19095. Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank (Philadelphia, PA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
March 17, 1842
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (39.952, -75.164)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
741dd3a6

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Full suspension

Other: Bank ultimately listed among 'broken' and suspended banks; no evidence of reopening in provided articles.

Description

Multiple articles (Mar 1842) report runs on Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank; it sustained a run mid-March and then is listed among suspended/broken banks later in March and April. Sequence: run → suspension (business suspended) → remained broken/closed (by April described as 'broken' with shares trading). Cause attributed to contagion from runs on other local Philadelphia banks (local_banks). No specific misinformation episode is described.

Events (5)

1. March 17, 1842 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Runs and general excitement among multiple Philadelphia banks prompted depositors to withdraw from Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank.
Measures
Paid notes in country bank notes and Relief notes; manifested disposition to exchange notes and pay out until after regular closing hour.
Newspaper Excerpt
a run ... was commenced, almost as soon as the Banks opened, upon the Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank
Source
newspapers
2. March 17, 1842 Suspension
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
After sustaining heavy withdrawals during the city-wide banking excitement and runs on several banks, the bank closed/suspended business operations along with other troubled Philadelphia banks.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank ... after having sustained a run until 12 o'clock, followed suit.
Source
newspapers
3. March 26, 1842 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank ... business is suspended, and their capital may be considered out of market. ... Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank, Third and Vine, 600,000 ... Total amount of capital, ... broken banks in Philadelphia, list of Banks still occupy their banking houses in this city, but their business is suspended, and their capital may be considered out of market.
Source
newspapers
4. April 18, 1842 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
the whole business was comprised in fifteen shares of the broken Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank ... The discount of the paper of our broken city banks is not so high as formerly-the improvement is attributed to the ease and relief experienced in the money market.
Source
newspapers
5. April 18, 1842 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
broken Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank ... broken city banks (shares trading at heavy discounts); assigned assets discussed for Girard Bank (context of failures and assignments).
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (7)

Article from Daily Richmond Whig, March 21, 1842

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Article Text

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, March 18. Another day of Excitement in Philadelphia. MORE BANK FAILURES. The excitement in relation to the Banks, which commenced a day or two ago, was continued yesterday. The Penn Township Bank was closed throughout the day, and with the exception of a few persons early in the morning, there was no crowd in the vicinity of the building. A run, however, was commenced, almost as soon 08 the Banks opened, upon the Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank, located at the corner of Vine and Third streets, upon the Mechanics' Bank, located in Third street below Market; and the Moyamensing Bank, at the corner of Chesnut and Second streets. The Mechanics' Bank made but a poor show, and closed its doors about 12 o'clock. The other two held out. however, and paid their notes in the notes of country banks, such as Lancaster, York, North. ampton, and Relief notes, until after the regular hour of closing, three o'clock. The run evidently abated towards the last, and both Banks manifested a disposition to exchange all the notes that should be presented. Of their ability and determination as to the future, we are unable to speak, but we trust that the worst has been experienced, and that from this time forward, we may look for a revival of confidence.


