lated at compound interest, and are paid, with their accumulations, the moment they are demanded by the depositors. The system has not yet received its full development. The want of perfect security operates as a serious drawback to its extension; but the magnitude of the deposits already received, sets its powerful and salutary operation in a very striking point of view.

We subjoin a copy of the rules of the St. Pancras Savings' Bank, which may be taken as a model for srar institutions, inasmuch as they have been drawn up with great care, and closely correspond with the provisions in the acts 9 Geo. 4. c. 92. and 7 & 8 Vict. c. 83.

1. Management. - This bank is under the management of a president, vice-presidents, trustees, and not less than 50 managers, none of whom are permitted to derive any benefit whatsoever, directly or indirectly, from the deposits received, or the produce thereof. One or more of the managers attend, when the Bank is open for business.

2. Superintending Committee. - A committee of not less than ten managers, three of whom form a qarrum, is empowered to superintend, manage, and conduct the general business of this bank; to add to their number from among the managers; to fill up vacancies in their own body, and to appoint a treasurer or treasurers, agent or agents, auditors, an actuary and clerks, and other officers and servants, and to withdraw any such appointments, and to appoint others, should it be considered necessary so to do.-The proceedings of this committee are regularly laid before the general meetings of the Bank. 3. Elections.-The superintending committee is empowered to add to the number of managers, until they amount to 120, exclusively of the president, vice-presidents, and trustees. And any vacancies of president, vice-presidents, and trustees are to be filled up at a general meeting.

A General Meetings.—A general meeting of the president, vice-presidents, trustees, and managers of th's Bank shall be held once a year, in the month of February. The superintending committee shall hy before every such meeting a report of the transactions of the Bank, and state of the accounts. The superintending committee for the succeeding year shall be elected at such general meeting; and failing such election, the former committee shall be considered as reappointed.

5. Special Meetings.-The superintending committee are authorised to call special general meetings when they think proper; and also, on the requisition of any ten managers, delivered in writing to the actairy, or to the manager in attendance at the bank; and of such meeting seven days' notice shall be given.

6. Liability of Trustees, Managers, Officers, &c. -No trustee or manager shall be personally liable except for his own acts and deeds, nor for any thing done by him in virtue of his office, except where he shall be gaity of wüiful neglect or default; but the treasurer or treasurers, the actuary, and every officer to rasted with the receipt or custody of any sum of money deposited for the purposes of this institution, and every officer, or other person, receiving salary or allowance for their services from the funds thereof, shall give good and sufficient security, by bond or bonds, to the clerk of the peace of the county of Middlesex, for the just and faithful execution of such office of trust.

7. Investment and Limitation of Deposits. Deposits of not less than one shilling, and not exceeding thirty pounds in the whole, exclusive of compound interest, from any one depositor, or trustee of a depositor, during each and every year ending on the 20th of November, will be received and invested, First to 9 Geo. 4. c. 92. s. 11., until the same shall amount to one hundred and fifty pounds in the while; and when the principal and interest together shall amount to two hundred pounds, then no interest wiü be payable on such deposit, so long as it shall continue to amount to that sum. But depositors, whose accounts amounted to, or exceeded, two hundred pounds, at the passing of the said act, on the 24th of July, 1828, will continue to be entitled to interest and compound interest thereon.

* Interest to be allowed to Depositors. In conformity with the Act 7 & 8 Vict. c. 83., an interest at the rate of 21 per cent. per day, being 31. 0%, 10d. per cent. per annum (the full amount authorised by the us act), will be allowed to depositors, and placed to their accounts as a cash deposit, in the month of November in each year. Depositors demanding payment of the whole amount of their deposits in this Boss, will be allowed the interest due on such deposits up to the day on which notice of withdrawing shall be given, but no interest will be allowed, in any case, on the fractional parts of a pound sterling. 3. Description and Declaration. Every person desirous of making any deposit in this Bank, shall, at the time of making their first deposit, and at such other times as they shall be required so to do, declare teir residence, occupation, profession, or calling, and sign (either by themselves, or, in case of infants under the age of seven years, by some person or persons to be approved of by the trustees or managers, er their officer, a declaration that they are not directly or indirectly entitled to any deposit in, or benefit from, the funds of any other Savings Bank in England or Ireland, nor to any sum or sums standing in the name or names of any other person or persons in the books of this Bank. And in case any such aration shall not be true, every such person (or the person on whose behalf such declaration may have been signed shall forfeit and lose all right and title to such deposits, and the trustees and managers #hii cause the sum or sums so forfeited to be paid to the commissioners for the reduction of the national ét, but no depositor shall be subject or liable to any such forfeiture, on account of being a trustee on behalf of others, or of being interested in the funds of any Friendly Society legally established.

