THE BANK OF ENGLAND.

One of the singular features attending the influx of gold from California and Australia, is the decline in the amount of coin and bullion held by the Bank of England. It is known that the deposits of gold bullion at the Philadelphia Mint during the year 1852 amounted to $51,000,000 and upward, of which $25,000,000 were re-exported from New York to Liverpool, &c., while large sums were transmitted direct from San Francisco to England.

The arrivals of gold, too, from Australia at English ports have been very heavy during the years 1852-3; but in the face of all these additions from various quarters, the amount held by the Bank of England is four millions sterling less now than in July, 1852. The largest sum ever held by the bank at any one period was £22,232,138. This was on the 10th of July last. This sum bas gradually been reduced by exports of bullion to the continent, and of coin to Australia, until now the bank holds only £18,553,905. This is more than enough for the actual or prospective wants of the institution, its active circulation being less than twenty-three millions.

It was near the close of the year 1851 that the Bank of England first began to feel the effects of the large influx of gold from California. The additions from this source began in August, 1851, and were regular from week to week (with two exceptions only) until March, 1852. Up to that period the increase amounted to $6,064,968. The additions were still large until the second week in July, when the enormous sum of £22,232,138 was in their vaults, and the gross circulation amounted to £35,878,765. The operations of such an institution must of course be profitable, although the rate of interest during the past year was only 2 or 23 per cent; but even at this low rate the profits must amount to more than one million sterling, or about five millions of dollars.

The public deposits are less now than in 1850, while the private accounts are larger. The public deposits show the following as the highest and lowest for the last three years:

The private deposits, including those of bankers, railway and joint-stock companies, show an increase during the same period, viz.:

The Rest (or reserved profits) on the 7th of July, 1853, amounted to £3,149,769. This item in April, 1852, was £3,624,418, on a capital of £14,553,000, or within a fraction of 25 per cent. The stock has been for some years an eight per cent stock, giving half-yearly dividends of four per cent. The highest rate of the stock in the market last year was 234, (in August, 1852,) and the lowest quotation 215, (in January, 1852.)

The last quotation we have seen (July 1) was 2283. On the 1st of January, 1852, the rate of interest prevailing was 24 per cent at the bank. Such, however, was the rapid accumulation of coin and of deposits that the bank reduced the rate, at the close of April, to 2 per cent. The enlarged deposits, circulation, &c., are represented in the annexed comparative statement:

The large amounts of gold and silver bullion deposited at the bank are shown in

the annexed summary:—

Notwithstanding these large additions of silver, the payments were still largerbeing in three years 15,345,396 ounces, and the receipts 15,183,976. The amount of silver held by the bank in 1846 was £2,727,000, while in August, 1852, it was only £18,967.

The present condition of the bank is as annexed, under date 7th July, 1853:

The securities bearing interest, it would appear, amount to £41,489,328. Assuming 3 per cent as the average rate of interest, the annual income of the bank is shown to be upward of twelve hundred thousand pounds sterling.

Twenty years since the number of clerks and porters employed in the bank premises was 820; printers and engravers, 38; clerks and porters at the branches, 82; making an aggregate of 940, at an annual expense of £211,903.

At the present time the number is largely increased. Nine families constantly reside within the precincts of the bank-the houses of the secretary, chief accountant, and gate-keeper being situated around the court. The whole extent of the bank is surrounded by a parapet wall, on which thirty-four private soldiers and an officer keep watch every night. Beside these guards, there are fourteen men constantly employed, day and night, who are familiar with the labyrinthian mazes of the building, and who have fire engines at command in case of any alarm of fire.

Every department of manual labor connected with the bank, (except the manufacture of paper,) is carried on within its limits. There are three steam cylindrical presses and two hand presses kept for letter-press printing, and a steam-engine of ten-horse power constantly in use. In the bullion department are kept six weighing machines, by means of which the precise weight of all coins is determined.

RATE OF INTEREST AND PENALTY FOR USURY IN THE VARIOUS STATES.

Alabama. The legal rate of interest is eight per cent. In usurious contracts, the principal, without any interest, may be recovered,

Arkansas. When no rate is mentioned, it is six per cent. Parties may contract for any rate not exceeding ten per cent. Usurious contracts are void.-Arks. Digest, p. 613, et seq.

California. When there is no express contract in writing, fixing a different rate, interest shall be allowed at the rate of ten per cent per annum, for all moneys after they become due on any bond, bill, promissory note, or other instrument of writing, or any judgment recovered before any court in this State, for money lent, for money due on the settlement of accounts, from the day on which the balance is ascertained, and for money received to the use of another.

