INTRIGUES FOR RENEWING THE BANK tsli' IRELAND CHARTER.
The. Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Bank of Ireland are advancing stealthily towards the game they have in view. They continue to avoid public discussion. No case, in reply to the numerous challenges to produce it, is forthcoming ; and for this excellent reason—the Bank has no claims for a renewal of the monopoly which can stand examination.
A writer in the Belfast Northern Whig substantially confirms our former statement- " This institution never, but in one instance, gave a bona file equivalent for the immense favours and privileges it has so long enjoyed. The only actual gift, handed over to a bygone Government, was that given in the year 1791; viz. a sum of 60,000/. ; and no enlightened Minister, of comprehensive views, can stand up and put forward the plea, that the present Government are tied down by gratitude to an establishment that has lent them a sum much under three millions, and has charged;up to this hour, a rate of interest of 4 per cent.,— as many capitalists would willingly advance this amount at the lower rate of :1 per cent."
But though there is no plea which an " enlightened Minister of comprehensive views" can put forward, it does not by any means follow that Mr. SPRING RICE will not endeavour to renew the charter. He has various means of neutralizing opposition ; and we hope that he has not succeeded in satisfying Mr. O'CON- NELL, that to continue the monopoly will be doing " justice to Ireland." But a communication from Ireland informs us that there is some ground for suspecting an understanding between them. Mr. O'Ccirtmti.r., with the consent of Ministers, intro- duced the following clause into the Irish Municipal Bill- ,. And whereas it is expedient to provide greater facilities for the payment of such ceases, rates, and taxes as aforesaid : be it enacted, that after the tine when this act shall conic into operation in any borough in which the Bank of Ireland, or Provincial Bunk of It eland, or any branch thereof, shall be esta- blished, the several collectors of ceases, rates, and taxes payable under any act of Parliament now in force, or hereafter to he passed in that borough, the pay- ment whereof is required by this act fur the purpose of entitling any person to be enrolled a burgess as aforesaid, shall open accounts with one of such banks at their office in that borough, in their respective names as such collectors, which accounts every such bank upon application is hereby required to open and keep ; and it shall be lawful to every person liable to pay any such cess, rate, or tax, to pay the same, or so much thereof as he shall think fit, into bank to the credit of any of the said accounts," &C. &r.
The continuance of the Bank of Ireland is here taken for granted : but the curious part of the clause is that which gives a preference to the Provincial Bank of Ireland, in which Mr. Rica is a sleeping and Sir ROBERT PEEL an active partner, over, not only the Agricultural, but the National Bank, of which Mr. O'CoNNE1.1. himself is Governor. " How is this ?" our Irish correspondent inquires : " Why did Mr. O'Co:ssELL cast a slur upon the solvency aryl stability of his own bank ? —for by the selection of the Provincial, an imputation is thrown upon the other Joint Stock institutions. Why not empower all the re- spectable banking companies to receive the rates and taxes ? Is there no secret understanding that the National shall in some way be benefited by the result of the intrigues now in progress ?
"No doubt, the Provincial will be grateful to Mr. Otos:sum. and Mr. RICE. Cambridge is a very ticklish place. Mr. RICE'S reelection is uncertain. He may fall back upon Limerick; and then, no doubt, we shall see every officer of the Provincial record- ing votes for him out of gratitude for the preference over other joint stock institutions."
Enough has been said to show the necessity of increased activity and suspicion on the part of those who desire fair play for all existing institutions, and for those which may be formed in future. The public at large is deeply interested in frustrating an enormous and meat iniquitous job.
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