The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-16 00:00:00

UNITY JOINT-STOC I BANK.

At the meeting of the Unity Bank proprietors,
held today, the following report was read :
" The directors present to the shareholders a
full statement of the operations of the bank for the
half-year ending the 30th June last. Although,
contrary to the expectation expressed in their last
report, there is not a surplus of profit left alter
payment of the working expenses, yet there is an
improvement on the last half-year's profit and loss
balance ; and when the severe ordeal the hank has
gone through in the interval is fairly taken into
account, they think the result should not disappoint
the shareholders. They confidently call attention
to the amount of profit realised with scarcely a bad
debt, which the present management has effected,
as an earnest of what the probable result would have
been, if it had not had to contend, not only with
the low rate of discount and general stagnation
of trade which has prevailed, but also with the
disturbing effect on the minds of the customers
and the public, by the adverse attacks of parties
who once were connected by office with the bank.
The directors, however, relied on the sympathy
and support of the proprietary in the unexpected
difficulties as they arose, and have now the plea-
sure to acknowledge how fully they appreciated
the vote of confidence and approbation in their
favour, expressed by a public meeting of share-
holders called for a contrary intent, where more
than 200 were present. The directors, having had
under their careful consideration the effect of the
loss of pecuniary strength by the amount of the
past-due bills, as shown by the last balance•sheet,
and in order that the bank might be prepared at all
times to give adequate accammodation to customers,
and to support public confid encein seasons of pressure
came to a resolution to increase the_paid-up capital
to 200,0001., by calling up 50,0001. They are gra-
tified in being able to state that nearly four-fifths
of the first call have been received, and they have
full reliance upon the further calls being also
equally well met. The prudence of their decision
to increase the paid-up capital has been evidenced
by the testimony of public opinion from the time
it was announced, and they believe that the
step, although perhaps , unprecedented in the
history of Joint-Stock Banks, has tended to,
and will permanently establish the bank.
The progress of the branches at Brighton and in
Leicester square, since the last meeting, has not
disappointed the expectation of the directors. The
business of the Hertford branch has been trans-
ferred withcut loss. It is not proposed to open
any more branches, and the two now working will
continue to be watched with careful vigilance. The
strictest economy has been observed in each depart-
ment and the working experpes reduced to the
lowest possible extent ; some portions, how-
ever, of the Cannon-street premises remain
unlet, for which the directors hope speedily to find
responsible tenants, and thus still further lessen
the expenditure. The amount of the past due bills
has been reduced 2,7881. since the last meeting.
The directors, although disappointed in this par-
ticular, feel that the gradual getting in of such
debts is no little advantage to the shareholders,
and should not be overlooked in their estimate of
the last half-year's operations of the bank. In this,
as well as in other duties connected with the in-
terest of the bank, much time has been devoted
by the directors, and a most rigid supervision over
its affairs has been exercised, but as unanimity of
feeling and effort is an essential element of success,
they again ask for the cordial co-operation and as-
sistance of the shareholders, and hope that, ere
long, the mutual principle of the institution will
realise the best wishes of the shareholders."

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT.

To balance of last account

£1,714 12 2

„ Current expenses of chief office and branches 4,219 14 0

£5,931 6 2

By balance of interest account, after payment
of interest on customers' balances, &c.... £3,417 -19 5
„ Deficiency, as per report of
31st December, 1857
„ Ditto on operations during
the past half-year, of which
3501. are extraordinary
charges on elcsin,g the Hert-
ford branch, &c.
„ Balance carried forward --- 2,510 C 9

5,931 6 2

The report., after a brief discussion, was adopted.
The remarks of the chairman, Mr. Alderman
Mechi, which were favourable, were well received.

THE NEW STEAM R,,')UTE TO AMERICA
VIA GALWAY.

It having been found impossible to complete the
new ship the AMerican Empire in time to leave
Galway, as advertied, on the 27th inst., Air.
Lever has purchased the Prince Albert screw
steamer, of 2,000 tons, tl sail frJni thst port for
Halifax and New York with her Majesty's mails on
that day, in the, place of the American Empire,
which latter vessel wi!l convey the next mail. The
Prince Ailidrc, was built list year from a design of
Mr. John Dudgeon, of Rosherville, at a cost of
65,0001., for a company called La Societe Cockeriil.
She is said to be one of the fastest vessels in the
world. Her trial trip, as reported iu 'the Sun, of
the 4th of last September, between the Nore and
Mouse Light ships, a distance of nearly 8 knots, was
performed in 31 minutes, giving her a speed of
upwards of 15 knots an hour. She has been but
once to sea, viz., is and back, and made her
voyage out an home in 53 and 54 days respec-
tively, being the quickest passage with troops ever
wade. The Prince Albert is barque-rigged, and
her dimensions are—length 286 feet, beam 38 feet,
depth 29 feet. She is propelled by two engines of
the aggregate of 400-horse power. Her cylindeis,
of 60 inches diameter, are inverted, the length of
stroke is four feet, and the screw, worked directly,
is driven at 44 revolutions per minute. The screw
is of one of Beattie's patent, ou.side the rudder, has
three blades, r,nd is 18 feet in diameter, with a
pitch of 34 feet. There is little doubt, juding from
what she has already done, that the Prince Albert
is capable of making the fastest trip from port to
port that has yet been made.

