The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-14 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEE.

Sub.Comarittee No. 2, met yesterday. The Committee con.
sisted of Sir J. Y. /Mkt., chaitimui, Mr. F. Mackenzie, the
O'Conor Don, Mr. Walker, and Mr. E. Yorke.
The Committee had the petitions of the following Railway Bills
before them, viz. :
Dundaik and Enniskillen Railway.
South. Eastern Railways.
Brighton and Chichester Railway (Portsmouth Extension).
London, Chatham, and North Kent.
DUNDALK AND ENNISKILLEN RAILWAY.

This petition was unopposed. The Bill is for a line sirrty.twe
miles in length, the cast of which is 750,0001. Engineer Sir J.
M'Nell. Standing orders complied wi!h.

BANK OF ENGLA

The usual half.ycarly Court of the Governor, Directors, and Pro-
prietors of Bank Stock was held yesterday at the Bank of England
for the purpose of declaring a dividend.
William Cotton, Esq., Governor of the Bank, took the chair at
twelve o'clock.
After the minutes of the last meeting were read,

The GOVERNOR said he had the honour to acquaint the Court
that this was the half-yearly General Court appointed by the bye.
laws to consider of a dividend. The Court of Directors
having considered the state of the banking ac-
counts, were of opinion that a dividend might be
made If the Court thought fit of 31, per cent. interest,
and profit for the half year, ending the sth of April next, deducting
therefrom 7d. in the pound on account of the income-tax. The
Court were aware that a change had been made with regard to the
making up of the accounts, and that, under the new system, now
the accounts were made up to the 28th of February, and the re.
suit of the profits between the 31st of August and the 28th of
February, enabled the Directors to recommend a dividend for the
last h if-year, making an addition to the rest of 9,7271. He had
now to move that a dividend be made; and as many as were of that
opinion would signify the same by holding up their hands.
In answer to a question from Mr. FIELDER,
The GOTERNOR stated that every year the amount of the sum
for the redemption of capital was larger than the year before.
Mr. IlammoNa wished to know how the new system was found
to work

The Goys:axon said, that there was some labour and expense in
putting the Bank in a condition to work the new system, but they
found no difficulty in working it.
The motion declaring a dividend of 3i per cent., deducting the
income-tax therefrom, was then put, and carried unanimously.
The 601E11SOR said that the dividend warrants would be deli.
vexed and paid on Monday, the 7th of April next.
Mr. Wrwsus proposed the following vote of thanks :
" Resolved,—That the best thanks of this Ccurt be given to the
Governor for his conspicuous talent, real, and assiduity to the
interests of the Bank of England ; more particularly, for success-
fully carrying out the working of the new system, as established
pursuant to the last Act of Parliament for renewing the privileges
of this Corporation."
Mr. HAMMOND seconded the resolution.
Mr. Cowen concurred, with great pleasure in the object of the
resolution.

Mr. HAMMOND begged leave to say a very few words. As a very
old Proprietor of the Bank, he could not permit this resolution to
go forward without expressing his entire concurrence in it; for he
was well acquainted with the seal, the ability, and the assiduity-
which the Governor and Deputy-Governor brought to bear in the
management of the affairs of this great great corporation.—(Hear,
hear.) Indeed, he believed that there could not be found in it two
men better qualified for the offices.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. FIELDER felt the tbllest confidence in the conduct and abi.

lity of the Governor and Deputy. Governor for the last three years,
and he had no doubt but that all who now heard him felt equal
confidence and satisfaction. But there was one point to which he
wished to call the attention of the Court. He would ask, would
it not be well, a short time before the election of the next Gover-
nor, Deputy-Governor, and Directors, to advertise the names of
the gentlemen whom it was intended to put in nomination for
those offices, in order that the Proprietors might have an opportunity
of judging fer themselves as to the fitness of these men ? He
merely threw this out as a suggestion.
The GOTIERNOIi said, in answer to a question from a Proprietor,
that the amount of the rest prior to the declaration of the dividend
was 3,573,524/. 4s. 2d., and subsequent to the declaration of the
dividend it amounted to 3,079,02 W. 9s. 9d.
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously, as was
also a similar vote to the Deputy-Governer.
The GOVERNOR rose to return thanks. Before doing so be

begged to say, in answer to a question that had just been put in re.
ference to the rest, that heretofore the sum announced as the rest
was not the current amount, becaUse it contained cniy a statement
of the interest paid in at the diffirrent periods in the interim pre.
viorts to the regular time for declaring the rest ; but now, and in
future, under the new system, the sum stated as the amount of
the rest would be the correct and actual amount. Having answered
that question, he now begged to thank the Court for the very un.
deserved honour they had conferred upon him. The Court were
aware that it was at their request he had allowed himself to be put
in nomination for this year—(Hear, bear)—for he was well aware
that the duties of the office would demand his most anxious care—
knowing, es he did, that very important measures, &act.
ing not only the welfare of this establishment, but that
of the country generally, in connexion with it,
would be brought before Parliament this year.—(Hear, hear.) He
would be glad indeed that some member of their body, possessed of
more ability and talent than he could boast, had been chosen ; but
having discharged his duty, as he had been told, satisfactorily, he
did not resist the request that he should continue its the chair for
another year.—(Efear, hear.) But though deficient in talent, yet
he could say with sincerity, in the words of the oath he had taken
when last placed in the chair, that he had done his duty to the ut.
most of his skill and power.—(Rear, hear.) He felt bound to say,
however, that much of his success hal been owing to the very
cordial and efficient assistance for which lie wan indebted to
those who acted with him.—(Hear, hear.) He should also add
that he had found that a plain, straightforward, unreserved mode
of dealing in his communications with the Government was the
only foundation that could be relied on with security and certainty.
—(Hear, hear.) That was the course that had been taken, and
be congratulated the Proprietors on the successful results.
The DEN:TT-GOVERNOR next returned thanks in a few words,
and expressed the satisfaction it afforded him to see the Court so
ur.animous in their approbation of the conduct of their Governor.
The GovEntsen, in reply to a question, said that no appliez.tion
had been made for a new Corporation, but that there would be
one made to the Crown for a new Charter.
The SECRETARY then read the minute, and the mating ad.
journed.

LONDON AND BRIGHTON TlATLwAy.—Wednesclay,
a meeting of holders of loan notes of this Company, who had,
through inadvertence, omitted to °give notice in due time of
their intention to convert the some into shares, was held at
the London Tavern. At twelve o'clock, the hour appointed
for the meeting, there were six. persons present, ho de-
cided that reporters should not be admitted, inasmuch se-it
was feared that unguarded exprusions might fall from the
Ups of acme of the speakers, in which case their appearaue
in the London papers would serve to irritate, rather than
CAMeiliate, the Brighton Directors.