10. Trustees on behalf of others.-Persons may act as trustees for depositors, whether such persons are themselves depositors in any Savings Bank or not, provided that such trustee or trustees shall make Buch declaration on behalf of such depositor or depositors, and be subject to the like conditions in every respect, as are required in the case of persons making deposits on their own account, and the receipt and terprs of such trustee or trustees, or the survivor of them, or the executors or administrators of any 8 e trustee, or surviving trustee with or without (as may be required by the managers) the receipt of the person on whose account such sum may have been deposited, shall be a good and valid discharge to the trustees and managers of the institution.

1. Minors. – Deposits are received from, or for the benefit of, minors, and are subject to the same regatacs as the deposits of persons of 21 years of age and upwards.

1 Friendly and Charitable Societies - Friendly Societies, legally established previous to the 28th of Juty 1×2, may deposit their funds through their treasurer, stewa d, or other officer or officers, without mitation as to the amount. But Friendly Societies formed and enrolled after that date are not pery itted to make deposits exceeding the sum of 3007., principal and interest included; and no interest payable thereon, whenever the same shall amount to, or continue at, the said sum of 3007. or

De sits are received from the trustees or treasurers of Charitable Societies, not exceeding 1007. per T provided the amount shall not at any time exceed the sum of 300% exclusive of interest. 3. Deposits of Persons unable to attend.-Forms are given at the office, enabling persons to become dinators, who are unable to attend personally, and those who have previously made a deposit, n-ay ker 41 tional sums, together with their book, by any other person.

14. Dapasitors' Book. — The deposits are entered in the books of the Bank at the time they are made, ari the dep isitor receives a book with a corresponding entry therein; which book must be brought to te ofice every time that any further sum is deposited, also when notice is given for withdrawing money, ad at the time the repayment is to be made, so that the transactions may be duly entered therein.

5. Withdrawing Deposits. - Depositors may receive the whole or any part of their deposits on any day appointed by the managers, not exceeding fourteen days after notice has been given for that purpose;

but such deposits can only be repaid to the depositor personally, or to the bearer of an order under the hand of the depositor, signed in the presence of either the minister or a churchwarden of the parish in which the depositor resides, of a justice of the peace, or of a manager of this Bank.

The Depositors' Book must always be produced when notice of withdrawing is given.

16. Money withdrawn may be re-deposited.--Depositors may withdraw any sum or sums of money, and re-deposit the same at any time or times within any one year, reckoning from the 20th day of November, provided such sum or sums of money re-deposited, and any previous deposit or deposits which may have been made by such depositor in the course of the year, taken together, shall not exceed, at any time in such year, the sum of 30 additional principal money bearing interest.

17. Return or Refusal of Deposits.-This Bank is at liberty to return the amount of the deposits to all or any of the depositors, and may refuse to receive deposits in any case, where it shall be deemed expedient so to do.

18. Deposits of a deceased Depositor exceeding Fifty Pounds. In case of the death of any depositor in this Bank, whose deposits, and the interest thereon, shall exceed in the whole the sum of fifty pounds, the same shall only be paid to the executor or executors, administrator or administrators, on the production of the probate of the will, or letters of administration.

19. Deposits of a deceased Depositor not exceeding Fifty Pounds. — In case a depositor in this Bank shall die, whose deposits, including interest thereon, shall not exceed the sum of fifty pounds, and that the trustees or managers shall be satisfied that no will was made and left, and that no letters of administration will be taken out, they shall be at liberty to pay the same to the relatives or friends of the deceased, or any or either of them, of according to the statute of distribution, or require the production of letters of administration, at their discretion. And the Bank shall be indemnified by any such payments from all and every claim in respect thereof by any person whatsoever.