Parties may agree in writing for the payment of any rate of interest whatever on money due, or to become due, on any contract. Any judgment rendered on such contract shall conform thereto, and shall bear the interest agreed upon by the parties, and which shall be specified in the judgment.

The parties may, in any contract in writing whereby any debt is secured to be paid, agree, that if the interest on such debt is not punctially paid, it shall become a part of the principal, and thereafter bear the same rate of interest as the principal debt.Stat. Cal.

Connecticut.-Six per cent. In usurious contracts, the principal can be recovered without the interest. Persons guilty of taking usury, forfeit the whole of the interest -one-half to him who shall prosecute to effect, one-half to State Treasury.-Rev. Stat. of 1848, Public Acts of 1849, p. 47.

Delaware.-Six per cent. Whoever exacts more is liable to forfeit the whole debt -one-half to the State, and one-half to the prosecutor.

Florida.-Eight per cent by agreement; if no rate be specified, then six per cent. The person reserving a higher rate, shall forfeit the entire interest.-Thompson's Digest, p. 234.

Georgia.-By the statute of 1845, the legal rate of interest, (which previous to that time had been eight per cent,) was reduced to seven per cent, and the penalty for usury made a forfeiture of the whole interest, legal as well as usurious. See Pamphlet Act of 1845, pp. 35 and 36.

This act took effect 17th December, 1845. All contracts previous to that date, eight per cent. Interest up to the time of payment, although not discharged until subsequently to the above-mentioned act.

Illinois. Six per cent, where no rate is specified. By contract, parties may go as high as ten per cent. He who reserves a higher rate than ten per cent, shall forfeit three times the amount of the entire interest reserved.

Indiana.-Six per cent. Usurious interest cannot be recovered; and if paid, may be recovered back, at any time within a year after the payment. Any person receiving illegal interest ahall, upon conviction, be fined double the excess of interest so taken.-Revised Laws of Indiana, pp. 580-583.

Iowa. When no agreement is made respecting interest, the legal rate is six per cent. The Legislature of 1851 passed an act abolishing all usury laws.

Kentucky-Six per cent. The agreement for usurious excess only is void.

Louisiana-Five per cent; but parties may agree on any sum as high as eight per

cent.

Usurious contracts are void.

Maine. Six per cent. If more be agreed to be taken, the debt or claim is forfeited Usurious interest paid may be recovered.

Maryland-Six per cent. Contracts where more is agreed for or reserved, are not void, except as to the excess.

Massachusetts.-Six per cent. When the defense of usury is established, the defendant shall recover his full costs, and the plaintiff shall forfeit threefold the amount of the interest unlawfully reserved or taken.

The party paying usurious interest may recover threefold the amount of the unlawful interest so paid.-Supplement of 1846, p. 388.

Michigan. Seven per cent, with permission to agree upon any rate not higher than ten per cent for a loan of money. Contracts are not void for usury beyond the usurious

excess.

Mississippi.-Eight per cent for a bona fide use of money; six per cent upon other contracts. The penalty for usury is the loss of the entire interest.-Hutchinson's Miss. Code, p. 641.

"

Missouri.-Six per cent. If plea of usury be sustained, the whole interest to go to the use of common schools. A usurer may be presented by an informant, and the

whole interest set off to common schools.

New Hampshire.-Six per cent, and if more be taken, the party forfeits three times the amount unlawfully taken.

New Jersey-Six per cent, and contracts for a higher rate are void. Persons taking a higher rate, forfeit the whole value of the subject matter of the contract-one-half to the State, one-half to the prosecutor.-Statutes of New Jersey, p. 765.

New York. Seven per cent. All contracts whereby a higher rate is reserved, are void. Corporations cannot set up the defense of usury.

North Carolina.-Six per cent. All contracts whereby a greater rate is reserved, are void, and the party exacting it is liable to forfeit double the amount of the debt -one-half to the State, and the other half to the person suing for the same, by action of debt, in any court of record.-Revised Statutes, ch. 117.

Ohio.-Six per cent. On written agreement, any rate as high as ten per cent. If more be reserved, the excess is void.

Pennsylvania.-Six per cent, and if a greater rate is attempted to be secured, the party may recover the actual sum loaned, with legal interest thereon, and a qui tam action must be instituted within one year from the commission of the offense, when a forfeiture is sought.

When any railroad or canal company has borrowed money and given a bond or other evidence of indebtedness in a larger sum than the amount actually received, such transactions shall not be deemed usurious.

Rhode Island-Six per cent. In an action brought upon an usurious contract, the plaintiff can recover the principal, with legal interest and costs of suit.