THE DIINNOW FLITCHES IN 1859.—The 11,:x. E. F.
Good, and Sophia Lavice, his wife, have been at:-
ctpted by Mr. W. Bo Ainsworth as claimants for one
of the Dunmow flitches to be presented in 1859, at the
Town Hall, Dunmow, Essex. In his application
to the secretary, Mr. Good states :—" There is no
oath required to be taken which I cannot take,
nor any question to be asked which I cannot answer
most promptly and conscientiously. In thus speaking I
include the sentiments of my beloved wife." Mr.
Good is the incumbent of one of the churches of
New Shoreham, and was married in June, 1857.
In consequence of the numerous claims fer the bacon—
amounting to four couples—a third flitch will be given
by Mr. Ainsworth, in addition to the two flitches pro-
vided at the charge of Messrs. Fitch and Son, provision
merchants, Bishopsgate-street.
The East India Company have ordered the following
ships to be surveyed, preparatory to engaging them for
the conveyance of troops to India, viz. :—From Graves-
end and Portsmouth for Calcutta—the General Simp•
son, Adamant, Sutlej, and Plantagenet. From Graves-
end for Kurrachee—The Genghis. Khan. From Cork
fur Bombay—the Hope. From Gravesend fur Bom4ay
--the Charles. From England for Calcutta (wi la
recruits)—the Weimer Castle. From England for Bom-
bay (with recruits)—the Forerunner. The Barham is
also to be eurveyed previous to being taken up to con-
vey stores to Madre-.
ARMY ESTIMATEs.—A supplementary estimate of
133,000/. (vote 14) is required for barracks, viz., 57,000/.
for improvements of barracks, 3,0001. for purchasing a
site for barracks at' Nottingham, 70,0001. for erecting a
new hospital at Netley (Hants) for 1,000 patients, and
3,0001. towards carrying out the main sewer of that
hospital. There is a sec mud supplementary estimate of
65,0001. (remaining to be voted) for the eurvey of the
kingdom and for the topographical department.
THE MILITIA ESTI3IATES.—The (disembodied) militia
estimates for the year ending the 31st of March, 1859,
have been prepared, arid handed in to the House of
Commons. The charge is 432,9901. Last year the
charge was 450,0001. The charge for raising and train-
iog the militia is 379,1101. (including pay of permanent
staff), the cearge fer retired adowances to officers
26,5001, and the charge of ,out-pensioners and local
militia 18,4001. The number for the years 1858 9 are
fixed at 91,003.
THE GREAT FIREWORKS EXPL' SION. —Madame Coton
was described last night to be in a very bad state,
there being little, if any, chance of her r, covery. From
the statement of those who were in the building at the
time of the commencement of the fire, and before the
first explosion took place, it eseios that the moment
she hoard the boy cry out "The red tire is alight," she ran
down stairs, and tried to extinguish the tire, tied was
terribly burnt. One thing is quite certain, that she
rushed out of the house several tninutee before the ex.
plosions happened, and was seated in a cab and near the
hospital when the first report was heard. Toe inhabitants
are forthwith going to memorialise the Secretary of State
to introduce a bill during the present session of
Parliament to cause these dangerous places of business
to be removed out of the metropolis, and not even to
allow fireworks to be kept in large quantities in such
crowded neighbourhoods. Yesterday a notice signed
by Captain Labalmondiere, one of the Commissioners of
Police., was posted on the walls of Madame Coton's pre
misee, to the effect that if they were not at once taken
down by the owner they would be removed ty the police
authorities. Men, however, immediately comnieneed
pulling down the chattered walls. The parents of the
poor girl Williams, who was so frightfully burnt, had
only taken possession of some apartments in Mr. Gib-
son's house a few hours before the calamity took place.
Just before the explosions the father of the child wanted
to force his way into the place, but, owing to the exer-
tions of police-constable Pike, of the L division, he was
prevented from entering. If be had, be unquestionably
must have met the same fate as his child,