business and profit. That the demand for banking facilities, combined with this kind of security, is not confined to the moneyed circles of the City, the successful action of the numerous Westend branches of the general joint-stock banks is the best proof. Convinced by that success of the value of the West-end as a field for banking operations, even the Bank of England has determined to compete for it with the more juvenile banks, and is about to establish a West-end branch. And taking advantage of the recent failure at Temple-bar, two of the joint-stock banksthe London and Westminster and the Union Bank of Londonhave already opened branch establishments to fill up the hiatus in that locality. In every part of the metropolis, we find the joint-stock banks pushing their business with energy, and providing the means, by their branches, for supplying the banking wants of the community, and competing for the custom of the private banks. In integrity, honour, knowledge of finance, and of the business of banking, the principals and managers of most of our private banks have no superiors, and long years of generally successful operations show that they have been rewarded by no small amount of public confidence and patronage; but, in these days, something beyond reputation for integrity and business qualities is necessary, and to retain that confidence and patronage, and uphold the high position they have so long enjoyed, the private banks must be prepared to offer to the public something like the same securities which the joint-stock banks afford. WEST-END BRANCH OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND. THE Directors of the Bank of England have resolved upon opening a branch at the West-end, to accommodate the general public in that locality. With this object, they have purchased Uxbridge House, Old Burlington-street, lately the property of the Marquis of Anglesey, and are making arrangements for commencing operations. The purchase-money, it is stated, was about £43,000, and some further outlay will be requisite to adapt the premises to business purposes. At this branch, the customers will receive the same facilities as are afforded at the parent establishment, and there can be little doubt but that large numbers of the aristocracy and wealthy commoners will avail themselves of the security which this arrangement presents. The management of the new establishment will be placed under Mr. C. Tindal, who has hitherto superintended the branch at Birmingham, and with an effective staff, such as the Bank can supply, the results appear likely to meet the expectations of the Directors. Now that this step has been determined, the previous inaction of the directors in this respect has been a matter of comment, but it must be remembered that no convenient opportunity has before presented itself of following out such a course. Although it may be considered that this branch of the Bank will interfere with the operations of the other branches recently organised by the leading joint-stock banks, there are peculiar privileges connected with each which will prevent the extreme competition which otherwise may be anticipated. While the Bank of England will offer the advantages of security presented by its charter, capital, and established reputation, in addition to the facilities for the payment and receipt of dividends, the jointstock banks will present many inducements to parties who may not be in a position to comply with all the regulations of the national institution, with respect to the amount required for opening accounts, average balance, and other minor details. Further, the joint-stock banks are in a position to grant accommodation and other assistance in a shape which it has not hitherto been customary for the Bank of England to do. The allowance for deposits, and, in some cases, of interest on current accounts, constitute additional recommendatory features, which are sure to attract business, and even the great consideration of security cannot be underrated with proprietaries, like those of the principal establishments. We are, therefore, not inclined to regard this movement as inimical to the joint-stock banking interest. That it may affect in some degree the average of business which, under different circumstances, would have been transacted by the new branches, we are not prepared to deny; but we fear it is the private bankers who will principally suffer, though the general extension of banking transactions may replace, in certain quarters, that which has been lost through the seasonable alteration effected. THE LONDON BANKERS. THE following account of the London Bankers is taken from the return published in the London Gazette according to the Act 7 & 8 Vict., c. 32. The London Private Banks may be divided into three classes1. Those who are members of the Clearing House. 2. Those located east of Temple-bar, but are not members of the Clearing House. 3. Those located west of Temple-bar. A list of bankers who are members of the Clearing House : ... 1. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, and Co., 56, Lombard-street ... ... ... 6. Dimsdale, Drewett, Fowler, and Barnard, 50, Cornhill 7. Fullers and Co., 66, Moorgate-street ... ... ... .. 2 8. Glyn, Mills, and Co., 67, Lombard-street 17. Price, Marryatt, and Co., 3, King William-street 6 5 ... 