The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-21 00:00:00

EW

BANK of ENGLAND.—(THIS DAY.) T FOLIC
A general half-yearly Court was held to-day at the Bank
of England. for the purpose of considering a dividend.
At twelve o'clock William Cotton, Esq., the Governor, the
Deputy- Governor, and several Directors, entered the Court,
which was more than usually crowded with Proprietors.
The minutes of the last meeting having been read,
The GOVERNOR stated that this was one of the half-yearly
general Courts, appointed the by,- laws, to consider of a
dividend; and the Court of Directors having considered the
state of the Bank accounts, were of opinion that a dividend
might be made, if that Court thought fit, of 31. 10s. per cent.
for the present half-year, ending on the sth of April next,
deducting the sevenpence in the pound for the income-•
tax. In making this proposition for the consideration
of the Court, he thought it but fair to the Proprie-
tors that lie should state, that by adopting the course
now proposed by the Directors, a sum. of 10,6031. 12s. 6d.
would be taken from the Rest; the profits, therefore, for the
last half-year would be less by that sum. He would now,
with the permission of the Court, put the question that a
dividend of 3/. 10s. per cent. for the half-year, ending on the
sth April next, should be declared by that Court.
Mr. Wrwittlts inquired what was the amount of the Rest?
The GOVERNOR said that it amounted to 3,159,9961. 6s. Bd.
Mr. WILLIAMS was desirous of knowing whether that
amount included the bank-notes out, and whether it was in-
dependent of their buildings.
The GOVERNOR said . that it was, with the exception o
some small buildings in Princes-street.
In answer to a question from Mr. B. HAMMOND,
The GOVERNOR stated that the stock had been taken up by
the Bank at the market price of the day.
The question was then put and carried that a dividend of
31. 10s. per cent. be declared for the half-year ending the sth
of April next, deducting the income-tax.
The GOVERNOR then stated that the dividend warrants
would be delivered and paid on Saturday the 6th of April.
He had nothing further to communicate to the Court.
Mr. FIELDER considered that the great amount of bullion
that the Bank at present had in its coffers ought to be made
a matter of serious consideration by the Court and the Go-
vernment, considering that, years ago, that establishment
had been obliged to buy gold at a most expensive rate. The
bullion in the Bank at the present moment amounted to
nearly 17,000,0001., and he thought that sonic representation
ought to be made on the subject, in the proper quarter.
Mr. Mamma wished to know, as the subject of the Bank
Charter had been mentioned in the Queen's speech, whether
the Governor and Directors had any communication to make
on the subject to the Proprietors ?
The GOVERNOR said he had nothing to communicate to the
proprietors on the subject ; when he had, he would call them
together again.
Mr. COOKE said, as they had now arrived at the time when
their charter was about to be considered again, care should
be taken to impress strongly on the Government the fact that
the privileges of that institution had been greatlyitrenched
upon. He litpd drawn the attention of Misters to
the subject by letters which he had written to
Sir Robert Peel and the Lord Chancellor. The
Bank Proprietors would be most happy to have any al-.
teration made which would be beneficial to the country, but
they ought not to be called upon to suffer more than their
fair share. When the dividends were rednced from 4 per
cent. to 3i per cent. every person having 7001. a-year lost
1001. a-year.—(Cries of " Question.") That was the question.
They had lost their money. He trusted that when the
question of the Bank Charter came to be considered before
Parliament, the Directors would take care that the legal opi •
nions to which he had alluded should be brought under the
attention of the Government, and on that, among other
grounds, he thought the Bank had a claim to be the sole
Bank of Issue.
Mr. THOMPSON asked if the branch banks still continued
to be a source of profit ?
The GOVERNOR replied that they did.
Mr. THOMPSON would move, if any one would second his
motion, that the name of J. Cooke, Esq., be printed among
the list of those recommended to be elected as Directors.—(A
laugh.) No doubt some of the older Directors would be most
happy to retire in favour of a gentleman who possessed such
an accurate knowledge of what ought to be done, and who
took such a great interest in the subject.—(Renewed laughter.)
Mr.' MAirniorr moved that the thanks of the Court be
given to the Governor, Deputy-Governor and Directors, for
the open and candid wi'y in which they had conducted the
proceedings of the Court.
Mr. LLOYD, before the question was put, wished to ask what
proportion the amount taken from the Rest bore to the whole
dividend.
The GOVERNOR—The total amount of the ,half-year's
dividend in the Bank Stock is 509,3551., from which the
property-tat has to be deducted, which leaves a net amount
of 494,598/., and to pay that interest 10,603/. 12s. 6d. has
been taken from the Rest.
Mr. WILLIA-msox rose to suggest to the Proprietors that it
would be advisable that they should request the Governor
to remain in office for another year. The present was a most
important crisis for the Bank. The Governor had been
already in communication with the Lords of the Treasury on
the subject of the renewal of the Charter; and, therefore, it
was of the utmost importance that he should continue in office
another year. He, therefore, moved a resolution to the effect
that the Governor be requested to continue in office another
year.
Mr. FIELDER seconded the resolution. The Governor was
acquainted with all the facts of the case, and they could not
do better than follow the precedent which had been set on the
former occasion when the renewal of the Bank Charter was
• under discussion.
The GOVERNOR would do whatever might be considered,
most advisable for the interests of the great- corporation; He
thought the resolution had better not be put, but that the
question should be left to the Directors. He had left the
.question wholly to the decision of the Directors, and if it
should be their opinion that it would conduce to the interests
of the Proprietors that he should for another year undertake
the onerous duty, he would do his best.—(Cheers.) What
course the Directors would adopt with regard to the
house would depend upon the feeling of the Proprietors, but
as far as he was concerned lie should leave the whole matter
in the hands of the Directors.—(Cheers.)
Sir P. LAURIE thought it would be much better to leave
the matter entirely to the discretion of the Directors who
would-recommend what house-list they pleased.
The GOVERNOR said that of course he could not put the
question of the vote of thanks to the meeting, but in the
name of himself and of the Directors, he begged to express
that they were deeply sensible of the kindness of the Pro-
prietors, and to declare that there was but one feeling by
which they were, all actuated, and that was a desire to do
their duty.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WILLIAMSON could not permit that vote of thanks to
drop in such a manner, he would himself put the question..
The HON. PROPRIETOR then put the question, and the vote
was carried by acclamation.
The GOVERNOR having again expressed his acknowledg
meats, the Court adjourned.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.;