20. Certificate. In all cases wherein certificates shall be required of the amount of deposits in this Bank belonging to depositors therein, for the purpose of obtaining, free of stamp duties, a probate of will, or letters of administration, such certificate shall be signed by a manager, and countersigned by the actuary for the time being, as a true extract from the ledger of the institution.

21. Arbitration of Differences.-In case any dispute shall arise between the trustees or managers of this Bank, or any person or persons acting under them, and any individual depositor therein, or any trustee of a depositor, or any person claiming to be such executor, administrator, or next of kin, then, and in every such case, the matter so in dispute shall be referred to the barrister at law appointed by the commissioners for the reduction of the national debt, under the authority of the 9 Geo. 4. c. 92. s. 45.; and whatever award, order, or determination shall be made by the said barrister, shall be binding aud conclusive upon all parties, and shall be final, to all intents and purposes, without any appeal.

Purchase of Government Annuities by Depositors in Savings Banks. · The act 2 & 3 Will. 4. c. 14. enables depositors in Savings Banks and others to purchase government annuities for life or for years, and either immediate or deferred. At present these annuities are limited to 30l. a year. The money advanced is returnable in case the contracting party does not live to the age at which the annuity is to become payable, or is unable to continue the monthly or annual instalments. That this measure was benevolently intended, and that it may be productive of advantage to many individuals, cannot be doubted; but we look upon all attempts, and particularly those made by government, to get individuals to exchange capital for annuities, as radically objec tionable; and as being subversive of principles which ought to be strengthened rather than weakened.—(See FUNDS.) We subjoin

Account of the Number of Depositors in Savings Banks, and of the Amount of their Deposits, including Interest, on the 20th of Nov. 1857.

State of Savings Banks in England, Scotland, and Ireland, on the 20th of Nov. 1858.

The comparatively small amount of the deposits in the Savings Banks in Scotland is wholly a consequence of the unusual facilities so long afforded in that part of the U. Kingdom for the investment of comparatively small sums at interest in public banks of undoubted solidity. We have previously noticed (Sect. on SCOTCH BANKS) the very large amount of these investments.

BANGKOK, the capital of the kingdom of Siam, situated about 20 miles direct distance, but about 30 by water, from the sea on both sides the river Menam, but chiefly on its left or castern bank, in lat. 13° 40′ N., long. 101° 10' E. The Menam opens in

the centre nearly of the bottom of the Gulph of Siam. There is a bar at its mouth, consisting, for the most part, of a mud flat 10 miles in depth. The outer edge of this flat, which is little more than 200 yards broad, is sandy and of harder materials than the inner part; which is so soft that when a ship grounds on it during the ebb, she often sinks 5 feet in the mud and clay, which supports her upright, so that she is but little inconvenienced. The highest water on the bar of the Menam, from February to September, is about 13 feet; and in the remaining 4 months, somewhat more than 14 feet, -a difference probably produced by the accumulation of water at the head of the bay after the south-west monsoon, and by the heavy floods of the rainy season. On account of the deficiency of water on the bar, vessels sent to Bangkok had better, perhaps, not exceed 200 or 250 tons burden. In all other respects, the river is extremely safe and commodious. Its mouth is no sooner approached, than it deepens gradually; and at Paknam, two miles up, there are 6 and 7 fathoms water. This depth increases as you ascend, and at Bangkok is not less than 9 fathoms. The only danger is, or rather was, a sandbank off Paknam, bare at low water; but on this fort a battery has been erected within the last few years, affording at all times a distinct beacon. channel of the river is so equal, that a ship may range from one side to another, auproaching the banks so closely that her yards may literally overhang them. The navigation is said to be equally safe all the way up to the old capital, Yuthia, 80 miles from the mouth of the river.

