The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-17 00:00:00

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK.

The rumours with regard to the statement of
assets and liabilities to be presented on Saturday
to the shareholders of the Royal British Bank do
not encourage the slightest hope of a result less
disastrous than has hitherto been anticipated.
Neither do the various communications received
from shareholders and others in relation to the
general conduct of the directors from the date of
the formation of the establishment down to the
present time permit an expectation that the prin-
cipal persons said to be compromised will be able to
exonerate themselves even so far as to show that
the deceptions and misappropriations which have
taken place were the result rather of monetary sa-
crifices to expediency than of any deliberate de-
parture from good faith. It is asserted that the
delinquencies which have ended in the ruin of the
Bank dated almost from its commencement, and
that if the provision of the charter, requiring its dis-
solution upon one-fourth of the capital being lost,
had been treated as worthy of the smallest attention,
the concern would scarcely have passed into a second
year of existence. Such losses, however, although
involving deep culpability, might have resulted
from inexperience. The hesitation to regard them
as irrecoverable, and thus immediately to submit
to a winding up, may also be palliated if it cannot
he excused, since the regulation for the forfeiture
of the charter, like all Government precautions of
a similar character, is vicious in itself, and holds
out a temptation to concealment. The worst part
Of the affair will, it is feared, prove to consist of a
series of acts such as no persons could have adopted
except from a studied determination to make the
Bank the scapegoat of their own speculations and
necessities. Thus, the advances to individual di-
rectors as well as to the general manager, and the
securities taken against them, are said to be of a
nature and to have carried on for periods which
can leave no doubt as to the aspect of the transac-
tions. One correspondent expresses suspicions
that even after the Bank had become embarrassed
by its connection with the coal and iron works in
Wales the, chief efforts employed were with an in
teution to elctract some personal profits from them
instead of to retrieve, as far as possible, the inte-
rests of the shareholders. "It should, be asked,'
he says, "at the approaching meeting, first,
whether two or more of the former directors did
not enter into an arrangement with the Bank for
carrying on the works on their own account ?
Secondly, whether the advances made by the
Bank to the said directors have been repaid, or
transferred, as the speculation failed, to the debit of
the Welsh property in the books of the Bank? And,
thirdly, whether in fact the position of affairs was
not pretty nearly to the effect, If the coal and iron
works thrive they belong to the said directors, but
if otherwise they revert to the Bank—advances and
all ?' " This may be a misapprehension, but the pre-
valence of such assertions shows the necessity not
only on behalf of the public, but also for the repu-
tation of all concerned, that every step in the history
of the establishment should be investigated with a
view to the confirmation or disproval of them.
Another correspondent has transmitted some docu-
ments with res.pect to which there cannot be much
mistake. They are dated within a week of the stop-
page of the Bank, and contain an urgent invitation
to the person to whom they were addressed to join
the direction "consisting of gentlemen of undoubted
means and position," the manager being meanwhile
prepared to afford him " the fullest information."
Thus, from beginning to end every proceeding, as
far as it is possible to judge at present, appears to
have been discreditable. It is to be hoped that on
Saturday those among the present directors who
deny oomplicity in the misdeeds to be exposed will
give_ the best proof of their sincerity by unfolding
everything that may serve to bring forward the real
offenders, and to fix upon them the opprobrium
they deserve.—Times.

OPENING OF THE BRUSSELS INTERNA.
TIONAL PIIILANTILROPIC CONGRESS.

BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 15. •
The International Congress de Bienfaisance was
opened this morning at the Salle des Academies au
Musee, under circumstances of great eclat. The
hall was crowded in every part by gentlemen repre-
senting almost every civilised country on the face
of the'. globe. Indeed it was found impossible to
accommodate all that sought for admission. At the
head of the room, and surrounding the table at
which sat the members of the committee of ma-
nagement, there were several distinguished ladies,
many of whom, influenced by the most benevolent
feelings to ameliorate the condition of their poorer
brethren, came from distant countries to afford
their valuable assistance to the proceedings of Con-
, gress. A 3 eleven o'clock the chair was taen amid
considerable applause by M. Rogier, a highly popu-
lar member of the Belgian Chamber?.
M. Ducpetiaux, the celebrated Belgian philan-
thropist, undertook the duties of secretary, and
read the programme of the proceedings of the Con-
gress, proposed by the committee, subject of course
to the, approval of the members themselves.
The' 0111101 AX then commenced the business of
the day in an address 'characterised by much
simple beauty and eloquence. It bespoke the
kindliest feelings and the tenderest solicitude for
his less fa.vourect brethren. The speech was occa-
sionally interrupted by the most rapturous applause
from the host of its approving hearers, and the
greatest enthusiasm was manifested in behalf of
the cause which had brought them together. M.
Rogier commenced by expressing the pride he felt
at the honourable position he occupied on that
occasien in presiding over so large a body of dis-
tinguished ladies and gentlemen, who had tra-
velled there from all parts of the world with the
hope of being able to improve the condition of
their 'suffering fellow creatures. The Congress
had been called together to consider the most
interesting and important subject that could
occupy the mind of man; namely, how or in, what
way they could elevate the condition of the indus-
trious classes, not only in a moral, but in a physical
sense. The speaker then proceeded to descant upon
the many wants of their poorer brethren, and toshow
that misery and poverty naturally begot vice of
every description, and that all governments and
societies, even if actuated by no higher motive than
self-interest, owed it to themselves to try and pre-
vent the latter evil by mitigating as far as possible
the former. After an address of about half an
hour"s duration, the president resumed his seat
amid the most deafening applause.
M. Ducpetiaux then announced the names of the
delegates and representatives of the different coun-
tries and governments that had forwarded their
adhesions to the Congress. England was re-
presented by the Hon. Mr. Cowper, the President
of the British Board of Health ; Mr. Chadwick,
the former Secretary to the Board ; Mr. W. Ewart,
M.P., and some other gentlemen. The mention
of those names drew forth cheers from the mem-
bers generally, which were again and again re-
peated, when those gentlemen (on the invitation
of the chairman) walked up the room and took the
seats appropriated to them on the left-hand side of
the president.
The members of the Congress preparatory to the
generardiscussion, will be divided into three sec-
tions, respectively charged with the consideration
of one.of the .following questions, to report upon
same, and to state their opinion as to the solution
of it.

Ist section.. Subsistonces in connection with agr
culture.

2d sedtion. Subsiitence in connection with poll

tical and charitable economy.
3d section. Subsistences considered in connection
with science and industry. Machinery and inven-
tions calculated to facilitate manual labour, to
improve. the sanitary condition of trades and
professions. and to prevent accidents. The ame-
lioration Of the workmen's habitations, of their
furniture, and their clothing.
Independently of the solution of the above ques-
tions, the members of the Assembly are invited to
consider the best means of extending and consoli-
dating the works of the Congress, and especially
the following questions :---
Ist. The definitive organisation of the interna-
tional correspondence, the principle of which had
been laid down at the International Charity Union
of Paris.
2d. The 'publication of a periodical bulletin of
works, rePorts, documents, &c., of different coun-
tries connected with charitable economy.
most convenient
onvenient of a 3d. The organisation in
theevery country
per-
manent economical museum.
4th. The place and time
generally for ,the future meetings of the Congress
de Bienfaisanee. The Congress will bo further in-
vited to discuss the best means of diminishing and
of preventing 'the abuse of strong drinks, consi-
dered in the twofold point of view, namely, the
loss of the nutritious subsistences employed in
their manufacture, and their influence upon the
health "and morality of the working classes.
Several other questions growing out of the above
will also occupy the attention of the Congress.
Sevei al-privileges are attached to the position of
membership: It entitles the parties to enter the
principal establishments in Brussels, to visit the
public monuments, the Government buildings, the
museums, the libraries, the hospitals. the Pschools, the picture gallery of the Duke d'Aremberg,
the new barracks, the baths and washhouses, the
prisons, &c.

The dollars brought by the Mexican packet have been
disposed of at 61d. per dollar, showing a decline of A. ;
but as the amount was very large this
as price is as good
was expected.