The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-29 00:00:00

NATIONAL BANK.-( THIS DAY.)

The 32nd annual meeting of the ahareholdera
was held at 1 o'clock, at the head-office, 13, Old Breed.
street ; Mr. J. N. M' a, M.P., in the chair.
The report said :
" The directors of the National Bank have great plea.
sure in presenting to the proprietors the 32nd annual mese
of the state of the society, made up to the close of leer;,
In July lust the directors submitted to the propitiate
their report for the half-year ending the 30th June;
their present statement incorporates the pr,fit
and for amount for the two half-yearn of 161. A,
agreeably with precedent heretofore observed. The dwi.
dends and extra dividends payable for the year lei;, hey,
been declared at the same rates as those paid for 1843.
The following accounts in the usual form exhibit the state
of the company's affairs at the close of 1866 :
" Assets and Liabilities.—Assets : Gold and silver cols
at branches, ,568 112/. se. 10d. ; cash on hand and at the
Bank of England, 584,2141. 19s. &L ; advances on semi-
ties at call, 688,8181. 18s. 11d. ,• government funds, Exche-
quer billa, Faohequer bonds, and debentures, 440,476/.34A1. ;
ditto advanced, parliamentary and other deposits, 20,11'.0.•
Advances on securities at sundry dates, and current ae:
counts, 2,250,904/. Is. 9d.; bills discounted, 3,611,0;31.
his. 23.; bankers' guarantees and securities held against
acceptances per contra, 463,5711. Bs. 7d. ; bank premises
in London, Dublin, and branches, freehold and
leasehold, 163,433/. 12s. 11d.—total, 8,790,7241. 91. 74.
Liabilities : Notes in circulation, 1,097,865/. 10s. •, due by
the bank on deposits and current accounts, 5,169,00.
8a Id. ; acceptances to bankers' drafts and on security,
463,571/. tes. 7d., together 6,730,4701.66 Bd. ; capital paid
up, 1,500,0001. ; rest or undivided profits at this d..te,
560,274/. 2s. 11d., together 2,060,254/. 2a. 11d. ; total,
8,7!10,7241. 9s. 7d.
. _ .

"Profit and loss account. 1866.—Jan. Half-year's din.
dead at 8 per cent. per annum, 60,000/. • with extra divi.
dead, 16s. per share, 40,000/.-100,000/. ouly. Half-yeara
dividend at 8 per oent per annum, 60,0001. • with extra
dividend, 16s. per share, 40,000 L-100,000/. Dec.
31. To balance, being the amount of rest at this
date, 560,254/. 2s. 11d. ; total, 760,2341. 2s. 11d,
Rest or undivided profits at December, 1865, _556,0i3/. Its.
Bd.; net profit for the half-year to the 30th June last,
111,86;1/. 9s. Bd.; net profit for the half-year to 31st
December, 1866, after writing off all bad and providing
far all doubtful debts, 109,0191. lfie. 7d.; less re-
bate of interest on bills not due, 16,6831.; leering
92,3361. 16s. 7d.-21.44,2001. ria. 3d.-760,2541. is. 1 ILE
Since these accounts were made up, a dividend at the rats
of 8 per cent. per annum on the paid-up capital of the
bank, and an extra dividend of Its. per share, together
21. a share, have been declared on the 50,000 shares which
constitute the company's capital; and the run
are now payable at the head-office and bran:bee
of the company. The dividend and extra dui.
cloud now payable for the half-year ending 31st
December, 1866, amount together to 100,000/. The direc-
tors desire to state that the decrease in the profits of the
past half-year is chiefly due to the fact that they deemed
it prudent, in the face of an extremely exceptional state of
public credit, to maintain larger actual cash reserves than
were deemed requisite in former years, and which were
necessarily wholly unproductive. Another circum-
stance must be noticed as affecting the amount
of profits. The return of commercial and lima-
cial ease in Great Britain had scarcely been felt,
before the Fenian excitement a second time manifested
itself in Ireland, in consequence of which, prudence Apia
dictated to the directors to send extra remittances of
specie to their depots, at a considerable expense
and loss of interest. The directors, however, are
gratified to state that before the close of the year
the excitement had completely passed away, and gold
has commenced and continues to flow back steadily.
The deposits of the bank have increased 346,570(. in
the last half-year. The winding -up of the Bank of Hin-
dustan (a company which has had a valuable and profitable
account with us since 1864) by voluntary liquidation,
under supervision of the Court of Chancery, has been de-
termined on by the shareholders of that company, and
is now being carried out under an order of the court, by
liquidators in whose good faith the directors of this bank
have complete confidence. There is not the remotest
ground for apprehending any loos by the account, as One-
spective of the liability of the shareholders) the suns of
the bank passing to the liquidators are sworn to be largely
in excess of their liabilities."

