branch has been established, your committee anticipate that prosperity will attend the whole.

It is sufficiently evident, that had those who opposed this company in its commencement (under the impression that Irishmen were incapable of conducting their own mercantile affairs, and that capital was not in the country to carry on banking business) joined its ranks and assisted, in place of endeavouring to impede its progress, it would, ere this, have embraced the principal cities and towns in its operations, and they would have the proud consciousness of contributing to attain that which your committee hope to accomplish, to secure to Ireland a native bank, embracing all creeds and parties— promoting industry-and soothing down asperities by commercial bonds. Your committee do not make those observations by way of reproach; they can well believe that an honest conviction of the difficulties of the attempt, influenced some of their countrymen to doubt the possibility of its attainment; but now that experience demonstrates that the matter is practicable, and has proved most beneficial to the humbler classes, as well as to trade and commerce, it is to be hoped, that no Irishmen deserving credit or character, will be found endeavouring to depreciate or injure an establishment in which nearly TWO THOUSAND persons of the landed and commercial classes have embarked their property.

66

In other countries, and particularly in Scotland, the trade of banking is carried on by joint stock companies, with perfect good feeling; having in view an honourable competition and the public good. Such ought to be the case in Ireland whenever legitimate objects, and not unjust monopoly, are in view.

"Formed as a commercial concern, without reference to creed or party, your company comprises all, and your committee have never acted in hostility to any other establishment, although they have resisted illiberal and direct atack. While carrying on the more important department of banking business, your company have been able to make it extensively useful to the middle and humbler classes. In many instances deserving individuals have been rescued from poverty, and placed in the way of industry and competence, by advances on the principle of the loan fund system. But advances have never been made, except to persons of good character-an incentive is then furnished for improved habits, and industry is promoted; no loss has been sustained by those transactions, but on the other hand profit has been realized.

"Your committee submit to you the result of the company's transactions for the past year, which they trust will prove satisfactory. A much more extensive business could have been carried on, but your committee felt it more prudent to proceed with caution, and in no case to issue notes, except for a representative value. They have made use of no efforts to force a circulation, considering any such expedient to be contrary to the sound principle of banking, and calculated to mislead the community, by giving a false impetus to trade. Your committee desired, in the early stages of your

company, rather to limit than extend the issues, and consequently have been slow to sanction extensive cash credits, though sought for by individuals of high mercantile character and connections. It is then, in the opinion of your committee, the company will safely progress. Larger apparent profits might appear in your account by a different system, but the same stability would not attend your actual position. The expense of outfit has been necessarily large, but every prudent economy has been exercised.

"Under all the circumstances of the case, although the business at the earlier branches would sanction your committee in recommending a dividend from profits, at the rate of four per cent. on advanced capital, yet, they consider it more for the general interest of the company that the consideration of dividend be deferred until the next half-yearly meeting, when they confidently anticipate, from the experience of past transactions, that the committee whom you may select on the 2nd of November will feel warranted in recommending a dividend from net profits, at the rate of four or five per cent. In the meanwhile, the committee recommend that the present balance to the credit of profit and loss, should be carried to the reserve fund.

1836. The following list of the existing banks of Ireland is taken from the Dublin directory of this year.

BANK OF IRELAND.

(Established by Act of Parliament and Charter, in 1783,)

Governor-John George, Esq. Bride Street.

Deputy Governor-Isaac M. D'Olier, Esq. Colognes Booterstown.

Directors.

John Barlow, Esq. Raheny.
John Barton, Esq. Mary Street.
George Frederic Brooke, Esq. Gar-
diner's Row.

James Chambers, Esq. ditto.
W.C.Colvill, Esq. Bachelors' Walk.
Richard Cane, Esq. Dawson Street.
T. Crosthwait, Esq. Fleet Street.
Arthur Guinness, Esq. Beaumont.
Nath. Hone, Esq. Harcourt Street.

James Jameson, Esq. Marrow.
bone Lane.

William Peter Lunell, Esq. North
Great George Street.
M. Law, Esq. Great Denmark St.
R. Law, Esq. Sackville Street.
J. Macdonnell, Esq. Lower Gar-
diner Street.

T.Wllison, Esq. Mountjoy Square
East.

Note The directors are annually chosen the first week in April, under the restriction that five new directors be chosen every year.

Notaries, R. Williams and Son. Law Agent, W. Darley, 42, York St. Printers and Stationers, Pettigrew and Oulton, 36, Dame Street.

Bank Agents.

Armagh, L. and T. Dobbin, Esqrs.
Belfast, James Goddard, Esq.
Carlow, Thomas Welan, Esq.
Clonmell, H. Scott, Esq.
Cork, Leycesters and Cotter.
Drogheda, Robert Roberts, Esq.
Galway, I. and B. O'Hara.
Kilkenny, William Owen, Esq.
Limerick, Edward Bernard, Esq.
Londonderry, W.Mackay and Son.

