The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-12 00:00:00

UNION BANK OF LONDON.

Notwithstanding the proceedings at the annual
meeting of the Union Bank of London occu-
pied about two hours yesterday, the discussion was
of a much less disorderly character than expected.
The gathering of the shareholders, however, took
place some short time prior to thehour fixed, and
before the business commenced, at 12 o'clock punc-
tually, the room in the London Tavern assigned
for their deliberations was crowded to excess. The
appearance of the directors at the time stated was
hailed with loud applause, and although some fete
hisses were heard when the governor and his col-
leagues took their seats, the repeated cheers which
followed at once decided the general tone and pro-
bable result of the meeting. Mr. P. Northall Laurie
presided, and made a temperate and business-like
address, explaining with great clearness the position
of the bank, both with reference to its present
and future prospects, the principal points
of which elicited strong marks of approval. The re-
commendations contained in the report for making
good the defalcations of Pullinger, and at the same
time apportioning part of the profits in the shape
of a dividend, were stated to be offered under the
guidance of the best legal authority, and it was
hoped, the governor said, that the course suggested
would be received with favour. Although in carry-
ing out this arrangement it had been found neces-
sary to re-transfer the amount a short time since
placed to capital, the shares would still stand £l2
paid, the proprietors not being liable for more than
£3B, if it should ever be required to make up the £5O
To prove that the bank was in a sound and satisfac-
tory state, it was only necessary to refer to the profits
of the past year, which amounted to £124,000,
exclusive of £lOB,OOO paid to customers as interest.
Of course the frauds of Pullinger had been a deep
source of regret and mortification to the directors,
since, if they had not occurred, the bank on this, its
21st anniversary, would have been in a most unas-
sailable position. As it was, their progress had been
most surprising, for since the date of their commence-
ment the amount paid in dividends and bonuses had
reached £1,000,000, while nearly £1,500,000 had
been disbursed in the way of interest. With deposits
over and above £10,000,000, with an increase in the
number of their accounts after the discovery of the
frauds,and with an increasein the number of the share-
holders, it was quite evident that great confidence
still existed in the institution. The future depended
in a great degree on the proprietors themselves—
the decision arrived at that day being sure to exer-
cise vast influence on their affairs, and the direc-
tors, who had already experienced their great for-
bearance and sympathy, relied on the vote of the
general body to support the property, in the ulti-
mate position of which they were all so deeply
interested. The effect of this addreis was at once
conspicuous, and the disposition shown to furnish
information and meet the wishes of the share-
holders caused the feeling in favour of the directors
to be more than ever strongly developed. During
the discussion which subsequently ensued—=a
variety of questions having meanwhile been
put to the governor—it was certain that the report
and dividend would be agreed to, the largest
proprietors manifesting impatience at the delay in
arriving at a conclusion. It was, however, elicited
at an early stage that the bank would be no suf-
ferer by the failures in the leather trade, the prac-
tice being not to discount except for customers, and
then only when they possessed the whole account.
The threats of suits in Chancery which one or two of
the shareholders assort they are prepared to institute,
did not disturb the strong opinion of the general
body, and the interrogations concerning the ap-
pointment of Pullinger, the period of the original
defalcations, and their gradual increase, having
been freely replied to, the dividend and report
were all but unanimously adopted. Votes of confi-
dence in the directors and the management concluded
the business as in periods of full prosperity, the re-
tiring directors being re-elected in the ordinary
form.

SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT.—The Suspension of
Messrs. Robert Freeland Brothers, Manchester shippers to
India, is announced. The liabilities are reported at £6O 000 I
to £lOO,OOO, but well-informed people say £60,000. tis
feared that one or two smaller stoppages may follow, but
most of the creditors are large and wealthy houses.

