7939. Massachusetts Bank (Boston, MA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
October 15, 1857
Location
Boston, Massachusetts (42.358, -71.060)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
2f8a4c08

Response Measures

None

Description

During the October 1857 money crisis Boston banks suspended specie payments. The Massachusetts Bank at first reportedly held out but then joined the general suspension (articles dated Oct 15–16, 1857). No article reports a receivership or permanent closure; historically these were temporary suspensions, so classification is suspension_reopening. Cause attributed to the national financial panic and the suspension of New York banks (macro/systemic news).

Events (1)

1. October 15, 1857 Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Part of the widespread October 1857 suspension of specie payments following failures and suspension of New York banks and the national money panic; Boston banks agreed to suspend interbank specie payments and paying gold at counters, and Massachusetts Bank joined them on Oct. 15–16, 1857.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Massachusetts Bank, at the meeting to-day, united fully with other banks in the suspension.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (5)

Article from New-York Daily Tribune, October 15, 1857

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Article Text

ing interests, ite suspension would throw out of canployment nearly & thousand persons. The bank euspersion created very little excitement. The Massachusetts Bank, the only one refusing to join in the suspension, declares its intention to continue specie payments permanently. BANGOR, Me., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1857. At a meeting of Bank Directors, held herethis afternoon, it was voted to suspend specie payment during the present crisis. Resolutions were also passed expressing confidence in the Suffolk Bank system, and refusing to take bills not redeemed in Boston. BANK SUSPENSIONS IN HARTFORD, CONM. HARTFORD, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1857. At a meeting of bank officers this merning it was voted that the Hartford, Phenix, City, State and Farmers' Banks suspend specie payments. The Connecticut River Bank has not suspended. There is no excitement.


Article from Worcester Daily Spy, October 16, 1857

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Article Text

BOSTON. Oct. 15.-The Massachusetts Bank, at the meeting. today, united fully with other banks in the suspension. It is said that yesterday, though this bank ostensibly held out, it only redeemed its small bills. There is very little movement in stocks. All financial matters remain quiet.


Article from The New York Herald, October 16, 1857

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Article Text

surrently reported that there were quite a number or New Yorkers in the street ready so call upon our banks fir a large amount of specie as soon as the banks were opened. If this is true, the gemiemen had ooly the pleasure of a ride over the Sound in n feggy night to pay them for their trouble. MEETING OF THE BANK PRESIDENTS. The meeting of the ba 1k presidents was beld at quarter past nine o'cleck at the Boston Clearing House. Every bank was represented Frasklin Haven, Eq., President of the Merchants' Bank, was called on to preside, and Mr. Thomas, or the Webster Bank, was chosen secretary. s committee, consisting of Mr. Cartwright, of the City Bank; Mr. Hooper, of the Boston Rank, and Mr. Lamb, of the New England Bank, was appointed to retire and report what course the Boston banks should pursue in the pre sent emergency. The committee retired, and after some deliberation, reported n simple resolution to this effect: " That in con. sequence of the suvvension of the New York banks, 18 is expedient that the Boston banks suspend." The question was pat, and the resolution was passed unanimously. The meeting then adjourned to one o'clock, when a series of resolutions embracing the reasons for the obove action will be presented for adoption, and be given to the public. A rumor is in circulation in the street that the Massachusett: Back did not concur in the action of the other banks in regard to suspension. The President of that bank wasat the meeting and did not vote against the proporition to suspend. There was no voice in the negative. We understand, however, that he had left the meeting before the vote was taken. BJ the official returns published this morning il appears that the Mastachusetts Bank had on Monday $819,496 in specie, to $137,186 circulation. [Since the above was in By pe we have made inquiry at the Masrachusetts Bank in regard to its suspension, and the reply was, "Say 10 the public we are edeeming our bills and we are going to redeem them "] The report that there were New Yorkers here ready to draw specie, is true. As one of the Presidents reached his banking house he found one of these individuals standing at the door, with & check for a large amount in his hand, for which he wante! the spacle. When told that he came one train $00 late be looked quite chop fallen. We are told that another New Yorker accompanied this one to Springfold on the night train last night, and stopped there 10 draw specte from the SpringJeld banks on their opening this morning. The Boston banks will pay their balances at the Clearing House in specie, as usual, so that the suspension merely amounts to the suspension of paying gold at their counters. The following table shows the amount of specie and circulation of all the banks in Boston:-


