The list of shareholders in the Chartered Company made up
to July 6th, 1895, is now lying on the table of the House of Commons. At that date there were 14,781 shareholders owning the 2,000,000 £1 shares. Among these are many foreigners. According to the Daily Chronicle, 450 German shareholders owned 38,370 shares, 3,000 French shareholders owned 252,437 shares, and 500 miscellaneous foreign share- holders owned 53,920. There are also 256 Colonial shareholders owning 81,279 shares, of which a single holder, Thomas Shiels, possessed 44,908. The chief holders of shares are among the directors. The Duke of Fife held 3,835 shares,
the Duke of Abercorn, 5,419 shares ; Lord Grey, 5.084; Mr. Cecil Rhodes, 51,783; Mr. Alfred Brit, 25,304. That is, of course, per se perfectly satisfactory. The more largely the -directorate of a company are interested in the venture the more likely they are to further its true interests. The -following well - known persons are to be noticed among the shareholders :—The Marquis of Lorne, 5 shares; the Duchess of Devonshire, 117 shares; Sir Frederick Carring- ton, K.C.M.G., 45 shares ; Mr. Leopold Rothschild, 7,546 _*bares; Sir James Kitson, M.P., 2,008 shares ; Sir John Lubbock, M.P., 25 shares. There are besides a considerable _number of Members of Parliament and Peers. We need hardly say that we do not draw attention to the list as if there were anything wrong or suspicions in holding shares in the company. Per as it is quite as innocent an act to be a shareholder in the Chartered as in any other company, and we may feel sure that the bulk of owners would, if it becomes necessary to judge the doings of the company, be entirely un- influenced by their connection with it. At the same time we are extremely glad that the list has been made public. A -company is its shareholders. But to the Chartered Company a great public trust has been delivered. The nation, then, ought to know who are the persons in whom this trust hae been reposed.
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