The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-17 00:00:00

THE E:

CITY BANK-(THIS DAY).

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders was
held si soon, at the London Tetra ; llr. Petra BILL is
the chair.

Tea Mowing report and balatiorehest were presented :
"The mimed statements of the liabilities and meets
of profit and lose for the six months to 31th of
December lest, show, after paymeat of iaterost on
current and deposit accounts, • gross profit of 79,9331. 15. Bd.,
which added to 7,9691. 17s. 94. brought from last
half-plat melon • total of 47,9031. 13s. sd. This mull,
alter providing for current expel:ass, bad and doubt.
Width* rebate of interest on bills discounted not yet dm,
and the half-yearly deduction from the building account,
ambles the directors to declare the usual dividend of 61.
par amt. per annum on 500,0004, the meant paid-up ca-
pital of the bank, and a beetled 14 10s. per share (together
equal to 121. per cent. per annum ) free of income
tax, and to terry forward 4,6861. 9s. lid. to the
sew profit mid lone account. The direcion repot
that the late severe commercial Grins has ant
without estailisg °pasturage loons on
bank ; they have, therefore, decided to reserve •
sem of 30,0001, which they believe will be amply suiliciest
to most any dolleisney which may arise upon estates now in
ems, of liquidation. The pragew of the Bold-street
branch continues satisbntory. The divided and bonus will
be
,payable at the bank on and after the 84th inst.
Liabilities and Am," Dee. 11, 1864.-Dr. : To capital
paid up, viz , 501. pne sham on 10,000 shams, 500,0004 ' - to
' amount of rwnd fund, 140,0001. ; to amount due by the
bank on current sod deposit soconots, bills payable, letter
of credit, Ice., 4,946,2094 3e. 9d. ; to profit sad lms, for the
Milano) of that account, viz., surplus profit brought forward
from last half year, 7,9691. 17s. 9d. ; since added, 79,9334
15a.8d. ; together, sr, 9001.13 n 54. ; total, 5,674,1121.17 a.
Cr.: B Exchequer bills, government securities earl East
India Osbaturee, 305,6924 3s. Bd. ; by other
including bills discounted and kens, 4,636,5244 Bs. Bd. ;
by bank premises in Threadasedliretreet, and Old Bond-
street, furniture, fixtures, ho., 29,4444 15a. ; by comb is
band, at Bank el England, and at cell, 702,4614 9s. 10d.;
total, 5,674,1121. 17e. 9d.
Profit end Loss Recounts-Dr.: To eeriest *spews,
includieg 'aeries, not, stationery, dire:ems' remuneration,
rof building expanse, bad debts, income tax, ho.,
ill:rad:l°7l 84.; to mount reserved to most loom on IF
Wm now in liqiddation, 30,0001.; to amount carried to profit
adloss new smooth. Wag rotate on Dills dimousted not
yet due, 8,3141. 15e. 101.; to dividend account for the pay-
moat of a dividend at the rate cif 61. per
centum per ammo twos 500,0001, 'meant of paid-up
capital ape. 10,000 skates, 15,0001. ; to bonus of 14 10s. per
share on 10,000 shares, 13,0001. ; to undivided profit
transferred to profit and lose new account, 4,6854 9t. 114. ;
total, 87,9064 13s, sd. Or.-By balance brought down,
viz. :-Sorplus malt brought forward tram last half-yew,
76991., 17s. 941. ; since added, 79,9331. Bd. ; together,
87,90 U. 13s. sd. ; total, 87,9031. 13s. 5d."
The Onsransir, in moving the adoption of the report and
astiounts, said it was satery to know that the pots
eamilnp exceeded those of the previous ball-year, owing to
the increased capital and the high rates of interest. Some
of the oostomas et the bank had recently succumbed, and
this had 'mused lanes, which the board bad thought it
best to write off at once. Notwithstanding these draw-
backs, the dividend deciered wee the same as that paid this
time last year, sad a considerable amount yes cried
ferward. Tim betiding premises were set down in
the books at 990001., which was sot ball the real
value, sod he beikfted that in those premises the company
had a very valuable property. In conclusion he belied to
✓ay that be entertained no doubt that wader the able
=ment of Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Duman the bank
continue to prosper.
In reply to a quietism,
The OHALTaltill mid he had so doubt that the sum of
sum. would eoner nll the losses._ . .

-Mr. livaensr n wishd to say a few words on the subject
of assuagement and audit. They all knew that banks which
had been apparently prosperous had proved to have
been the reverse. lie had no wish to impute anything
wrong to auditors, bat he knsw from experience that audi•
tors were too often desirous of pleasing directors in order
Metals*, might one day be elected on the board. In his
opinion auditors ought to be entirely independent of dine.
tar—((cheers)—the audit ought to be that of publie
Metal accountants. This matter ought not to be passed
over, became a hoard was respectable. Au alderman of
the aky of London had suffered greatly for west of a
proper examination of accounts. (Bear.)
The I.:tumult maid the subject just mentioned would
have the serious consideration of the board.

After Dome conversation the report ■nd aceotuata were

adopted.
The dividend recommended by the board having beet
previously declared, thanks were voted to the chairman
sad hie colleagues in the direction, and to the maim gen
and other oftioere of the bank.