Article from Lynchburg Virginian, March 24, 1842

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Article Text

RESUMPTION. An adjourned meeting of delegates from the banks of the city and county of Philadelphia, was held at the Philadelphia Bank on Thursday evening, the 17th inst. Mr. Dundas in the chair. The following banks were represented, viz:-Philadelphia, Commercial, North America Farmers and Mechanics, Southwark, Moyamensing. Northern Liberties, Western, Manufacturers and Mechanics, Kensington, Germantown. The following resolution was offered, viz: Resolved, That on and after to-morrow, the 18th inst., the banks of the city and county of Philadelphia, assenting to this resolution, will receive on deposit an. in payment of debts, specie, or the notes of specie paying banks; and that they will pay out at their counters, specie or their own notes, exclusively, to all persons entitled to demand the same. The resolution was adopted by the following banks: Philadelphia, Commercial, North America, Farmers and Mechanics', Southwark, Northern Liberties, Western, Kensington, and Germantown. The other banks present, having accepted the Relief law, declined voting, stating that they are making arrangements for a speedy resumption. JAS. DUNDAS, Chairman. ALEXANDER CUMMINGS, Secretary. at Some of the Banks commenced paying specie yesterday, both on checks and notes, among them, Philadelphia, Commercial, Farmers' and Mechanics', and Western. It is gratifying to learn that the Philadelphia Bank received on deposit yesterday a larger amount of specie than it paid out. The "Relief" notes of the specie paying banks will be received on the same terms as other notes. [Phil. U.S. Guzette of Friday. 00 ANOTHER BANK STOPPED. -Thursday morning after a severe run upon it, the Mechantes' Bank of Philadelphia closed its doors. and is therefore in the same condition as the Pennsylvania, Girard, and Penn Township Banks. Runs were made upon two or three other Banks.The Manufacturers' and Mechanics', and the Moyamensing Banks, sustained runs and kept open until Thursday evening. when the demands were exhausted The U. S. Gazette says. that resumption has really commenced, and that gold and silver may be had for Bank notes in Philadelphia.


Article from Lynchburg Virginian, March 24, 1842

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The Senate to-day plassed me - first, however, amended it in several particulars, some of them important. Among its amendments was a substitute for the 4th section, which, retaining the lst day of November as the period of resumption, strikes out that feature which requires the Banks to resume within sixty days after the principal Banks of Philadelphia and Baltimore shall recommence specie payments. I regard this as a very salutary change, in view of the peculiar circumstances by which the Banks of those States have been induced to open their vaults. In both, the apprehe usion of P pular tunulis, growing out of the peculiar character of a portion of their population, al ways inflammable, and easily excited to deeds of V10 lence, was the primary and influential cause of resumption at so early a day. I infer this from the fact, that, prior to the exhibition of any sympton of mobocratic up ro. r. the Philadelphia Banks had clearly indicated that a should be upon, nd of der c. reumstances sooner 14 of August. more than re. no note the day Maryland would generally fixed The it Legislature be had safe while declared to resume those of the that of Balti- latter unState. too, it is not improbable, was itself precipitated into the adoption of the law which ultimately passed, by the cm, hatic processadopted by the mob of Baltimore to make "nown its wishes- 200 of their number. under the imposi. T name of committee of the people, having visited lis Learing the high behests of their and ached the Legislative hall in martial procession, with ers front to to their injune a constituency, give emphasis appl ions. and music Such in their proceeding indicated a distempered condition " mind, which it was not safe to disreg be probably of rd, the od but public itself by which to no legislative body ought to have permit. overawes. It finds a parallel and precedent only in the history of the "rench Revolution, when bodies if sans culottes and cut-thic is invaded the halls of the Natu al Assembly, to dietate law. to the mock Republic, and to drag from the tribune to the gu. Hotine such of