The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-20 00:00:00

BANE OF ENGLAND.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING—THIS DAY.
A general Court of the Directors of the Bank of England
was held this morning in the Bank Parlour, Threadneedle-
street; it was also one of the half-yearly courts, held in pur-
suance of the 12th bye law, for the making up of dividends-
Alfred Latham, Esq., the Governor, presided.
The GOVERNOR stated that be had to acquaint the Court
that the net profits of the half-year ending the 28th of
February were £609,818 14s 2d, making the amount of
" rest " that day £3,633,827 13s. The Court of Directors
would propose a dividend at the rate of 41 per cent. This
was, he was aware, an unusual dividend, because generally
they had not dividends less than i per cent., excerA 7P or 80
years ago,when the Bank made dividends of 24, 'and for some
time 21. That was in the years from 1767 to 1781. There was
at present a reason for making a dividend at 41 per cent.,
which was, that the law was now al.tered, and the trustees
were authorised to purchase Barak Stock, so that if they
made so small a dividend as 4 *per cent., and carrying over
a large amount, there might, be some disturbance between
the owners of interest for Vife and the owners of remainder.
Therefore the directors, had thought it right to divide a
little nearer or less than usual. This would
leave a Rest of £3,115,325 Bs. - The directors,
therefore, declared a dividend on interest and
profits for the half-year ending the sth of April next at
the rate of 41 per cent„ without deduction on account of
income tax. The dividend warrants would be delivered
and made payable un Monday, the 7th of April.
Alderman SALODIONS presumed that some reduction
of profit had arisen in consequence of the reduction the
Bank had received for the management of the National
Debt amount, to the extent of some £30,000 or £40,000 a
year,

The GOVERNOR said undoubtedly it was. The bank
received £2 5,000 less this half-year than they had been ac-
customed to receive.

The motion of the Governor was put and carried unani-
mously.

Mr. CLARKE moved a vote of thanks to the Governor,
Deputy-Governor, and Directors for their attention to the
matters connected with the bank.
Alderman SALOMONS, in seconding the motion, said that
in former years complaints had been made that the books of
the Bank had been closed five or six weeks prior to
the declaring of a dividend, and people were thus
not able to get at their property except with much difa'
culty. At the suggestion of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, that that time !night be materially shortened, a dif-
ferent course had been adopted, and now the books were
not closed for a single day. This was most satistactory to
the public, and most useful to commercial men. He was
glad to take the opportunity of complimenting the directors
on such a result.

The resolution was unanimously adopted.
The GOVERNOR, in returning thanks, said the altered
arrangements had proved of the greatest public advantage•
It had been brought about at a certain cost to the Bank,
but not by a large sum—nothing, in fact, compared to tha
great pecuniary advantage it must have been to the public,
who were now able to transfer their stock at any time they
pleased, the books, indeed, never being closed at all.
The proceedings then terminated.

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

IMF ERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. --- Wheat, 598 Ou ;
barley, 35s 10d ; oats, 21s lld ; rye, 38s 5d ;• , beaus 398
od; and peas, 40s ld.
THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 59s 7d;
barley, 36s ld ; oats, 22s ld ; rye, 37s 7d ; beans, 39s 9&;
peas, 39s 9d,
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 78,736;
barley, 55,481; oats, 18,704; rye, 55; beans, 6,314 , peas,
981 quarters.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKEL
To-day's market was fairly supplied with beasts, and all
breeds moved off steadily at full prices—tho primest Soots
and crosses having realised 4s 6d per 81bs. Sheep_the
show of which was limited—were quite as dear as on Mon'
day, with a good consumptive demand. The best Downs
in the wool sold at 5s 6d per 81bs. The lamb trade ruled
firm, at from 6s 8d to 7s per 81bs. The few calves on offer
were taken freely at an improvement in value or from 2d to
4d per 81bs. The top figure was 58 6d per 81bs. Pigs were
somewhat steady in price, but milch cows were very dull.
Per 81b. to sink the offal.

s. d. s. d.
Crse. & inf. beasts 3 0 d 2
Second quality do. 3 4 3 8
Prime large oxen 3 10 4 2
Prime Scots, &c. 4 4 4 6
Crse. & inf. sheep 3 6 3 10
Second quality do. 4 0 4 4

Q. d. s. cl*
2
Primecrs-wool do. 4 6 5 6 Pule. S' thdown d 0.5 4 5
Large orse. calves 4 2 4 5g
Prime small d 0... 5 0 5 "
Large h0g5...... 3 8 4 2
Small porkers ... , 4 2 4

Lambs, Os Od to Os Od.
Suckling calves, 12s to 265; and quarter-old store pig,
20s to 295.

TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY.
Beasts
Sheep .. 2,750 Sheep
Calves l2O Calves
rigs. 340 Pigs ....
.. •••
" ..-

NOWEY MARKET AND CITY NE MS.

CITY, Two o'CLocx.

The Money Market, notwithstanding the con-
tinued quietude of the demand for commercial pur-
poses, is rather firmer, as the banks and private
establishments anticipate greater activity during
the next fortnight, owing to the usual quarterly
disbursements, and the extensive revenue collec-
tions. No change of importance is expected, but it
is quite probable that slightly enhanced terms will
be asked for the negotiation of the best qualities of
mercantile securities. At present, however, accom-
modation is still obtainable, at quotations ranging
fully per cent, below the minimum of the Bank
of England.
At the half-yearly court of the Bank of England
proprietors, held this day—Mr. Alfred Latham in
the chair—a dividend of 4,1 per cent. was declared
payable, without deduction of income tax, on the
sth April ntxt. The net profits for the half-year
ending 28th Febructry last were £609,818 14s. 2d.,
making the amount of the " Rest" on that day
£3,633,827 188., and after providing for the present
dividend the " Rest" will be £3,015,325 Bs. The
dividend warrants will be paid on the 7th April.
The
adjourned meeting of the Atlantic Royal
Mail Steam Navigation Company will take place
on the 24th inst., to receive the report and accounts,
and to transact the general business of the company.

A fair amount of business has been transacted is
American Securities during the past week. Mr.
E. F. Satterthwaite, in his weekly circular, states
that the market in London for American Securities
remains very firm ; the transactions since our last
having been important, at steady prices.

The amount of gold taken into the Bank of
England yesterday was £56,000.
_

A call of 10s. per share has been made by the
directors of the Malta and Mediterranean Gas Cora-
PanY, payable on or before the 10th proximo.
The Pera, from Alexandria, has brought £57,700
in specie.

A fair amount of business took place in the
Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday, and prices
Were firm. The sales were about 7,000 bales.

Tye market for English Securities opened this
morning with a buoyant appearance, and, although
the transactions have been very limited, the recent
advance has been sustained, Consols having been
supported at 931 -7; for transfer, and 93'4 94 for the
Recount. The New Threes and the Reduced are
927-, 1,1-, being steady; Exchequer Bills remain at
19s, to 225. prem. ; India Stock is 223, and the
6 per Cent. is firm at 1081 .2..

A moderate amount of business is recorded in
t:'oreign Securities, but prices in some instances
show less firmness.. Tuilash 6 per Cents. are 86 1 ;
ditto, 1858 711 72; Mexican are flat at 341 35;
Peruvian have receded to 98 ; ditto Uribarren to
95; and Sardinian to 81,4 ; Spanish are 531 ; ditto
Deferred, 4317 ditto Passive, 198 ; and ditto
Certificates, 7.

The shares of the Alliance Bank of London and
Liverpool are 41 prem.

The Rio de Janeiro City Improvement Company's
shares are f-, and 1 prem.

The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under :--

1862. 1861.
Great Western £51,012 £49,295
North-Western
South- Western
ghton
Ilidland
Sueth-Eastern
reat Northern
ric
I a -
ashire and Yorkshire
-,Bristol and Exeter 5,605 5,733
-Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln 13,464 14,635
Great South and West Ireland
Idinburgh and Glasgow
Grand Trunk of Canada
Great Western of Canada 9,802 9,056
These returns are, in most instances, of a very un-
favourable character, and show the continued
depression of trade in the manufacturing districts.
°n the North Western there is a decrease of
£3,836 ; on the Midland, of £1,653 ; on the Great
Northern, of £1 353; on the South Eastern, of
£2,102; on the Brighton, of £493; on the Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire, of £3,661 ; and the Grand
Trua,k of Canada, of £746.

A more buoyant tone has prevailed in the Rail-
'Way Share Market, and some of the principal
British undertakings have been dealt in at enhanced
rates. Great Northern have improved ss. ; Cale-
donian, Lancashire and YJrkshire, Midland, and
South Eastern, 10s. ; and Great Western, 155,;
North Eastern (Berwick), however, have declined
about ss.