Longford, John Crawford, Esq.
Mountmellick, Hugh Low, Esq.
Newry, Colley and Little.
Sligo, John Craig, Esq.
Tralee, Richard Hore, Esq.
Waterford, R. G. Scott, Esq.
Westport, C. and I. Clendining.
Wexford, J. E. Redmond, Esq.
Youghal, Thomas John, Jun.Esq.

Holidays-Good Friday, King's Birth Day, and Christmas Day. Days of Discount-Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

A court of directors is held every Tuesday.

All bills and promissory notes in the bank, due on the King's Birth Day, are demanded on the day preceding.

By act of Parliament, bills falling due on Good Friday, Christmas Day, on all proclaimed Fast Days, and on Sundays, are payable on the day preceding, and liable to be protested if not paid.

The bounds of collection extend to all places within the circular road, except the following:

HIBERNIAN JOINT STOCK COMPANY.

CASTLE STREET, DUBLIN.

Directors chosen at the annual election, December 1835.

Governor-John Fottrell, Esq. Harcourt Street,

Deputy Governor-Nicholas Mahon, Esq. Marchants' Quay.

Directors.

James Charles Bacon, Esq. Mer- | Robert McClelland, Esq. Summer

Secretary Michael Roache, Esq. | Notaries - Messrs. Hayes and

Cashier-Thomas Taylor, Esq.
Chief Book Keeper-E. Ferrar.
Clerk of Discounts-Vernon Ayre.
Transfer Officer-Garrett Byre.

The directors are annually chosen the first week in December, under this restriction, that three new directors be chosen every year.

PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND.

Court of Directors at London.

Bankers at Dublin-Messrs. I. De La Touche and Co. Castle St. Bankers at London-Messrs. Spooner, Attwood and Co. Messrs. Wright and Co.

Solicitors-Messrs. Farrars and Co. London. Pierce and David Mahony, Esqrs. 43, Dame Street, Dublin.

Branches and Managers.

Armagh, R. Buist, Esq.
Athlone, W, Hay, Esq."
Ballina, J. S. Joiner, Esq.
Ballymena, F. I. Skelly, Esq.
Ballyshannon, W.Allingham, Esq.
Banbridge, J. McFier, Esq.
Bandon, John I. Thomson, Esq.
Belfast, J. Duncan, Esq.
Cavan, D. Campbell, Esq.
Clonmel, J. Wallace, Esq.
Coleraine, J. Guthrie, Esq.
Cork, W. Paton, Esq.
Downpatrick, A. Caughey, Esq.
Dungannon, A. Russell, Esq.
Dungarven, B. Banks, Esq.
Ennis, J. Menzies, Esq.

Enniskillen, W. A. Read, Esq.

Galway, I. Robson, Esq.
Kilkenny, J. McCreery, Esq.
Limerick, R. Hunter, Esq.
Londonderry, J. Johnston, Esq.
Lurgan, T. Hall, Esq.
Mallow, W. Milliken, Esq.
Monaghan, J. Bowman, Esq.
Moneymore, R. Miller and J. R.
Miller, Esqrs.

Omagh, W. McCullough, Esq.
Parsonstown, R. Harris, Esq.
Sligo, D. Webster, Esq.
Strabone, W. Franklin, Esq.
Tralee, P. Mackenzie, Esq.
Waterford, J. McEwen, Esq.
Wexford, J. E. Shortreed, Esq.
Youghal, A. Stewart, Esq.

THE AGRICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF IRELAND.

Corresponding and consulting committee elected annually from amongst the largest class of shareholders, on the first Monday in the month of November - meet daily at the company's house, (late Messrs. Leland, Crosthwaite and Sons) 63, Fleet Street. The company is formed under the general banker's act for Ireland, known as 6 Geo. IV. c. 42., and is duly entered at the stamp-office, under its provisions.

This is the first joint stock bank established in Ireland since 1825, which opened branch banks fifty miles from Dublin as a national company, having its central and advising committee in the metropolis. The shareholders at present registered exceed two thousand in number, embracing the landed and commercial classes. In each town or locality in which a branch is opened, there is a body of local subscribers, who cooperate with each other, and with the general committee in Dublin, for the welfare of the whole.

Capital, One Million, with a power in the deed of settlement to extend to "Five Millions," with the consent of a special meeting of proprietors.

The bank commenced business at its branches on 1st of Nov. 1834, and progressively opened in the following cities and towns:

Ballina, James Acheson, Esq.
Ballinasloe, J. O'Loughlin, Esq.
Bandon, E. M. Dacre, Esq.
Castlebar, Charles Mally, Esq.
Cork, M. J. Barry, Esq.
Ennis, Robert Weldon, Esq.

K

Enniscorthy, P. I. Fallon, Esq.
Fermoy, W. Dennehy, Esq.
Galway, John Redington, Esq.
Kilkenny, B. H. Baylee, Esq.
Killarney, P. Carr, Esq.
Kilrush, F. N. Keane, Esq.