The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-09 00:00:00

REPORT.

"For the twelfth time the Directors have the pleasure of sub-
mitting to the Proprietors their annual report.
" The Proprietors are no doubt aware that the banking measure
introduced into Parliament, shortly before they were last assembled,
has, with some modifications, passed into a law. The leading
features of the new Basking Act are, the concession
of certain privileges to joint-stock banks established within 65
miles of London, and the limitation of the circulation of banks
of issue. Whether it is wise, or beneficial, so far as the public
interest is concerned, to apply the principle of limitation to the
medium of exchange, when the operations of trade must fluctuate
and remain unrestricted, experience must determine. In so tar as
regards the effect of the enactment upon the National Provincial
Bank, the Directors are happy to state that the power to issue to
the extent of 442,371/., with which the Act invests them, and the
economizing effect upon the provincial circulation which the gene.
rat introduction of railway communication is produoing, will
enable them to conduct the business of the Company without in.
convenience, although at some additional expense to their cus-
tomers and the community.
" The National Provincial Bank will, in other respects, derive
advantages from the operation of the Act, and with the measure,
as a whole, when viewed with reference to its bearings upon the
interests of this Company, the Directors are perfectly satisfied.
" The Directors have to congratulate the Proprietors upon the
return of prosperity in the general trade of the country which has
marked the past year, the partial indications of which were ad-
verted to in last report. This gratifying commercial revival has
naturally been followed by more activity in the business of banking,
but the value of money has not materially increased. The slight
improvement, however, which has taken place in the Money Market
has enabled the Directors to e;:hibit to the Proprietors a financial
result for the year eliding the 31st of December last, which they
feel assured will be deemed satisfactory.
1844.

January 1. Amount of undivided profits at this date 54,652 19 8
December 31. Net profits of 1844, after making
allowance for bad and doubtful debts, and for a
portion of preliminary expenses .

25,566 15 9

Making a total 0f.....

..... 80,219 15 5

Deduct dividend paid Proprietors for 1844... 20,541 10 0

Leaving undivided profits at 31st Dec., 1844 59,078 5 5

And making an addition to the Reserve Fund of 5,025 i, ss. 9d.

" The Directors who go out of office by rotation are Robert Bell,
James G. Duff, and Almon Hill, Esqs., all of whom are eligible to
be reelected, and offer themselves accordingly.
" The death of William Henry Sharp and George Hyde, Esqs.,
and the retirement of James Ruddell Todd and John Page Reade,
Esqs., have left four vacancies in the Direction; to supply which
the following qualified Proprietors have offered themselves as Can-
didates, and given the necessary notices, viz , Sir J. N. R. Camp-
bell, K.C.H. ; John Kingston, Esq. ; J. Fector, Esq. ; Wm.
J. Maxwell, Esq."
The CHAIRMAN then moved that the report be received and
adopted; which, being seconded, was unanimously approved and
adopted.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed the reelection of Robert Bell,
James G. Duff, and Almon Hill, Esqs., which having been
seconded by Horace Twiss, Esq., was carried. . .

. . .
,
ROBERT BELL, Esq., rose to return thanks for the honour con.
furred on himself and brother Directors.

The CHAIRMAN next informed the meeting that to fill the four
vacancies occasioned by the death of William Henry sharp, aria
George Hyde, Esqs., and the retirement of James R. I odd and
J. P. Reade Esqs., then proposed Sir J. N. R. Campbell, K.C.H. ;
John Kingston, Esq. ; J. M. Fector, Esq. ; William J. Maxwell,
Esq., to supply their place in the Direction, which was carried
unanimously. . .

ROBERT HICHIN, Esq., proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman
and other Directors, for their able and efficient services during the
past year, which was seconded by Mr. W. BROWNE, who eulogised
the Directors for the successful regulations with the Minister on the
late Joint Stock Bill.

Mr. Gm proposed a vote of thanks to Daniel Robertson,
Esq., and the other officer- of the establishment. which having been
duly acknowledged by Mr. Robertson, the meeting was adjourned.

MONEY and COMM.ERCIAL NE WS
(From The Sun of Last Night.)

