The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-01 00:00:00

THE, EXPRESS, SATURDAY, \ithiniTlNG. APRIL 1, 1665.

point the Committee make tit rematicable
statement. They report Um,
tiiitarliest
" supposed that the s4ts ti
in
" from 16,0001. to 20,0001.1peiaitteim, Zit
" thus every year the formidable deficit with which
" 1854 opened was being reduced, the figures and
" the facts are far otherwise. The gross profits of the
" bank for he II years from January, 1864, to
" January, 1888, without any provision for bad
" debts, was only 49,0191. sa. ld., being little
" more than 4,00v1.• year. Of this 32,8871. 10a.
" has been tarried to the credit of the partners and
" drawn out ; 1,4001. has been written oft for de.
" preciation of bank premises ; leaving a balance of
" only 14,9311. 15s. ld. to meet the large amount
"of bad debts. These bad debts, deducting the
" above small amount of profit, swell the deficiency
"to upwards of 340,0001." And yet this was
one of the greatest private banks out of London,
and until it actually stopped was regarded as a
mine of wealth to its fortunate partners.
The Committee truly remark that the justifica-
tion for carrying on the Bank, after it had been so
effectually undermined eleven years ago, "wholly
"disappears." They may well say so. But in
truth there never was any justification. The
Bank has been carried on simply to avoid a great
and scandalous exposure, and with no real ground
for expecting its recovery. The experiment,
since it could only be carried on at the expense of
the neighbourhood, was one which nobody was
justified in making. Even Mr. Mmtanam., whose
personal conduct contrasts so favourably with that
of his partners, must feel that be greatly wronged
the public when he lent his reputation to cover a
most dangerous and illegitimate adventure, and to
augment the power of the Bank for evil. Perhaps,
however, among much that is startling in the report
of the Committee, there is nothing that so much calls
forserious reflection as the commonplace remark thatl
while "for eleven years the insolvency of the Bank
"was hopeless,.it has attracted to Resit depositors
"whoa confidence in its stability has been all but
" unbounded--a confidence rather increasing than
"waning at Christmas last." After this, how much
longer will the public put their trust in secret
banking ?

Me ann.
•
WIN CASTLE. Ma= 31.
ein the Veind' teirdsy, and
In peat Puck this morning, by the
Prisms, Louise, and attended by Visconeetees Jocelyn.
The Primers Helms rode in the Home Park.
Prince Alfred, attended by Lieut. Haig, went out hunt.
Tag with the barriers.
Her Mithiety hold a council today, at which were proset
Eml Grenville, Earl de Grey and Ripon, Earl Russell, end
the Right Hoe. W. E. Gladdens.
Lord Granville and Lord Rumen had an audience of her
Majesty.
The Duke of Newcastle and Earl Peery had salmon,
and gave up the Badges of the Order of the Garter worn by
the Lee Dukes of Neweaetle aid Northumberland.
Viscount Combeemers, Miijar.Geseral Eyre, and Sir
F. Outrun also had indiums, sod delivered the Insignia of
the Star of India worn by the late Vimount thrinbennere,
Lord Clyde, and Sir James Outran).
Geeing Ncegssra sea introduced by Earl Remsll.
Mr. Arthur Helps, Clerk el the Council, was in attend-
ance.
Viseount Torrington and Lieutenant-General Mr H. Bee-
tle& were the Lord and Groom in Waiting.
Lissiseast.Omral Beckley arrived at the Castle on
Wedemday, mad had the beeper of dining with the Queen
sad the Royal Family yerterday.
The Priam al Wales. attended by lasuiesset.Colenel
. . .

:LATIAIT

(uvria's TZLIGRAMIL).•
THE NIAGARA AND SACRAMENTO.

SATISFACTION
CAN MAC DEDED
ISTER BY THE
AMERI.
LISBON, MAscu 31.

The American Minister has demanded satiates-
tion for the firing upon the Niagara and Sacramento
by the Portuguese forts. He also requests the
dismissal of the governor of Fort Belem, and a
salute of twenty-one guns to the American flag.
Nothing has yet been decided in the matter.

THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARM-
STRONG 4HE WHITWORTH GIRT&

The reuse of the 12-pounders for endurance,
which we reported last week, as ordered to be con-
tinued, to the destruction of the guns, sitar being
resumed on Monday, were concluded on Wednesday
last. It will be remembered that the breech-loader
waq put aside at the 15th round, in order to proceed
more rapidly with the shunt and the Whitworth gun.
It was Area, as the other gnu had been, with the
extreme loading of double charge of powder, six
shot, and six inches air space between the powder
and shot. At the 42nd round this gun split from
the muzzle to the trunnion, bursting the trunnion-
hoop. The shunt lasted ll the 60th round, when
it burst in a similar manner the split extending
from the muzzle to the rear of the trunnion. The
Whitworth gun continued to hold out after having
stood 89 rounds, but in consequence of injury to
the vent it was necessary to put in a new one, and
the gun was left to be fired again the next morning.
It was then fired, and at the 91st round was pro-
nounoed unserviceable, but as it had been deter*
mined to burst all the guns, it was loaded once
more, and finally burst into about a dozen pieces.
The relative endurance of the guns, according to
these testa, would be represented thus
No. of Bands
Whitworth
Armstrong Shunt Gun
Armstrong Breech-loader