The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-01 00:00:00

14:V EN ING E

interests and the interests of the establishment required
it they would not have flinched from so doing, whether
such a resolution had passed or not, for we do feel
that as Directors of this establishment we are bound
to uphold its general interests—(Cheeas)—whether
we receive the entire approbation of every indi-
vidual Proprietor or not—(Cheers). We do not hesitate
in saying the statement has given us very great pain,
for we must remember that the parties to which
it is addressed are, many of them, residing in
Ireland, who have warm hearts, generous spirits,
but a quick sensitiveness, sad they may consider,
as a body, that they are slighted by the Directors.—
(Hear, hear.) Ido not conceive that any propositiou
could be put forward against the Directors of this
establishment, that would have a more prejudicial
effect, than that Irish gentlemen were discouraged from
coming forward as candidates for offices in ;t, and that
in consequence it was gradually sinking in their esti-
mation, and, if true, deservedly sc.—(Het r, hear.)
Since that establishment had been formed There has
been hut one instance where an Irish gentletnots came
forward as a candidate and was not elected ; end what
was remarkable, the two cendidates on that occasion
were both Irishmen, and of course we could trot elect
the two to fill one vacancy.—(Henr. hear, and laugh-
ter.) This could not be considered rejectiv an Irish
gentleman ; I ant sure you have reason for rejoicing
in your choice, when I state to you that ihe gen-
tleman elected was Mr. Young, Member for Cavan.
—(Cheers.) The other gentleman withdrew his name
prior to the election, and as he did not reside in Eng-
land, and did not again offer himself, you could not
therefore elect him. On another occasion an Irish
Nobleman wished to become a Director, but he died be-
fore a vacancy took place. You will, therefore, see
that every Irish gentleman who has been proposed has
been elected. This will relieve the Directors from the
charge that they have discouragsd Irish gentlemen from
coming forward as candidates for eft-ices w this este-
blishment.—(Hear, hear.) We are told by Mr. Bald-
win thet we are losing ground in Ireland. We had,
naturally expected that Mr. B. would haze pointed out
where, for we do not find it among the Shareholders in
Ireland ; to prove which I will take their number at
Christmas for the last three years. In 1838 they
were 355. In 1839, they amounted to 398 ; and
in 1840 they rose to 440 —(1-lear, hear)—being an
increase of 95 upon the three year:-, This does not
indicate any strong decline of confidence in this
establishment. Last year three-fourths of the shares
disposed of in London were sent to Ireland—(Cheers)
—this is also satisfactory, giving us a stronger hold
upon the good opiaion and affections of the Irish peo-
ple. If this establishment were so sinking in the esti-
elation of the Irish public, would it no: be felt among
the Grand Juries of Ireland ? hut have we not been
appointed receivers by them ? Our sole anxiety is that
where the bane has gone the antidote should come.--
(Cheers.) But I have my doubts whether we can pre-
vent altogether the mischief which this fetter may have
done, as it has gone to every Proprietor. Under a late
Act of Parliament the Grand Jury of each county were
directed to select a banker for the account of the county
treasurer. It then became a matter of competition among
the Banks to obtain the county treasurer's accounts ; yet
out of 23 which are without the exclusive circle of the
Bank of Ireland, we have 14, mid 9 are left for all the
other Banks in Ireland, in the south and west, as well
as in the north, where the local banks have numerous
branches, and partners intimately connected with
gentlemen who form the Gran Juries. This does
not indicate a decline of confidence in us. if we
refer to the Boards of Guardians of the Pootelaw
Unions, of which there are many yet to be formed, we
find that thirty-four of them have preferred this esta-
blishment, which has so sunk in public estimation.—
(Cheers.) I wish toy friend Mr. Baldwin had tele: n
the trouble to inquire, before he brought forward his
statement, for had he ;lone so I feel onite certain that
he would not have said one word against the Directors
o any Proprietor or person interested in the Provincial
Bank of Ireland for the chance of gaining a few votes.
However he has now, though late in the day, retired
from the contest, from what reason I know not, but pro-
bably because he did not tied himself supported
as he expected. I felt it was right you should
know so much. There is another fact I wish to
state to you ; you are aware that this was the first
Joint-stock Bank introduced into I,cland, to be carried
out on the principles of Scotch banking. It was, there-
fore, necessary to obtain men who were acquainted
with that system ; we" therefore sought for persons
from that country, where the system had been so
beneficially carried out. We employed Scotch and
English gentlemen, because Irish gentlemen had to be
taught the system, hut never iutsnded to exclude the
talent of Ireland. I will name to you the number of
each country engagsd in this establishment : 127 Irish,
51 Scotch, and 14 English.—( Hear, hear.) In addi-
tion to this there are 56 local Directors in Ireland.
Of these two are Scotch gentlemen, who have been long
settled in Ireland. • This shows we do not want to ex-
clude Lash talent in the working of this establishment.
—( Hear, hear.) I will now, Gentlemen, conclude by
asking you whether you consider the Directors deserve

the reflections and charges brought ag:'inst them by Mr.
Baldwin ?—(Cheers.)
Mr. F. REED-1 am sorry Mr. Baldwin is not in the
room, but I am sure you must all feel rejoiced at hearing
so triumphant a refutation of the charges made in that
letter.—(Cheers.) I feel any further observations
would only lessen the feree of those which have fallen
from the Chairrnan.—(Cimer,.) I also feel that when
this g ,es forward to the werld it will give an increased
confidence in the est.tblislitnent, and that what Mr. B.
has done will do us no injury. I feel that, after the
manner in which the Chairman has explained, it will do
us much good. I will therefore tOO% "that the most
cordial thanks of this meeting be temierid to the Chair-
man and the Court of Directors, for the complete and
triumphant refutation which has this day been given to
the statements conveyed by the letter of a Proprietor
addressed to the Shareholders at large, with reference
to tl:e administration of this establishment, which state-
ment, howe'ver, this meeting is disposed to believe must
have been made under misapprehension or misinforma-
tion on the subject."
Capt. PORT Ell—You speak, Mr. Chairman, of the
number of Irishmen who are shareholders, but you
must be referring, to those only who by your books •ap-
pear to be resident in Ireland. lam an Irieliman, un-
fortunately a younger brother, and have another
younger brother ; we may be said to be transported
here ; we are both shareholders and both resident in
England, though Irishmen. Our family have eleven
stars among us in the list of Proprietors, and there are
no doubt runny other Irish Shareholders similarly
situated.—Hear, hear.) Allow me the honour of se-
conding that resolution.

It was put and carried with ac,Aammation.
The CHAIRMAN—In the name of my brother Di-
rectors and myself, I thank you ; and we will still en-
deavour to promote the interest of this establishment,
as we have hitherto done. I believe we cannot say any
more.—(Cheers.)