REDUCTION OF FARES ON ENGLISH RAILWAYS.

It appears from the last annual report from the Railway Department of the British Board of Trade, that on the Grand Junction Line, 98 miles long, the fares have been reduced, since the 1st of January, 1844, on the first-class, from 24s. 6d. to 17s.; and on the second, from 18s. to 14s. On the Great North of England, 45 miles long, first-class, from 13s. to 9s.; and on the second, from 9s. to 8s. On the Great Western, 1184 miles long, first-class, from 30s. to 27s. 6d. ; second, from 21s. to 18s. 6d. On the Leeds and Selby, 6 miles long, first-class, from 2s. to 1s. 4d.; second, from 1s. 6d. to 1s. On the London and Birmingham, 112 miles long, first-class, from 30s. to 23s.; second, from 20s. to 17s. On the London and Brighton, 50 miles long, first-class, from 128. to 10s.; second, from 8s. to 7s. 6d. On the London and Croydon, 10 miles long, first-class, from 2s. 3d. to 1s. 3d.; second, from 1s. 9d. to 1s. On the Southwestern, 94 miles long, firstclass, from 23s. 6d. to 19s. 6d., and added a second-class at 15s. On the Manchester and Birmingham, 85 miles long, first-class, from 23s. to 15s.; second, from 178. to 11s. 6d. On the Manchester and Leeds, 51 miles long, first-class, from 15s. to 11s.; second, from 9s. 6d. to 8s. 6d. On the Newcastle and Carlisle, 60 miles long, first-class, from 16s. to 12s.; second, 12s. to 98. On the North Union, 22 miles long, first-class, from 8s. 6d. to 4s. 6d.; second, from 4s. to 3s. On the Southeastern, 88 miles long, first-class, from 188. 6d. to 15s.; second, from 12s. to 10s. On the York and North Midland, 24 miles long, first-class, from 7s. to 6s.; second, from 5s. to 4s. 6d. In addition to these reductions, great facilities and reductions have been afforded by third-class carriages and return tickets, of which no note is taken. Since the close of the year, further reductions have taken place on some of the lines, which, of course, are not included in this report. On the following lines, no reductions have been made :-Birmingham and Gloucester, Hull and Selby, Lancaster and Preston, Midland, and Preston and Wyre. The total length of new railways opened in 1844 was 195 miles 45 chains; and in 1845, 293 miles 77 chains.

TROY AND GREENBUSH RAILROAD.

This road, which was partially opened for travel on the 13th of June, 1845, extends from the city of Troy to Greenbush, opposite Albany, and is six miles long. It appears, by the last annual report of the directors, made to the Assembly of New York, that the cost of construction to January 1st, 1846, was $233,371 39. The receipts of the company from June 13th, 1845, when, it will be remembered, the road was only partially opened, to the first of January, 1846, was from 98,711 passengers, $12,200 86, and from freight, $3,647 32; making a total of $15,846 18. The expenses for the same period were $5,981 21; and the dividends made to stockholders, $7,843 62. The number of miles run by passenger trains was 13,636; for freight do., 500 miles. The company have three locomotives, and two Troy-built cars, handsomely furnished, and as commodious and convenient as any we have ever seen. The company have judiciously adopted the lowest rate of fare, (12 cents) two cents per mile. There are no roads in the United States more efficiently managed, or better conducted than the Troy. The "Rensselaer and Saratoga," the "Schenectady and Troy," and the "Troy and Greenbush" railroads, all pass through the main street of the city, and take up passengers at the door of each of the principal hotels, the "Mansion House," the "Troy House," etc.; and although owned by different companies, they are all under the management of Mr. L. R. SARGENT, a most experienced, intelligent, and efficient superintendent; a circumstance which secures the utmost regularity as well as safety. The travel over the Troy and Greenbush road since the last report has been constantly increasing, and we have no hesitation in saying that the stock must soon take rank with the best in the country. The first semi-annual dividend was 4 per cent on the capital invested. The cars leave Troy and Greenbush every hour during the day and evening.

RATES OF FREIGHT AND TOLL ON COAL,

ADOPTED BY THE PHILADELPHIA AND READING RAILROAD COMPANY.

The Board of Managers of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, have adopted the following as the rates of freight and toll on coal transported by that Company. The new rates went into operation on the 15th of June, 1846.

EXPENSES OF THE BRITISH PACKET-SERVICE.