LONDON, MARCH 21.—Wind this day at noon, fresh breeze
from N.E., and fine clear weather.

DEAL, MARCH 20.—Wind W. by S. to N.N.E., strong.—
Arrd. Mary, Mackie, Mauritius, for Leith and proceeded ;
Switzerland, Knight, NewYork_ Sid. Lloyd's, Sydney, New
South Wales ;;John Pirie, Honduras; Arethusa, Havannah ;
Mediator, New York ; Lady Peel, St. John's, New Bruns.
wick ; John Romilly and Fanny, Newfoundland ; Swiftsure,
Cuba ; Blundell, Norfolk Island ; London, Hobart Town ;
Scindian, Calcutta ; 'Worcester, Madras ; Ellen, Demerara ;
and the rest of the outward-bound, except Dale Park, Lady
Caroline, and Governor M'Donald.
PORTSMOUTH, ?MARCH 20.—Wind W.N.W. to N.N.E.,
hard and squally.—Arrd. New Phoenix, London for Jamaica.
JERSEY, MARCH 16.—S1d. Ariel, Newfoundland.
SCILLY, MARCH 11 TO 15.—Arrd. and proceeded, Alcesto,
Clyde for Trinidad; Fragment, Liverpool for Madeira.
SCILLY, MARCH 18.—Arrd. Gilbert Jamieson, Newport for
Amsterdam, leaky, .with cargo shifted, and other damage,
having been struck by a sea.
TORBAY, MARCH 19.—Sld Lady Prudhoe, Cuba.
DARTMOUTH, MARCH 20.—Arrd. Syren, London for New-
foundland; Halcyon, Exeter for Cardiff, with damage, and
bows stove, having been in contact with a schooner yester-
day, supposed to be Portuguese.
PLYMOUTH, MARCH 20.—Wind N.W.—Arrd. Commerce,
Bordeaux for Havre, with bows stove, &c., having been in
contact: with a brig off the Eddystone yesterday. Sld. her
Majesty's steamer Styx, westward.
OFF , PENZANCE, MARCH 18.—Burgundy, Wotton, New
'York for Havre.

NEWPORT, Mina' 19.—S1d. Albion, Hicks, Boston.
GUERNSEY, MARCII 18.—During a heavy gale from S.E.,
16th inst., the Twenty-ninth of May, for the Mediterranean,
drove ashore on the rocks to N.E. of the harbour, but has
since been got off, and in here, with considerable damage,
and must discharge.

