The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-20 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND.

On Thursday, a Special General Meeting of the Directors and
Proprietors of this Company was held at the City of London Tavern,
which was most numerously and highly respectably attended.-
Among. those present we observed G. R. Dawson, • Under Secre-
tary of State, Esq., M.P. ; Right Hon. Col. Bagwell, M.P. ;
Thomas Spring Aice, Esq., M.P. ; James Brogden, Esq., M.P.";
Sir Charles Flodrer, , Bart. ; M. Atwood, Esq., M.P. ; Alderman
Thorpe, &e. Ssc.
Mr. Spring Rice, accompanied by many of the foregoing Gen-
tlemen, entered the room at a little after one o'clnelg and moved
that Edward Blount, Esq. a gentleman to whom the Directors
and Proprietors were so much indebted, should take the Chair,
which was seconded by G. R. Dawson, Esq. M.P. with similar
•
observations..
EDWARD BLOUNT, Esq. in the Chair, said that he should not
take up the time of the Meeting with snaking any remarks; but
he should read to them the advertisement by whiela they were con-
vened, es that would explain to them the objects for which they
met.
The CHAIRMAN having read the Advertisement, which stated
that the Meeting Was convened for the purpose of receiving the
Directors Report,
DawsoN then moved that the Report be read, which was
seconded by the Right lion. Col. BAowaz.L, M.P.
T. Fannxn, the Solicitor to the Company, then rend the Re-
port, which detailed, at considerable length, the prosperity of the
Concern, and concluded with declaring a dividend of 4 per cent.
per annum,, which was received with much cheering.
After the Report had been read, the CHAIRMAN said, before
he shoUld put the question as to whether the Report should be
• received or not, he would be happy to answer any question which
any Shareholder thought proper to ask him. .
Mr. Sraino Bien rose and said, from the mnnner in which
the Report had been received he should not trespass on the Meet-
ing, but was happy to perceive that the proprietary were of opi.
nion that they (the Directors) had discharged the important
d
, that
as
sDirthe
ectori'had been imposed on them. lie
Report just read be received.
thuetnies.fo,
re which,moved
A SHARRHOLDER said, before the question was put, he would
wish to know how could the Directors venture to make a dividend
of 4 per cent. when the Report stated that there were no arith-
metical calculations made?

Mr. Srama Rica replied, that from the frequent changes in
commerce, ouch as the imports being greater one year than ano-
ther, they could not venture to make an annual dividend of the
profits, but took an average for five years, with actual certainty of
4 per cent., and the great probability, indeed amounting to a de-
gree of almost certainty, of much more.—(Cheers.)
A SHAREHOLDER would be glad to know, was the dividend
about to be !made actual profit realized?
The CH Ai nar AN declared it was. —( A pplause. )
A SHAREHOLDER inquired the amount of the bad debts which
the concern had made?

The CHAIRMAN replied, not 2001.—(Cheers.)
A SHAREHOLDER asked, was the four per cent. about to be
paid clear of all deductions and bad debts ?

The CHAIRMAN.—CIear of al'..—(Much applause.)—He said
it afforded him peculiar satisfaction to answer any questions put
to him, consistent with his duties as Director; but there were
certain circumstances connected with the management of the
affairs of the company, which it would not be prudent to disclose.
A SHAREHOLDER said; that in consequence of what had fallen
from the Chairman, he conceived it necessary to make a few ob-
servations. He conceived that secrecy of any kind whatsoever
would be highly injurious to the concern, and publicity of the
greatest possible advantage. He was a Shareholder of the Bank
of France—(Hear, hear)—and there every explanation was given
to every Shareholder who should require it. And from the very
excellent Report which had been just read, he was of opinion
it would be highly beneficial to the concern to have the Report
printed and circulated through the Shareholders.—(Hear, hear,
and applause.),-He therefore would move that the Report just
read be printed and circulated among the Proprietary.
This Resolution was seconded by Mr. Dawsosi, M.P., who
observed at the same 'time, that as a Director be most cheerfully
concurred in it.

The Resolution was then put, that the Report be received,
printed, and circulated through the Proprietary, which passed
unanimously, and with great acclamation.
Thanks were then given to the Chairman and Directors, and
the Meeting separated.

LAw INTEIIIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, MAY 19.
%maw( v. DRACE.

. _ .
This,was an action against the defendant, the drawer of .a bill
of exchange, at.two months, dated on the Bth of August, 1826,
for 8004 The defendant, since the drawing of the bill, had be-
come a bankrupt, but had not got Ids certificate ; he had promised
to pay the bill, but had very strenuously pressed the plaintiff to
prove the amount under his commission ; which course, however,
the plaintiff did not choose to adopt, conceiving that the defendant
was, or would be, perfectly able to pay all his debts.-
Mr. SO.antxrr ,was quite, unable to: conjecture what. defence
was to be set up, Witnesses were called, who proved the draw-
ing and endorsing of the bill to be in the hand-writing of the de-
fendant, and also the dishonouring of the bill.
Mr. Cairn(' cross-examined the witnerei, but elicited notli!ng,
anti had po,allawer to make to the plaintiff's case.
Verdict for the plaintiff, SOU, with interest, 9/. 9s.
AOnOROVOIr AND AN(YrliElt v. RAINSAACK.