DILATII or MS. DALLAS, THS LAIS AMISH:AN
NOIIIBTER TO PIFOLAND.-111T. Dallas, whose death in
Philadelphia at the age of 72, is reported in the American
papers reosived to-day, graduated ►t Princeton i• 1810, and
his tirst official employment was as Private Secretary to
Mr. Gallatin when Minister to B.uasia. In 1817
Mr. Dallas was made Deputy AtiorneyOener•l of
Philadelphia ; • few year+ later, mayor of the
city, =din 1829, U.S. District Attorney. In 1831 he wu
in the State Assembly, and from 1837 to 1839 he was the
American Ambassador to the Coati of the Czar. Returning
home again he devoted himself to the legal profession
until 1841, when, by the Polk and Dallas political cam-
paign be was elected Vice-President of the United
States. In 1336, on the election of Mr. Buchanan to
the Presidency, Mr. Dallas was appointed minister to
England, and entrusted with the settlement of the central
American question. Upon the conclusion of his diplomatic
career he retired to private life in his native city, Phil•
delphia. Mr. Dallas was • gentleman of striking personal
appearance. He possessed • polished mind, which, added
to natural good sense and • long experience of men and
things, gave him • high position among the statesmen of
the country.

The Weekly Register states that Cardinal Wise-
man, " who was for some wean obliged to remain in a re.
oumbent poiddrio, has thii week base allowed by his
medical attendants to move about, and has been pronounced
much better."

THE GREEK CBS= AT Oxvonn.—We bear from
Oxford that there is a probability of the long vexed ques-
tion of the Greek professorship being satidaetorUy settled,
by the endowment of the chair by the authorities of Christ
Church. This is in a great measure owing to the letter
meently printed by Mr. E. A. Freeman, pointing out the '
obligation on the part of Christ Church to endow the pro-
fessorship from their revenue.—Literary Gazette.
STORI7:3 Or PRESIDENT LINCOLN. —A writer in
the Watchman and Betlecter: (American journal) tells the
following of the President ' Mr. Lintels has a fond of
humour which, though not always dignified, is harmless.
It is ever apt and ready. end doubtless among all the wearing
sorrows of his public life has afforded him relief when he
would otherwise lam broken down under his heavy load.
This *memo is lONNUARIS grim and sarcastic. It is
always playful, yet it is
wounds. Often it is nicely adapted to the plans and
occasion, and is used with great effect. It is one form
of that humour that is not uncommon in New England,
especially is rural diatriott, and which, in a higher and more
cultivated clevelopromt,adorm the pages of Holmes, Lowell,
and others of our literary men. About two years ago,
when the Prince of Wales was soon to marry the Princes
Alexandra, Queen Viscous sent a letter to each of the
sovereigns, inform them of her son's betrothal, and
among thereat to Prsidaat llamas. Lord Lyons, her ambas-
sador at Washington, and who, by the way, is unmarried, re-
quested an audience of Mr. Lincoln, that he might present
this important document in pampa. At the time ap-
pointed he was received at the White House, in company
with Mr. Seward. ' May it please your Excellency,' said
Lord Lyons, '.I bold in my hand an autograph letter from
my royal mistress, Queen Victoria, which I have been
commanded to present to your Excellency. In it
she informs your Excellency that bar son, his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, is about to contract a
matrimonial alliance with her Royal Highness the
Primer Alexandra of Denmark.' After continuing in this
strain for a few minutes, Lord Lyons tendered the letter to
the President and awaited his reply. It was short, simple
and expressive, and *misted simply of the words:—
`Lord Lyons, go thou sad do liicewies.' We doubt
if any English ambassador was ever oddment in this
manner bakes, and would be glad to learn what Emcees he
met with in putting the reply in diplomatic language when
he reported it to her Majesty. It is said that sometime
since, when a deputation car clergymen presented so ad-
dross to the President, in which he was styled ' a pillar
of the church,' he quaintly, and perhaps truthfully, re-
marked that 'they would have done much better to call
Min a steeple.'" _ _ _ " • •

- —.—
ACCIDENT on THE MOWT Carte.—An accident,
nearly attended by fatal oosegeeaea, occurred to the chit-
puce between St. Michel and Sea on the sth of January.
The courier, containog Count Varese, Sir W. Fraser, M.P.,
Mr. J. F. Hussey, Mr. N. Graham, and other Englishmen
sad foreigsen. lstt Leure-le-bourg at 7 p.m. Soon after
Passiai the highest part of the moulage a violent wind
blew clouds of snow dust in the faces of the homes. In this
place the rood is dangerous from avalanches, whichoeteden-
ally Meek the narrow passage cut for the diligent*. On. of
these had receotl7 fallen, and over it the homes endeavoured
to drag the vehicle, but, blinded by the mow dust and
having lost all footing, they become frighteoed. On the
right was a rather steep slope ; on the left, at about two
yards &Amos a precipice of over 200 feet. The horses,
turning to the right up the slope, brought the diligence end-
ways to the precipice, and the increased weight dragged
them backward'. At this moment the diligence upset,
but continued to slide towards the edge. A 'Gene of great
confusion eneued. Sir W. Fraser extricated himself. and
at the cost of a cut en the knee palled the bores round,
but not until the diligence had reached the extreme verge,
where, fortunately, a port not quite burled by the snow
drift held it suspended. After a walk to the desolate hut
celled Refuge No. 5, sad • Ling eight paned therein. the
travellers were able to continue their route.