The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-27 00:00:00

BANKING INSTITUTE.

On Tuesday evening the first monthly meeting of
this jostitution was held at the London Tavern. and
was inost numerously attended. J. W. Gilbert, E-q.,
was in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the meeting on their
having got over the preliminary arrangements at-
tendant on the formation of the institution, and being
abodt to celebrate the first of their monthly meeting..
It was not a meeting for business, but for discussion,
and he would call on the secretary to read the report
of what had occurred since the preliminary meeting.
The Secretary then read a short report, which
stated that the honorary offices had been accepted by
several gentleman of high character in the commercial
world, among whom were Sir Moses Montefiore,
James Wilson, Esq., M.P., James flelme, Esq , J.
W. Gilbert, Esq , and others. Two hundred mem-
bers bad enrolled themselves in the society, and ar-
rangements had been made to open rooms at the Hall
of Commerce by the Ist of January, and also for
commencing the formation of a library.
The CHAIRMAN said they bad met to discuss ques-
tions connected with commercial transactions, and
especially those connected with their own calling, and
this might cause them to enter on the consideration
of many subjects which at first sight might not appear
to have an immediate relation to banking pursuits ;
but they would do so only as practical men, and
endeavour to give all their discussions a practical
bearing on the objects of their profession. It was
probable that they would have to discuss the question
of guarantees, of matters relating to the health and
comfort of those carrying on the business of banking,
as well as that of life assurance—all of which would
be considered in their order. In their proceedings
they would follow the plan adopted by the Statis-
tical Society, the Society ,of Arts, and others. The
chair would be taken by one of the officers of the
institution or a member of the council, and all the
arrangements would be made by the authority of the
vwily council. A paper would be read which had been pre-
io submitted to the council, who would be re-
sponsible so far as that a proper subject was selected,
but not for any
h topinions which might be expressed.
At the close of
vote taken with regarde lecture there would not be any
into the truth or inaccuracy of
the opinions containedwhichitwas
hoped it ; but a discussion would
follow, byurts
mthaadtemuch information
wants and
aTenvtdhoeenaipnply that_n line-
would be derived, and eff
and
woulds requirementsei
. cib be
formation practically
etshsea
of their calling.
on the question, " How far is the securitygof bankers'
men who were
locks affected by the recent ingenious
They were much
experiments in patent lockyws
obligedthe
Mr. DALTON, the secretary, then proceeded in v entboyrsthoef thaettbeensdtalnocceksofof the day.
to read
a paper on the subject. Few subjects connected with
the Great Exhibition excited so much interest 891 the
great " Lock Controvert y:' It was reported that a
wonderful gentleman on the other side of the water,
named Hobbs, bad picked all the locks in the world ;
but nevertheless Messrs. Bramah were much surprised
when that gentleman walked into their shop and
offered to open their lock with which they had so
long defied the mechanical skill of every other
aftist in that line ; hut having already
opened one of Mr. Chubb's, be went to work,
and succeeded in doing so in sixteen days. After
going at length into this controversy, Mr. Dalton
atruetion not
as so e n
proceeded to say that the great security of locks de-
pended much o9ntfh.eetcieottni
epflictahteiiornmoafkteh,eiare con-
struction the er
they cannot be obtained so as to be depended on

LONDON,

from any one but the makers. Messrs. Chubb and
1.3 r cp 11)9A 1-N-1 -t-,7 Mr. Ilro'l•r„
therefore tho questiort arose whether the lucks
usually employed by bankers were now less secure
than before. The resistance required by these
locks was twofold, viz. :—against force and
against fraud. Robberies in banks by violence in
this country were rare, although frequent in
America. In the case of the robbery at Messrs.
Rogers and Co.'s, it was no doubt effected by fraud,
the keys having been copied. The latest burglary on
a strong-room by violence was effected by an instru-
ment called a Jack-in-the-box, which Mr. Chubb had
sent this evening for inspection. (The instrument
was exhibited, and the mode in which it was used
explained.) This was now provided against by Mr.
Chubb. It was a question whether Mr. Hobbs
had picked Bramah and Chubb's locks under cir-
cumstances such as robbers might employ • and
however that might be as to Chubb's (the defect of
which bad been remedied), the fact of his being
sixteen days about Bramah's seemed to be an
answer to it; besides which Mr. Hobbs was
possessed of very extraordinary powers of manipula-
tion peculiar to himself. On the whole it seemed
that both Chubb's and Bramah's locks were nearly if
not altogether impregnable and sufficient for erdiaary
security. It had been suggested, however, that every
banker should have more than one lock, each of a
different construction, on his strong-room door, in
order to complete their security. On the whole, in
answer to the question, " How far the security of
bankers locks was affected by the recent scientific
and ingenious experiments on patent locks ?" he
should says, that although the locks had been picked,
and could be picked, it had been done under circum-
stances not likely to occur on the premises of bankers.
Mr. CHUBB and Mr. BRAMAH then exhibited and
explained the principles of several locks.
Mr. BRAMAH explained that the lock picked by
Mr. Hobbs had been made SO years ago, and a part of
the mechanism, which was in the locks of the present
day, composed:of a different material, was made of soft
iron, capable of being bent. The challenge had been
accepted on the terms proposed, and Mr. Hobbs had
opened the lock in sixteen dsys ; but if the trial had
been on one of those made in modern times it would
have taken him sixteen months, if he ever did open it
at all.

Mr. Hoßas next exhibited a lock made by Messrs.
Newell, of New York, the principle of which was that
the key was formed of moveable bits, which it was in
the power of the owner of the lock to withdraw and
replace in it, so that every one, in fact, made his own
key, the changes in which were capable of being
multiplied in the lock in proportion to the bits of the
key. It is thus secure against all impressions, and
even against the maker himself. Among other pro-
perties possessed by this lock was a contrivance by
which it resisted any attempt to blow it open with
gunpowder.
After a vote of thanks to the lecturer and the gen-
tlemen who had exhibited and explained the princi-
ples of their locks the meeting separated.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Nov. 26.
(Sittings in Banco.)
The Judges of this Court held a sitting in Banco
under the County Courts Act, in order to hear ap-
peals against decisions pronounced in the county
courts.