The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-18 00:00:00

DANK OP ANGLAND.-( THIS DAY.)

This morning a half-yearly court of the governor
sad directors of the Bank of England was held in the Bank
parlour, Threadneedle-stmt ; Mr. ALFRED LATHAM, the
governor, presided ; and the attendance of proprietors was
Lrgm• than on any previous occasion for ninny ysan past,
owing to the late robbery of Bank paper.
Mr. BENTLEY, the secretary, having read the minutes of
the last meeting,
The CHAIRMAN said that be had to acquaint the court
that this was a quarterly court under the bye laws, and
also a half-yearly court for the consideration of a dividend,
The net profit of the half year ending the 3lst August last
was 604.0414. making the amount of "rest" on that day
3,619,37'2/. After providing for • dividend of 4/. 54. per
mot., the "rest" would be 1,000,8721. The directors pro-
posed that there should be declared a dividend on interest
and profita of 41. 55., without dedurtion on account of
income tax. (Cheers.)
The Imern Govriuma seconded the motion.
_ .

Alderman Se LOMONet, fd. P., said that before the motion
was put, he should like to put a question of great public
interest, one on which the court would feel great pleasure
iu receiving an authoritative and official reply from the Go-
vernor. It wan &question on which the public mind had
Leen agitated—perhaps nut very largely agitated—and had
reference to a report which had been circulated of a large
nkbery of bank note paper, on which many forgeries bad
Leen based. He wished the governor to give the *Dart some
official information as to the amount of paper which had
been stolen, and the steps which bad been taken by the
directors in consequence. The proprietors would also like
to know whether much detriment would arise to that
establishment or to the public in consequence of the robbery.
The GOVERNOR hoped the proprietors would excuse him
it he did not go very far iuto the couideration of the ques-
tem The directors Lad well considered the matter, and
had come to the conclusion that it was one in which the
sods of justice might be interrupted if they were publicly
to state many particulars. lie might, however, tell them
that in some of the newspapers they had seen the amount
of paper which had ,been bat had been enormously exaggerated.
The directors could tell Pretty well what amount of notes
sas out by the amount of those coming in, the return of
odes being enormously rapid For instance, one-half at
least of the notes which were out when the transaction
alluded to took place bad been returned to the Bank. Every
story he had seen in the papers relative to the transaction
hal been enormously overdrawn and exaggerated.
Mr. Ci.aacr —What is the probable amount of loss ac•
riding to your judgment!
The GOVERNOE—IS is very small, badeed. The number of
forged notes based upon this robbery which have come in is
very small indeed. From the largest bank in London with
*nth the Bank of England had transactions, not a single
fur od note had come to.
A biennia Satonotre—Your answer, then. is that the
mount of less incurred he very toconsiderable?
The GOVERNOR—Yes, very incoraiderable.
Mr. REEVES—And likely to be inconsiderable ?
The flovEnsion---Yes.
The motion for the declaration of the dividend was then
tut, and unanimously adopted.
The (lovve-vos amounted thst the dividend would be
male payable on Saturday, the 11th of October.
OD the motion of Mr. CLARKE, seconded by Mr. E. BUR-
IILSTER, II vote of thanks was awarded to the directors ; for
"hem the GOVERNOR returned thanks, and the meeting
stramUxl.

POOR RELIEF IN THE DISTRRCSID DISTRICTS.—
The number of pauper. relieved in the distressed unions of
Lancsahire and Cheshire during the four weeks of August
hst were as follows :—First week, 130,347 ; second, 138,3%;
thud, 145 969 ; fourth, 151,163. The numbers relieved
ewe the first week of January have gone on steadily in_
sowing from 78,241 to 151,163 in the last week of August.
Ilsstianit GREAT SHEEP FAIR. —On Monday
thv fair, which is next in importance to that of Ballinadoe,
was held fur the sale of sheep. The attendance of buys.,
was Leger than has generally been the case, and copse-
fluently there has been activity is some departments, par-
ticularly for ewe. and lambs. The fair, on the whole, may
be considered a good one. The weather being propitious
the sheep, notwithstanding the wetness of the season, looked
much hatter than last year. The foot disease showed itself
reerally in the several flocks, sad the supply, it is cost-
euhred, would have been larger, but the flocks at a great
distance, owing to this cause, could not travel. Competent
Judges declared that there was hardly the usual supply
of sheep, but tins cannot be correctly ascertained until
the return, are made up. In the early part of the '
ot good ewes sold well, perhaps about 2s. a bead above
kst years prices; also good lambs, which were io request,
were a little over last year's prices, at an average increase of
hut there was v.iy little difference in the price of
welders Imm last year. The soles were tedious, still a good
M." were disposed of. lip to ten o'clock about 4,000 had
been driven out of the green sold. The show of tops was
'err good, amongst which were some imported Lincoln.
lu e,,risopience of lambs selling so well, both for market and
rearing, tupv were also in demand, general prices varying
from
4/. to Lambs realised from 245. to 11s. ; brood
ewes from :425. to 50s. Ilgete not in demand, prices vary-
-1,?;,, from MN. to 40.. Wadden brought from 40s. to 525.
(Teat dimatiefaction was expressed throughout the tiny by
Loth buyers and sellers at the recent advanced rates charged
h 7 the railway companies for the carriage of stock, and also
et the regulation of companies to charge fares for drovers
emempanying cattle, and in consequence of these demands,
which are looked upon as excessive, many preferred to drive
semis the country. The toted number of sheep sold at the
fur la 1870 was 9,191 ; in 1860, 9,518 ; and in 1861,10,472.
Al 2 o'clock on Monday the number sold was 10,500.-
8404,V: News Lefler.