The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-18 00:00:00

HALF-YEARLY MEETING.-THIS DAY.

A general court of directors of the Bank of England was
held this morning in the Bank Parlour, Threadneedle-
street; it was also one of the quarterly courts held pursuant
to the charter—Alfred Lathom, Esq„ Governor, presided.
The minutes of the last court having been read and con-
firmed,
The GOVERNOR said he had to acquaint the court that
the net profits of the half-year ending the 31st August
were £604,041, making the amount of rest on that day
£3,619,372. After providing for a dividend at the rate of
£4 ss. for the half year, the rest would amount to £3,000,872.
The directors, therefore, proposed that a dividend on inte-
rest and profits on the 10th of October be paid of £4 ss. per
cent., without deduction on account of income tax. The
Governor concluded by proposing the usual resolution to
that effect.

Alderman SALOMONS said, before the motion was put to
the meeting, he wished to ask a question of great public
interest, and to which he wished the Governor to give an
authoritative reply. He need not say that the public mind
had been greatly agitated by the report of a robbery of
bank-note paper that had taken place, on which forged notes
had been printed. He wished the Governor to give some
official information as to the amount of paper stolen, and
also as to what steps had been taken to discover the
parties implicated in the affair.
The GOVERNOR said he did not think it would be ex-
pected that he should go largely into the question, since
the ends of justice might be defeated if he were to enter into
minute particulars. He might, however, inform the Court
that the statements he had seen in the newspapers were very
much exaggerated. The directors could tell pretty well
what amount of notes were out, and he need not inform them
that the return of those notes was enormously rapid. ooe
half of the notes out at the date of the robbery had been
returned in the bank, so that tho reports in circulation
were very much exaggerated.

Mr. CLARK reminded the Governor that he had not
stated the probable amount of paper that had been stolen.
The GOVERNOR said it was very small indeed. In the
returns of notes by one of the largest banking firms in the
city not a singe forged note had been found against them.

Mr. Alderman SALOMONS said he gathered from the
observations of the Governor that the answer to his ques-
tion was that the amount was inconsiderable.
The GOVERNOR said that was the case.
A PROPRIETOR—Or likely to be?
The GOVERNOR—Yes.
The motion for the declaration of the dividend was then
put, and carried unanimously.

•
The SECRETARY then announced that the dividend war-
rants would be delivered and paid on the 11th of October
next.

The GOVERNOR said that concluded the business of the
day.
Mr. M. CLARK said he felt great pleasure in moving the
usual resolution, viz. :—That the thanks of the proprietors
be given to the Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Court of
Directors for the efficient manner in which they had per-
formed their duty.

Mr. BTJRMESTER said he had great plea6ure in seconding
the motion.

The resolution was carried unanimously.
The GOVERNOR having acknowledged the compliment,
the proceedings terminated.