The Foreign and Colonial undertakings have
Also exhibited a slight improvement. Bahia and San
Francisco realise 17;51 ; Great Luxemburg, 118 12 ;
San Paulo, 62 ; Grand Trunk of Canada have im-
proved to 261 ; East Indian, to 104 and 1044 ;
Great Indian Peninsula, to 102 and MI ; and
Scindes, to 104.

Joint-Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares re-
main without any material change. Bank of Aus-
tralia have improved 10a. ; Oriental Bank, 10s. ;
P eel River Land, £1 ; and Royal Mail Steam, 10s.

BRITISH FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities ...
3 per Cent. Consols 'Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities.. 92i ±
Annuities, 30 yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 —
Ditto for 30 yrs, expire sth April, 1885 lst
India ,tuck 223
Ditto 5 per Cent.
Ditto Enfaced Paper, 4 per Cent —
Ditto 5 per Cent lO2l
:Ditto 51 per Cent loBi S
-Ditto Debentures, 4 per Cent., Oct., 1863
Ditto ditto April 1864 100
Ditto 1859
Ditto Bonds £l,OOO
itto under t.:1,000
Consols for Account, April 10 . 94 93i
India Stock for Account, 5 per Cent .... 1081 a
March. 1 J tine.

Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO 2d.... 1
Ditto £5OO .. 22
I,itto Small I 19 22
FOREIGN FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK.
Mexican, 3 per Cent
Ditto Account
Imperial Moorish Scrip
New Grenada, 2 per Cent
, erucian 41 per Cent .. 98
Ditto (Uribarren), 41 per Cent. .. 95
Ditto 3 per Cent ,
Ditto Account
z•E,ruinian 5 per Cent.
Ditto Account Bl
Spanish 3 per Cent
I )itto New Deferred 431
Ditto Passive
Spanish Cert. of Coup. not funded
"1. urkish 6 per Cent. —
Ditto Account
Ditto New Loan
Ditto Account
Ditto £lOO Bonds
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent.
Dividends on the above payable in London.
'French Rentes, 41 per Cent., Ex. 25f 96f. 50e.
TWO O'CLOU o.
Consols, Money
. Ditto April Account

COMMITTAL FOR FORGERY'—Yesterday Horatio
Lester Fletcher, the eldest son of the Rev. Horatio S.
Fletcher, of Bilston Savings .bank notoriety, was brought
up on a remand at the Wolverhampton Petty Sessions,
Charged with forging a bill of exchange for £7B lls., and
also with uttering the bill, both with intent to defraud.
The magistrates were Mr. Partridge (stipendiary), and Mr.
Cartwright. It appeared that the prisoner was in r art-
-lership with a Mr. Isaac Pitt, as iron merchants, at Wil-
lenhall, but that on the let of August a deed t f dissolution
ofpartnership was signed between them, but it was not
gazet,,ed. The conditions of dissolution were that f,r bills
arriountitl'g to £750, of which bills the Rev. Mr. Fletcher
Was endorsed, Pitt was to go out of the concern, but was to
remain for a time as clerk. Early in January Pitt brought
to him the bill in q.2estion, which had been drawn at the
(aid of the previous September by the prisoner upon one
Jacob Groves, a lockmaker, of Willenhall, who was a cus-
tomer of the firm. The bill had been dishonoured by
Groves after it bad been discounted by a bill troker, to
• 'whom it was presented by the prisoner, Groves main-
taining that the signature was a forgery. When Pitt
Npoke to Fletcher upon the matter he denied that he
had forged Groves's name, but admitted that he had
used it. After calling upon two of the prisoner's
uncles upon the subject, Pitt paid the amount on
the bill out of moneys that had been received on the firm's
account subsequent to the dissolution. When the Rev.
Mr. Fletcher's defalcations were discovered the prisoner
wF,s made a binkrupt, and, because the dissolution had not
been gazetted, Pitt also. The trade assignees unfler the
bankruptcy obtained possession of the bill and brought thee
proceedings. Groves now swore that the signature was not
his; Pitt deposed that he believed it was the prisoner's,
and spoke to the prisoner's admission; and the son of the
discounterthenc swore to the prisoner uttering- the bill. The
committed the prisoner for trial at the assizes, and
declined to take bail.