The Sun.
London, England, 1818-09-18 00:00:00

'BANk OF ENOLA.

Yesterday. morning the Half.yearly Meeting

the' Proprietors of Bank-Suick was held at the
Bank, to declare a half:yeariy 'dividend, which it
was agreed should be five per cent.
• BANK FORGERIES.
Mr. RANDLe JAcksoN called the attention of
the Directors and of the General Court to the
numerous forgeries of Batik Notes. He regretted
having been absent from the last Court when the
subject was mentiotted.; but'every man who read
the newspapers, must be deeply interested re-
specting it. A Committee had been appointed at
the instance of the Legislature, to inquire into the
best means of preventing and detecting forgeries.
He. would not attempt to anticipate the result
of their deliberations, which, no doubt were con-
stant and eager, considering the number of lives,
the deep interests, depending on their labours
His present object was only to ask of the Court '
of. Directors two.qaestions, namely, Whether the
selection of the mode of prosecution, and the di-
rection of the rewards bestowed, were left to any
single individual, or were considered and directed
by the Court of Directors at large. Offender,
were proceeded against in two ways ; some were
'prosecuted for a capital offence, while some others
were indicted for an interior crime, ad mil t
of brenefit of clergy, or tranvortation.. The
power' of the selection of ifnlividuals fOr ei-
ther of these prosecutions was one of great
trust—of high public interest ; and he wish
ed to. know-Whether it was given to any one
individUal, or exercised' by the Court of Directors
at large ?—lie alSo visited to know, jt the Court
of Directors, or any individual, was intrusted

with the selection o 1 objects to be rewarded for
their activity in bringing offenders to instice, or,
as it has been harsirly called, in some cases he

feared too truly, to receive blood-money. Ile
g
praittedindividuals who honestly and fairly assist-
ed in bringin offenders to justice; hat he wished
to know whether the power of rewarding them
was lett to any one person, or exercised by the
Court of Directors themselves, as it Was obviously
()He of great delicacy and importance,?-IYhen
he ruceived an answer to these two questions, he
would make some further observations.
The CHAIRMAN replied, that the prosecutions
were first considered dad 'directed by a ComMittee
of the Court of Directors ; and that the rewards
be.towed on individuals for activity in bringing
offenders to justice were considered and bestowed
by the same Committee. That Committee had
the entire management of these affairs, which
tvere not assigned to the care or discretion of any

Mr. RANDLE JACKSON expressed himself satis-
fied. He dwelt at some length on the recent
forgeries, and the sensation they had produced in
the public mind. He contended that their increase
was chiefly owi g to two causes. - Crimes gene-
rally had increased, and forgeries of course had
increased with other offences. Again ; those who
totmerly counterfeited metallic money when it was
mote generally in circulation, and thoSe whO
uttered it, now Of necessity forged and uttered
Batik-notes: But with reteren,:e to the total
number of these offences, compared with those
of former times, and with reference to the
general increase of • crime, which of course
included increase of forgeries, he denied that
There was any actual, 'any disproportionate
increase of forgery. He advised the Court of Di-
. rectors to consult, and co-opera:e with the Home
Secretary of State in all their proceedings respect-
ing these prosecutions. He complimented 'Lord
Sidmouth, hitt lamented that. the system of po-
lice was nut inore efficient in this country. He
alluded to France,' and said crimes would continue
.to'increase, till the science of police was more
studied and extended ; till, as in other countries,
the office of Minister of Police was one of the
highest honour in the State.
Mr:,YOUNG °Wet red that he was anxious to
press upon the attention of the Directors, in
tsbose honour and humanity he placed the fullest
confidence, the propriety, with a view to the di-
minution of forgery, of withdrawing float circu-
lation the one and the two pound notes.
The GOVERNOR remarked, that this was a sub-
ject for the consideration of‘the Legislature, and
must depend on the reneWal or expiration of the
Restriction Act ; at the same time, he might say,
that if
.any objection existed against the resunip-
tion of cash 'p:tvtneuti, it Was not among the
aytneuti,
Bank ))hectors that such objection originated or
Was entertained.
.11`,74,41K-'
The question of adjournment was then put and
qattied. .:, •