The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-08 00:00:00

COLONIAL BANK.-(THIS DAT.)

This afternoon the half-yearly meeting of this
bank was held at the London Tavern; Mr. C. iiAllitTAT
in the chair.
The report, which was adopted, was as follows :
The directors now submit to the proprietors, in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the charter, the following
statement of the debts and assets of the corpo-
ration, on the 31st December. 1862, and of the net
profit made during the half-year ending at that date.
Debts : Circulation, M 9431. 15s. ; deposits, bills paynble,
and other liabilities, 1,439,7001. 6s. ; paid-up capital,
563.000/. ; reserved fond,
_116,189/. Is. Bd. • net prude,
34,827/. 7s. Bd. ; total, 2,327,660/. 10s. 4d. si;BDIO specie,
294,6461. 16s. ; due to the bank in the colonies,
OD bills discounted and purchased, including those
past due, lac., 1,098,042/. 10s. 7d. • due to the bank in the
colonies, on current account; 8,6541. Is. 10d. ; due to the
bank in London, on bills remitted, cash at bankers, de.,
915,6931. 16e. 11d. ; bank premises and furniture in London
and the colonies, 10,6221. 19s. • total, 2,327,6601. 10s. 4d.
It will be observed from the above statement that the re-
stt ictive instructions to the branch managers which, as men-
tioned in their last report, the directors had considered it
prudent to continue, have occasioned, as they anticipated,
a diminution of profit ; but they feel confident the proprie-
tors will agree with them in the opinion that it is
better to make a temporary sacrifice of profit
than to risk a loss of capital They regret to
add that the colonial produce markets are still greatly de-
pressed in consequence of the largely increased production
of slave-grown sugar, and that there is no appearance of a
tom mination of the civil war in the United States. Whilst
these circumstances remain unchanged for the better, it can
- - - .

hardly be expected that the profits of the bank will improve.
The directors have thought it right spin to present a gra-
tuity of ten per cent, upon their salaries to the Milkers sod
clerk. of the corporation. As regards the half-year just
ended the directors are happy to my that they bare rea-
son to be satisfied with the reports received from
the branches down to the latest dates. In con.
elusion they have only to propose that oat of the
net profit reported above, which, after providing for
inoome-tax and for all bad and doubtful debt-, amounts to
31,827/. Is. SL. a dividend be made of 6 per cent. for
the half-year ending 31st of December, 1862, being at the
tate of 12 per cent. per annum upon the paid-up capital of
the corporation, which will require 38,0001.. leaving
4,8271. 7s. Ad. ; from which deduct the amount of gratuity
to officers and clerks, 2,6341. 45., there will remain 2,1931.
3e. M. to be added to the reserved fund, which will then
amount to 118,3821.55. 441."

THE UNION BANK OP LONDON.-(THIS DAY.)

This day, at noon, the annual general meeting of
proprietor. was held at the Banking•house, 2, Princes-
street, Mansion-house; Mr. P. NOZTHALL LAM= in the
chair. _ . .

The Secretary (Mr. NZWMARCH) read the following re-
port :-" In presenting the 30th report on the affairs of the
bank t the directors have to state that the net profits for
the six months ending 30th June last, after payment of all
charges (including tho sum of 82,0981. 17s. 4d. for interest
paid and due to customers on their current and deposit
accounts), and making due provision for all bad and doubt-
ful debts, amount to 89,4461. lla. 10d., which,
with the sum of 25,222/. Os. 10d., brought forward from
the 31st Dec. last, leaves for appropriation 114,6681. 12a Bd.
The directors have now the pleasure of declaring au in-
creased dividend of 18,. per share, cigar of income tax, for
the six months ending 30th June last. After payment of
the above, amounting to 54,0004, and appropriating 60,009/.
to the reserved fund, which will thereby be raised to
110,0031., there will remain • balance of 6681. 12s. Bd. to
be carried forward to a new profit and loss account. The
following directors retire by rotation, viz.:-Leo &hatter,
Fag., Wns. ficholefield, Esq., M.P., and John Gilchrist,
Esq., who, being eligible, offer themselves, and are reoom-
mended by the court for re-election. The dividend will be
payable on and after Monday, the 20th instant.
" General Balanos-Dr. : Liabilities-Capital, 101. per
share paid up on 60,003 shares, 600,0001. ; ditto, 21. per
share added out of reserved profits, 120,0C31.-720,000/. ;
due by the bank on current taco:mita, deposit receipts (in-
cluding interest accrued), and other obligations, 14,833.4711.
Is. 6d. ; reserved fund, invested in Consols, as per contra,
50,0131. ; rebate on bills not due, 17,6451. 17s. 10d. ; balance
at credit of profit and loss, 114,6681.125. fil. -15.735,7411. 12s.
Assets.-Cr.: Cash in the bank, 703.9871. 18s. Id.; cash
in Bank of England, 645,075/. 18s. Bcl. ; cash lent at call,
825,000 L-2,174.063/. 16.. 9d. ; investments in government
stock, Exchequer bills, debentures, &c., 862,6824 Si. 2d. ;
53,7271.6. Bd. Consols (taken at 93), reserved fund, 50,0001. ;
bank premises, consisting of freehold buildings in Princes-
street. Mansion-holm-street, Argyll-place, and Fleet-street,
and lease and fixtures of No. 4, pall-mall East, 108,7751.
45. sd. ; loans, bills discounted, &c., 12,540,2201. Is. Bd.-
15,735.741/. 12a.
" Profit and leas accout.-Dr. : Amount of dividend of
18.. per share, 54,0001. ; appropriated to reserved fund,
60,005/. ; balance, being undivided profit carried forward to
next half-year, 668/. 125. Bd. ; total, 114,6681. 12s. Bd. Cr.:
Profit unappropriated on 31st December, 1862, 25,2221.
05. 10d. • amount of net profit of the half-year ending 30th
June, 186:3. after deducting all expenses, and interest paid
and due (82,098/. 17a. 4d), allowed to customers on their
current and deposit accounts, 89, 4461. lls. 10d. ; total,
114,6681. 121. Bd.
The report was adopted.

