original, and what is borrowed, and thus stimulate mechanical genius to new inventions and improvements. In pursuance of a resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States, the Secretary of State presented to that body a list of all the patents issued from the first of August, 1790, to the first of January, 1805. Of the whole number, 598, 250 are for “improvements," the last of which is entitled, "A mode of improving, or setting a horse's ears. " The amount received at the Treasury Department for patents, from 1801 to 1809 inclusive, was upwards of twenty-seven thousand dollars. OF BANKS. There are seven Banks in the district of Columbia: Bank of Alexandria. Bank of Potomac. Bank of Washington. Union Bank of Georgetown. Bank of Columbia. Farmers' Bank of Alexandria. Mechanics' Bank of Alexandria. The Bank of Alexandria was established in 1792. The capital first raised amounted to a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which was afterwards increased to five hundred thousand. The average annual dividend was 8 per cent on the capital. The Bank of Potomac, which was instituted in the year 1804, with a capital of five hundred thousand dollars, has given an annual dividend of seven per cent. The capital of the Bank of Washington amounts to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and may be augmented to a million. The Union Bank commenced with a capital of three hundred thousand dollars, and may also be augmented to a million. These Banks are chartered by acts of Congress. Exhibifumbia, in February, 1814, which was prese presentatives, in compliance with their Bank of Bank of 170,586 59 25,524 43 126,781 94 69,538 A writer in the National Intelligencer1 proposes the following amendments to the acts of charter :— 1st,-To re-establish the former mode of voting by proxy, without restriction, for the benefit of country stock-holders. 2dly, To proportion the quantum of suffrage to the quantum of stock, and prevent the town-holders from splitting votes to serve improper purposes. 3dly,-To oblige every director to hold, in his own right, stock to the amount of five thousand dollars, which will promote the prosperity of the Bank. 4thly,-To reduce the salaries paid to the officers of the Bank. 5thly, To give to country stock-holders the right of discounting to the amount of three-fourths of their stock actually paid up, without the intervention of a town indorser; and further, that forfeited stock shall be sold publicly, and not privately. 6thly,-To publish, in the newspapers, all bye-laws, rules, and regulations. The Marine Insurance Company of Alex • No. 1735. |