The

The city of Bangkok extends along the banks of the Menam to the distance of about 2 miles; but is of no great breadth, probably not exceeding 13 mile. On the left bank there is a long street or row of floating houses; each house or shop, for they are in general both, consisting of a distinct vessel, which may be moored anywhere along the banks. Besides the principal river, which at the city is about a quarter of a mile broad, the country is intersected by a great number of tributary streams and canals, so that almost all intercourse at Bangkok is by water. The population has been variously computed at from 50,000 to 400,000; but, though probably in excess, the latter is no doubt the nearest to the mark. Half the population consists of Chinese settlers.

The common necessaries of life at Bangkok are exceedingly cheap. A cwt. of rice may always be had for 2s, and very often for 18. Other necessaries, such as salt, palmsugar, spices, vegetables, fish, and even flesh, are proportionally cheap. The price of good pork, for example, is 24d. per lb. A duck may be had for 7d. and a fowl for 3d. The neighbourhood of Bangkok is one of the most productive places in the world for fine fruits; here are assembled, and to be had in the greatest perfection and abundance, the orange and lichi of China, the mangoe of Hindostan, and the mangostein, durian, and shaddock of the Malay countries.

The area of the kingdom of Siam has been estimated at about 200,000 square miles, and its population at from nearly 3,000,000 to 6,000,000; both estimates being by the highest authorities, viz., Mr. Crawfurd, one of the most intelligent Englishmen that has ever visited the country, and the other by M. Pallegoix, bishop of Siam. Sir John Bowring reckons the population at between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000; but it is evident that no dependance can be safely placed on any of these estimates. From a quarter to a third part of the population are supposed to be Chinese. Sir John Bowring says,"There is no class of settlers who, under proper control, are so likely to be useful as the Chinese. That passion for acquiring wealth, which leads them to dare all danger and difficulty, is a most valuable recommendation. Their habits of subordination, their inbred respect for authority, their gregarious spirit, which drives them into associations of every sort, private and public, praiseworthy and pernicious, only requires a thorough knowledge of their character to be turned to the best account." (i. 243.) The Chinese are, in truth, by far the best and most valuable part of the population.

Trade-Being near the mouth of a great navigable river, which runs through the whole extent of the country, Bangkok is well situated for commerce, and formerly she possessed a considerable trade. This, however, gradually fell off, in consequence of the monopolies and other injudicious measures of the government. Latterly, however, a more liberal spirit has prevailed; and since 1855, when the commercial treaty negociated by Sir John Bowring (see post), came into operation, trade has been largely extended; and the capacities of the country are so very great that, were they at all developed, Bangkok could not fail to become one of the principal emporiums of the

East.

The trade which is centered at Bangkok is principally carried on with China, Cochin-China and the neighbouring countries, and with Singapore, Java, &c. But ressels direct from England and other European countries and the United States, occasionally arrive at the port. Pallegoix has given (tom. i. p. 327.) a list of the articles, with their quantities and prices, that are usually shipped from Siam; but we prefer laying before the reader the following account of the articles, &c., that were really exported from Bangkok in 1856.

Account of the Quantities and Values of the Articles Exported from the Port of Bangkok in 1856.

Account of the British and Foreign Shipping cleared from the Port of Bangkok in 1856, specifying the Value of their Cargoes.

The total value of the imports during the same year amounted to 395,2611., of which those of British produce were estimated to make 213,790l.-( Consular Returns, No. VI. p. 172.) A large part of the imports consist of English cotton stuffs and twist, copper, iron and nails, shipping stores, &c. The imports from China comprise coarse earthenware and porcelain, spelter, quicksilver, tea, lacksoy (vermicelli), dried fruits, raw silk, crapes, satins, and other silk fabrics, nankeens, shoes, fans, umbrellas, writing paper, sacrificial paper, incense rods, and many other minor articles. Not the least valuable part of the importations are immigrants. The tonnage engaged in the trade with China formerly consisted almost entirely of junks; but latterly these have been to a considerable extent superseded by the employment of square-rigged vessels built in Siam after European models.

