The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-11 00:00:00

AGRA AND ►UNITED SERVICE BANK

(LIIIIVID).-(THIS DAY.)

The twenty-ninth annual general meeting of the
shurrheidere was held at moon, at the beak, 27, Cannon-
street ; Mr. G. Maceffenran in the chair.
The following report was read :—" The directors beg to
submit to the shareholders the audited accounts for the
me elided 31st December last, exhibiting a surplus of
173,8151. 17s. bd. The directors regret to say that a very
serious lees hes been suatelead by the opien,
fres& at Hong Kong, the whole of which they
have deemed it their duty to write off to debit of the
reserve fund, amorg to the discretion vested in them
under the deed ot moset. Out of the above sum of
173,8151. 17a fid., the directors have paid the usual dividend
sad hem, amounting to 120,0001., and have transferred
the ashore, 5d,8131. 17s. 5d., to credit of the means fund.
whisk now stands at 192,6.'t&. 17s. 3d. Sites the last
word ma'am the directors have opened a branch of the
tank at Sydney, uoder the management of Mr. Alexander
Campbell, the progress of which has been satisfactory.
The boom occupied by the bank in Calcutta has long been
found insufficient fin the extended business at that prow
and the directors are glad to report that a most
• site bee been secured, on which suitable premises
• be immediately erected. The directors have pm,
chased the freehold of the premises in oroom:street on
favourable terms. The proprietors will have to elect au
diary for the ensuing year, and the present auditors offer
themselves far re-alection."
The Comenat, in moving the adoption of the report,
000gratulated the shareholders on the wady progress of
the bask, as shown by the Menem) of its business and
profit', the latter amounting for the last year, with a small
sum previously carried over, to 173,0001.—a melt which
was the more remarkable as account d the resent starting
of so many rival establishments. The implue of
the year, after the psyment of the usiml
dividend, was almost sufficient to pay the loss arising from
the oopipum frauds, amounting to 61,000/. ; the total loss
wwtaiaed by the wend beaks being 400,0001. He then
described the muter in which the frauds were rested.
The security given for advances made was, he re-
marked, undoubted, and the fraudulent parties
previously bore an irreproachable character. At first
the directors thought there must have been •a mat of
due diligent. as the part of the manager, but inquiry
showed that there oould be DO doubt as to the of the
drug supposed to be hypothecated, and the board acquitted
the manager of any serious blame. On the very night
before Rustsodjes flight a mercantile firm in Hong Kong
bought opium on the faith of documents which turned out,
like all others of the same kind, to be valueless. The pro.
pen of the branch in Edinburgh during the year was very
satisfactory.
Mr. Manio deputy chairmen, seconded the motion.
Mr. E. H. 1101KLAND moved an amendment to the effect
that the statement respecting the opium fraud WY not
satisfactory ; and that some further explanatiot ought to be
given to all the shareholders, including some =entice of
what had been done to prevent a recurrence of such a
dimeter.
Mr. BAILIY seconded the amendment.
Mr. Faison thought the meeting ought to
et coo.
dais
Mance in the directors, especially
se the mark prise of
the share, showed that the public dad so. (Hear, beer.)
Mr. Nxtmuncu thought it should be borne in mind that
the fraudulent partial had a high character in the East.
Ocessiood losses of that kind were inevitable amid the
Inwards of banking, and the real security apiece any serious
omeequeoces was the increase of the reserve fund. (Hear,
beat.) If it had turned out on inquiry that the meager
was grossly to Mae" he would, of course, have
been ...eharged ; bat as that was mot the cam, the board
were )atified in cantata, their confidence in him. (Hear,
hear.) The sooner they forgot the late opium lose the
better. Had the report contained a rigmarole story about
them, se the mover of the amendment appeared to think it
should have dons, he would himself have moved that it be
"truck out. ughter.)
TM Mam( as La
having briefly replied,
Mr. NORMAND expressed his satisfaction with the expla
nations gives, and, with the cosent d the seconder, with.
drew the amendment.
The report was then adopted unanimously.
The retiring directors and auditors having been re-elected,
The following resolution *as adopted : " That an annuity
of company's rupees four thousand per annum (4001. star-
ling)be panted to Mr. John Pardisk, chief accountant of
the Calcutta branch, on his retirement, eased by failing
health and almost total blindnem after thirty yaws' service."
The moetiog terminated with vote" d thanks to the
chairman and his colleagues in the diradon, the auditors
and the general manager, Mr. Mediated Hallosr, and the
other managers and at et the task.

CITY OF LONDON AND GENERAL FIRE AND
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (LIMITED).-
(THIS DAY.)

An extraordinary general meeting of the ahare-
holders of this company was held at the London Tavern this
day to oonrider the expediency of dissolving the company.
Mr. CTRUS Laos was called to the chair.
The IMSCILLTAZT read the report of the directors, rtatiog
that certain patios bad instituted proceedings against
certain directs's and dicers of the oompany, charging
them with sate tending unduly to rake the prim of share.
These charges the directors utterly denied ; but in Walt -
quence of them they reeonimended the dissolution of the
oompaoy, rotundas to every member his deposit in full,
and that another company be formed.
The exams moved s resolution in accordance with the
movaissesdirdes of the report.
Yr. Pourer. amooacted._

In answer to Mr. EIORIMII.
The CHAIRMAN said noon of the directors bed, directly or
indirectly, dealt in the shares of the company.
Mr. HORNS= SEW that was quite satisfactory.
The motion paned 1/011/11020614. and a vote of thanks to
the chairman and directors cbeed He proceedicgs.