The CHAIMMAII, in moving the adoption of the report,
observed that, although the last year was marked by cals.
mity, yet at no period had the cash balances of the bank
touched as low a figure as was sufficient in ordinary
years; and not only had not that bank bad occa-
&ion to apply to the Bank of England for
sasiatance, but it had not been compelled to
deny proper assistance to customers. Rumours to tie
contrary had indeed been circulated, more particuhuiy is
connection with the Bank of Hindustan, but they sore
without foundation. Had they refused 'Asians*
to the latter bank, they would not have been in
a better position than they are now, but they
would thus have inflicted great loss on others. Prudence
was, of course, a duty, but in the case of the hank of line
(Nam the board was enabled to render assistance without
any injury to its interests. The total amount for which
that bank stood engaged to the Bank of Hindostan
in May last was 2,264,0001. It had been since reduced
to 850,0001., against which the bank held securities of the
nominal value of upwards of 1,000,4109/., which
were unquestionable for 500,0001. It was, there-
fore, quite improbable that their ultimate claims to
be realised out of the estate of the Bank of Hindustan
would exceed 3.50,0n0/., and if the amount involved
were double that figure it would be perfectly
safe of realisation to the last penny. icheera)
Their position with regard to other companies
who had been their customers was equally aecure. In
conclusion, he referred to Fenianism and expressed his
belief that Fenianism had no hold on nineteen-
twentieths of the people of Ireland, and that it
was not likely to cause much further trouble.
He added that the number of metropolitan accounts in
that bank at the end of It 4 i 0 exceeded that at the end of
184-4 by 574; ; and that all that was owing to the Lank by
Overend, Gurney, and Co. at the time when they stopped
payment, namely, 82,000/., had since been paid 4,4.
(Cheers.)
The report was adopted, sun' the proceedings terminated
in the usual manner.

WRST.VINSTER PALACE HOTEL CO.VPANY.

(THIN DAT.)

The 19th half-yearly meeting of shareholders in
the above company was held this day at the Hotel,
Victoria-street,Wertminster; Sir is
It
in the chair.

—Mr. JXrrntiEs, the secretary, read the report, which
stated that the gross receipts for the half-year ended
December 31 had been 15,9711. Oa. 7d.; the expenditure,
11,316/ W. 9s. 7d. and there remains as net profit., 4,6141.
lls., which, after deducting 743/. 12s. 11.1. interest on
mortgage, and also after charging the amount of the respec•
tive reserve funds, via., 941 W. 19s. Id., will, with the amount
carried over after paying the last dividend, viz., 1,690/.1.1tr
leave to the credit of profit and loan account, as avail-
able kr dividend, 4,619/. 13s. Out of this amount
the board recommend a dividend at the rate of
6 per cent. per annum, clear of income-tax, and
to carry over the balance, viz., 7191. I_:r.
The tenancy of the India Boanl expires in August nest.
Steps have been taken to re-let the portion of the building
occupied by them, and several applications for °el^
shops, !Lc., are under consideration. The board lia,e
reason to hope that the whole of the premises will, ann•
out any considerable loss of time, he profitably re•let ;
although they fear the entire rental of 6,000/ per atarou
may not he secured in the filet six or twelve month..
The Cita inSidN, in moving the adoption of the r, vest.
said the receipts of the hotel during the past six moot
been slightly affected by the monetary panic. but rnly to
a slight extent, while the directors had been enabled V,
reduce the expenditure to a far greater extent. Thy Isxml
had under their serious consideration the diapoaal of that
portion of the hotel now occupied by the India
and several plans had been suggested, but nothing had yet
been decided.