The sales of Cotton at Liverpool, yesterday, were 12,000
bales, including 6,000 bales on speculation. There was,
however, no advance in prices. Shares were dull
again, and prices continued to decline.—Barnsley.
Junction, 3% 4 ; Birkenhead, Manchester, and,
Cheshire Junction, 91% % ; Birmingham and Gloucester
134 1/2 ; Ditto, New Shares, 41/s ; Blackburn, Darwen, and
Bolton, 5% ; Belfast and Ballymena, 7 % 34 ; Bolton, Wigan,
and Liverpool, 10%; Caledonian, 11 ; Ditto Extension,
31/2 ; Cambridge and Lincoln, 7% ; Chester and Holyhead,
163/4 Churnet Valley, 61/4 1/2 ; Clitheroe Junction, 31/2 ;
Clydesdale Junction, 8 144 ; Cork and Bandon, 73/4 ; Cork
and Waterford, 2%; Dublin and Belfast Junction, 10% 3/4 ;
Dublin and Galway, 51/2 4%; Edinburgh and Glasgow, 16 ;
Edinburgh and Dumbarton, 295. ' • Edinburgh and Perth, 9s. ;
Glasgow and Dumfries, 295. ; Grand Junction, 2321/2 232 ;
Ditto, Half Shares, 116; Ditto, Eighth Shares, 201%; Great
Grimsby and Sheffield, 6%; Goole and Doncaster, 20s. 215.;
Huddersfield Canal and Railway, 73/4 ; Huddersfield and
Sheffield, 734 ; Inverness and Elgin, 11/2 ; Inverness and
Perth, 21/2 ; Lancaster and Carlisle, 43 ; Lancaster and
Preston, 51%; Limerick and Waterford, 7% 374 ; Liverpool,
Ormskirk, and Preston, 23/4 ; London and Brmingham,
32/. Shares, 441/2; Ditto, Quarter Shares, 3234 ; London and
Windsor, 114 prem. ; Londonderry and Enniskillen, 44 ;
London and York, 41/2 ; Leeds and Dewsbury, 101% ;
Leeds and Thirsk, 61/2 ; Leeds and West Riding Junction,
63/4 ; Manchester and ißirmingham, New Quarter Shares,
752; Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction, 6; Man-
chester and Leeds, 142 ; Midland Railway, 156% ; Ditto,
40/. Shares, 18%; Newcastle and Berwick, 15 ; Newry and ,
Enniskillen, ; North British, Half Shares, 935. 9d. ;
North Union (A), 145; North Wales Mineral, 1612; Ditto,
New Shares, 6; North Western, 925. 4 ; North Wales, 31/2 ;
Oxford and Birmingham Junction, 41A ; Oxford, \Vorcester,
and Wolverhampton, 21/2 ; Runconi -Gap, 3014 ; Sheffield
and Manchester, Quarter Shares, 14% ; Shrewsbury, Os-
westryand Cheshire, 5 4% ; South-Eastern
Shares, No. 2, 133/4 ; Ditto, No. 3,6% ; Scottish Central,
; Trent Valley, 18 ; Ditto Continuation, 134 1 ;
Waterford and Kilkenny, 4; Welsh Midland, 2% Bs. 6d.:
West Yorkshire, 8 77/ ; 'Worcester and Tring, 411 ; White-
haven and Furness, 21/2 ; York and Carlisle, 31!, %;
Northern of France, (Laffitte's), 5X ; Ditto (Rosamel's),
21/2 ; Paris and Rouen, 42.
It appears by the accounts received from Liverpool that
the iron-masters of Scotland have persevered in a course
of policy as to delivery of produce, except under certain re-
gulations which are considered to he opposed to the facilities
that ought to be given to trade. At a meeting of those con-
nected with the iron trade of Liverpool, a series of resolutions was
passed upon the subject, and a deputation was appointed to
confer with the Scotch iron-masters upon the subject. It is
the opinion of parties connected with the iron trade, that the
utmost facilities ought to he eiven to commercial ! ransaet ions,
rather than that impediments should be placed in the way of
an extension of the trade. It may be true that at the present
time there is a great, nay an almost unprecedented, demand
for iron, chiefly on account of railwaye in course of progree-