This was an action of assumpsit on the part of the assignees
of Henry Morland, wine and spirit dealer,. Dean-street, Soho,
a bankrupt, for the recovery of ill. 10s. the amount of spirits
sold by the bankrupt before his bankruptcy to the defendant.
The sale of the spirits, the act of bankruptcy, and the attorney's
authority from the assignees to firing this action, were proved.
Verdict for the plaintiff, 111. 101.
DICK AND SI‘CALL V. COLLINS.

Mr. SCAXLETT stated the case to the Jury. The 'plaintiffs
have a mercantile establishment in America,. and also carry on
business in England. Mr. Dick manages the business abroad,
and Mr. M'Call in England. In the course of last year Mr. Dick
came to London, and at that time, the two plaintiffs determining
upon extending their business abroad, found it necessary to en-
gage a clerk here to go to Vera Crux. They did agree with the
defendant, that be should go out, to serve them for threi3 years,' at
8601. per annum, and board, lodgings, &c. to be provided by the
plaintiffs. The first half-year's salary was to be paid in advance,
before the defendant left this country. The agreement was re-
gularly stamped, and signed lit July last. 1751. was advanced
by the plaintiffs to the defendant, as part of his first year's salary ;
and the defendant was to have sailed with Mr. Dick in No-
vember last. A birth was provided for the defendant in the
Hopeful, which sailed oh the sth of November last. Mr. Dick
then sailed, but the defendant refused to go, though part of his
luggage had been put on; board. The present action was brought,
not for any damages, but to recover back the 1751. that had been
paid on the faith of the defendant's performing his contract. Mr.
Scarlett did not know what the defence would be ; he understood
that the defendant's wife, not wishing to part with him, would
net let him go.
John M'Call, a clerk, proved the agreement to have been all
in the, hand-writing of the defendant. The ' plaintiff's' firm in
London is in Welbrook: The money Was paid by witness to de-
fendant, on condition that heihnuld perform hie agreement. The
Hopeful was principally laden with muskets. To prevent the
public being inforthed that she had military stores on board, to
take to Vera Cruz, it was announced that the ship was to sail to
New Orleana. The defendant knew' of the nature of the cargo
before he agreed to go by the Hopefti,l

Win. Kinching, one of the owners of the Hoptful, reserved
a birth for,defenclent; fait, defendant come on board at Gravesend
to take out his trunk and bed again, alleging he could not get his
affairs settled early enough to enable him to go then, but that he
would, sail soon afterwards by the Atlantic front Liverpool, but
defendant never left this. country.
'Mr. GURNSY went to the Jury upon this ground, that though
the defendant,hadincautiously consented to Hail by the Hopeful,
yet, afterwards learning that she was to perform an illegal voyage,
and to early a cargo that would render her, and all on board,
liable, to seizure, .and no other ship having been offered to him to
go by, his refusing to go by the Hopeful, was no breach of his
agreement, He bad been urged to make other points, points
respecting the conduct of the plaintiffs to defendant,
,ice. but be
did not, conceive that he could do so with good effect, and
therefore he would only prove the order of the Privy Council,
forbidding thkehippiog of military stores, which in his opinion
would be suMciera,
The Order of the Privy Council was now put in and readtbut.
the word Wittatt was not to be found in the order.
Mr. Gvanev deliped offering further evidence.-...Verdiet for
plaintiffs, 1761.-,-Casts, 40s.
The COURT—If the word musket had even beenin the ,-orderi
I shoull have delivered-my opinion in favour of the plaintiffs; be-
cause I think, if the defendant really ditt noteailhy the Hopeful,
in conseittence of the siature of .her cargo, it wachiaduty to have
given that notice immediately to the plaintiffs, and to have de-
sired an opportunity of going by another ship, or to have re-
turned the money.

POIACE. INTULIGENCE:

Tirr PM CHARITABLE.'

MANSION-HOUSE.--Yesterday a Deputation from the re-
tail Silk Dealers and Linen ])rapers of tine West End of the Town,
waited upon the Lout) MAYOR, for the purpose of making a com-
plaint against the Spitalfieldh Weavers' Committee and the Dis-
tressed Manufacturers' Committee.

The LORD MAYOR upon hearing it publicly- declared, by the
Gentlemen who formed the Deputation, that they were about to
bring charges against so disinterested and respectable a body of
Noblemen and Gentlemen, asked the name of their spokesman.