The supplies of many of the above articles, especially of sugar, pepper, rice, &c., may be indefinitely increased. The principal sugar growing districts are situated in the immediate vicinity of the capital; and nothing is wanted but the application of skill and capital to the culture of the cane and the manufacture of the sugar to increase the produce of the latter to any amount. Pepper is mostly grown near, and is brought from Martaban, on the E. side of the gulph.

M. Pallegoix states that the main obstacles to the extension of trade at Bangkok consist 1st, in the difficulty of disposing of goods within a limited period; 2nd, in the dilatoriness with which they are paid for; and, 3rd, in the delay which attends the getting on board of a return cargo: and to obviate these he suggests that foreigners trading with Siam should have agents and warehouses in the country, to whom they might consign their goods, to be sold according to the demand, and who might purchase and accumulate, as occasion served, articles of export. Those who act thus, he says, generally succeed, (i. 326.)

Duties

Port Dues and Duties.-Previously to 1855 British ships arriving at Bangkok were subject to certain port dues, but these were abolished by the treaty of that year. on imports were at the same time fixed at 3 per cent. The duties on exports and trade regulations are specified in the tariffs, &c., annexed to the treaty. (See post.)

Opium has become an extensive article of consumption. It was formerly prohibited; but, to use the words of Sir John Bowring, "The influence of the Chinese, the wants of the treasury, the impotency of prohibitions and punishments to prevent its importation, have led to the legalisation of the drug, and the establishment of an opium farm, for which a large sum is annually paid by an opulent Chinese contractor." (i. 255.)

Monies, Weights, and Measures. — Gold and copper are not used as money in Siam, and the currency consists only of cowrie sheils and silver. The denominations are as follow: 200 bia or cowries make

1 p'hai-nung; 2 p'hai-nungs, 1 sing-p'hai; 2 sing-p'hais, 1 fuang; 2 fuangs, I salung; 4 salungs, 1 bat or tical; 80 ticals, I cattie; 100 catties, 1 picul.

The standard coin is the bat, which Europeans have called a tical; but there are also coins, though less frequently, of the lower denominations. These are of a rude and peculiar form. They are, in fact, nothing more than small bits of a silver bar bent, and the ends beaten together. They are impressed with two or three small stamps, not covering the whole surface of the coin. The cattie and picul are, of course, only used in speaking of large sums of money. Gold and silver are weighed by small weights, which have the same denominations as the coins. The p'hai-nung, the lowest of these, is in this case subdivided into 32 sagas, or red beans, the Abrus precatorius of botanists.

The bat, or tical, was assayed at the mint of Calcutta; it was found to weigh 236 grains; its standard, however, was uncertain, and the value of different specimens varied from 1 rupee 3 anas and 3 pice, to 1 rupee 3 anas and 7 pice. The value, therefore, in sterling money, is about 2s. 6d., and it is so sidered.

con

In respect to ordinary measures, the Siamese cattie is double the weight of the Chinese cattie, which, as is well known, is equal to 13 lb. avoirdupois. The picul, however, is of the same weight, consisting in the one case of 50 catties only, and in the other of 100. In weighing rice and salt, a large measure is used, consisting, in respect to the first of 22 piculs, and of the last of 25 piculs. Rice is also measured by the basket, of which 100 go to the large measure above mentioned.

The long measures are as follow:-12 finger breadths make 1 span; 2 spans, 1 cubit; 4 cubits, 1 fathom; 20 fathoms, i sen; and 100 sen, 1 yuta, or, as it is more commonly pronounced by the Siamese, yut. The fathom is the measure of most frequent use, and the Siamese have a pole of this length divided into its fractional parts. This, as nearly as can be ascertained, is equal to about 6 feet 6 inches. The sen appears to be also used in the admeasurement of land, and to be the name of a square measure of 20

fathoms to the side.

Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between Her Majesty the Queen of the U. Kingdom and the Kings of Siam.

Article 1. There shall henceforward be perpetual peace and friendship between Her Majesty and her successors, and Their Majesties the Kings of Siam, and their successors. All British subjects coming to Siam shall receive from the Siamese Government full protection and assistance to enable them to reside in Siam in all security, and trade with every facility, free from oppression or injury on the part of the Siamese; and all Siamese subjects going to an English country shall receive from the British Government the same complete protection and assistance that shall be granted to British subjects by the Government of Siam."

