too, I ween;
But on the mountain's elephantine height,
Where thunder-drums are beat on bassy key,
And lightning-flashes glisten through the night;
And forests groan with storm-chang'd melody,
There let my home, 'mid lofty nature be--
That, near the stars, and near the sun and moon,
My eyes ma