the world of greater importance. And so manifold are the bearings of money upon the lives and characters of mankind, that an insight which should search out the life of a man in his pecuniary relations, would penetrate into almost every cranny of his nature. He who knows, like St. Paul, both how to spare, and how to abound, has a great knowledge; for if we take account of all the virtues with which money is mixed uphonesty, justice, generosity, charity, frugality, forethought, self-sacrifice,and of their correlative vices—it is a knowledge which goes near to cover the length and breadth of humanity: and a right measure and manner in getting, saving, spending, giving, taking, lending, borrowing, and bequeathing, would almost argue a perfect man.'

* Taylor's Notes on Life.

APPENDIX.

JOINT-STOCK BANKS REGULATION.

(7 & 8 Vict. cap. 113-5th September, 1844.)

An Act to regulate Joint-Stock Banks in England.

No joint-stock bank established after the 6th May, 1844 (s. 1), to carry on business unless by virtue of letters patent granted according to this Act; but companies previously established are not to be restrained from carrying on their business until letters patent have been granted them, on their application as directed by this Act.

Before beginning to exercise the banking business, every such proposed company (s. 2) are to petition Her Majesty in council for letters patent; the petition to set forth the names and abodes of all the partners; the name and locality of the bank; the amount of capital stock not being less than 100,000l., and the means by which it is to be raised; the amount paid up, and how invested; the proposed number of shares, and the amount of each share, not being less than 100%. This petition (s. 3) is to be referred to the Board of Trade; and, on their report that the provisions of this Act have been complied with, a charter is to be granted.

S. 4 prescribes the provisions of the deed of settlement, until which deed is executed (s. 5) all the shares subscribed for, and at least half the amount paid up, no company shall commence business.

The letters patent are to be granted for a term of years not exceeding twenty (s. 6), and the company will be by them incorporated, having a common seal, and being empowered to hold lands of such annual value as shall be expressed in the said letters patent; but such incorporation (s. 7) is not to limit the personal liability of the shareholders.

No action or suit (s. 8), by or against the company, to be affected by the plaintiff or defendant being a shareholder, but either of them to have the same action and remedy as though they were strangers; and every judgment or decree (s. 9) to be enforced against the property and effects of the company, and, subject to the provisions after-mentioned, upon the person, property, and effects of every shareholder, or former shareholder;

but execution (s. 10) against the company is to precede execution against any present or former shareholder, except where he would have been originally liable, or for which judgment is not obtained within three years of his having ceased to be a shareholder. Every person (s. 11) against whom execution has been issued, is to be reimbursed for all damages and costs by the company, or by contributions from the other shareholders, and, ss. 12 to 15 prescribe how such claims are to be enforced.

Within three months of the grant of the letters patent (s. 16), an account or memorial is to be made out in a form prescribed, setting forth all the particulars of the company, to be renewed in March, annually, and delivered to the commissioners of stamps and taxes, who are to register it, such register to be examined by any one on payment of 1s., and a list of shareholders to be printed and exhibited by the company, occasional changes (s. 17) being notified by additional memorials. S. 18 prescribes the verification of the memorial, and s. 19 declares a certified copy of the same to be legal evidence, which copy the commissioners are to give (s. 20), on payment of 10s. All liabilities are to be continued (s. 21) according to last delivered memorial.

Bills and notes (s. 22) may be signed according to the deed of partnership, so that they be signed by one manager or director, declaring it to be on behalf of the company, but such manager not to be personally liable to any greater extent than any other shareholder.

Shares may be transferred (s. 23) by deed duly stamped, such transfer to be registered, and the entry endorsed on the deed, for which endorsement the company may charge a sum not exceeding 2s. 6d., such transfer not to be made (s. 24) unless all calls have been paid; and the company may close the transfer books (s. 25) for a limited time. Shares transmitted by death, bankruptcy, or other means than transfer (s. 26), are to be authenticated by a declaration; and if by marriage or will (s. 27), by proofs of the same.

With respect to shares to which several persons may be jointly entitled (s. 28), any notice to the one who stands first on the register to be deemed sufficient, and for any money payable to a shareholder being a minor, or otherwise legally incapacitated (s. 29), the receipt of the guardians, &c., to be a sufficient discharge; nor shall the company be bound (s. 30) to see to the execution of any trust, but the receipt of the party in whose name the share stands to be sufficient.

SS. 31 to 42 give power to the company to make calls, to enforce payment of the same, to declare the forfeiture of the shares, and to sell the same, giving previous notice of their intention; but no more shares are to be sold than are sufficient for payment of the calls which may be in arrear.

S. 43 prescribes the method of serving notices or writs on the company. Existing companies may continue (s. 44) their trades for a time not exceeding twelve months (unless for the purpose of closing their business); and then upon petition, as before prescribed (s. 45), to receive letters patent.

Agreements entered into with companies (s. 46) before their incorporation to be enforced as if made after, and in any pending suit, the court

may direct the corporate name of the company to be substituted for that of the plaintiff or defendant representing such company, and no suit to be stayed by reason of such incorporation.

