Officers of the banks and their liabilities, and other facts not given above.

LANCASTER BANK.

Royal Joyslin, David Buruside, Turner Stevenson, Guy C. Cargill, Ephraim Cross and James B. Sumner are directors, the first named being the president. George A. Cossitt is the cashier has given a good bond in the sum of $8,00, and is not indebted to the bank either as principal or surety. The liabilities of the directors are as follows:

If these offsets, consisting of deposits in the bank, are allowed, the liabilities of all the directors, except David Burnside, are still more than the law allows. They are, however, considerably less than they were last year. And for some further explanations in regard to these liabilities, I would respectfully refer to the printed reports of the Bank Commissioners for 1844, page 27. The names of two or more directors are in a few instances on the same note. The total amount of the paper of the bank, which bears the names of directors in any form, is $18,409 96.

In July last, a bond in the sum of $50,000 to the State, conditioned for the prompt and regular redemption of the bills of the bank, for the space of two years, was taken by Messrs. Tuck and Brown, during their examination, and should now be in the possession of the State. So far as the responsibility of the signers is concerned, I think it must at the least add some $20,000 to the securities, upon which the public may rely. This bank has made no dividend since July, 1842. The directors make the discounts, which has recently been for small amounts. With few exceptions, they have met once a week for the last year. The charter of this bank will expire June 1, 1853.

BANK OF LEBANON.

Robert Kimball, Timothy Kenrick, James Willis, Paul Buswell, Halsey R. Stevens, Amos A. Brewster and Samuel Wood, 2d, were directors, the first of whom was president. Of these, only three were indebted to the bank. James Willis owns $3,900, and is liable as surety, $1,942. Halsey R. Stevens owns $1,000, and is liable for half that sum. Samuel Wood, 2d, owning $3,000, is liable for $100 only. James H. Kendrick is the cashier, has given a good bond in the sum of $25,000, and is to no extent indebted to the bank. During the last three years, the bank has made regular semi-annual dividends of 3 1-2 per cent. The cashier makes the discounts, under the general supervision of the directors, who annually make a thorough examination into the affairs of the bank. This bank was incorporated Dec. 23, 1838, aud its charter will expire June, 1848.

MECHANICKS BANK.

Joseph M. Harper, Seth Eastman, John A. Gault, Charles H. Peaslee, James Minot, D. M. Carpenter, and J. Clough, are Directors. Of these, James Minot, who owns $1,100 in stock, owes $300 as principal, and Charles H. Peaslce is upon a note as surety, for the sum of $67 34, owning $200 in stock. No other director is liable for any sum. Joseph M. Harper is the President, and George Minot, Cashier. The last has given a good bond for $30,000, and is not indebted to the bank. For the last three years, semi-annual dividends of three per cent. have been made. All discounts are made by a majority of the directors, who meet each week. The directors make a thorough examination into all matters of the bank, and settle with the cashier as often as once in each year, at least. The charter will expire, January 1,

1855.

MERRIMACK COUNTY BANK.

Matthew Harvey, F. N. Fisk, Samuel Coffin, Abiel Walker, Richard Bradley, Worcester Webster, and Joseph B. Walker, are Directors, the first-named being President. Two only are indebted to the bank; Richard Bradley for $500 as surety, and Worcester Webster for $911 13 as principal.The former of these, owning only $300 in stock, is of

course liable for a small sum more than the law allows. The latter owns $2,500 in stock. The directors make the discounts. They meet on Monday of each week, and make a thorough examination at the commencement of every year, by a committee of the board. During the last three years, the bank has made five semi-annual dividends of 3 per cent. and one of 4 per cent. E. S. Towle is the Cashier, and has given a good bond for $20,000. He is not indebted to the bank. The charter of this bank will expire, January 1, 1846.

WINNIPISSIOGEE BANK.

The names, stock and liabilities of the several directors are as below. Ebenezer Coe is President.

John T. Coffin is Cashier, has given a good bond in the sum of $25,000, and is not indebted to the bank.

A committee of the directors make the discounts at this bank, semi-annually, and other times when thought necessary, there are full meetings of the directors. A thorough examination of the affairs of the bank is made by the directors, once a year. The charter of this bank will expire, January 1, 1846.

The general course of examination pursued by me in relation to the above banks, having been described in my last annual report, I do not think it now necessary to explain.

In conclusion, the question presents itself, whether those banks, whose capital has been in any way impaired, ought not, before making any more dividends, to make up the deficiency, so far, at least, as it exists beyond all reasonable doubt? Whether, though as the matter now stands, the

public may be perfectly secure, the entire capital ought not to be at all times maintained in every bank, upon which its operations are based ?

That the officers of our banks generally, are disposed to be at all times ready to meet such claims as the public may have upon them, with promptitude and good faith, I have no doubt, and the present examination gives no good grounds, in any instance, to apprehend that this will not be done.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

JAMES M. RIX, Bank Commissioner. Concord, June, 1845.

To His Excellency, the Governor :

The undersigned, one of the Bank Commissioners of the State of New Hampshire, having been directed to make an examination into the affairs of the Meredith Bridge Savings Bank, has attended to that duty, and begs leave to submit the following

REPORT:

The Meredith Bridge Savings Bank, was incorporated on the 2d day of July, 1831. It was first organized on the 27th of the following December, and received and entered upon its books, its first deposit, on the 17th of January, 1832. It is one of the smaller institutions of the class to which it belongs. Its securities consist, chiefly, of forty-one notes, amounting to only $25,855 in the whole. Its deposits are derived principally from persons residing in the immediate vicinity, the depositors numbering at present, somewhat less than three hundred.

The following is the treasurer's sworn statement of the means and liabilities of the institution, on the 16th day of April, 1845, as rendered upon oath, and fully tested by examination:

Cash on deposit,

Real estate,

Bank stock,

Means.

3,431 76

1,150 00

5,400 00

Notes,

25,855 44

Interest due on notes in Jan. last, at semi-annual

The notes, embraced in the above statement, the treasurer estimates upon oath, as good, and subject to no deductions whatever, for bad or doubtful securities. The item of real estate, is stated at cost and above its real value, which the treasurer estimates at $900, or a reduction of $250. The treasurer also supposes that there will be a loss of ten per cent., or $540, on the stock owned by this institution, in the Winnipissiogee Bank. An examination into the affairs of that bank, induces me to believe that this estimate must be very nearly correct.

These deductions having been made, there will be an apparent deficiency, after paying out the reserved profits, and the surplus of means, of the sum of $170 12. This deficiency is too small, however, to occasion any alarm, and the operation of a reduction of the rate of interest on deposits, from five to four per cent., contemplated by the bank, will very soon supply it.

This savings bank is managed with great prudence. Until recently the treasurer has received only $100 as an annual salary, and he now receives only $125. The other expenses have seldom exceeded $25 per year, the officers, (other than the treasurer,) receive no other compensation than an occasional allowance of a small sum, for services rendered in looking after debts due the bank. The treasurer, in answer to an interrogatory upon the subject, says: "It is now proposed that the committee of examination receive pay for time actually expended." The charter seems to forbid this, however necessary it may seem to be.

The 4th section of said charter, provides that "the president and members of said corporation shall receive no compensation