The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-19
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL

The street was startled this morning by rumors
that there was something wrong In the books OF
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, aud early in
| the afternoon II became generally knosn that M
Frederic Hoffman, secretary Of that company, and
specially entrusted with charge o. the stock
ledger, had disappeared on Tuesday evening lat,
leaving his books In some confusion. Mr.. Ogden,
Of the Custom House, I'D clerk from the Office
OF Rowland & Aspinwall, were sent for yesterday
morning, and directed TO institute thorough exam
nation into the condition Of the books At the tine
we write the result Of their ssru,ny has not trans
pred. The talk in the street Is Of course about
can over issue, the public being particularly sen.
stiye on this point since the Schuyler affair. u,
seems doubtful, however, whether any over issue
OF consequence can have taken place, and I, is
quite likely tbatnothing more serious has occurred
than some errors in the posting Of the books. The
reader viii find below a communication from the
company on the subject. To morrow the recently
declared dividend of ten per cent becomes paya.
BILE, and we are glad to find that the company pro
pose to pay the dividend as ed-simply in.
sistipg that stockholders shall present their cert
fcates when they come to claim their Dividend
The following is the companys statement
SIArmHNI TIE COMPANY.
The unauthorized absence Of the secretary OF 'his
company rendering II impossible TO complete a reg,lS
stock s in for the pay Of the dividend on the
10Th rs, stockholders viii required to present ei-
certificates when claiming pay ment OF their dividenjs
In order 70 preyeo, sscrace on the part Of stockhsss
pancos IN the record OF tie PAL ent Of the last dividend
result IN oss to ils company through neglsene OF De
sign on the part OF the officer In quest bic friends
have promised to make good such deficiency Oompeteu,
accountants are engaged ia the preparation of new
stock ger and the resu Of their investigators viii TO
made public at the earliest possible moment Meanwhile,
may DC proper to add that the dscrepsoiss above
book kept By the secretary 81 $50 shares (.,hcush
receipts Tor dividends have not been given to such an ex
other hand, the SUM OF sSoel 100 special, depoisd
for tie payment az that Dividend and Of this amoaat
there mains unclaimed the sum Of q, no.
The Board Of Directors further that the cssh
assets and securities reported ia the basnce sheet q Nay
1890 have been carefully recourted and found correct
By order OF tie Board. WM II DAyID3E, President
P4ouC SAlI STEAMSHIP Co, NLw YosK, My IS, 1850
Mr.. Hoffman, the missing secretary, is a young
man whose character has always stood well in the
street. He was brought up by Gardner g. How.
land, ST., ESQ, and enjoyed the confidence OF that
gentleman ard his partners. He has never been
suspected Of specializing in stocks, or of living
extravagantly But for the unlueky fact of his dis
appearance-whch occurred Immediately after he
had been directed by the president of the company
20 hand over the stock ledger TO the cashier in
order that list of stockholders might be prepared
for the coming dividend day-the present suspicious
would never have been aroused. His friends, who
are wealthy, have already agreed TO make good TO
the company any amount Of which he may have
defrauded them.
We notice no change 10 the money market TO-
dsy. The brokers report, az before, extreme ease
and The banks complain of very light offerings OF
paper. The rates are per cent for call loans aud
shoTt double name first class paper; for 4
months paper Of the highest grade, the rate Is 81
ca. The Sob-Treasury is doing a very light bust
rsss. Today the receipts were ss4 ass, nearly al
OF which was from customs; the payments, ;lO2s
ol9; tie balance this evening, 1856 ,093.
The exchange market was quiet day at yes
terday's quotations, 10 wit:-lo9i a 4 for bankers
sterling, ard 1904 q for mercantile names; for
fraEcs j.l2i l3i. The supply Of mercantile bills
is good, and the demand from the importers quite
light The steamers Of tomorrow have about half
a million engaged, which may be increased TO
100000 100000 tomorrow morning.
The following are the last quotations OF sight ex
change on New York at the cities mentioned, the
quotations being in all cases for gold:--