Power of suing and being sued (s. 47) in the name of any one of the public officers is given to all existing companies on complying with the provisions of the Act of 7 Geo. IV. c. 46, respecting returns and accounts; and s. 48 declares banking companies to be trading companies within the provisions of the 7 & 8 Vict. c. 3.

SS. 49 and 50 are the usual clauses of interpretation, and for amendment during the session.

BANKING (IRELAND).

(8 & 9 Vict. cap. 37-21st July, 1845.)

An Act to regulate the issue of Bank Notes in Ireland, and to regulate the repayment of certain sums advanced by the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland for public service.

THE first clause of this Act recapitulates the various Acts constituting the Bank of Ireland, and enumerates the various sums advanced by it to the Government, amounting to the sum of £2,637,069 4s. 8d., in return for the exclusive privilege of issuing notes in Dublin, or within fifty miles thereof, and then goes on to repeal so much of the Act of 21 & 22 Geo. III., Ireland, as prohibits any other body exceeding the number of six persons from issuing notes or bills payable on demand, or at any less time than six months, and authorises, from and after December 6, 1845, any persons exceeding six in number united or to be united in societies or partnerships, or for any bodies, politic or corporate, to transact or carry on the business of bankers in Ireland at Dublin, and at every place within fifty miles thereof, as freely as persons exceeding six in number as aforesaid may lawfully carry on the same business at any place in Ireland beyond the distance of fifty miles from Dublin; but every member of such partnership is to be responsible for the due repayment of all debts and liabilities.

S. 2. From and after the passing of this Act the debt is made chargeable upon the consolidated fund, and interest is to be paid on it to the corporation of the Bank of Ireland at the rate of 3 per cent., amounting to £92,076 18s. 5d., in half-yearly payments, on January 5 and July 5, annually.

The Bank of Ireland (s. 3) undertakes to manage the public debt of Ireland, and to pay the dividends without any expense to the Government.

The Bank corporation (s. 4) may be dissolved any time after January 1, 1845, on repayment of the debt, and after a twelvemonth's legal notice.

S. 5 repeals so much of the 32 Geo. II. c. 14, s. 15 (Ireland), as prohibits public officers from being partners in banks, and s. 6 declares Bank of England notes to be not a legal tender in Ireland, but this is not to prevent their circulation in Ireland.

S. 7 prescribes the oaths to be taken to affirmations to be made by directors and members of the Bank of Ireland, which are to be only the oath of allegiance, the oath of qualification, and the oath of fidelity to the corporation.

All bankers claiming to be entitled to issue bank notes are to give notice (s. 8) to the commissioners of stamps and taxes, who shall ascertain if such person or persons were lawfully issuing bank notes in Ireland between May 1, 1844, and May 1, 1845, and the average amount circulated by them, and shall certify the same; they may then issue to the extent of the amount so certified, and the amount of gold and silver coin held by them in the proportion hereafter mentioned. No uncertified banker to issue bank notes. Where banks have become united between the periods mentioned (s. 9), the average amount is to be taken as that of the total amount. A duplicate of the certificate is to be published in the Gazette (s. 10), which publication is to be taken as evidence of the right to issue notes. Where banks have become united subsequently to the passing of this act (s. 11), the total amount is also to be the average.

Banks are permitted (s. 12), on making an agreement with the Bank of Ireland, to relinquish in its favour the right of issuing notes; but having done so, they are not allowed (s. 13) to resume the privilege.

After December 6, 1845, no bank (s. 14) to have in circulation a greater amount of notes, upon the average of four weeks, than the amount certified by the commissioners, and the monthly average of gold and silver held by it.

The issue of notes of less than 17. (s. 15) is prohibited.

Banks are to render an account weekly (s. 16) in certain prescribed forms, a neglect of which, or rendering false returns, subjecting them to a penalty of 1007.

All bank notes issued (s. 17) are to be deemed bank notes in circulation.

The commissioners of stamps are to make a return (s. 18) every four weeks, to be published in the "Dublin Gazette.'

S. 19 prescribes the mode of ascertaining the average amount of the bank notes of each banker in circulation, and of the gold and silver coin for every four weeks after December 5, 1845. The gold and silver coin (s. 20) to include only that held at the head offices, which are not to exceed four, of which not more than two are to be in one province, and the silver is not to exceed in amount one-fourth part of the amount of gold coin.

The commissioners are empowered (s. 21) to order the inspection, at all reasonable times, of all the books of bankers containing an account of their bank notes in circulation, and of their gold and silver coin; the penalty for refusing such inspection to be 1007.

All bankers (s. 22) other than the Bank of Ireland are to return their names, residences, and occupation, within fifteen days of the 1st of January in each year, to the stamp office, and in cases of partnership those of each member; such return to be published on or before the 1st of March, in the "Dublin Gazette." The penalty for a false return is 501.

Any bank issuing in excess (s. 23), becomes liable to a penalty equal in