2. The interests of all British subjects coming to Siam shall be placed under the regulation and control of a Consul, who will be appointed to reside at Bangkok: he will himself conform to, and will enforce the observance by British subjects of, all the provisions of this treaty, and such of the former treaty negotiated by Captain Burney, in 1826, as shall still remain in operation. He shall also give effect to all rules or regulations that are now or may hereafter be enacted for the government of British subjects in Siam, the conduct of their trade, and for the prevention of violations of the laws of Siam. Any disputes arising between British and Siamese subjects shall be heard and determined by the Consul, in conjunction with the proper Siamese officers; and criminal offences will be punished, in the case of English offenders by the Consul, according to English laws, and in the case of Siamese offenders, by their own laws, through the Siamese authorities. But the Consul shall not interfere in any matters referring solely to Siamese, neither will the Siamese authorities interfere in questions which only concern the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty.

It is understood, however, that the arrival of the British Consul at Bangkok shall not take place before the ratification of this treaty, nor until 10 vessels owned by British subjects, sailing under British colours and with British papers, shall have entered the port of Bangkok for purposes of trade, subsequent to the signing of this treaty.

3. If Siamese in the employ of British subjects offend against the laws of their country, or if any Siamese having so offended, or desiring to desert, take refuge with a British subject in Siam, they shall be searched for, and, upon proof of their guilt or desertion, shall be delivered up by the Consul to the Siamese authorities. In like manner, any British offenders resident or trading in Siam, who may desert, escape to, or hide themselves in, Siamese territory, shall be apprehended and delivered over to the British Consul on his requisition. Chinese, not able to prove themselves to be British subjects, shall not be considered as such by the British Consul, nor be entitled to his protection.

4. British subjects are permitted to trade freely in all the seaports of Siam, but may reside permanently only at Bangkok, or within the limits assigned by this Treaty. British subjects coming to reside at Bangkok may rent land, and buy or build houses, but cannot purchase lands within a circuit of 200 sen (not more than four miles English) from the city walls, until they shall have lived in Siam for ten years, or shall obtain special authority from the Siamese Government to enable them to do so. But with the exception of this limitation, British residents in Siam may at any time buy or rent houses, lands or plantations, situated any where within a distance of twenty-four hours' journey from the city of Bangkok, to be computed by the rate at which boats of the country can travel. In order to obtain possession of such lands or houses, it will be necessary than the British subject shall, in the first place, make application through the Consul to the proper Siamese officer; and the Siamese officer and the Consul having satisfied themselves of the honest intentions of the applicant, will assist him in settling, upon equitable terms, the amount of the purchase money, will mark out and fix the boundaries of the property, and will convey the same to the British purchaser under sealed deeds. Whereupon he and his property shall be placed under the protection of the Governor of the district and that of the particular local authorities; he shall conform, in ordinary matters, to any just directions given him by them, and will be subject to the same taxation that is levied on Siamese subjects. But if through negligence, the want of capital, or other cause, a British subject should fail to commence the cultivation or improvement of the lands so acquired within a term of three years from the date of receiving possession thereof, the Siamese Government shall have the power of resuming the property, upon returning to the British subject the purchase money paid by him for the same.

5. All British subjects intending to reside in Siam shall be registered at the British Consulate. They shall not go out to sea, nor proceed beyond the limits assigned by this treaty for the residence of British subjects, without a passport from the Siamese authorities, to be applied for by the British Consul; nor shall they leave Siam, if the Siamese authorities show to the British Consul that legitimate objections exist to their quitting the country. But within the limits appointed under the preceding article, British subjects are at liberty to travel to and fro under the protection of a pass, to be furnished them by the British Consul, and counter-sealed by the proper Siamese officer, stating, in the Siamese character, their names, calling, and description. The Siamese officers at the Government stations in the interior may, at any time, call for the production of this pass, and immediately on its being exhibited, they must allow the parties to proceed; but it will be their duty to detain those persons who, by travelling without