On the second riading of Fortifications (Provisicn
for Expanses) Bill, biz Frederic Smith will move, as an
amendment, " That no further expenditure be incurred for
the present upon that part of the project for fortifications
which is based on the assumption that au enemy might land
io fords and attempt to besiege Portsmouth and Plymouth,
except on such works as are in a very advanced state of
program."
It is rumoured that the successor to Sir Joshua
Jebb, as Chairman of the Directors of Convict Prisons ad
Surveyor-General of Prisons, has already been selected in
the person of Lieutenant-Colonel Henderson, lately Comp.
troller-General of the Convict Department in Western
Australia. _ . .

At a meeting of the Dublin corporation, held on
Monday, Mr. Peter Paul M'Swiney was unanimously
elected Lord Mayor for the year 1864. Mr. M'Swiney is a
Roman catholic, and part proprietor of one of the most ea-
ten■ire mercantile establishments in the city.

On Saturday about 23 or SO American gentle-
men (North) now staying at the Grand Hotel, Paris, met at
a Wj, Aeer to celebrate the declaration of American inde-
pendence in 1776, of which that day w►s the anniversary.
The Federal States' flag was displayed, but soon after with-
drawn, as several Americana of the Confederate States re-
monstrated with the proprietor on a demonstration which
was distasteful to those who were also living at his estab-
lishment. Some of them, it is said, quitted the hotel alto-
gether. There were several touts given ■uiteble to the oc-
casion; and, in particular, that of the United States' minis-
ter in Paris, who, "on learning that Mr. Slidell, the Con-
federate delegate, had had an audience of the Emperor a
short time ago on the subject of recognition, informed the
Preach government that if any proposals of the kind were
renewed his government would consider it a mats befli, and
he should demand his passports and quit France." His
health was received with great applause by the party.
Advices from Copenhagen state that King
George will start for Greece soon after the 7th of Set
Umber.

A great agricultural meeting has just been held
►t Meese, the principal town of the Weed of Fawn. Of 20
silver medals nine have fallen to the share of Englishmen,
of 40 bronze medals they have taken 5, and one has got
"honourable mention."
M. Lamartiue has sent the following notice to
the subscribers to his " Eotretieus " and other works
" The death of Mdme. Lam►rtine, that good and breve
woman whom God had given me for the support and con-
solation of my life, the rheumatism, which has for three
months kept me and still continues to keep me in ► state
of total inaction, the forced suspension of all work, of all
income, and all payment during this period, will explain to
my subscribers why they have received nothing from me.
I request them to wait till the end of July. My health will
then allow me to continue the interrupted Entretiene,'
and to reddish two each month till the bock numbers are
all delivered. An to the ' (Enemas Completes,' I have just
signed an agreement with my good friend M. Gustave De.
lahaute, by which he, with disinterested friendship, agrees
to pay my publishers for the eight volumes now in coarse
of priotiug. The whole forty volumes will be finished and
ready for sale on the 31st December next.—A. Ds LAMAS-
rms." _ _

The Copenhagen paper, Danmark, which used to
bring out an English article mice a week, will not be pub-
lished daring the coming three month•
The Press of Vienna, in reference to the intention
of holding • Universal Exhibition at Paris in 1867, insists
with some warmth th►t the Austrian government should
maintain it. project of holding one at Vienna in 1865 or
1866. "It is an affair of honour," says that journal,
" for Austria to persist in the idea expressed by au impe-
rial decision, and not to commit a positive act of cowardice
in abandoning the project of an exhibition at Vienna be-
cause ow is announced at Paris for 1/167."

THE MURDER OF A CHILD AT ISLINGTON.