The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-30 00:00:00

The Leeds Bank Failure,

Three petitions for the winding up of this company have
b3en presented, and this morning the matter came on before
Vice-Chancellor blindersley, at his private residence. One
petition is from Mr Ward, an officer of the bank ; another
from Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith, the London agents
of the Lank ; and the third is from Mr C. Kemplay, of Leeds.
Mr Warren said all the petitioners requested his Honour to
Ss a day for the hearing. His Honour said seven days' no-
tice was required. As it was vacation, none of the creditors
could do more than issue a writ. After some conversation
the Vice-Chancellor fixed the 13th October for hearing the
petition, which will take place at his Honour's private re-
sidence.

The meeting of the Leeds Banking Company, fixed for
Wednesday, at Leeds, has been looked forward to with ex
tremo interest, The total liabilities were stated at the meet-
ing at £1,330,308, including unsecured creditors for
£639,337. Other creditors hold security to the extent of
£93,971. The liabilities on bills receivable bearing the en-
dorsement of the bank amount to no less than £1,990,991.
Of this, £1,000,000 is estimated to rank against the bank,
and, deducting this from £lOO,OOO, estimated as likely to be
recovered from the drawers, &c., there appears to be a de-
ficiency of £60',000 ou the bill accounts. This of itself
seems to involve a call of upwards of £BO per share upon
the unfortunate shareholders. The total assets of the bank
were stated at £3_6,635. The meeting decided that the
company shall be wound up, and Mr C. Butler, of London,
Mr W. Ledgard, of Eyres and Sons, L. eds, and Mr Win.
Turquand, the accountant, of Messrs Coleman, Turquand,
Youngs, and Co., of London, were recommended as liqui-
dators.
In the Times city article it is stated that about 250 per-
sons were present at the shareholders' meeting. At the
meeting of creditors the accounts were rlicussed and ques-
tions asked, but no resolutions were adopted. The general
iropres,ion among them seemed to be that the assets were
overvalued and the liabilities under estimated, and that
£1,900,000 will be required. At this meeting the number
present was also about 250. At both meetings the conduct
of Mr Greenland, the manager, was deservedly reprobated
with great severity.
Among the provincial failures announced during the
past :ew days have been Messrs. Lightfoot and Sons, sugar
refiners n„: rice millers, at Liverpool ; Mr Robert Baxen-
dell, of Manchesre:;
corn merchant ; and Mr David Rams-
den, of Cottingley, neat"
Bradford, spinner and manutac-
Wier. Messes. Walker, cotes,--?rth, and Co., of Liverpool,
have addressed a circular to their cretlitors, requesting for-
bearance until the result &lan have been ertained of the
negotiations pending with regard to the Leetit; Banking
Company.
FAILURE AT BRADFORD.-. On Wednesday a meeting of
the creditors of Mr David Ramsden, worsted spinner, of
Bradford, was held in his counting-house in that town, Mr
Joseph Oddy presiding, Mr Blackburn, accountant, read a
copy of Mr Bamsden's stocktaking made in June last,
which showed him to be solvent, and possessed of a small
surplus. He then read a statement of his affairs brought
forward to the present time, by which it appeared that Mr
Ramsden's liabilities amount to £46,143, of which about
£lB,OOO is owing to the Leeds Banking Company. The
assets were estimated to realise £39,076. Mr Blackburn
said the books had been admirably kept, and he had been
I able to extract therefrom particulars showing the result of
transactions during every separate year in which ho had
been engaged in his present business. The creditors made
various inquiries, which were satisfactorily answered by
Mr Ramsden and the accountant. Mr Ramsden then with-
drew, and his affairs were discussed with freedom. A re-
solution was unanimously passed to the effect that the
creditors were willing to accept from Mr Ramsden a com-
position of 158 in the pound on the amount of their respec-
tive debts, such composition to be paid by three instalments
of 5s each, at three, six, and nine months each, provided
the last instalment should bo satisfactorily guaranteed.
Messrs, J. Oddy, T. Renton, Crabtree, and E. H. Ward
were apponted a committee to c .nfer with Mr Ramsdell as
to the course to be pursued until the composition arrange-
ments are fixed, and power was given to them to approve,
on behalf of the creditors, persons who may be proposed as
guarantee for the paymeut of the last instalment, The
creditors present expressed their sympathy with Mrßams
den, and a hope that he might be able to re-establish him-
self in business.

DEATH OF SIR GEORGE FREDERICK EDMON-
STONE, K.C,B.—We have to record the death of
Sir Geo. P. Edinraistone, who died on Saturday last, after
a long illness, which was first engendered during his use t al
service in India. The lamented gentleman was only 51
years of age. lle entered the civil service of the Hon. East
India Company in 1830, we believe, after a flattering pro-
gress at Jiaileybury College. After a zealous and active
discharge of his efficial duties, he was rewarded by the
Viceroy by being appointed lieutenant-governor of the
North-Western Provinces of Bengal, which appointment
he was at length compelled t,-) relinquish from impaired
health. Previously to that he was secretary to the Go-
vernment of India for the Foreign Department. He was
made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
(Civil Division) lust year, in recognition of his great
publio services.