Article from New-York Daily Tribune, October 16, 1857

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THE BOSTON BANKS. &c. BOSTON, Thursday, Oct. 15, 1857. The adjourned meeting of the Associated Banks of this city was held this morning, at the Clearing House. Various plans were presented and discussed to facilitate the payment of balances between the banks at the Clearing-House, No definite plan has yet been matured. The meeting was not of much importance to the general business public, except 80 far as its action ded our banking institutions to discount in reasons. ble amounts to safe and solvent parties. The system of bank exchanges to be adopted will assist materially in this purpose, and the banks will be erabled, as it is the intention of their officers, to help those merchants only requiring time to meet their liabilities. The proposed course of the banks in discounting undoubted paper will furnish great relief to many business men who will stand the financial storm but bend beneath the pressure. The reported failure of Little, Aldens & Co. is not confirmed. They ask an extension in bshalf of the Pa. cifie Mills Corporation. They are its agents, and it is thought the extension will be granted. BOSTON, Thursday, Oct. 15-P M. The Massachueetts Bank, at the meeting to-day united fully with the other banks in the suspension. It is said that ,hough this bank ostensibly held out yesterday, it only redeemed its small bills. There was very little movement in stocks to-day. All financial matters remain quiet. The suspension of Little, Alden & Co. was published to day in The Journal, Traveler and other morning papers, but their suspension is denied, as per the following: I" Mr. Edmands of the Pacific Mills publishes a card asking for a renewal of the obligations of the corporation for six months after maturity, under which arrangement he says DO creditor can lose by them, as their property is ample and their mills can be kept in operation. Mesers. [Little, Alden & Co. are the selling agents of the Pacific Mills, and have not suspended, and will not if the Pacific Mille can obtain the extension asked for. They have very limited liabilities in this country."


