7863. Commercial Bank (Boston, MA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
January 13, 1838
Location
Boston, Massachusetts (42.358, -71.060)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
0b639583

Response Measures

Borrowed from banks or large institutions, Full suspension

Other: Associated Banks decided to 'wind up' Fulton, Hancock and Commercial and receive their bills at par until paid.

Description

Newspaper accounts (Jan 1838) report a run on the Commercial Bank following the failure of the Commonwealth Bank and contagion among Boston banks; shortly after the Associated Banks decided to wind up (close) the Fulton, Hancock and Commercial, indicating permanent closure. Bank charter type not specified in articles.

Events (3)

1. January 13, 1838 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Run precipitated by the failure/inability to pay of the Commonwealth's Bank and resulting contagion and panic among Boston banks.
Measures
Reduced circulation; article notes Commercial has reduced their circulation very much of late and may get along without assistance.
Newspaper Excerpt
There was a good deal of excitement yesterday. The Fulton, Hancock and Commercial banks were run upon.
Source
newspapers
2. January 15, 1838 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
P. S. The other banks have just decided to sustain the Hancock Fulton, &c. so that they all go on again except the Commonwealth. The failure of the Commonwealth Bank is no doubt a very bad one. ... The Fulton, Hancock and Commercial banks were run upon. The Fulton we understand has obtained a loan from the other banks sufficient to take up all their circulation. The Hancock is endeavoring to obtain assistance from the other banks - the Commercial has reduced their circulation very much of late and may get along without assistance.
Source
newspapers
3. January 26, 1838 Suspension
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
After runs and loss of confidence caused by the Commonwealth Bank's failure and broader banking contagion, the Associated Banks decided to wind up (close) the Commercial Bank along with others.
Newspaper Excerpt
the Associated Banks have concluded to wind up three of the present banks. viz. the Fulton, Hancock and Commercial.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Morning Herald, January 15, 1838

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Article Text

MONEY MARKET. Sunday, Jan. 14--1, P. M. A sensation was produced in Wall street yesterday by accounts received from Boston, of the failure or rather the inability to pay its balances in current bank bills, of one of the government banks in that city, the Commonwealth's Bank, and the consequent run and trouble among the other banks of the same place, almost bordering on panic and revulsion. It.soon became noised abro d in Wall street and great alarm was caused to the holders of all eastern bills, which, in consequence, were crowded upon the points of redemption in Wallstreet in large amounts. A letter received this morning by one of the mest respectable brokers in Wall street, gives the following particulars BOSTON, Jan. 13, 1938. We wrote you yesterday, just as the mail was closing, that the Conamonwealth's Bank had failed -we believe that the other banks would not sustain it. We understand that they owe government $400,000; they have the largest circulation of any bank in Boston as we advised you sometime ago. It is probably in a very bad state. There was a good deal of excitement yesterday. The Fulton, Hancock and Commercial banks were run upon. The Fulton we understand has obtained a loan from the other banks sufficient to take up all their circulation. The Hancock is endeavoring to obtain assistance from the other backs-the Commercial has reduced their circulation very much of late and may get along without assistance. P. S. The other banks have just decided to sustain the Hancock Fulton, &c. so that they all go en again except the Commonwealth. The failure of the Commonwealth Bank is no doubt a very bad one. It was the great "Pet Bank." Its failure can very clearly be traced to the government deposites-which deposites were all leaned to speculators of the party-3 persons, (directors) one of them to nearly the amount of their capital. In addition to these facts, coming from an undoubted source, and therefore reliable, we learn from other quarters, that the consternation and panic caused among the banks in Boston, was increased. by their own statements, developing their own condition, and the probability that the legislature now in session there, would overhaul them with great severity. The Boston and other eastern banks are composed, as with us, of two classes-the class chartered before the present locofoce party got into power at Washington-and that subsequently. The old banks throughout New England and in Boston, are generally conducted on the old principles of prudence -short loans-business paper-the new regime are managed to prop up bubbles in lands, town lots, and other speculations. Nearly half the assets of the Commonwealth Bank are paper on East Boston lots. Two years ago, the legislature of Massachusetts permitted the banks to issue post notes. By the exercise of this power, the new class of banks enlarged their circulation, which could not be contracted when the recent revulsion came. In consequence, there has been great heartburnings and dissatisfaction among the Bosten banks, and particularly since the Bank Convention of this city recommended a curtailment of loans. A large portion of the banks refused to curtail, while the sound basks insisted on such a policy. In this state of things, we learn that the State Bank of Boston put up a notice last week, refusing to receive on deposite or in payments, the notes of seven other banks, including the Commonwealth. The following are the seven and their condition by the last statement :-


