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Bank probably exceeds a Million and a quarter of dollars- and frequently during the year was much in excess of that amount, as Mr Gardon can inform Your Lordship.
9.
The same may be said of other Banks- as, for example, the Comptoir d'Escompte, which does quite as much local business here as the Oriental, but the Oriental, but issues no notes at all.
It nevertheless has its Coffers frequently crowded inconveniently with bullion detained there by adverse exchanges or other circumstances.
10.
I would therefore infer from these facts, independent of others within my own Knowledge, that any private action taken by the Oriental Bank in reference to the retiring of its notes arises as much from causes unconnected with the Stamp Ordinance, as from dread of any intended tax- and the decision of its Directors in the matter is comparatively immaterial to the General Public here.
As however Mr Gordon states" there is little doubt but that the imposition of the proposed duty will lead the various Bank's interested Seriously to entertain the question of calling in their notes", I felt it right to inquire how far that statement was correct. As the returns show the circulation of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank alone to equal that of all the others combined, I this day sent for Mr Keswick was not mentioned but Mr 'Presler' or 'Prefser', likely should be Mr Keswick or another person, the Manager of that Bank, and asked him, what effect the operation of