The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-24 00:00:00

NATIONAL BAIII.-(THIS DAY.)

The annual meeting of the proprietors was bell
at 1 o'clock, at the head office of the company, 13, gm
Broad-street, Mr. J. N. MCICARNA in the chair.
The report, after suiting that the Lett harvest warn bout.
titd in comparison with that of any of the three preceding
years, and that the directors had availed themselves
of the improved condition of the country aid
judiciously extended their Mainers in safe sad
profitable channel., said the dividends paid for theyeo
1863 bad been at the same rates as those plod
for 1862, but compared with a surplus of 4,67,,
9s. 4d., arising from the operations of 1862, the
directors had from the profits of 1863 carried a unpins of
25,4451. 13s. to the reserves of the bank. The e.
counts in the usual fonts exhibited, it was observed, the
state of the company's affairs at the close of 1863.
The CHAllltAlf, a mew* the *deem of the report,
said that during the last three years bank had lulus]
profits exceeding 300,0001., while the dividends and nob
bonuses amounted to 230,000/., and 100,00 W. bad
been added to the reserve. The profits of the thr,
years had in fact exceeded 20
share,
teat.
per annum. As regarded the calL on the new ea.
which he had been much questioned, it was his opoioe
that they would be made at intervals, so that by do,
next year 301. would have been called up. (Hear, het;!
The profits of the LoJdon bwinee, had not
dimiakhed the advances in Ireland. The circulation of
that bank had increased more than that of the three great
earthmen banks of Ireland together ; and the bask h,d
fully contributed its quota to such progress as Ireland lud
made since the passing of Sir Hobert Peers Bask Act al
1845. In conclusion he stated that since the report vas
drawn up it had been determined to open a branch at ha •
lino, near Buckingham PaLcs, and expressed his belief that
at the uext meeting the report would be even. more satid,. .
tory than that just presented. (Cheers.)
Mr. B. Fox seconded the motion, which after a diort, ~
cumin wail adopted unsoimonaly.
The retiring directors were re-elected ; end the elect ue
by the board of Mr. Albert Ricardo to fill the vicanev
the direction occasioned by the decease of Mr. satton
confirmed.

On the motion of Mr. Para GRARIX, seconded by Mr.
WHZILXIL, thanks were given to the officers of the I,,nk,
and the meeting terminated with a vote of thaeki toper
chairman.

BRAZILIAN AND PORTUGUESE BASE.
(THIS DAP.)

At noon to-day the first ordinary general ineetn..,-
of shamholden was held M the bank pre 13, st.
Helen's-place, BishopegateMreet ; Mr. Geo. I'. Hnoower;
in the chair.
_ .

The following report was taken as read :—" The directors
beg to present herewith the first stateroom! of accounts of
this book, which has been confirmed by the auditors. The
gross profits amount to 10,371/. re. from which are
deducted, rebate of interest or bills diicounted not due,
2,146/. Bs. 11d., amid all charges and expenses at the heed:
oftios and brooches, aa well as the entire preliminary ex.
plasm incurred in establishing the bank, amouoting to ii.,116/.
be. 7d., lea • net prolit of 1.8721.26.6 d., .hich the directors
recommend be carried forward to the credit of profit
and leis account. The shareholders will beer in mind, that
the first osll was paid on the 21.11 September only,
and that the time since elapsed has been devoted
to proceedings required for the establishmeut and
recognition of the hack in Portugal and in Brazil, so that
the above account dose not exhibit as yet any result of the
motive world./ of the bank, but simply the returns upon
safe invest/nest of capital, and the limited expenditure
seder the head of preliminary expenses, which it has been
the pmerthring aim of the directors to economise. It If
setinfarnory to be enabled to 11•001/008 that, thanks to the
exertions of oar eo.operatars, the conthesions by the tenet.
{fee tornearnests were made, not only without any los
of time and with the least practicable delay required by the
laws of the country, bat were also accompanied with the
most gratifying aseuraneen of favour and confidence. The
royal decree in Portugal was signed in !December last ; the
imperial signature of Brasil was obtained on the 2nth De-
comber, and according to law the branch was opened at Rio
de Janeiro on the 2nd March. The future coulee of the
beak will, it is hoped, fulfil the favourable prospect now
opened for its motive operations, in anticipation of which the
director, thought it expedient to make the locoed call of 7,t.
per share, payable on the inst."
_ .

Mr. Pitici thanhalrier expressed satisfaction at the
email &monist of the • expensed, and that it bad
already been entirely written of.
The report wan unasimonaly adopted, and in amordsoce
with • pledge given to the Committee of the Stock Ex.
change, a resolution was pseud rescinding those clauses is
the articles of associaticie which authorised the board after
1866 to purchase shares for the benefit of the bank.
The name of Mr. Geo. A. Holt wan added to the board,
sod the diurnal win meisated, their remuneratioe heir;
fixed at 801. for the peat year, and 1201. foe the preasat.
The promedinp terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman and directors.

GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY.-(THIS DAY.)

A special general meeting was held at noon at the
Loudon Tavern, Mr. GOODSON in the chair, to ocesider with
the view of obtaining the asset of the sharabolden. u
required by the Wharncliffe standing order, to the follow-
ing bills now pending in parliament :—A. bill to authorise
the Great Festers Railway Company to tasks a railway from
their Loaghton line 14 near Highbeech-green in Ep-
ping Forest, the cost being estimated at 120,00 u..
A bill to anthories the waking of railways from the Great
Foment Railway to North Waltham and Honied, In the
county of Norfolk, and for other purposes. Toward, this
goZthe Great Postern will have powers to subscribe
A bill to enable the Great Northern Rad.
way Company to use cestaia pottier of the
Great Beaters Railway, tad to make amigo.
meats with the Great Rasters Railway Company.
Au act to authorise the onstruction of • pier at Aldbo•
rough, in the county of Suffolk, and of a railway therefrom
to the Gnat Eastern Railway at Aldbarough, with a
branch railway to Slangiaden, sad for other pinnace.
An act to authorise the construction of a rail from
Ely,e. thronzli Haddeshain, to Button, in Cam • •
An act to enable the mayor, aldermen, and hu-
geness of the borough of Harwich, to molaim frail the
sea certain lands near Harwich, and to constrect a pier sod
other works, and for other wooers. Towards this stherse
the Great Seaters is to contribute a rum not exeseding
15,0001. A bill for making a railway from the Lyon
sad Hanstanton Railway at Beacham to the Great &stem
Railway at Wolls, to be called "The West Norfolk
Junction Railway," all in the musty of Noddle. The
thetributica of the Great Rasters is not to exceed 30,0004
A bill to authorise the Misaley, Thorpe, and Wawa
Railway Company to make a railway to calmest their lies
with as authorised extension of the Ten6ing Hundred
Railway Company, and for other purposes. The Grist
Eastern contribution to this is sot to exceed 4,0001. A
bill to enable the Tesdring Hundred Railway Company to
alter their line to Waite, In R ex, sad for other PerPeer'•
Resolutions abusing these bills were proposed by the
Cutnuram, and earned unanimously. There were onward
other bills on the list, bat as they bad not made snakiest
Ciia paHiainent they were not submitted. The meet-
eZadjoursed until Tuesday, Ye 7th of Jan