BANK RETURN.—Weekly, in the money article of every newspaper having any pretension to importance, there is published an analysis of the weekly return or report of the Bank of England. The publication of the return itself by the bank is not optional, but under the Bank Act of 1844 is compulsory, not only in its nature, but in the details to be shown. As w ill be seen on reference to the article on the BANK OF ENGLAND, the business of the bank is divided into two departments, namely that of issue, which deals only with the issue of notes, and that of banking, which deals with the same matters as other banking establishments ; and under the same two separate headings is the weekly return divided and made up. The analysis contained in the money article takes within its general view each item of the whole return, but to two in particular—those which show the reserve—is special attention and criticism mainly directed. The other items have their own importance, and indeed a very faripaching importance, but the information they convey is of an extremely general character, the neces sary result of the multifarious and complicated business of the bank. On the other hand, the items showing the reserve are definite and precise ; there is not, and there cannot be, any ambiguity as to the significance of those figures and as to their meaning. Upon the state of the reserve depend the rates by
which money throughout the country will be more or less regulated, and consequentially the value of money in this country, the flow thereof in or out of the country, the profits in dealings upon the Stock Exchange, the profits of trade, and the prices of commodities. No wonder, therefore, that an especial regard is paid to the reserve; and that at times of financial tension even anxious anticipations are made of the coming return, and the prospects of a possible maintenance or change in the current bank rate. The return is made up by the bank to every Wednesday, and t. cony posted up outside the bank early on the following Thursday afternoon. A small crowd are awaiting it, and immediately it is so posted, examine and copy it ; it is at once published in certain of the leading evening papers, and on Friday morning appears at the head of the market intelligence in the morning papers, prefaced, as we have already seen, by examination and criti cism at the commencement of the money article. The following is, in round figures, a reproduction of a typical return, and a perusal thereof will be of assistance in understanding this article :