LOWESTOFFE, MAncii 20.—A gale at N.E.—The Latona,
of Shields, with bows stove, has been assisted in here.

CORK, MARCH 18.—It blew very strong yesterday. A
large barque, with loss of sails, has passed to leeward. An
outward-bound barque, from Liverpool, leaky, is off port.
Sailed, Royal Saxon, Sydney, New South Wales ; Elizabeth,
St. John's, New Brunswick.
LIVERPOOL, Mancti 20.—Wind N.E., moderate.—Arrived
—Daniel Grant, Valparaiso ; Eliza, Brown, Possession Island,
sailed Jan. 13th, St. Helena 26th.

•
CLYDE, 111Anot 18.—Arrd. Challenger, M'Ewen, Ichoboe.
Sld. Annabella, Jamaica ; Lady Sale, St. John's, New Bruns-
wick ; Heyworth, Demerara.
BOSTON, MARCH 19.—A sloop is ashore between High Horn
and Trieston.

BRIDPORT, MARCH 18.--Sid. Royalist, Newfoundland.
BEAUMARIS, MARCH .16.—Arrd. Thomas Hughes, Butler,
Africa for Lancaster.

HARTLEPOOL, MARCH 17.—The Endyn has been got off
the strand and into the harbour.

Wicx.Low, MAncit 16.—The Frances, Powell, is ashore,
crew saved, mid is expected otT when the wind moderates.
__ _ _

ARKLOW, MARCH I6.—The Peurldyn, of Liverpool, came
ashore to-day during a hurricane at E.N.E., crew saved. The
Brothers, of this port, bound to Bristol, with copper ore, is
ashore on the beach, crew (except two) saved.

CORN AVERAGES.
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.
For the Week ended Mai eh 16, 1F44, made up from the Returns of
the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in Englan.: and
Wales, per Imperial Quarter.
56a. 3d.1 Oats ......... 20.5. li. 8ean5.....„ 31s. Si
8ar1ey......... 3d. Rye ..... 33s. 8411 Pease 31s. 4d

AVERAOES OF THE LAST SIX WEEKS.
Weeks ending WHEAT.
,BARLEY.) OATS. I BRANS.

I EASE,

, - Feb. 10 10 52 7 31 1 19 1 :2 9 29 1.0 30 6
17 53 6 33 4 19 6 St 5 30 6 31 1
24 55 1 33 7 19 7 32 10 '3O 4 31 2
March 2 56 2 33 9 20 0 35 3 90 5 31 0
9 56 0 33 6 19 11 33 9 31 0 31 6
16 56 3 33 3 20 I 33 8 31 3 31 4
IMPERIAL AOOREOATI AMAGER OF THE AIX weees
Wheat 54. Ild 1 Oats .... ..... 19i. 91. Bean. .30 7d
Barley 33~ 54 1 Rye
DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN.
Wheat ' ..... ....18i. Or1„1 Oats ......... 7s. Od.l Beans 10 ful
Barley

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.—Yesterday the
FipHews of this Goliege met at their house in Trafalgar-
square, for the purpose of choosing a President, in the room
of the late Sir Henry Halford, when John Ayrton Paris,
M.D., F.R.S., was elected, by ballot, to fill that important
office.

BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY.—A large and
influential meeting of the city and county gentlemen was
held at the Guildhall, Exeter, on Saturday, to consider the
propriety of adopting some course to celebrate the completion
and opening of the Bristol and Exeter Railway. The High
Sheriff of Devon was in the chair, and it was unanimously
resolved that -a public banquet should be given to the Direc-
tors of the Bristol and Exeter and the Great Western Rail-
ways, the Members and Recorder of Exeter, the Lord Lieu.
tenant, the High Sheriff and Members of tke county of
Devon, &c., on that occasion. A considerable amount was
raised at the meeting for carrying the same into effect, and
subscription lists arc opened at the different banks in Exeter.
—Western Luminary.

CHESS.--Mr. Staunton, the celebrated English
clinmpion, dined with the Brighton Chess Club on Monday.
Three very interesting games were played by Mr. Staunton.
and Mr. Kennedy, a member of the club, in which the cham-
pion gave his opponent the advantage of a pawn and two
moves. Mr. Kennedy won the first two games, but the third
was won by Mr. Staunton, who displayed great skill.

E INTELLIGE

IN CE.

_ ~~.