2 4 A list of bankers east of Temple bar, who are not members of the Clearing House: 1. W. and J. Biggerstaff, 8, West Smithfield 5. Roger, Cunliffe, Son, and Co., 24, Bucklersbury 6. Cunliffes and Co., 24, Lombard-street 7. Robert Davies and Co., 187, Shoreditch 8. Dixon, Brooks, and Dixon, 25, Chancery-lane 9. John Feltham and Co., 42, Lombard-street 10. Goslings and Sharpe, 19, Fleet-street 11. C. Hill and Sons, 17, West Smithfield 4 23252232++ 13. Hugh and John Johnston and Co., 15, Bush-lane 14. Lacy and Son, 60, West Smithfield ... ... 15. Praeds and Co., 189, Fleet-street ... ... 4 ... 16. Puget, Bainbridges, and Co., 42, St. Paul's Churchyard 4 18. Adam Spielmann, and Co., 10, Lombard-street 6. Hallett, Robinson, and Co., 14, Great George-street, West ... ... ... ... ... minster 7. Herries, Farquhar, and Co., 16, St. James's-street 8. Charles Hopkinson and Co., 3, Regent-street 9. Ransom and Co., 1, Pall-mall East 10. Sir Samuel Scott, Bart., and Co., 1, Cavendish-square 11. Strahan and Co., 217, Strand ... 12. Richard Twining and Co., 215 and 216, Strand 13. White, Ludlow, and Co., 6, Haymarket 4 2 3 East of Temple-bar, not members of the Clearing The names of the following firms do not correspond with the names of the partners. 1.-CLEARING Bankers. 1. In the firm of Messrs. Fullers and Co., there is no Co. 2. In the firm of Messrs. Jones Loyd and Co., there is no partner of the name of Jones. 3. In the firm of Messrs. Lubbock, Forster, and Co., there is no partner of the name of Forster. 4. In the firm of Messrs. Heywood, Kennards, and Co., there is no Co. 5. In the firm of Messrs. Price, Marryatt, and Co., there is no Co. 6. In the firm of Messrs. Robarts, Curtis, and Co., there is no partner of the name of Curtis. 7. In the firm of Messrs. Sapte, Muspratt, Banbury, Nix, and Co., there is no Co. 8. In the firm of Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Co., there is no partner of the name of Payne. 9. In the firm of Messrs. Spooner, Attwoods, and Co., there is no partner of the name of Spooner. 10. In the firm of Messrs. Stevenson, Salt, and Sons, there is no partner of the name of Stevenson, nor any partner whose Christian name is Stevenson. 11. In the firm of Messrs. Willis, Percival, and Co., there is no partner of the name of Percival. 2.-EAST OF TEMPLE-BAR. 1. In the firm of Messrs. John Brown and Co., there is no Co. * This bank stopped payment, June 11th, 1855. 2. In the firm of Messrs. C. Hill and Sons, there are only two partners of the name of Hill. 3. In the firm of Messrs. Hugh and John Johnston and Co., there is no partner of the name of Johnston. 4. In the firm of Messrs. Puget, Bainbridges, and Co., there is no partner of the name of Puget. 5. In the firm of Messrs. Adam Spielmann and Co., there is no Co. 6. In the firm of Messrs. Charles Twigg and Co., there is no Co. 7. In the firm of Messrs. Child and Co., the only partner of the name of Child is "The Right Honourable Sarah Sophia Child, Countess of Jersey." 3.-WEST OF Temple-bar. 1. In the firm of Messrs. Call, Marten, and Co., there is no Co. 2. In the firm of Messrs. Coutts and Co. there does not appear to be any partner of the name of Coutts. The return stands thus-" Edward Majoribanks, Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart., William Matthew Coulthurst, bankers, individually, and as trustees for the parties beneficially interested in the will of the late Duchess of St. Albans." "Edward Majoribanks, Junior, Hugh Lindsay Antrobus, individually only." 3. In the firm of Messrs. Herries, Farquhar, and Co., there is no partner of the name of Herries. 4. In the firm of Messrs. Ransom and Co. there is no partner of the name of Ransom. 5. In the firm of Sir Samuel Scott, Bart., and Co., there is no Sir Samuel Scott, Bart. 6. In the firm of Messrs. White, Ludlow, and Co., there is no partner of the name of Ludlow. In the following firms, all the partners have the same name : Messrs. Curries; Messrs. Fullers and Co.; Messrs. Hankey and Co.; Messrs. Smith, Payne and Smiths; Messrs. Stevenson, Salt, and Sons; Messrs. W. and J. Biggerstaff; Messrs. Challis and Son; Messrs. C. Hill and Sons; Messrs. Hoare; Messrs. Lacy and Son; Messrs. J. and W. S. Stride; Messrs. Drummonds; Messrs. Richard Twining and Co. CRIMINAL CHARGE AGAINST MESSRS. STRAHAN, PAUL, THE investigation before Mr. Jardine, the magistrate at Bow-street, in relation to the conduct of Messrs. Strahan, Paul, and Bates, with reference to the disposal of the securities belonging to Dr. Griffiths, is temporarily adjourned. Meanwhile an attempt has been made to allow the admission of bail, but it was strenuously refused. It appears, from what has transpired in the course of the inquiry, that a difficulty will occur in the identification of the property, and that possibly the evidence will fail in its legal sense to establish the allegation. Should the partners, however, be acquitted through any technical flaw in the proceedings, they will stand morally convicted before the world of culpable delinquency, in appropriating the securities of their customers for their own benefit, and thus abusing one of the most vital and sacred trusts of a banker. It is scarcely necessary to remark that the case continues to be watched, both by the banking and commercial public, |