Mr. Itamsr.r recondef the reiolutii.n, which sfti r.oine
disciauion mi. unanimously agreed to.
The Earl of Cadogan, the retiring director. and
Brook and Crouch, the retiring auditors, having IMrn ""
elected, a vote of thanks to the chairman iainciu.lelti.o
proceedings.

THE ELECTRII• AND INTERNATIoNAI. C,,,Tr‘sv•
(THIS Dsr.)—At a meeting to-day of the tlirectoi •it eat
resolved to recommend to the proprietors a dividend
per cent. for the last half-year, free of income.tax.
DiantE4slNG AtVIDENT.—A few days atzri a t',.ung
man named Reed, eon of a farmer near tioniten, ikvoch
was out walking with his father in the tiel.l%. sublo.ly
the gun, which he cairei.4l in his pocket, went ed.,
wounded him so dreadfully that in a few hours afterwards
he expired.
SKATINO IN CHICAGO.—The Tribe, has
the following amongst its advertisements -" The Sk.,tind
Season.---West Side.—Rink. This ev — This even"{.
Grand Fancy Dress Carnival and Maa g
mennle. The ice
will be crowded with skaters in costume. The rink inn
blaze of glory ! Seating accommodations for r''t rl
one, and a perfect view of the imposieg scene.
The greatest sight ever witnessed in 'Menge. At a quarter
before 9 (first bugle call), the ice will be cleared of all but
the masqueraders. At 9.15 the skaters will ngwin trke
theism and join the merry circle. At 9.30 (second bugle
call), all masks will be removed. DOOlll open at 7 p.m.
Randolph cars will pass the door every five minutes.
Those wishing to come in costume will he admitted free,
on registering their names, and procuring tickets ut John-
son's Skate Depot or at the Rink."
CRYSTAL FALACI. ONH SHILLING Day.--
MoNDAY, JAN. 28. Admissions on cuyinent. 1,"I;

ditto, byecason tickets, 1,003. Total vishois,

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LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(TIIIS DAY.)

t'IIANCEItY CIIANIIIEIZS.
(Ikfore the Chief Clerks.)
. i.l ItNEI, \I, Co.- .\1'1.1.11 .VtIoN TO A('CErT A
•1N11,,,i To.).
m application on the part of the official
• e rend :Hui I ;urtley's case. to accept a COMposi-
‘.l of aAsigioncnt from 3 debtor to '40,000/.
the debtor had executed the deed, and
•i..•..as a ishisl to obtain the sanction of the chief
1! Cuckley, acting in the matter. to the proposal.
it W.I. roduced to him.
f Clerk i Mr. I:uckleyl,iiii it wit., a voluntary
• the liquidator had power to accept an
t, ,•1. the part of the debtor if he thought proper.
t of the application, it was urged that the
under the deed would be beneficial to the
• • ~,! •hould be taken.
'n t 'lei k said he mast Imre an affidavit and facts

•t
I ,shieh would hat I.fy Liu, :is the parties :indict!
~ould be advantatteou, to enter into the arrange-
i on that affidavit the application would be

I it .I..Lcconlingly.

,N II ItTl. NII. ItACE:..I RAE S.,CIPTY.

M • M. Abrahams applied in this matter to serve two
, , out of the jurisdiction of the court. A call
• uevii made a few days since, and the list of share-
!ol was tt•rtlied totten. The object of the society
~• to improve racecourses, but they failed with cash
1/.a:, !Id. The present application was to
M. I lawkins. the chief clerk. and the shareholders abroad
a, tt to be served with notice of s call.

C 4 oURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
at Nisi Prius, in Mi.l.llesc -(l:cfore Mr. Justice
I;yles:m.l a COIIIIIIOII Jun•.)