CLERKENWELL-(THIS DAY.)
Thomas Barber, formerly in the army, was charged with
an assault of a very savage character on police-constable
Solomons, 54 G.
It appeared from the evidence adduced that Solomons, who
is a very quiet-inoffensive officer, was on duty in Cow-cross-
street, between one and two o'clock this morning, when he
raw the prisoner quarelliug with two prostitutes, and croat-
ing such a riot as to disturb the whole neighbourhood. The
officer requested of them to separate, and on the prisoner re-
fusing to do so, took him into custody. The constable had
no sooner laid his hand upon Barber than he attacked him,
and knocked him down (ix the pavement. The officer
shouted for help, and when police-constable 49 G came up,
Solomons was lying on the ground, and the prisoner, with his
knee on his stomach and his hand in his stock, as if about to
stranggle him. 49 attempted to drag prisoner away, but he
declared, with an oath, " 1 will teach him the five cuts."
Solomonsgot upon his legs, but the prisoner knocked him
down again, and iii the fall the officer's finger was. hurt.
The prisoner's defence very much aggravated his guilt, for
he alleged that the constable had been in company with the
prostitutes, and that he attacked him because he refused to
give him drink. He further alleged that the officer used the
most disgusting language.
Sergeant Boy-son, 19 G, deposed that the prisoner had not
said a syllable about the officer's alleged misconduct at the
station-house.

Mr. GREENWOOD, after a patient investigation of the case,
fully ascertained that the prisoner's defence was altogether
fabulous. The Magistrate remarked upon the frequency of
violent and unprovoked assaults on the police in his district,
and sentenced the prisoner to pay a fine of 11., or undergo a
commensurate term of imprisonment.
The prisoner was committed.

UNION HALL.-(THIS DAY.)
Three men-of-war's men, lately payei off, applied for re-
lief, under the following circumstances :
It appeared that they had been recently paid off from the
Iris, on her return from the coast of Africa, and, having ex-
pended their wages, and being unable to get employment,
they were reducel to great distress.
CorrixGnAm, findinr, the poor fellows had seen a great
deal of active service abroad, remarked that there ought to
be some asylum for such persons, until they succeeded in
getting on board other ships, and that they should not be
permitted to wander about the streets in such a deplorable
condition, after risking their lives in the service of their
country.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ -

They stated that they had been at the Admiralty, but only
received an answer that some steam-ships were fitting out at
Woolwich, and that probably they might be engaged on
board when they were launched in about a month. Until
then, however, they run the risk of starving,
The MAcusTnATE lamented the situation of the three poor
tars, ordered them some temporary assistance from the poor-
box, and recommended them to get to Portsmouth where
they might have a chance of employment.

LITERATURE.
PALM LEAVES. Molon, London, 1844.

The poems contained in this little volume were'
suggested, it seems, by impressions made during the
author's—Mr. Monckton Milnes' late tour in
Turkey, Greece, and Egypt. Though they refer,
however, to scenes and incidents in the East, there is
not much of an oriental character about them ; and
indeed—if we except here and there a descriptive pas-
sage—the majority might have been written by Mr.
Milnes without once stirring from England. Some
of the poems in their calm, thoughtful, passionless
tone, remind us of Wordsworth, of whom the author
is evidently a firm admirer, and whose manner he
essays to imitate, though without servility. The
versification throughout is equable and harmonious to
a degree; but it would have been considerably im-
proved, had a little more pith and vigour been infused
into it. One great merit in the poems is the kindly
and catholic spirit that pervades them; Mr. Milnes
thinks and feels like a cosmopolite, and not like a
mere prejudiced observer—such as Western Europe
is so continually sending forth—who is surpris d and
shocked at all such customs, feelings, &c., as may
happen to be at variance with those of his own
country. Though he prefers the manners of the
West, yet our author gives fair play to those of the
East, as we see in his polished and picturesque poems
dated from Constantinople. As a specimen of his
manner, we quote some pleasing lines on " Delos,"
in which the classical associations connected with this
famous island are made to serve a moral purpose :
Though Syra's ruck was pa'sed at morn,
The wind so faintly arched the sail,
That ere to Delos we were borne,
. The autumn day began to fail,
And only in Diana's smiles
We reached the bay between the isles.
In sweet serenity of force
She ruled the Heavens without a star—
A sacred image that the course
Of time and thought can hardly mar,—
As dear and nearly as divine
As ever in Ephesian shrine.
I knew that on the spot I trod
Her glorious twins Latona bore,
That-for her sake the pitying God
Had fixed the isle, afloat before ;
And, fearful of his just disdain,
I almost felt it move again.