its members as had nerve enough to defy the 16. ~rorists. A resump tion brought about by such means may be permanent, but it is hardly probable that it will be: but Is these who entertain this impression should be deceived, and these institutions shall show their ability to maintain spec. payments, I have no doubt the Banks of Virginia will voluntarity place themselves in the same attitude, before the 1st of November. The Senate also struck out that section of the bill, as it went from the House, authorizing the appointment of a Commissioner, to examine in to the condition of the Banks of this State; and (I be lieve) that also prohibiting the sale of drafts and bills of exchange. I cannot predict with certainty the fate of these amendments in the House, though, from the pro racted period of the session, and the universal anxiety to bring it to close, I think it probable they will be as sented to. Another cause may operate to the same endand that is, the certainty that some of the members, who have been in favor of the most vigorous measures against he Banks, have run rather ahead of their constituents, w tho, more conside rate if not more wise than their delegates, perceive that every blow aimed at those institu tions, the interests of which are inseparably intertwined with those of the people at large, must fall with accu mulated force upon their own heads. See, for example, the proceedings of the people of Buckingham, at which , leading Democrat was Chairman, another one of the Secretaries, and a third (George Booker, Esq.) whose rabid antipathy to Banks has been for years proverbial in all Buckingham and the region round about, was the chief orator-in which it is recommended that an assu rance shall be given by the Legislature to the Banks that they shall not be required to resume before the 1st of February, 1844! And yet one of the delegates from that county voted for immediate resumption, and the other for the earliest named day. Others, I have no doubt, have equally misunderstood the clamors of a few demagogues and shavers for the voice of the people, who, whatever be their conviction that the Bank ing has been grossly abused and system may favor and of perverted. overthrowing requires to be reformed, are not in t suddenly, and by the same process of involving every class and every profession in society in indiscriminate ruin. If the Banks were hostile, or even a separate and distinct interest, which might be but others in their be involving downfall, they reached retribution might with visited with the rnest detheir the manded perhaps properly by alleged delinquencis-but crushing when the edifice cannot be destroyed without the builders, they will wisely pause before they begin to sap its foundations. there can be no doubt that the Baltimore Banks will in compliance law, While attempt resumption, with hope they the and perhaps maintain it,--as I sincerely may e able to do,-I have no faith in the capacity of those if Philadelphia to do likewise. The hesitancy which as marked their coursethusfar, shows, that if they even make the attempt, it will be with fear and trembling as o the result. And well may they be thus apprehensive, when, in anticipation, runs have been commenced upon some of them, indicating a feverish agitation of the public mind, especially unfavorable to the success of their efforts. The Bank of Penntownship closed its loors the 15th, and on the 17th. the Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank, after having sustained a run unil 12o'clock, followed suit. The Mechanics' Bank, hol- and he were also besieged by Moyamensing but demands. their notelers, were strong enough to meet all The with one or wo exceptions, have resolved to with the law-with reforthwith other Banks, comply what effect nains yet to be developed. The Tax Bill was to-day ordered to be engrossed by he House of Delegates, and will be passed and sent to he Senate on Monday morning. The rates re same as those of last year, except the that of of the taxation vender license of broker is raised from 2 to $300, and that a of tiekets from 500 to viz: several new subjects of domesticlottery a however, $1000. taxation. There old re, one dollar. and silver and of watches 25 piano fortes, of $100 value in watches, cents; other $1, metallic used and 200 value and upwards, $2, except such as are a seminaries. or by music teachers. Silver plate, over Bank ain value, 19 like KC subject to taxation


