The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-11 00:00:00

SECISETARY (pro tem.;—T. Short, Esq.

PROSPECTUS.
China is the only large cunt, yin the C'vilised world which
has no .irect bank in London operating solely for its benefit ;
and it is obvious that a vast fertile region, inhabited by 300
millions of intelligent people, who carry on an en9rmous in-
ternal trade by means of native joint-stock and private banks
of issues, and who have an extensive and increasing com-
mercial intercourse with Europe, India, America, and
Australia, must present a lucrative field for monetary ope-
rations.
Great Britain imports from China and Japan (via China'
upwards of 7,000,0001 b. of silk and about 120,0),00i1b. of tea.
The rapid increase of trade is thus shown:—
Imports Exports to Total trade be-
Years. of China China of British twe-n hi, a and
Produce. Manufactures. United Kingdom.
1842.... £3,950,290 .. £969,381 .... £4,925,671
1862.... 11,376,150 .. 5,310,036 .... 16,694,186
The commerce between India and China has increased
during the past 20 years from three to 15 millions sterling.
The port of Shan ,hal alo le exhibits an extraordinary de-
velopment. In 1842 it had no European trade; in 1842 the
va ue of its exports was £14,667,465, its imports £22,863,953
total, £37,531,419.
The balance of Trade with China is paid in bullion —chiefly
silver—of which the export value was, in 1851, £102,316; in
1862, £3 4 8 397, Cotton is now becoming a large item of
trade; during the last six mont a of 1863 more than
20,010,0001 b. were exported.
The Imperial ilanx of China has therefore been formed to
supply un acknowledged want on the plan which has been so
successfully carried out in London by the banks for India and
other similar institutions, the success of which the following
t,ible will exemplify, and it is believed at least equal success
will mark the progress of this bank :

Paid up Present
per Price per
Share. Share.
Azra and United Service . ...... ...... £5O £l26
Chartered sieroantile of India, London, j 25
and China
ilin .ustan, China, and Japan
Oriental

Name of Bank.

The Imperial B nk of China will transact all operations
connected with those of a bank of issue, deposit, discount, and
exchange.
The directing and controllin authority will be in London.
g
Branch Banks, with boar,is of local directors, will be formed
at Hong Kong, Canton, Shanghai, Foochow, Tientsin, Pekin,
and at such other cities as may from time to time be deemed
advisable. Thcbranches willbe under the control of the Lou-
don board, aided by the supervision of an inspector-general,
as in the case with the Indian and Colonial i alike, and the
authorisation of the Government of Pekin has been solicited
to atow the sperve notes of the Imperial Bank of China to be
received in payment of custom duties and at the tax offices
throughout the empire, an offici .1 corres ondence now being
carried on by the Bank with Pekin for that object ; and as
the Pekin Government will not trust the native local banks,
it is believed this Bank will become to the Government of
China what the Imperial Ottoman Bank is to that of
Turkey.
The desire on the part of the Government of China fel'
railways and telegraphic communication will render neces-
sary extensive financial operations, which the Imperial
Bank 01 China will be pecu,tarly favourably situated to un-
dertake.
Applications for shares to be made in the annexed form.
In the event of no allotment of shares being made, the deposit
will be returned in full. Should a less number of shares be
al otted than are applied for, the deposit will be made avail-
able towards the payment on allotment, and the balance, if
any, return el to the applicant.
Pr)spectuses and forms of application for shares may be
obtained at the offices of the Credit Mobilier (Limited
Lomba rd street, and frJm the bankers, brokers, and soli-
citors.

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR SHARES.
To be retained by the Bankers.
To the Directors of the Imperial Bank of China (Limited).
Gentlemen,—Having paid to your bankers, Messrs. Roberts,
Lubbock, and Co., the sum of £ being a deposit of
per share on shares of the above Company, I hereby
request that you will allot me that number, and I agree to
ac ept such shares. or any less number you may allot me ;
and I agree to pay the deposit on allotment, and to sign the
articles of association of the Company when required, and I
authorise you to insert my name on the register of members
for the number of shares allotted to me.
Usual signature
Name in intl.
Residence
Profession
Date

THE IMPERIAL BANK OF CHINA,
Limited. •
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the LIST of APPLI-
CATIONS for SHARES in this Company will be CLOSED
op WEDNESDAY, the 13th instant, for London, and
THURSDAY, the 14th instant, for Country applications.
By order of the Board,
T. SHORT, Se3retary, prO
Temporary Of:aces—SO,
15 ombard-greet,
April V, 04.