2d. "That the reduction in the rate of interest from 2-1/2_d._ per cent. per day to 2_d._ is far too great, out of proportion to the reduction of the interest in the Funds, and would be extremely prejudicial to the depositors in all Savings Banks, but more especially to those in the smaller banks, throughout the kingdom." 3d. "That clause 7, requiring the production of the books of every depositor once a year, will cause annoyance to depositors, is not capable of being enforced, and is no efficient security." 4th. "That the proposed alteration respecting the liability of trustees and managers of Savings Banks seems highly objectionable. The present provision, of no trustee responsible except for his wilful default or neglect, is well understood as applicable to all cases of voluntary trusts, and should undergo no alteration." 5th. "That it is not expedient that trust accounts be altogether abolished, but that provision should be introduced to meet the case of fictitious deposits and the abuse of trusts." And so on throughout almost all the clauses. [75] On one occasion, about this time, Mr. Hume had complained of the "impudent conduct" of some Government official, to which Sir Robert Peel, as Premier, replied. Sir Robert said, he "would not quarrel with the hon. gentleman," (an experiment he had often tried without much success,) "considering him a good judge as to how far impudence might be carried with impunity." Mr. Hume at once owned the soft impeachment. "If I had not had the impudence of the devil," said he, "I should never have done any good in this House." _The Times_, the next day, give it to Mr. Hume smartly, as was its wont, and congratulated him "on his generous, though rather startling, acknowledgment of the source of all his strength." [76] His speech on the occasion does not seem to have been fully reported. [77] The trustees of four small banks made the declaration: those of Tonbridge, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Fareham, and Carshalton in Surrey. [78] At a meeting of the managers of the principal Savings Banks held on the 29th of August, 1819, it was resolved: "That this meeting has read with mingled feelings of pain and alarm the clause in the proposed bill virtually requiring trustees and managers of Savings Banks to give security or 100_l._ each, and making such trustees and managers responsible to an indefinite extent if they should neglect to limit their responsibility to that sum, as pointed out in the Act."