Taw Cram thanes Zerrwavms—This morning
was issued a general abstract of the grants to bk
proposed for the civil services for 1863-4. We have
already given the amount required in each class.
The grants amount in all to 7,692,4581., which is a
decrease as compared with last year of 157,566/.

The season at Her Majesty's Theatre will eon)•
stenos this everting with the opera of Ii /*mestere, the as
embraciog Mae. r.tiess and Sig. Oise:W. A sew serwir.
will follow in honour of their Royal Rieman, the Prices
sad Prisons of Wake._ .

math,. Titian*, Madame Leenmens-Sherringtoe.
11ire Palmer, Mears. Sims Reeves, Montana Smith, and
Smiley ere already engaged for the Norwich Musical F.
tiveL The new oratorio by X. Silas is eatided Assn., the
sew cantata by Mr. Benedict Richard Came de Lion.
M. Vieuxtempa will play at next Monday's
Popular Comsat
The meetings of scientific societies for the
sassing week are:—Monday—Geographical. %Fre-
Yams Straits proved to be a Bay," Capt. Hall ; " Visit to
Red River," Dr. Rm. Tuesday—Royal Inetitatioo, 3,
"Animal Mechanics," Profaner learthalL Actuaries, 41,
CounciL Byes-470M0, 7, Anniversary. Etheological,
"Antiquity of Man," Mr. Crawfurd. Statistical, 8. Ea-
gineere, 8, "Structures in the Sea," Mr. Miller; " Snide
Railway," Mr. Bruton. Wednesday—Horticultural, I, An
and Rom Show. Meteorological, 7, CouociL Society of
Arts, 8, "Auto-Typography," Mr. Wallis. Society of Liter-
ature, 81, "Ancient Ruins, Missolonghi," Mr. Oolmighi.
Thursday—Royal Inetitutios, 3, " Relations of Geology
with Allied Sciences," Protestor Amsted. Numaniatic, 7.
Litman, & Chemical. 8, "Derivatives of Naphttylamilie.'
Meows. Perkin and Church. Royal, Bj. Antiquaries, 8;
Friday—Philological, 8. Royal Institution, 8, "Culture o
Fiala," Mr. Dockland. Saturday—Royal Institution,
"Science of Language," Profaner
A great meeting in furtherance of financial reforl-
was held in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, lea even*
Nearly 5,000 persons were present. Resolutions were on
nimoualy pawed calling for a reduction of expenditure se
for the repeal of the duties on coffee, eager, and tea.
The parochial vestries are speaking out awn,
the proposed amalgamation of the City end Metropolis.;
police. Oa Thursday evening, at the annual meeting ‘d tls
parishioners of Si. Botolph, Alderegate Without, . reach.
Ron straggly oosdemeirig the proposed amalgamation er
passed. The 'abject is to be murdered at a meeting of tb
ratepayers of St. Bride's parish oa Monday afternoon melt
Foramon-onrica, Aram 9. —The Queen bite bee;
pleased to approve X Mr. Carlos Stanhope Waterer, as nic."
cosset et Montreal, Camas, for his Majesty the King
Portugal sad the Alarms.—Gazette.
THe CONVOCATION OF THE PROVINCE or 1-01:14
—This ammosetion resumed its sittings at York on Th=e
rimy. In both bosses addressee of oreagmtulatiou w b'
Majesty, oa the late royal marriage ceremonial, sn,l,
adopted. The Bishop of Natal again also sugared a fe`r-''''
of the deliberations of the ecclesiastical assemblies. lo
upper house, the petition from the lower was merely Is,
upon the table, the Bishop of Durham mystic:nobs;
peodiug the procedure of Dr. Coleneo's metropolitan.
other action on the subject would be premature. lOW
lower house, a resolution was agreed to for presentation
the upper, expressive of the coodeenository feelings ob'
the publication of the book on the Pentateuch had evoke'
Convocation wasevsatually prorogued to the 115th adult
ACCIDENT TO THE KARL Or SHEIVIRLI,.--Ir
the Brighton Review, the Earl of Sheffield met with •-•
aceideot while on Megabuck from a horse which k. ked
116,'
lied struck hie lordship on the leg. iojuriug the 5
SlltiOalliT. The occurrence taking place near Wanes'
Farm. his lordship was removed there, and a ~urp-•
impaction was mode, when it wee found that no hone Y.
broken, but the lisrts seriously injured. Since his lonldo'
arrival at Sheffield-place be has been confined to his W.
but the family surgeon entertains hopes that Ilia 10'1,1
[ will soon recover.—Surrey Standard.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Conimissicaer Pane.)
IN U A. MUUMUU.
The bankrupt was a merchant of Moorgate-etreet. His
enoeed 23,000 i. ,• meets returned at 3,0001., bat
very Utile has tree realised. The case has been frequently
before the court; at the last sitting the bankrupt was
allowed to pass his ezamination, and this was the sitting gp•
pointed for cossidenog the order of discharge.
Mr. E. Reed, for the assignees. stated that the bankrupt,
011 his way to the court, had been given into custody by
some of has creditors on a criminal charge. It was the
intenttre of the assigeese to have indicted him. He had
bees only eight months in business in this country ; he
had coatrscted debts of 21,0001., and there was not a far-
thing of meta.
Mr. Sargood, for the bankrupt, asked for an adjournment
for a fortnight, as the charge might be dismissed by the

IsaLiettee
.our doubted whether he could adjourn the
ease
to • fixed day when the bankrupt did not appear
Mr. Sargood said he "nu not absent by own default.
If the charge were established the bankrupt might be
brought up in custody ; if not, the cue would be resumed
in the ordinary course.
Mr. Reed praised for an adjournment sine die.
His Honour thought the tamest course would be to grant
a short adjournment for • term.
Adjourned fora fortnight.
. . .