eneorys ~v ere denjanded and accepted, viz., " Bole
Britannia," Mendelssolin's Wedding Mtreh, and
the National Anthem, all of which were executed
with surpri,ing brilliancy and precision.
The bands selected by the judges as worthiest to
contend for the prizes—again 12 in number—then
successively exhibited their strength in the Handel
Orchestra. The first prize £3O in money, with a-
silver cup for the band master, and a complete set
of Boosey's Brass Band Journal, in 16 volumes,
presented by the publishers—was awarded to the
Cyfarthfa band (conductor, Mr. R. Livesey), from
Messrs. Crawshay's Ironworks, South Wales. The
piece selected for this band was Verdi's overture to
" Nabucco." The second prize—.£2O in money—
fell to the Dewsbury band (conductor Mr. John
Peel), who played a selection from the same com-
poser's " Ernani ;" the third prize---.£15, to the
Saxhorn band of Mr. James Bagnall's Ironworks, -
Goldshill, Staffordshire (conductor Mr. J. Bland--
ford), for a scena and polacea by Perry; the fourth
Prize—Llo—to the Chesterfield band (conductor.
Mr. 11. Slack), who (in the costume of the Derby-
shire Rifles), gave a selection from " Lucrezia
Borgia ;" the sth prize—X5—to the band from
Meltham Hills, Yorkshire (conductor, Mr. H:
Hartley), for a performance of the "Hallelujah"
Chorus of Handel. The Blackdyke and Saltaire
bands, who had won the first and second prizes on
Tuesday, were prohibited from contending on this
occasion. Two extra prizes —an electro-plated
cornet-a-pistons by Courtois (presented by Messrs.
Chappell and Hammond), and an electro-plated
euphonion in B flat (presented by Messrs. Boosey
for the best solo cornet and bass players), were con-
signed to Mr. W. Blandford (Goldshill band) and
Mr. John Walker (Cyfarthfa band). The prizes
were delivered to the successful competitors by Mr.
Bewley, general manager of the Crystal Palace,
who addressed them in brief and appropriate terms,
expressed his belief in the good results that must
accrue from the movement, acknowledged the libe-
rality of the donors of prizes, and paid a well-de-
served compliment to Mr. Enderby Jackson for the
ability with which lie had organized and directed
the performances. A great deal of enthusiasm was
elicited, and it was nearly 9 o'clock before the pro-
ceedings had come to an end. For a first experi-
ment of this kind the success was quite extraordi-
nary.

ROYAL SURREY GARDENS.

,------
These gardens are becoming almost as musical as
in the time of the late M. Jullien, at whose sugges-
tion, and in accordance with whose plans, the music
hall was erected, and who proposed and carried out
in the course of his brief transpontine career so
many attractive entertainments. Last night the
first of a series of concerts was held under the pre-
sidence of Mr. Balfe—whose name, in itself a tower
of strength—was attached to nine pieces out of ten
in the programme (a bona fide Balfe programme),
and who was enthusiastically received on making
his appearance in the orchestra. The brilliant
overture to " The Siege of Rochelle"—the first and
by no means least popular of the many successful
operas that have proceeded from his pen since, after
a long sojourn in Italy, he definitively established
himself in this metropolis—formed an appropriate
and effective prelude to the concert. We shall not
attempt a detailed description of the performances
which on the present occasion afforded much une-
quivocal delight to upwards of 7,000 persons.
Suffice it, there were pieces from sundry of Mr.
Balfe's operas, among which figured conspicuously
"In this old chair " (Maid of Honour), by Mr.
Perren, and the " Power of Love " (Satanella), by
Miss Parepa, both of which were thoroughly well
sang and loudly encored. The greatest sensation,
however, was created by " When other lips and
other hearts" (Bohemian Girl), which Mr. Sims
Reeves—being called back after a song by Signor
Alary, " The British Volunteers"—gave with such
wonderful vigour and warmth of expression that
he was compelled by unanimous desire to repeat it,
and thus to sing no less than three times in imme-
diate succession. Besides the operatic pieces, there
I were several of Mr. Balfe's chamber songs and
duets, the best being a new ballad, "If I could
change as others change," charmingly given by
Madame Laura Baxter, and the deservedly popular
" I love you," composed expressly for Mr. Reeves,
which, being rendered in his most expressive sty le
by that heavily-taxed gentleman—who is always
expected to double the labour he has undertaken—
was, as a matter of course, redernanded, and in so
emphatic a manner that to decline the honour would,
to say the least, have been impolitic. The splendid
bass voice and energetic delivery of Mr. 'Weiss, and
the artistic talent of Madame Weiss, were also
heard to advantage in " The two locks of hair,"
and " The ring on my hand"—ballads eminently
suited to the taste of the drawing-room. The Misses
Brougham and Mr. George Perren were encored in
the laughing trio from the Rose of Castille, the two
ladies having already won golden opinions in the
sparkling duet, "Trust her not"—one of Mr. Balfe's
most genuine settings of Longfellow's poetry.
Besides the foregoing, there were the capital trio
for women's voices from Ithe Italian opera of Pal-
staf (produced at her Majesty's Theatre nearly 20
years ago), allotted to Miss Parepa, Madame Weiss,
and Madame Laura Baxter; a concerted piece from
the .The Siege of Rochelle; a spirited march (com-
posed for the Emperor of Russia) ; and the familiar
overture to The Bohemian Girl—the last two per-
formed extremely well by a band of some 30 players
directed by Mr. Sidney Davis. Mr. Balfe himself
accompanied the vocal music. The second concert
is announced for Wednesday, the 18th instant.