The Sun. — 1846-03-07 (London, England)

PATTF.SON.) Joseph Dixon, aged 25, and William Dixon, his brother, aged 21, and Robert Barron, aged 22, were indicted for the wilful murder of George Middleton, of Pithill, near Chesterle•street, in this county. This was the result of a public-house affair, in which the deceased was struck on the head with a poker, which was bent by the force of the blow, and inflicted such injuries that Middleton died of the wounds. Verdictr-Guilty of manslaughter. His LORDSHIP directed the prisoners to stand down, saying he would consider of the sentence.  The notoriously great increase of late in the business of the Bank of England, arising from the advance in the rate of interest, the use of the railway deposits, and other causes, appears to have created an expectation in the proprietors of Bank stock, that at the approaching meeting for the declaration of a dividend they will find themselves in a better position than on the last occasion of the kind. Letters have been received from various correspondents on the subject, and they so entirely assume the fact of a great increase of profit as certain, that the only question remaining in their minds is whether it shall reach the proprietors in the shape of a bonus or a higher dividend. It is well known that the fund out of which the dividend is paid is the " rest," which forms a regular part of each weekly return under the Act of 1844. Formerly the practice was at the half-yearly meeting to make an estimate of its probable increase between the declaration and the payment of the dividend, and to take credit for such amount; but the rule now adopted is, we believe, so far as regarcSs uncertain profit, to take the last return of the month previous to the declaration of a dividend as the basis of profit, adding of course the certain profits to accrue from the dead weight anti other dividends payable by the Government up to the expiration of the financial half-year. This alone is some evidence of a sound th e state of affairs. That parties so directly interested as proprietors are should be thus sanguine is very natural, but from inquiries in ether quarters it Appears to be thought very doubtfull( either of these expectations—that is, of a bonus, or increased dividend—will be realised. The new system has undergone as yet but a short trial, and the recent great profits, so far as they arise from the railway deposits, are so decidedly of a temporary nature, that no safe conclusion for the future course of business is to be drawn from them. In the proportion in which the directors have extended their loan and discount business must the risk of bad debts be taken into account ; but, supposing everything to go on favourably, the directors would be more popular perhaps with their constituents if they devoted their efforts to strengthening their position so as to lead hereafter to a permanent increase of the dividend to 8 per cent., than by giving a small bonus, and then to relapse to the old rate. Equality of o.ividend is very much to be desired, as it prevents speculation in the stock, and gives to it something of the character of a Government security. The present board of directors possess a character for prudence and sagacity beyond some of .their predecessors, which they aro not likely to place at hazard by doing this half-year what they must undo the next; and to offer either a bonus or an increase of dividend at present would expose them to that danger. Hence the proprietors will do well to moderate their expectations of immediate benefit, without abandoning, at the same time, the hope that the directors at some future period may be able to place them permanently in a better position. Considering to how low a point banking profits have been reduced until within the last three months, it is a species of congratulation to know that they are in no danger of a reduction of dividend, and, if any change does occur, that it must be for the better.—Tintes.