Article from The New York Herald, October 17, 1857

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THE CASE OF THE CASHIER OF THE AGRICULTURAL BANK OF HERKIMER. HERKIMER, vis Unoa, Oct. 16, 1857. The Grand Jury have dismissed as unfounded all the complaints made against Harvey Doolitile, cashior of the Agricultural Bank of Herkimer. A meeting of the direc tore and stockholders of the bank, representing four fifths of its capital, bad previously unanimously certified that the charges were unfounded, and that they had entire confidence in the receiver, and that his appointment was necessary and judicious, and that they requested his confinuance. THE MONEY CRISIS IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE BOSTON BANK-MIEETING OF BOSTON MESCHANTS. Boston,Ost. 15-P. M. The Massachussetts Bank at the meeting to-day united fully with the other banks in the suspension. It is said though this bank catenaibly held out yesterday, but it only redeemed its small bills. There was very little movement in stocks to day. All financ al matters remain quiet. The suspensi n of Little, Alden & Co. was published today in the Journal, Traveller, and other morning papers, but their suspension is denied as per the following: Mr. Edwands, of the Pacific Mills, publishes a card ask ing for renewal of the obligations of the corporation for six months after maturity, under which arrangements, he says, no creditor can lose by them, as their property is BD ple and their raills can be kept in operation. Messrs Little, Alden & Co. are the selling agents of the Pacific Mills, and ba ve not suspended, and will not if the Pacto Mills can obtain the extension asked for. They have very limited liabilities in this country. BOSTON, Oct. 16, 1867. A meeting of bank directors and leading merchants was held this forenoon, at which the policy of an extension of money facilities was discussed. Mr. WM APPLETON thought that the banks might safely increase heir loans to the amount of that of last Augustabout $63,000,000. At the present time they amount to about $40,000,000 Mr. NATHAN APPLETON expressed similar views. Measrs. LAMB and HALL, for the bank officers, expressed their earnest demire to act, so far as their present position would justify, for the relief of the business community. The meeting then adjourned uu to-morrow morning. The money market remains quiet, and everybody ap. pears to be waiting the result of the suspension. Stocks show a little more activity. The specie broker: are realizing small gains, gold being plenty at one per cont premium. HON. N. P. BANKS ON FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. BOSTON, Oct. 15, 1857. In the face of a drizzling rain and thick fog Faneuil Hall was crowded to night to hear the address of the Hon. N. P. Banks, the Republican candidate for Governor of this State, on financial affairs. The meeting was a political one, but the announcement that the distinguished gestleman would devole most of his address to the causes and remedies of the present all absorbing financial convulsion, filled the hall early with people of every shade of politics and social position. Hon John A. Wilkins presided, and introduced Mr. Banks, who was received with the greatest entbusiasm. Mr. BANKS commenced by saying that when he engaged to speak in Faneuil Hall, he designed 60 speak on the sub ject of the policy of the State and nation, and not on the great monetary crisis which had been brought upon the country the distress caused by which 16 was impossible to pass over in silence. He complimented the men of the city of Boston for the courage and vigor with which they had met the storm which had so suddenly broken upon them, and for the union of interests and purposes employed to fend off its evil effects. The steadiness of their position bad sustained the business character of the city, which was her chief honor. Recurring again to the subject, Mr. Banks said that no one could possibly avoid a ling of sorrow and distress on account of the suffering which the monetary crisis had occasioned. Fortunes that had been the result of fifty years of close at ention, great in tell genoe, and unwearied industry and frugality had been dissipated in night: and in the wasting away of the great commercial landmark, there had been a corresponding wreck of other interests Every one must feel sympathy for labor without employment and support; labor made houseless unexpectedly, with some reason to fear that in the coming winter It would be breadless. With all the the suffering and loss consequent on the crisis which Boston had experienced there would be always means to supply the wants of those suffering without faults of their own. One view of the subject indicated, It seemed to Mr. Banks, that the general disability of the period would be but temporary The country was never richer than to day, for the agricultural crops were estimated at a value of two thousand millions of dollars, and the product of manufacturing indus at about fifteen hunnred millions With our means of intercourse with other parts of the world. the enterprise of our merchants, the economy of our families-in fact all persons would infuse into the condi tion of the country confidence which would enable us in a few months to arise from the fail we had ex perienced The spirit of economy which might be imparted to our national life would enable us speedily to recover from digneter. There could be no just comparison between the condition now and what it was in 1837 The speculations of that period were fruitless, both as regards agriculture and manufactures. Capital in the latter mentioned perio 1 was in city lots, whereas now 14 was invested in the in dustrial interests of the country. There was in 1837 but 000 000 in specie in the whole country, with 000 of circulation in bank paper Now, at least in 1856, as cording to the statement of the Secretary of the Treasury, there was $250 000,000 in specie Probably tere was now as much as 000 00 to $176 000 000 of bank notes in circulation. In this State the banking interest was in safer conditi ID at present than in 1887. and the condence at the people in this particular was greate and the feeling of hostility to the banks was far 1004. In regard to the cause of the crists ifferent people held different vie vs, an cording to their political bearings and here Mr. Banks wish ed that his purpose was to spesk of the policy and not to reprehension of parties or of men-ani also according to their conceptions of monetary affairs. A few leadi * facts would probably precede other observations Mr. Banks had to make, and tend to beget A just understanding of our po sition and a fair eive dation or our difficulties As an im portant fact in this connection 1: might be said that If this crisis had been deferred another two months it would not have occurred this year. An opportunity to have irans ported the agricultural products from the valler of the Min stasippt, which had yielded nearly double its asual value to the Atlantic coast, would have 00 stituted suc) wealth as would have enabled our merchants and paople to meet all demands agains them. It was, therefore, to some sort a panic that had produced the difficulty Mr Banks would not discoss the cause of the panic, but that which had contributed materially to bring It about Among her things the facts were to be recognized that the government of this country was a power: that the government had both an open and a tacts llaence-it had duties which It could not avod and responsibili ties which It had to meet The common opinion that the inflation of the currency was the sole cause of the extravagance of the times, both la expend ture and in trade, must be lasen with some qualideati 10 There were other and deener causes to which we might not only attribute public and private extra agance in the ordinary experses of life and to the extens of our unet ness relations, but to which we might also attribute lead log blame in the inflation of the currency Paper money must have breathed into 11 the breath of life, other It could not go alone. It cannot endow Itself with life, but a vitality must be imparted to 11, whether It is produced by the people or by the R vernment. Measures may be devised to give the currency of the coun try greater stability by limiting its issues upon Its specie capital. There were fifty millions of dollars of bank notes in circulation of the denomination of fire dollars and un der, and the time was not far distant when there would be a concurrence in the adoption of permanent measures that will tend to the substitution of gold and sliver in the hands of the people for the small notes they no hold in compensation for their labor, and that would tend more than any other event to give sta bility of a solid character to our currency There was a disposition current to retain gold and silver. People parted with every other product with pleasure, but the precious meta's they retained as long as possible Gold and silver for the pay of labor, and bank notes of the higher denominations for commercial pur DOBAR would be ever: where comfortable and safe media of