The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-03-19 00:00:00

ETI NG.

r Yesterrley a General (.quarterly Court of Proprie-
tors was brill at the Batik to declare the half-yearly
dividend, which the Chairman proposed. as usual,
bllOlllll he 5 per cent.
A Proprietor then proonswl A motion, often repeat-
ed and rejected, that the Court of Directors should
lay h, fore the Proprirtora a statement of the Com-
pany's nadirs, and of the tattooers in hand, agree-
ably. as lie said, to the word' of the Charter.
Another Proprietor, who recently applied to the
Court of King's Bench, to compel the Directors,
by legal itroceedinge, to make this disclosure, se-
conded the motion, adding to it some udditioual
RlWier.
Sir THOMAS TURTON, though agreeing io the
propriety of making the disclosure, thought the
motion should be postponed till after the Restric-
ts Committee of the House of Commons had
made their Report, an there some such information
would probably lie found.
Mr. Iticaftuo spoke in favour of the motion,
complaiiiing. the Directors gave the informatoni to
the Committee of the House of Commons which
they refused to the Court of Proprietors. He ask-
ed, whether thew was 'tot a balance of six or seven,
or at least lite sterling in the hoods of the
Bank, and ',dished to know why it should not be di-
vided ?
A Proprietor spoke against the motion, referring
to the Charter of the Bank, and quoting words
f it to phew the Directors obeyed the rules
there laid down ; but that it was provided the
Court of Proprietors could by by-laws order other.
wise. They could order the disclosure, if they
pleased. The fault was not with the Court of Di-
rectors for refusing the information, hut with the
Proprietors at large for not demanding it. This
Gentleman, at some length and with great clear-
ness, *hewed the wisdom of the conduct of the
Court of Directors, and the impolicy, the unneces-
sary folly 01 making the desired disclosure.
The CHAIRMAN read a Resolution of the Court
of Proprietors, which had been agreed to by ballot
in March, leil6, when the same yursuon was
urged. That Resolution negatived the disclosure
by a majority of 394 to 69.
The aineurlineett was negatived, and the Retro-.
lotion to divide 5 per cent. on the profits being
spill put,
A Proprietor proposed to divide six per cent.
Sonic discussion arose, and the impropriety of devia-
ting front the recommendation of the Bank Di-
rectors, 'rented to be t;enerally felt.
Mr. RANDAL JACKSON deprecated the motion,
and referred to the conduct of a party of Pro-
prietors of the East India Company, who many
years ago were continually varying at the General
Courts the amount of dividends, thereby produ-
cing great fluctuations in the value of Stock. and
giving rise to much stock-jobbing ; a practice
which Mr. Pitt at last found it necessary to stop
by legislative interference.
Mr. RICARDO said, lie hoped Mr. Jackson made
no allusions to the conduct of any Geotlematt oft
the present °cession.
This Mr. J ACkSUIt disclaimed. •
The motion to divide 5 per cent, was theft put
and carried by a very full Court. On the thew of
hands for disclosure, three were held up fur it,
while about 300 were held up against it.

At the aides on IVedimoiay in Mincing-lune.
Bengal cotton produced wily .5.141. per II). The Rune
snick, tett ke 'amain ego, 'F.:. purchased for I Id,