The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-06 00:00:00

MR. HANKEY, 31:P., ON BANKING.

An interesting lecture was delivered by Mr.
Hankey, M.P., on Monday evening, to the members
of the Peterborough Mechanics' Institute, on the
principles and system of banking. The main ob-
ject of the lecture was to show the utility of, and
advantages arising from, banking transactions to
the community generally. The lecturer proceeded
to show the distinction between capital and cur-
rency, and the comparatively small value of gold,
except as a medium for fixing the value of other
property, and accounting for the difference of
value on the exchange of , property of different
kinds. The advantages arising from the facilities
thus afforded for making capital productives were
then referred to, one of the greatest of these being
the stimulus given to industry and a desire to
accumulate property, in which case the need of a
banker became apparent. A banker was not, as
was supposed by some, the creator of capital because
he issued his own promissory notes, though in a
qualified sense he might be so considered while his
paper was in operation as the representative of
capital. The hon. gen tlemaa explained the working
of the systom of bank agency prevailing in the Bank
of England in reference -to its three grin-
'cipal divisions—first, as Government agents, their
management of the national debt ; next, the circu-
lation of their own promissory notes ; and, thirdly,
as a bank for deposits, discounts, 8.7 e. The whole
of the vast machinery connected with these
was so managed that, notwithstanding the
magnitude of their transactions, they were per-
formed with the greatest case and exactness.
The lecturer described the working of the bank-
ing establishments in London and the provinces,
and showed their great value in offering accom-
modation for the employment of money, as well as
a convenience to merchants and tradesmen who
desired to open running accounts, bankers looking
for their own profit to the procuring larger in-
terest than they gave and the charges they make
on certain transactions. The operations of the
clearing-house were next explained. and the
lecturer concluded by observing. that among
the qualifications which should distinguish the
banker, as fitting him for his undertaking, the
moral qualification was not the least important. A
vote of thanks was unanimously voted to the hon.
gentleman at the close of his address, which was
listened to throughout with the greatest attention.

THE LATE LORD CHARLES WELLESLEY.—The
will of Major-General the Right Hon. Lord Charles Welles-
ley, of Upper Beigrave-street and Conholt-park, near An-
dover, formerly M.P. for South Hampshire, the younger
son of his Grace the late Most Noble Arthur Duke of Wel-
lington, was proved in the London Court of Probate, on.
the 23d ult. The peesonalty was sworn under £60,000,
which, together with £45,000 under marriage settlement,
was left by his will, dated the 13th Feb., 1846, for the use
of his wife for life, and their children if attaining 21; fail-
ing, to the present duke; and appointing Lady Charles
Wellesley residuary legatee.
ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S-INN-ROAD.—The
number of patients relieved at this hospital during the week
ending Dec. 4 was 2,310, of whom 599 was new cases.
CITY OF LONDON HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OP THE
CHEST, VICTORIA-PARK.—It appears from the returns of
this institution that 1,052 patients were relieved during last
week, of which number 134 were new cases.
CRRSTAL PALACE.—HALFCROWN DAY.—Satur-
day, Dec. 4.—Admissions on payment, 505 ; ditto by season,
tickets, 1,800; total visitors 2,305.
FLOATING CHAPEL ON THE TYNE.—An appli-
cation having been made to the Lords of the Admiralty to
grant the hulk of a war frigate for the purpose of turning it
into a sailors' chapel, their lordships have informed the ap-
plicants that the Rattlesnake will be placed at theirdisposal.
We believe it isintended to fit it up by private subrilption,
and it will be used for services conducted by a minister of
the established church.—Newcastle Grmrdian.
ALLEGED PREVALENCE OF FEVER IN WINDSOR.
—A special meeting of the Windsor Board of Health was
held on Friday, in consequence of communications from the
Privy Council relating to the prevalence of fever. Mr.
Simon, a medical gentleman ; Mr. Austin, an engineer ;
and Professor Taylor had been down with a view of ascer-
taining the cause of the disease. Aftcr some discussion
Mr. Simon, who was in attendance, was requested to give
the result of his inquiries. He said that disease undoubt-
edly prevailed in the town, and they had had a large num-
ber of cases. The impression conveyed to him by the vicar
was that, including severe and slight cases, there were
about 100. This particular disease, more than any othpr,
was dependent upon filth, and the object of theinquiry
was to ascertain the state of the sewage, the water supply,
and what were the arrangements for the removal of refuse.
The result of inquiries had been the discovery of an ab-
sence of ventilation in the sewers, that the arrangements
for the removal of refuse in eonnection with certain
occupations were defective, that the water supplied
by the water company was otherwise than wholesome,
and that the water obtained from some of the wells was
filthy and pointed to a great degree. It had also been foand
that many of the closets were without water, and the drain-
age was considerably defective.
SUICIDE IN A WATER-BUTT. —On Saturday
afternoon an inquest was held by Mr. W. Baker, at the
Feathers Tavern, Austin-street, Bethnal-green, respecting
the death of Thomas Harrison, aged 44 years, a master boot
and shoe manufacturer, of No. 26, Austin-street, who com-
mitted suicide. The testimony adduced proved that the
deceased had been subject to fits of delirium for some time
past, and had given way to habits of intemperance. On
Tuesday night last the deceased and his wife with the female
servant, after *acing several chairs at the front door, re-
tired to rest, but at an early hour on the following morning
a noise was heard, when the deceased came down stairs.
Subsequently he was missing, and when search was made
ho was discovered head foremost in the water- butt in the
yard. The servant, who found the body, raised an alarm,
when ono of the workmen turned the butt over and
dragged deceased out. Ho was insensible, and a messenger
was sent for medical assistance. The deceased's hands
were firmly tied round by a cord at the wrist, and the left
cg was also secured to prevent his struggling Dr. Bur-
tenon, of Kingsland-road, stated that the deceased had no
doubt committed the act, and there was nothing to show to
the contrary. The jury were quite satisfied with the eyt-
, deuce, and returned 4 verdict of " Temporary matuty."