The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-16 00:00:00

THE .ROYAL BRITISH BANK AND THE

"LUNCHEON SYSTEM."

Among the extraordinary disbursements of the
managers of the Royal British Bank, there appears
an item for a considerable sum described as " lun-
cheons to directors." It now appears that, from the
commencement of the bank in 1849, the directors
and principal officers, with one or two exceptions,
were in the habit of eating and drinking daily at
the bank at the expense of the establishment. The
system was commenced on an extravagant scale.
Rare wines and brandies, Scotch whiskies, Edin-
burgh ale and Prestonpans beer, were ordered for
the regaling of those gentlemen after they got
through their usual official duties. And, as it was
thought that it might conduce to the interests of
the establishment, each director was allowed to
introduce a friend. Although described as " lun-
cheons," those repasts were in reality substantial
and sumptuous dinners, the fumes of which from
the lower departments of the bank filled the nos:
trils of customers and of famished clerks during at
least two hours every day. The expense of these
entertainments ultimately became so largo as to
excite alarm in the mind of a nervous director,
who remonstrated against so much extravagance,
and insisted on some regard to economy. The
" luncheons" subsequently were not marked by
the same reckless profusion, and the privilege of
inviting friends was abolished. It was very com-
mon, however, with some of the directors, on
(lays when their attendance was sot required at
the bank, "to drop in" about the " luncheon"
hour, and partake of their share of the " good
things."

At the end of every half-year the late general
manager uniformly gave a grand party, at which
livas the
the most
practicalex u
he personally appeared is a romantic costume, and
un-
paralleled prosperity of the institution, of which he
y
beehriaenct._ s i
Adrvitesrtidseersc.ribed the p

-- - REPRESENTATION OF SALFORD. - A meeting of the
electors of Salford was to be held last night, to take steps
for presenting a requisition to Mr. Aiderman Lang-
worthy, to put himself in nomination for the represen-
tation of the borough. The requisition had received up
noon about 1,400 signatures, out of a
et to
,yt
ietsut
ee
nnel ay
y of 4,000 electors, and as the signatures
include the names of men of all shades of polities, there
-
is no probability of an opposition, and no whisper of
anything of the kind has been heard of. The meeting
would appoint a deputation to present, the requisition,
it was expected, and there was no don' at that Mr. LAng•
worthy would accept it. Mr. Langw .ortfty is of liberal
politics, but stands high in the estima ,tion of all classes
1 of people. The Speaker's warrant wil I probably issue on
the 27th or 28th inst., so that th e nomination and
election may be expected to be fixed for about the 3d
and 4th of February.
DARTMOUTH PACKET STATION.-7 the new lighthouse
at tha entrance of Dartmouth harboi ir, 'built more espe-
cially for the accommodation of the i .na it packets, is com-
peted. From the prominence of itFc p, )sition, indicating
as it does the safe and easy appr oad h to the harbour,
the light will prove Of great value to the shipping
interest generally, as all ships
making the Start 14 ht
~,u easily find their way, if
necessary , by the aid of the
Dartmouth lighthouse,
il,aeious harbour. into the wal ;ers of its safe and

LATEST NE WS.

VIENNA, JAN. 12.

The Osservatore Triestino confirms the news of
the Trieseteitung relative to the occupation of the
islands on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea.
Some years since Russia " borrowed" the island of
Dagada from Persia, as a station against the
Turcoman pirates. The pirates were long ago
annihilated, but the island in question, which is
at the mouth of the Oxus, is still in the hands of
Russia.

CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 9.
The Shah of Persia is said to insist on the con-
tinuation of the war with England.
General Chesney has received a concession for
the construction of the Euphrates Valley Railroad.