Article from Sunbury American and Shamokin Journal, March 26, 1842

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Broken Banks in Philadelphia. The following list of Banks still occupy their banking houses in this city, but their business is suspended, and their capital may be considered out of market. We annex their locations with the capital of each institution : U. S. Bank, located in Chesnut street $35,000,000 above Fourth, capital Schuylkill Bank, corner Sixth and Market, 1,000,000 Girard Bank, Third below Chesnut, 5,000,000 Pennsylvania Bank, Second below Chesnut, 2,500,000 500,000 Penn Township Bank, Sixth & Viee, Mechanics' Bts, Third above Chesnut, 1,400,000 Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank, 600.000 Third and Vlne, 250,000 Moyamensing Bk, Second & Chesnut, $46,250,000 Total amount of capital,


Article from New-York Tribune, March 30, 1842

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us.The Philadelphians continue to draw specie from About $90,000 went on this afternoon. The supply of Treasury Notes continues light. Small amounts we quote at 1g a 13 discount; large do 2 a 21. The money market is light, and good paper sells at 1 all per month. Some of the Banks are discounting to a fair extent, but mostly they are pursuing a restrictive policy. Advices by the Columbia speak of the money market in England as being very easy. The Bank of England had put down the rate of discount to 4 per cent. She has received large supplies of bullion. We can see very little that is favorable in the accounts from the other side. In American stocks the only actual transactions were sales of $100,000 Pennsylvania Fives at 471 a 48, and a small amount at 50, and $100,000 Ohio Sixes, of 1250, at 60. We annex the quotations of the 3d, of the principal American securities:New-York Fives 75; Penasylvania Fives 47 a 50: Ohio Sixes 60; Indiana and Illinois Sterling Bonds 25; Louisiana Fives 60: Maryland Sterling Bonds 55; United States Bank 20th Bicknell's Reporter says-" The resumption of specie payments by our nine solventar business-doing banks sill continues, and as a consequence our money market is alarmingly contracted-the out-door rates on what is known as good paper' varying from 2 to 2) per cent. a month. The suspended banks continue closed for the ordinary purposes of trade, and their notes are selling at ruinous rates. We annex the rates at the close of the week: United States Bank notes 60 a 65; Girard notes 50 Pennsylvan ia do 22 a 25; 'Relief' notes 20 a 25; Mechanics' notes 15 a 25: Penn Township notes 25 a 30; Manufacturers' and Mechanics' notes 25 a 30; Mayomensing notes 18 a 25. Specie-paying banks; Philadelphia County-Philadelphia Bank, Commercial Bank, Bank of North America Farmers' and Mechanics" Bank of Northern Liberties, Western Bank, Kensington Bank. Germantown Bank, Southwark Bank. Pittsburg-Exchange Bank, Merchants' and Manufacturers' Bank, Pittsburg Bank. "York Bank, Bank of Middletown, Easton Bank, Deylostown Bank of Bucks county, Farmers' Bank of Reading, Franklin Bank of Washington, Northumberland Bank, Miners' Bank. Pottsville, Honesdale Bank, Bank of Montgomery county, Bank of Chester county, Delaware County Bank, and probably several others." The Presidents of the Backs in St. Louis, Mo., that are in a sound condition, and the Board of Currency, have had a meeting in that city, on the 18th, the result of which has been an arrangemently which all the strong Banks will go 51 harmoniously together, making weekly exchanges, each Bank issuing its OWB notes payable on the 5th December next. The New.Orleans Bulletin of the 19th says- The Banks have all accepted the 'Relief Law,' three of them, however, conditionally; but none of them are rising in opposition to the law. If we are not misinformed, they will on Monday all commence paying out their own notes at their counters. We anticipate an entire restoration of confidence in our currency, and, as a natural consequence, a fall in specie and exchange." Specie at New-Orleans on the 19th, 5a7 per cent. premium.


Article from The New York Herald, April 19, 1842

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Philadelphia. Correspondence of the Herald.] PHILADELPHIA, April 18, 1842. I have never known a greater dearth of matters of local interest than the present. And as if to make our city appear more stagnant, for the past two days all business, including church going, has been cut off by an anpleasant north east storm. So far as I can learn, the copious shower of important foreign news has had little or no effect upon prices. At the stock board to-day, the whole business was comprised in fifteen shares of the broken Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank, and fifty three shares of the United States Bank-the latter sold at $3, an advance of 1/ Wilmington Railroad and State Five's fell off. The discount OK the paper of our broken city banks is not so high as formerly-the improvement is attributed to the ease and relief experienced in the money market. You will find in the North American of this morning a statement of the appraised value of the assigned assets of the Girard Bank. By it the assets, it will be seen, considerably exceed the bank's liabilities, except to stock. holders-and in every case where the market value could be ascertained, the appraisers have underestimated. Notwithstanding this it is not believed that the bank can make one side balance the other-so great is the loss and difficulty of collecting debts. Forrest had a good house for his benefit on Saturday night, and both he and Miss Clifton have been re-engaged for three nights more. The unpropitious state of the weather has induced De Begnis to postpone his concert to-night. LATEST FROM TEXAS.- - A gentleman who left Bexar on the 21st ultimo, informs the editor of the Houstonian that tranquilityis completely restored in that section. Gen. Burleson, with a large force, was at Bexar, and intended to march in a few days for the Rio Grande. The r mor that Col Moore, with his volunteers, overtook the rear guard of the retreating Mexicans, is contradicted. Although the Mexicans had but six hours' notice that Col. Moore was advancing to attack Bexar, they retreated so precipitately that even the spies could not overtake them Such was their alarm that they fled six y miles before they ventured to encamp or even make a fire. The Milain Guards and many of the volunteers from the counties east of the Brazo3 whoard not mounted, are returning to their homes.-N O. Pic. IMPO: TANT MILITARY MOVEMENT.-We under stand, says the St. Louis New Era, that orders have been received from Head Quarters of the Army, directing the immediate march of the 6th Regiment United States Infantry from Jefferson Barracks to Fort Smith, Arkanzas. Five Companies of the 1st Regiment of Drageons, are also ordered to the same destination ; and one company of the 1st Regiment United States Infantry is ordered from Forts Crawford to Leavenworth. We do not understand these movements. Our accounts from the neighborhood of Fort Smith are to the 18th ult, and no intimations are given of disturbances with the Indians in that quarter.