South Carolina.-Seven per cent. The party reserving more, forfeits the entire interest, and must pay the costs.

Tennessee.-Six per cent, and the person exacting more is liable to a fine of not less than the amount usuriously taken.

Texas.-Eight per cent. Parties may agree upon any rate as high as twelve per cent. Any violation of this statute incurs a forfeiture of all the interest.-Laws of Jan., 1840, vol. 4, p. 8.

Vermont.-Six per cent, and interest paid beyond that rate may be recovered back, with costs. Rev. Stat. of Vermont, p. 366.

Virginia. Six per cent. All usurious contracts are void, with the penalty of forfeiture of twice the amount of the debt.

Wisconsin.-Seven per cent. Parties may agree upon any rate as high as twelve, such agreement to be in writing. Any agreement for more forfeits the whole debt.Act of 1821.

REVENUES COLLECTED AT PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

TABLE OF CUSTOM-HOUSE REVENUES COLLECTED AT THE LEADING PORTS OF THE UNITED SRATES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 30TH JUNE, 1853.

FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROTHSCHILDS.

"In twelve years," says a recent writer, "about five hundred millions of dollars were raised by this house for different powers, by way of loan or subsidy, which were distributed in nearly the following proportions:-For England, two hundred millions; for Austria, fifty millions; for Prussia, forty millions; for France, eighty millions; for Naples, fifty millions; for Russia, twenty-five millions; for several German courts,

four millions; for Brazil, twelve millions; exclusive of various other large sums. The remarkable success of the Rothschilds, setting aside the great opportunities which they have enjoyed from favorable circumstances, may be attributed to their strict adherence to two fundamental maxims. The first, in compliance with the dying injunctions of the founder of the house, is the conducting of all their operations entirely in common. Every proposition of magnitude made to one of them is submitted to the deliberations of all. No project is adopted until thus fully discussed, and it is then executed by united efforts. A second principle is, not to aim at exorbitant profits-to set definite limits to every operation-and, so far as human prudence and foresight can do, to render it independent of accidental influences. In this maxim lies one of the main secrets of their strength."

BRITISH POST-OFFICE RETURNS.

The post-office returns of 1852 have just been issued, and embrace-1st, the number of letters delivered in the United Kingdom; 2d, the revenue; 3d, the cost of management; 4th, the payments to railways; and 5th, the number and amount of money orders. The following table of these particulars, in a condensed form, will show the annual progress that has been made from 1839 (the last year of the old system) to the present time:—

Net revenue after paying cost of management.

Payments to
Railways
included
in cost

Estimated number of

Cost of

manage

of man

Money-orders issued. Number. Amount.

£

£.

1844.

242,091,684 719,957

985,110

92,493 2,806,803 5,695,395 271,410,789 761,982 1,125,594 181,111 3,176,126 6,413,361 299,586,762 825,112 1,138,745 110,430 3,515,079 7,071,056 322,146,243 984,496 1,196,520 121,859 4,031,185 7,908,177 328,830,184 740,429 1,403,250 318,631 4,203,651 8,151,294 337,399,199 840,787 1,824,562 230,079 4,248,891 8,152,643

347,069,071
360,647,187

379,501,499

803,898 1,460,785 400,964 4,439,713 8,494,498 1,118,004 1,304,168 242,848 4,661,025 8,880,420 1,090,419 1,343,907 329,963 4,947,825 9,488,277

With regard to the column headed "net revenue," it must be mentioned that the apparent falling off in 1848 and 1850 arose from sums of upwards of £190,000 having been disbursed in each of those years for the conveyance of mails by railway in previous years. Coupled with these accounts we have a statement of the moneyorder office for 1852. The total cost for the United Kingdom was £70,669; and, as the amount of commission received was £82,838, there was a profit in this department of £11,664. But for an excess of $1,056 in the expenditure for the Irish offices over the receipts, the surplus would have been £12,720, as the gain for England and Wales was £12,442, and for Scotland £278.

HINTS TO BANK CUSTOMERS.

A correspondent of the Quincy (Mass.) Patriot suggests the following rules for the guidance of bank customers :

I. Keep a good deposit; it will not only assist you in getting discounts, but an unexpected call will not then put you in anxious locomotion to borrow from a friend: so you will save your friend, your credit, and your shins.

II. Offer for discount good business paper rather than accommodation notes.

III. Always apply for discount some little time before you need the money, as such customers are preferred.

IV. Circulate the bills of the bank.

V. Never let a note lie over that has your name upon it.

VI. Bear in mind that a bank is often without funds, and however desirous the directors may be to serve customers, there are times when they are not able to do so.