For the delicious light that threw
Such dear transparence on the were,
From the black mastick-bushes drew

Column, and frieze, and architrave,
Like rocks, which, native to the place,
Had something of mysterious grace.
" Strong was the power of Art to bid
Arise such beauty out of stone,
Yet Paros might as well have hid
Its wealth within its breast unknown,
As for brute Nature to regain
The fragments of the fallen fane.
" Who can rebuild these colonnades
Where met the ancient festal host,
The peasant from Arcadia's glades,
The merchant from lonia's coast,
Gladdening their Grecian blood to stand
On one religious Fatherland ? "

So in my angry discontent
I cried, but calmer thoughts came on,
And gratitude with sorrow blent,
And murmur turned to orison:
I thanked the Gods for what had been,
And Nature for the present scene.
I felt that while in Greece remained

Signs of that old heroic show,
Hope, Memory's sister, so sustained,
Would sink not altogether low,
And Grecian hearts once more might be
Combined in powerful amity.

. . . Long ere the sun's most curious ray
Had touched the morning's zone of pearl,
I and my boat were far away,
Raised on the water's freshening curl ;
And barely 'twixt the rose and blue
The island's rim was still in view.

So Delos rests upon my mind,
A perfect Vision of the night,
A picture by moon-rays designed,
And shaded into black and bright,—
A true Idea borne away,
Untroubled by the dreamless day.

MEMOIRS of EMINENT ENGLISHWOMEN.
2 Vols. Bentley, London, 1844.
The title of this work sufficiently explains its na-
ture, though we may observe, by way of additional
explanation, that the memoirs contained in it are
oonfined to such "eminent Englishwomen" as lived
during, and subsequently to, the reign of Eliza-
beth; the authoress, Miss Costello, justly remarking
that it is scarcely possible to give the biography of
the females. of England who have been remarkable
in their time, with any degree of accuracy, till the
sixteenth century. Among the memoirs we find one
of the Countess of Shrewsbury, celebrated for her
great skill and success in fishing for husbands and
hooking them. This shrewd, beautiful, and worldly
woman was married not less than four times, and by
each marriage she obtained a considerable accession
of fortune, until at length she became one of the
wealthiest individuals in the kingdom, and built that
well-known palace, Chatsworth, which has long been
one of the most splendid and spacious edifices in
Europe. Over all her husbands the Countess pos-
sessed nearly equal influence, and her fourth, the
Earl of Shrewsbury, was gaoler to the unfortunate
Mary, Queen of Scots,—a circumstance which ren
dered his life perfectly miserable, by subjecting him
to the caprices of. Elizabeth, whose distrust of even '
her most devoted adherents was never wholly laid
aside. In the course of this entertaining memoir of
the Countess of Shrewsbury, we meet with several
incidental references to the egregious vanity of the
" maiden Queen," who even when past sixty years of
age, allowed herself to be gratified by compliments,
no matter how fulsome, on her beauty and her juve-
nility. " Wherever she appeared," says Miss Costello,
" new devices were contrived to flatter and delight
her; she could not step, but nymphs and shepherds
darted forth, falling at her feet, and uttering extrava-
gant praises, which were echoed by the courtiers
round her. In a Certain masque she is called 'the
only light this age has granted to the world,' and the
Lady of May, acknowledged to be a divinity of
beauty, confesses her inferiority to the beautifullest
lady these woods have ever received.'" The life
of the unfortunate
." Arabella Stuart" cannot fail to
interest, if only for the pathos and simplicity with
which it is written; but the most attractive memoir
in the two volumes, is that of the "Countess of Pem-
broke," so well known by Ben Jonson's famous
epitaph upon her. Our authoress, we see, speaks of
the " beauty" of this celebrated lady; but the portrait
which is affixed to her memoir, represents her as a
perfect fright. Indeed, we do not know when we
have seen so intensely ugly a face as the painter has
supplied her with.

MILITARY DRESS.—It is expected that the sum-
mer dress of the privates and non-commissioned officers,
both of the cavalry and infantry, will undergo change before
the ensuing season. It appears that the white trousers are
intended to be abolished, and that some other light article
will be substituted for it.

ITALIAN BANDITTI.--ROME, FEB. 26.—Intelli-
gence has just been received, - tliat an English family of dis-
tinction, en rouie-falq)at city, have been robbed by banditti
near Itris of all their luggage ; and what renders the affitir
more unfortunate is, that some of the servants, in defending
the property, came in conflict with the robbers and were se-
verely wounded.