Article from Morning Herald, January 26, 1838

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Article Text

[Fremour Boston Correspondent.) Associa'ed Banks-Th Bosion Banks be hung up to dry-Legisiature's Committee-Pressure and Failures. BOSTON, Jan'y 32, 1838. DEAR Sir:-Since I forwarded you my last letter, the "Associated Banks" have concluded to wind up three of the present banks. viz. the Fulton, Hancock and Commercial. The "associated" and combined wiedom of those who compose this dietatorial body, is wisely developed in their determination not only to knock the aforenamed banks in the head, but to receive their bills at par at their counters until they are all paid in. This circumstance goes to show very clearly, that these associated gentlemen have some regard for public opinion. Had such an exhibition of their precocity becen developed before the Commonwealth and others had stopped, it would have been much more to their credit as weil as to that of the Boston Banks. But no. The downfall of foor banks which were once ameng their number, and who have so recenty been "kicked out of the ring," has thrown upon the once undombted credit of Boston incorporated paper a stain which time cannot erase. At the sale of Bank stock, it was found exceedingly difficult to palm off some of the aforementioned stock, and for some indeed there was no offer of any kind. There were two or three banks which were sold not far from par, while the following were so slighted that no offer of any kind was made-Tre mont, American, Middlesex, State, Market, Hancock, Granite and Oriental Banks. Lest you may think that the above were not sold because they were not wanted. I would state, that the Fulton Bank brought as high as forty-three cents en a dollar. This bank, as you will at once recollect, is one which is speedily destined to go the way of all the earth. A meeting of the officers aud stockholders was held yesterday, and it was then concluded best to add four new directors, and for the purpose of hauling in their horns with as mueh expedition aspossible. Atthismeeting it was stated that there would probably be enough to pay bill-holders and depositors, in full, while the stock-holders will not receive more than fifty per cent. However, time will develope how they come out. It is selling at twenty cents. Our wise legislators have appointed a Committee to look into the affairs of the Coramonwealth, Lafavette, and Franklin Banks. They will soon report. Of the latter Bank, of all corruption, mismangement, carelessness, and, in every respect, censu able con duct, this caps the climax. The truth is, the people cheated, defrauded, and bamboozled by and banking to corrupt have been corrupting corporations. further As the Franklin Bank, I shall not give you any particulars until the Committee report; and I assure you that if the explosion is not loud and terrific enough to open the eyes of the people, then they are wrapt in a slumber that the mutterings of ten thousand thunders would never awake them from. The pressure in the money market 18 on the increase. For this there are several reasons. One or two I will give. 1. The Banks are preparing to resame the payment of specie. 2. The closing of three of the present banks, whose circulation is $800,000 very essentially decreases the amount of bills in the market. There have been some heavy steppages of large capitalists and merchants, which have greatly surprised us. But this is, in my humble opinion. but the beginning of sorrow. Failures almost daily occur. and there is scarcely any business doing. There is a story going the rounds here. that a New York broker had on hand $19.000 of the Commonwealth when the bank suspended. 1 regret that your citizens do, and will, get nipped by our city paper. B The Conservatives will undoubtedly succeed n their ultimate projects, and, in a few years, wield the destinies of this country. They are rather favorable to General Harrison too. One of the principal features of the conservative policy is the element of social life which they are introducing into their political movements with a fascination that is truly admirable. The late soiree at Stuyvesant Place is the beginning of a new era in political movements. I'r PAINE'S birth day will be celebrated next week. Will not somebody get up a celebration of Robespierre's birth day? He was a pure democratand as pure a devil. D A negotiation is now pending between the