The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-29 00:00:00

10111 AN BANK.-(THIS DAY.)

The annual general meeting of the shareholders
was held at 1 o'clock at the offices of the corporation, Great
Winchester-street ; Mr. 0. FARBER in the chair.
The report was as follows :
" In their last annual report the directors ventured to
anticipate that the business of the bank would (matinee to
exhibit • satisfactory progress. This anticipation has been
fully realised by the transactions of the past year, which,
notwithstanding some drawbacks arising from the unsettled
state of Greece, again indicate &steady advance, with increas-
ing profit. The result has been, that whilst making due pro-
vision for bad debts, contingencies, and depreciation of
buildings, the directors have been enabled to make • con-
siderable addition to the reserve. The rest, indeed, has
nearly arrived at an amount which may be considered as
adequately petering the maintenance of the dividend so as
to enable the directors to apply • larger portion of the net
profits of the bank for distribution among the proprietors
Some progress has also been made in the reduction of past-
due engagements, and arrangements have been entered into
for expediting their liquidatioc. The proem, however, is
necessarily • slow one, and • considerable amount yet
remains outstanding, though, as the directors are assured
and believe, for the most part well and sufficiently covered
by securities. The directors have watched, and con-
tinue to watch, with much interest, the events which have
occurred on the neighbouring continent, iovelviag, as it ulti-
mately may, the transfer of the lonian States to the king-
dom of Greece. They look, however, without apprehension
to that contingency, because it may be safely assumed that
whatever arrangements of the kind may be made, the
government of this country will bateau. that the rights of the
bank are protected and its privileges effectually guaranteed.
Neither can it be reasonably doubted that the government
of Greece under its new constitatioe, having regard to the
extensive bushier transacted by the hank through it.
agencies at Petra. and Athens, and the acknowledged ad-
vantagee thereby conferred on the trading interests,
would gladly accept it as • valuable auxiliary
in developing the natural resources of the country,
and aiding the enterprise of the people. The
result, therefore, of • cession of the islands, and of •
settled government., with free institutions, would probably
be, as regards the bank, an extension of the area of its
bushiest, with augmented activity and additional profit.
Under all the circumstances, the directors feel warranted
in congratulating the proprietors on the position and pros-
pects of their undertaking. The abstract of the
profit and loss of the year is as follows :
The balance to the credit of profit and loss on the let
January, 1862, was 24,4161. 19s. ; the net profit for the year
1862, after deduction of charges and bed debts. and mildew
provision for contingencies, &c., was 14,2764 Is. 241. ;
making together, 38,1.1131. Os. 2d. ; from which is to he
deducted the amount of two half-yearly dividends at the
rate of six per cent. per annum, 9,0001. ; leaving to the
credit of profit and loss on the Ist January, 1863-
29,6931. Os. 2d."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said it contained all that it was necessary to soy. The bank
was in • more satisfactory state than it had ever before
been since its formation ; and though its progress had
necessarily been limited by events in Greece, the buai-
nese had been carried on satisfactorily, and he was
not aware of • single bad debt basin been incurred
during the past year. The profits were 2,0001. more
than in the previous year, and the rest was nearly 30,000 f.
The rest had now arrived at a point which would justify
in future • nearer division of profits. The only inconve-
nience felt in consequence of the state of Greece arose
from the circumstance that the courts of law were ims.

pse
A ud.
SHARKHOLDIR sated that 5,0001. out of the sur-
plus of 29,00 W. sbonlm set aside to found a reserve fund.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the whole 29,0001. was
virtually a reserve fund, and be hoped it would be fur-
ther increased.

—The report adopted, and the retiring directors having
been re-elected, the meeting terminated in the usual
manner.

ROYAL HOSPITAL 'OR INCURABLES.
(THIS DAY.)

A meeting in connexion with this charity was
bald this afternoon at the London Tavern for the purples of
electing ten applicants for admission. Mr. Alderman
HALE occupied the chair. In opening the proceedings he
referred to the arrangement under which Mr. Western
Wood was to have presided. and expressed deep
regret that owing to the death of that
gentleman it had devolved on him (the speaker) to take
the chair. After speaking in high terms of the character of
Mr. Wood, the chairman went on to say that persona
afflicted with Incurable dime, ought truly to be the
objects of Christian charity. He would Indulge the
bops that even some of the unhappy applicants for
the benefits of the hospital might eventually be cured. He
was proud to preside eta meeting connected with • charity
whkti bad been founded by • great and goad man, now no
more. The number of candidates on the list was 113, and
only 10 could be elected, but he hoped that on a future
occasion the board would be able to receive a greater 1111[11-
her. He then declared that the poll had opened, and the
election was proceeded with.

- flable extravwnos in living.
The red pine wood indigenous to this province is Mr. &mood contended that the bankrupt's conduct 1,0
daily oomiog into favour as a material admirably suited for been uniformly honest, and grahtoed a recommendAtio
colonial furniture and cabinet work.—Nelson (New Zealmed) from the Duke of Beaufort in his favour.
His Honour said that these cases of gentlemen's Itn.D"