The person appointed to conduct the matter, said.his name was
Johnson. •

He stated, that they waited upon his Lordship, in order to
prefer the complaint against the Committees specified, in the ex-
pectation that the conduct they were pursuing would be departed
from as soon as possible. It appeared, from the aulvertisements in
the PUblic Papers, that those COmmittees had been opening
houses-at the west-end of the town, for the sale of manufaCtures,
and were actually selling goods at an immense sacrifice. The
retail dealers at the west end of the townwere convinced that this
was a perversion of the funds of the charity, which would by no
11101%11i assist it, and was besides calculated to injure the trade of
those who had, after great expence, time, and itiduatry; established
themselves in business. _ _ _

The LORD MAYOR asked (with a smile) what evidence the.
Gentlemen had of the guilt of the Committees ?
lifr. Johnson replied, that the
,advertisements in the News-
papers fully proved that the Committees had established the
houses for the sale of the goods. He then' quoted an advertise-
ment from a house in New Bond-street, and another from a house
in Oxford-street, in each of which it is stated, that. manufactured
goods, to the amount of something less thin 100,0001: were for
sale, for the relief of the distressed manufacturers, at 40 per cent.
under the trade price. Those advertisements were quite sufficient
evidence of what the Committees had done, and were doing.

Mr. HoßLrn, who, with difficulty refrained from bursting into
a laugh, said, " Why, don't you see 'tit all a puff—the charity
puff is the best puff of all. The Committee, having nothing to do
with it."

The LORD MAyon assured the Gentlemen of the Deputation
that he had attended the Committee, and that he was convinced
they had nothing whatever to do with those houses which stood
forward so kindly in behalf of the distressed. The Committees
had neither purchased nor sold goods at all upon any occasion.
Mr. Johnson said, his Lordship was not probably aware of the
whole of the proceedings of the Committees, as he might not have
attended frequently. If the Deputation were provided with no
more than an isolated case, there might be some reason for believ-
ing that there was no foundation for the charge; bid advertise-
ments were issuing daily from a number of houses.
Mr. HOBLER—" Tobe sure, puff againSt puff; that's all."
The Deputation—These advertisements are issued in the name
of the Committee, and if they do not sanction them, they ought
to contradict them.

The Loup MAYOR asked whether the shops in question had
the appearance of doing a great deal of extra business in Collic:.-
quence of their liumanity?,—(A laugh. )—lt was said that nothing
of the kind had been observed.

His Lordship repeated, that there was nothing to be appre-
hended from the Committees. He had, he admitted, been applied
to by several ladies of rank, for information, whether they would
benefit the charity by purchasing of the Spitalfields' Weavers, to
which he replied, that the trade would be as much served if they
dealt with their own tradespeople.
Mr. Hontra said, it was most preposterous to suppose that the
Committees would act as was suspected. The poor people Whom
they were serving, had no stock at all, instead of having 90,0001.
or 100,0001. worth.

GUILDHALL.--Mary Hosier, the young woman charged
by a Mr. John Watson, with having deprived him of a sovereign,.
by affirming that it had-elided down- her throat in company with
an oyster, was brought up ,for re-examination yesterday, when
Mr. Watson said he did not wish to presi the matter further, as
the young woman had-found the sovereign, and restored it to him,
and seemed very sorry for what bad happened.
" And where•was it found, after all ?' asked the Magistrate.
• " Why, Sir," replied Mary, " it slipped down my throat sure
enough, and"4--but we cannot give Mary's account of the process
by which she recovered it ; and must-content ourselves with stat-
ing that she was discharged, and Mr. Watson walked away, with
hit sovereign in his pocket again, as comfortably as if nothing
had happened to either of them.
Fred. Laybourne; a manufacturer of gentlemen'. stocks, was
charged with stealing seven pair of gloves from Mr. Kipling, the
hosier, in the Poultry, and 10 pair of half-hose from Mr. Kip-
ling's, in Cheapside. Offering the goods for sale at a hosier's in
Middle-row, Holborn, with the marks on the wrappers, they
were sent to Mr, Kipling's for inspection, who identified the pro-
perty, and remembered the prisoner had been applying in the
course of the day for 'orders. He made no defence, and was com-
mitted. Messrs. Kipling stated they bad missed goods for months,
and one hosier in Holborn had admitted buying lots of the pri-
soner to the amount of 401. and another to 301.

MARLDOROUGII-STREEL—A young man, named Wm.
Scott, .waa committed for 15 days, to hard labour in the House of
Correction, for having, in violation of his contract, withdraWn
himself from the employ of Mr. Holland, a coach-smith, and gone
into the service of Mr. llolt, of the same ti Ade. Mr. Holland
said that this was the second contract the prisoner had broken with
him—the first bieach he forgave him.