A Parliamentary return shows the expense of the packet-service during the year. The amount paid out of the exchequer, from grants of parliament for naval service, was £655,418 3s.; paid to the East India Company towards the expense of steam-communication with India, by way of the Red Sea, and voted in the miscellaneous services, £50,000. The expense of the packet-service between Liverpool and Dublin in the year, was £26,831 8s.; Holyhead and Kingstown, £17,769 78.; Milford and Waterford, £18,157 5s. 10d.; Portpatrick and Donaghadee, £4,252 2s. 9d.; Weymouth, to the 31st of May, 1845, when the establishment was broken up, £2,895 2s.; communication with foreign parts from Dover, £29,614 19s.; from Falmouth, £2,995. The receipts for passage money, etc., £22,021 18s. 9d.; making the nett expense of this packet-service for the year, £80,593 33., including £15,170 paid on account of the new vessels Garland, Onyx, and Violet. The nett expense of her majesty's steam vessels employed as packets in the Mediterranean for the year-namely, the Acheron, Polyphemus, Sydenham, and Volcano, was £41,522; of her majesty's sailing vessels, Crane, Express, Linnet, Penguin, Petrel, Swift, Seagull, Cockatrice, and Viper, employed as packets to South America, and as branch-packets on that line, £20,235.

SPEED OF THE HUDSON RIVER STEAMERS.

There are no boats in the world that surpass, or even equal, in splendor and speed, the passage boats that ply on the Hudson river, between New York, Albany, and Troy. A short time since, a trial of speed took place between those magnificent boats, the "Hendrick Hudson" and "Empire." The "Hendrick" reached Albany a few minutes after 24 o'clock, and the "Empire" about an hour after. The "Hendrick" made Caldwell's in two hours and three minutes, which is forty-five miles from New York; Poughkeepsie, (eighty miles,) in three hours and thirty-nine minutes. We place this on record as one of the quickest passages yet made.

JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY AND FINANCE.

VALUE OF FOREIGN COINS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE acts establishing and regulating the mint of the United States, and for regulating coins, have been:-An act establishing a mint and regulating the coins of the United States, passed April 2d, 1792; an act regulating foreign coins, and for other purposes, February 9th, 1793; an act in alteration of the act establishing a mint and regulating the coins of the United States, March 3d, 1794; an act supplementary to the act entitled an act to establish a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States," passed March 3d, 1795; an act respecting the mint, May 27th, 1796; an act respecting the mint, April 24th, 1800; an act concerning the mint, March 3d, 1801; an act to prolong the continuance of the mint at Philadelphia, Jan. 14th, 1818; an act further to prolong the mint at Philadelphia, March 3d, 1823; an act to continue the mint at Philadelphia, and for other purposes, May 19th, 1828; an act concerning the gold coins of the United States, and for other purposes, June 28th, 1834; an act to establish branches of the mint of the United States, March 3d, 1835; an act supplementary to an act entitled "an act estab. lishing a mint and regulating the coins of the United States,” Jan. 18th, 1837; an act to amend an act entitled "an act to establish branches of the mint of the United States," February 13th, 1837; an act amendatory of an act establishing the branch mint at Dahlonega, Georgia, and defining the duties of the assayer and coiner, February 27th, 1843. The above is a complete chronological list of all the acts regulating coins and coinage, from the organization of the government in 1789, to March 3d, 1845. We have compiled it from the authorized edition of the "Public Statutes at large, of the United States of America," just published by Little & Brown, of Boston, by the authority of Congress. The following law passed Congress at the present session, and was approved by the President, May 22d, 1846. As it is of importance, establishing, as it does, the value of certain foreign coins, and as it is not included in the new edition of the laws of the United States, referred to above, we here subjoin a correct copy :--

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE VALUE OF CERTAIN FOREIGN COINS AND MONEYS OF ACCOUNT, AND TO AMEND EXISTING LAWS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That, in all computation at the custom-house, the foreign coins and money of account herein specified, shall be estimated as follows, to wit: The specie dollar of Sweden and Norway at one hundred and six cents. The specie dollar of Denmark at one hundred and five cents. The thaler of Prussia and of the northern States of Germany, at sixty-nine cents. The florin of the southern States of Germany at forty cents. The florin of the Austrian Empire and of the city of Augsburg, at forty-eight and one-half cents. The lira of the Lombardo Venetian kingdom and the lira of Tuscany, at sixteen cents. The franc of France and Belgium, and the lira of Sardinia, at eighteen cents six mills. The ducat of Naples at eighty cents. The ounce of Sicily at two dollars and forty cents. The pound of the British provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Canada, at four dollars. And all laws inconsistent with this act, are hereby repealed.

REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE. The following contrast drawn by the Baron Charles Dupin, is highly complimentary to England, and is valuable as illustrating the principles upon which British legislation has been based:

In 1816, the British government, in perfect peace, victorious and tranquil, spent £86,000,000 sterling, no part of which was applied to the extinction of the national debt. In 1824, its expenditures exceeded £67,000,000. In 1844, the latest period to which the accounts have been completed, its expenditure was reduced to £55,000,000.*

In 1816, the interest of the national debt amounted to £33,500,000; it is now reduced to £26,000,000, and £4,000,000 on temporary annuities, which are gradually disappearing year by year. Whilst Great Britain was obtaining these splendid results, she was effecting a vast reform in the manner and extent of her public burdens.