Article from New-York Daily Tribune, February 1, 1843

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MONEY MARKET. Sales at the Stock Exchange, Jan. 31. 84 $6,000 Kestucky Sizes 94 $500 State 5s, 1845 29 $1,000 Ky bonds, short Pn 85 do 1858 $2,500 201 $5,000 Illinois 6s, 1870 $10,000 N. Y. St. 5js, 1861, 93) 221 $1,000 Indiana Bods 934 do $5,000 10S1 100 shares Fulton Bank $1,000 State Sixes, 1860 100 50 100 1861 89 Franklin Bk, Cincin. do $1,000 100 30 Canton Co 16 1862. do $4,000 25 Obto Life and Trust. 484 1041 State 7s, 1848 $1,500 50 L Island Railroad 69 481 Ohio Sixes, 1860 $1,300 b do 70 90 200 48é ds do $5,000 62 693 25 Manhattan Gas Co do 81,090 113 70 Utica & Sch. R R 69, do $5,000 834 8 Boston & Prov 881 $5,000 Kentucky Sixes SECOND BOARD. 50 Harlem b 60 aft 30 ds. 16 $1,000 State 6s, 1862 bSd 100 b60 ds 161 50 do 20 $1,000 Illinois 16 150 do do 201 $1,000 13h 69 25 Treasury Loan $10,000 Ohio Sixes Commercial and Money Matters. TUESDAY P. M. The sales of State stocks were again very large, reaching upward of $70,000 par value, and at improving prices. Fivesand-a-half improved & per cent, Sixes 1-selling at par; Ky Sixes 17. Obio Sixes went to 70, but finally closed at 69, with more offering at that price-an improvement of 1 per cent For Government Sixes 101 was offered. The market for Foreign Exchanges for the steamer closed with considerable firmness at 51 a 5); Francs 5 45. Alabama continues to improve slowly. Mobile is worth 12 a 13; Tuscaloosa 11 a 12; N Orleans !at prem;; Central S5 a 374. The New Exchange Board will commence business on Thursday next at No. 18 Wall-street. The public are to be admitted to the Bourse on payment of a small fee. The United States Bank in New-York has withdrawn all its securities lodged with the Comptroller, and in lieu thereof deposited in the American Exchange Bank specie sufficient to redeem all the notes in circulation. Bicknell's Philadelphia Reporter says: Relief Notes have improved very considerably since our last, probably because of the action of the Legislature upon the subject. The issues of the specie paying banks, are at discounts varying from 6 to 8 per cent; those of the country, non specie pay ing banks, at discounts of from 8 to 9 per cent., and those of the broken banks, at 10 to 11. Money continues abundant, and may be procured on undoubted security as low as 5 per cent. Treasury Notes were in demand at the close of the week, at from to 1 of one per cent. premium. Two of the suspended banks of our city, viz: the Manufacturers' and Mechanics', and the Moyamensing, talk of resuming soon, but this is getting to be an old story, with regard to these institutions Business was never more inactive with the Brokers. The notes of the Lewiston Bank were selling yesterday at 73 a 8 per cent. discount. Northampton at 28 a 30; Carlisle, York, Gettysburg, Chambersburg. Northumberland, Middletown, and Lebanon, 62 a 71; Alabama, 14 a 14}. The following are some of the principal items in the statements made to the Legislature by the banks in East Jersey