Between 1815 and 1841, a balance being struck between taxes increased and taxes diminished, this power has abolished an amount of £24,000,000 of taxation, and last year suppressed a further sum of £6,000,000.

The taxes abolished are those, especially, which paralyze industry, and oppose obstacles to the superiority of British commerce over that of other nations. In effecting this, do not imagine that England has abstained from carrying out gigantic enterprises, sustaining mighty struggles, and defending her wide-spread dominions with an armed hand. She possessed in India, in 1816, 80,000,000 of subjects; she now numbers 100,000,000. Canada revolted; the revolt was suppressed by force. Her will was contested in the Syrian question; her ships decided the matter. China resisted the odious commerce in opium; an expedition after the fashion of Cortes subdued the Celestial Empire. Two seas existed, the entrance of which was not under the command of England, the Chinese Ocean, and the Red Sea. Aden and Singapore have completed the chain of forts which bind the commerce of the world.

In 1816, England was, without exception, the state most heavily burdened by the weight of taxation. She is now, in proportion to her wealth, less taxed than France. Thirty years ago, England spent £80,000,000 sterling, while France spent but the half. In 1844, England spent £55,000,000, whilst France expended £57,500,000.

Let us observe, at the same time, from one single fact, the enormous difference in the resources of the two countries for the supply of such heavy public burdens. Looking still at 1844, as a means of comparison, I find, says Baron Dupin, "that the commerce of England, favored by a skilful system of taxation, is so great, that the mere amount of the produce of the soil and industry of Great Britain sold to foreign nations, in eleven months, is equal to the total annual expenditures of the Treasury. On the other hand, in France, we only behold an unlimited increase in the taxation, and we have reached a point at which we require the amount of twenty-three months of the sale of our produce to foreigners to pay our expenditure, whilst eleven months, only, suffice to the English."

SAVINGS' BANKS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The Savings Banks in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, are regulated by the statutes 9 Geo. IV., c. 14; 5 and 6 Will. IV., c. 57; and 7 and 8 Vic., c. 83.

The amount allowed to be invested by any one depositor cannot exceed £30 in any one year, ending on the 20th of November, nor more than £150 on the whole; when the sum amounts to £200, no interest is payable. The rate of interest payable to the trustees and managers is £3 5s. per cent per annum, and that payable to depositors must not exceed £3 0s. 10d. per cent per annum. Trustees or Treasurers of any charitable provident institution or society, or charitable donation, or bequest for the maintenance, education, or benefit of the poor, may invest sums not exceeding £100 per annum, and not exceeding £300, principal and interest included. Friendly societies, whose rules have been duly certified, pursuant to the acts of parliament relating thereto, may deposit the whole, or any part of their funds. The several provisions of these statutes, as far as they relate to the deposits and depositors, will be found in the rules of every Savings' Bank.

On the 20th of November, 1844, there were 577 Savings' Banks established in the United Kingdom, &c., viz: 504 in Great Britain, and 73 in Ireland; and the amount of deposits, including interest, was £29,504,864; the number of accounts open, 1,012,047, of which 564,642 were those of depositors under £20 each, the average amount being under £7, and the number of depositors exceeding £200 each was only 3,044. If the number of friendly societies in direct account with the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt be added, the gross total will show the number of accounts to be one million, twelve thousand, four hundred and seventy-five, and the sum invested, thirty-one millions, two hundred and seventy-five thousand, six hundred and thirty-six

pounds. Since the 20th November, 1844, 12 Savings' Banks have been established, viz: 9 in England; 2 in Scotland; and 1 in Ireland.

SUMMARY OF SAVINGS' BANK IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES, AND IRELAND. England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, have a population of 26,787,004; and there were on the 20th November, 1844, 577 Savings' Banks, containing—

MOVEMENT OF THE OHIO BANKS.

The Ohio State Journal publishes a statement of the condition of the Banks of Ohio on the first Monday of May, 1846, from which we give the following aggregates:

Average Capital for six months, $5,178,984 08. Tax paid on each $100 of stock, 49.4 cents. Tax per annum on the dollar of stock, 4.94 mills.

NEW USURY LAW OF NEW YORK.

The following "Act Concerning Usury was passed at the last session of the General Assembly of New York, and affirmed by the Governor, April 8th, 1846:

Sec. 1. Whenever in any action brought on any contract or assurance for the payment of money hereafter made, it shall appear that a greater rate of interest has been directly or indirectly reserved, taken or received, than is allowed by law, the defendant shall recover his full costs, and the plaintiff shall forfeit three-fold the amount of the interest unlawfully reserved or taken, and no more.

Sec. 2. Whenever a greater rate of interest than is allowed by law, shall hereafter be paid, the party paying the same may recover back three-fold the amount of the lawful interest so paid, and no more.

Sec. 3. So much of the second and third sections of the thirty-fifth chapter of the Revised Statutes, as is inconsistent with this act, is hereby repealed.